All the evidence seems to point to Zipporah and Jethro as being against it, but Moses was still held accountable before God. [17] Moses' wife Zipporah called him a "bloody husband" because of the circumcision she had to perform on their son (Exodus 4:26). Remind us in you who we truly are and remind your church of the same. The bride (the church) is restored to her bridegroom (Jesus) by shedding of blood.10, There is a detailed study on this subject of circumcision from ancient to modern times in an article titled Circumcision in the Bible: What was it really all about? Notice that there is Sumary: What exactly is happening in the passage about the circumcision of Moses' son in Exodus 4:24-26? Dr. Denise Kingdom Grier is the Pastor of Mobilization and Renewal at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan. But . You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Answer: Technically, no. But God did not. rigour. God told Moses to put his hand to his chest, and when Moses did, his hand became white like it was leprous. You are a bridegroom of blood, Zipporah declares as she tosses flesh at Mosess feet. Devils Line Season 2: Release Date CONFIRMED or CANCELED! Note: Page 209 of the source. God then told Moses it was Him that makes tongues and gives ability to speak, hear, and see. What did the Egyptians make the children of Israel serve with? His name means "Help of my God" in Hebrew. Shiphrah and Puah. Zipporah was Moses's first wife in the Bible. In verse 23 God had pronounced a judgment upon Pharaohs son, but it may have been obvious to Moses that Gods judgment affects not only the king of Egypt but all the Egyptians. Many have been taught that in Exodus 4:24-26 God is seeking to kill Moses, and in response Zipporah circumcises her son to avert Gods wrath. We can only speculate as to why the ceremony of circumcison was not performed. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The meaning is: The marriage bond between us is now sealed by blood. (But at once Zipporah took a most sharp stone, and circumcised her son's rod; and she touched Moses? 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. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Zipporah The Woman Who Wrongly Opposed Her Husband. Catullus. Exodus 4:24-26 (KJV) 24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. But why did Zipporah say that Moses is a "bridegroom [or husband] of blood"? Soon after meeting the One Who instructs him to return to Egypt in order to lead his Israelite brethren out of bondage in Egypt, "Moses took his wife and his sons, put them on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt." (Exodus 4:20.) 26. This short excerpt that seems disgusting and meaningless to most readers is actually a tale of obedience and preparation for the duties and years to come as Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt. And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. He was talking about the servant putting his hand under Abrahams reproductive parts his genitals. "visited him with a sharp attack of illness, which threatened to he fatal." The Outlaw Bible Student web site is secured with SSL-encrypted connections. 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. Wait. These people he was going to save were his own people, Gods chosen people by blood. (Exodus 4:21-26). Zipporah was the wife that gave birth to the two sons of Moses: Sometimes in scripture we run across strange events that have no explanation as to what led up to them happening. In Numbers 12:1, she also is called a Cushite ("black" or ancient "Ethiopian") woman. "Moses had been as good as taken from her by the deadly attack which had been made upon him. Zipporah meets Moses at the well. You can also send a message to your friends about an article just by clicking on the Facebook, Twitter, or other Social Site buttons. that might not be part of it. As