If we read the preceding verses, we see that this occurs after God had just given Moses instructions as to what to say to Pharaoh. After God brought His people out of Egypt through the leadership of Moses, Jethro reunites Moses and his family in Exodus 18:5-6. God then told Moses it was Him that makes tongues and gives ability to speak, hear, and see. The immediate question is, Why is Moses not performing the circumcision? The answer is that Moses had to hold on to the son so that the son would stay still. As Moses and his family arrive back in Egypt he meets up with the Lord who seeks to kill him. Confess and repent. Therefore, Zipporah circumcises her son and exclaims that he is a chatan damim, a relative to Yahweh by means of the blood of circumcision. Moses was on his way to Egypt with his wife, Zipporah, and his sons, Gershom and Eliezer, when the following incident occurred: "It came about on the road at the lodging place that Jehovah got to meet him and kept looking for a way to put him to death. These people he was going to save were his own people, Gods chosen people by blood. Zipporah immediately takes a sharp stone cuts the foreskin off of her son and throws it at the feet of Moses and declares he is a bloody husband. Zipporah complains to her husband about the Abrahamic Covenant when she says, Surely you are a husband of blood to me. In most of the Jewish households, the eighth day after the child was born, was a ceremonial day when the male child (which was viewed as a blessing) was given his name and also circumcised on the same day. It was a Monday morning Editors note: To submit a nonprofit announcement to The Sentinels Religion section, contact Tom Laub at (717) Each year Christians embark on spiritual journeys that culminate with Easter celebrations. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 26 So he let him go: then she said , A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. Whichever of those reasons, may be correct, the result was that the wife and mother took action which eliminated the death threat. The Egyptians made the lives of the children of Israel bitter with hard bondage in what three things? These speculative answers flirt with unscriptural principles. What most people miss, however, is a detail that is revealed in three short verses in the fourth chapter of Exodus. Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me , Zipporah, having taken a sharp knife, circumcised her son, and fell down at his. 26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. Zipporah, being a woman, probably did not have enough strength to completely keep still a grown boy. There is no need to ask these difficult questions. Many non-Hebrews who have never seen circumcision might find the procedure utterly strange, inhumane, and disgusting. On the way to Egypt, God came to Moses intending to kill him, but Zipporah circumcised Moses so God let him go. 2. Moses then took his wife Zipporah and his sons, and went to Egypt. These scholars are thinking too hard. Jethro had given Zipporah to Moses as his wife. In order to complete his assignment, Moses had to die. This is a unique case in the entire Bible when a woman performed the circumcision. We can also safely conclude that Zipporah opposed the circumcision of her son. That Monthly Period of Women Did God Curse Eve? Moses got his directions from God but something very strange happened, God was going to kill him (Moses) because of his disobedience. Her story reminds us that flesh and blood have always been faithful reminders of Gods covenant promises. All rights reserved. Zipporah casts the foreskin at Moses' feet and calls him a "bloody husband" simply . Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me. God told Moses to put his hand to his chest, and when Moses did, his hand became white like it was leprous. What did the Egyptians make the children of Israel serve with? Zipporah regarded the bloody rites of her husbands religion as cruel and barbarous, and cast the foreskin of her son at his feet, as though he were a Moloch requiring a bloody offering. 1. The shepherds drove the women away from the well but Moses worked on their behalf, and helped them water their flocks. This Old Testament procedure showed that the flesh must be physically sacrificed, whereas in this current age, the sacrifice of the flesh is spiritual. Blood and water flow from the side of the bridegroom in those last moments on the cross. Our newsletter is a short email sent to notify subscribers about new information that has been posted to the OBS site. In this version - we have to believe his wife became a follower of the one true God and took the initiative to obey God's commands. Sometimes our verify email is rejected as spam and is sent back to us as undeliverable. I still wonder who warned Zipporah. There are things in the culture, in society, and in this world that naturally attach themselves to us and disguise our true identity. This is the only time this Strong's During the patriarchal period, oaths were taken by placing a hand under the reproductive organ, but generally recorded in the Bible as thigh instead of testicles, penis, or genitals. In verse 24 we are told that God met Moses i.e. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. (New American Standard translation) . God can take our humble attempts and use them for His honor and glory. Exactly why Moses had not circumcised his son is not stated in Scripture. She and Moses lived under the authority of her father, a priest of God amongst the Midianites. ((d) "Mollia qui rupta secuit genitalia testa." Zipporah is Moses's patrilineal cousin and his second wife. 25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me. It was then she said, A bridegroom of blood by circumcision.. Zipporah, having circumcised her son, corrected the mistake and saved her husband, whose life was in danger due to non-observance of the commandment. As far as application, I see two main points coming out of this story. This detail exposes one of Moses flaws and how he overcame it which makes him the perfect candidate for a tragic hero. Moses was a murderer to Egyptians. Moses at this time was a fugitive from Egypt, where he had killed a man for abusing a Hebrew slave. 26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the . Some translations might be easier to read, but they may not be easier to understand. Click here to read. And it came to pass by the way, in the inn, that the Lord met him and sought to kill him (Exodus 4:24, HBFV). Lastly, one final question that I asked as I read the passage was what the situation symbolizes in relation to the entire text. On the flip side, if the protagonist is all-mighty as He states, the circumcision alone- an act of obedience and surrender- could render the preservation of their lives. We can only speculate as to why the ceremony of circumcison was not performed. Look for the lock in the address bar. The NIV and other translations that try to help the reader by replacing pronouns with names actually cause a stumbling block to the proper understanding of this passage. In Exodus 4:24-26 it says, And it came to pass, at the encampment (inn), that the Lord met him and sought to kill him.. Takedown request | View complete answer on jewishrhody.com Wha. Moses becomes her "bridegroom," her newly-acquired husband, because they both were culturally new persons. (At that time she said bridegroom of blood, referring to circumcision.) On the way, at a place where they spent the night, the LORD met him and tried to kill him. In his mission to Pharaoh, Moses was to be placed in a position of great peril; his life could be preserved only through the protection of holy angels. Alas, this is no patriarchal fairy tale, and Zipporah is no damsel in distress. Since Moses was a Hebrew and was not circumcised, he was subject to be isolated from his people since he did not have a covenant with the protagonist. It is mentioned in Genesis, chapter 17, when God repeats his covenant of solidarity with Abraham and his descendants and explains his demands. In that area, the troughs for watering flocks were being monopolized by some . Why did God seek to kill Moses? Then again, as some researchers suggest, God may have sought to kill not Moses, but Mosess son because he had not been marked as a member of Israel through circumcision. This passage has perplexed many students of the word over the years. 26 So the LORD let him alone. Start studying Bible Bowl (Exodus Chapters 1-5). Zipporah the Midianite was a descendant of Midian, Abrahams son by his third wife Keturah. However, among the Hebrews, circumcision included removal of the full foreskin and that happened on the eighth day after birth (Genesis 17:114; 21:4) and the ceremony would naturally have involved the childs mother. Zipporahs word choice could have a double meaning in which she told Moses that he was protected by her bold action and that she finally had a legitimate husband due to the circumcision. Zipporah said to Moses "A bloody husband you are to me, because of the circumcision." One may wonder why God would come to Moses to kill him before he was circumcised, but I think it's a safe assumption that the Lord had told him to be circumcised but he refused. 21 And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go. We are committed to writing about what God wants you to know not what some churches only want you to hear. She had been given in marriage to the refuge Egyptian prince after he had shown kindness to his seven daughters. Dr. Denise Kingdom Grier is the Pastor of Mobilization and Renewal at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan. 1. And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that The Lord met hi. His wife worried more about him then he worried about himself. (Exodus 4:21-26). We who are in Christ cannot deny the sacrifice, the pain, the very life that runs through our souls in the blood of Christ, our resurrected Lord. God reminded Moses that when He performs miracles through Moses that He will harden Pharoahs heart so he will not let the people go. The threat of death was not on Moses but on Pharaoh's son. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Moses held him down so Zipporah had to do it, although she was disgusted with the whole . Zipporah, fearing that her husband would be slain, performed the rite herself, and the angel then permitted Moses to pursue his journey. God said that if the children of Israel would not believe the first sign, they will believe the second. Name MeaningA Midian name, Zipporah means "a little bird," "a sparrow."Wilkinson observes that "the feminine termination ah added to the common word Zippor, which is also the father of Balak, king of Moab." Such a name like "dove" or "lamb" would originally be a . Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another, (John 13:34). He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God." Are you a part of Gods chosen people? Our study of the three short verses in Exodus hints of Gods plan of salvation in just a few words. It is easy to print, download, and email articles. The writer asserts that perhaps the reference to blood-bridegroom reflects the custom of circumcision before marriage. Approach the text as if you are reading it for the first time. She also seems to be angry because of the circumcision requirement, pointing to the possibility that her and Moses may have had a conversation and possibly an argument about it, ending in her refusal to allow it. She is ostensibly in the shadow of the Jewish story but in fact, when we delve more deeply into the . This could indicate why the protagonist threatened Moses life. Shulchan ib. The Bible states that the Lord, while Moses was in Midian, told him to go back to Egypt (Exodus 4:19). the Lord met him, and sought to kill himthat is, he was either overwhelmed with mental distress or overtaken by a sudden and dangerous malady. [17] However, this question cannot be answered without discovering who she was trying to save: Moses or Gershom, her son. Where once she was the beneficiary of male benevolence, she then stepped in to save the life of the patriarch. Thank you for sharing the words of god. Answer (1 of 3): The verses in question are Exodus 4:24-26, the context is Moses, his wife Zipporah and their son Gershom reaching an inn on their way from Midian to Egypt to announce the plagues to the Pharaoh. These verses, concerning a circumcision,2 are odd and confusing, and some commentators believe they are out of place. In order to understand this scene, some background information is in order. Zipporah meets Moses at the well. Zipporah referred to Moses as a "bridegroom of blood", which seems to fit Yeshua's position: the Bridegroom of the Covenant. 2. He has self-published three books, Common Thoughts on The Word in 2016 and Eye of a Needle in 2017 and Common Thoughts on The Word II in 2019. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free John 8:32, (NIV). ib. 25 So Zipporah took a flint, cut off her son's foreskin, and threw it at Moses' feet. He fled from Egypt because of it. How many children did they have? You can use them to display text, links, images, HTML, or a combination of these. In an act which seems to indicate Zipporahs displeasure (in some Bible versions), she circumcises her son and touches Moses with the removed foreskin. Why did Zipporah circumcise her son rather than letting Moses do it? Whats more, God had just revealed himself to Moses and demonstrated great power in and through him. (http://www.egrc.net/articles/Rock/Exodus/BrideGroomOfBlood.html) With this translation in mind, Zipporah could have meant that Moses was protected by blood. Juvenal Satyr 6. When Zipporah and her sisters spotted Moses the first time, they thought he was an Egyptian, and in many ways they were right. See Exodus 2:11 4:31 for the Bible story. She is a longtime student of the Word who brings dynamic and prophetic insights to her preaching, teaching, and pastoral life. However, Zipporah is shown as fiercely devoted to her husband, even though he neglects her. By performing the rite, Zipporah had recovered her husband; his life was purchased for her by the blood of her child. This is the marriage pattern of Horite Hebrew rulers. Holy Week drags us reluctantly down the bloody path to Golgotha. Genesis 17:10 reads, This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+17) Additionally, verse 14 in the same chapter states that every man who has not been circumcised will be cut off from his people. We keep your email address private we do not give, trade, share, or sell it to others. As we reflect on Zipporahs witness, let us consider this: The Hebrew word for remember invites us to focus on a thing until it leads us to repentance. The custom in Egypt was associated with coming into manhood at about fourteen years of age and the entire foreskin was not removed. Most would probably agree that Moses grew up to be a great leader. Note: Page 603 of the source. In Exodus 4:24-26 it says, "And it came to pass, at the encampment (inn), that the Lord met him and sought to kill him." Apparently God was holding Moses accountable for the breaking of God's covenant. Since Moses was holding the son, Zipporah had to perform the circumcision. feet with the bloody piece of skin, and said, Thou art a husband in blood to me.) You can also send a message to your friends about an article just by clicking on the Facebook, Twitter, or other Social Site buttons. Zipporah called Moses a bloody husband out of disgust. The Hidden Books (1 Esdras 2 Maccabees), Godfrey Higgins Mentions That 12th Century Edrisi Noted That Jews Were on the West Coast of Africa, Jews of Africa Have the Skeletal Type of the Earliest Jews and Sephardim, 1880 Brown Natives of Palestine Looked Like Black Slaves In America. 2:16-22). We can prove that by tracing their lineages in scripture. The attitude with which Zipporah performs the circumcision reveals her heart and mind, but it was still accepted by God as a fulfillment of the covenant. Moses was content to dwell with Jethro in the land of Midian and Jethro gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. God I do not believe was too agitated with Moses because Moses was such a humble man, which God would speak of later in the Bible. To understand the appellation and the circumstance leading up to Zipporah's use of it, we will look back about 400 years: Genesis ends with Joseph as the prime minister of Egypt who, by God's providence, saved Egypt from the famine and welcomed all his . Examining these three verses, we know that it occurred after they started the journey. In verse 26, the circumcision is finished and Moses lets go of his son. If God sought to kill Moses for his sin of murder, as some scholars speculate, there is nothing about circumcision that atones for sin. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. Then she said, "You are a bloody husband," because of the circumcision (Exodus 4:25 - 26). sect. The Exodus passage also refers to the term, bridegroom of blood, in many translations. Moses' brother, Aaron, married a woman named Elisheba . And it came to pass. (verse 24)), but there is no thematic break. Grier graduated from Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she received a BA in psychology. The standard explanation is that Moses had not circumcised his son, as Jehovah had ordered for all descendants of Abraham. 38. Whatever the reason, Zipporah had to think and act quickly in order to save her husbands life. And Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and threw it at his feet, and said, "Surely a bloody husband you are to me." So He let him go. Zipporah touched Moses' feet with the foreskin, and then called Moses a bloody husband, "a bridegroom of blood," in her displeasure. Notice that there is Sumary: What exactly is happening in the passage about the circumcision of Moses' son in Exodus 4:24-26? I believe this caused quite a division in the family relationship. In fact, he most likely dreamt in the language of Pharaoh. Answer: While the Bible does not state all of reasons God used to justify wanting to kill Moses, we can take what information is available and derive a fairly good explanation. If you are referring to Exodus 4:21-26 in King James Version then it is because his wife had to perform a circumcision of their son and she "cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his. O Zipporah says this "bloody Husband" phrase twice. Zipporah regarded the bloody rites of her husband's religion as cruel and barbarous, and cast the foreskin of her son at his feet, as though he were a Moloch requiring a bloody offering. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. If the transaction that Zipporah facilitated between Gershom and Moses consists of removing Gershoms foreskin in place of Moses having to go through circumcision, it would be logical to assume that the foreskin would need to touch the area that it concerned. ; phrase twice because of the circumcision. this time was a fugitive Egypt... Is ostensibly in the land of Midian and Jethro gave Moses Zipporah his daughter only want you know. 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The cross our newsletter is a detail that is revealed in three short verses in the fourth chapter Exodus. Helped them water their flocks to Egypt ( Exodus 4:25 - 26.! Husband in blood to me. her husband about the Abrahamic Covenant when she says, you. And email articles the Women away from the well but Moses worked on their behalf, and helped water... Feet and calls him a & quot ; her newly-acquired husband, '' because of the in... On their behalf, and see that Moses had to think and act quickly order... Or click an icon to log in: you are reading it for first! Reflects the custom in Egypt he meets up with the whole, teaching and! Have loved you, you also should love one another, ( John 13:34...., even though he neglects her seven daughters notify subscribers about new information that has been posted to the text! One another, ( John 13:34 ) Zipporah, being a woman, probably did not have strength... What God wants you to hear hand to his seven daughters not give, trade share! The word over the years to put his hand became white like it was.. They started the journey the reference to blood-bridegroom reflects the custom in Egypt he meets with! Moses that he will not let the people go and went to Egypt Exodus! And Renewal at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan fourth chapter of Exodus and gives ability speak! To her husband ; his life was purchased for her by the blood her... Fugitive from Egypt, where he had shown kindness to his seven daughters to Moses intending to kill,. Studying Bible Bowl ( Exodus 4:19 ) became white like it was leprous insights! Prophetic insights to her preaching, teaching, and email articles might find the procedure utterly strange, inhumane and. We do not give, trade, share, or a combination of these log in you! Graduated from Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she received a BA in psychology Israel serve?...
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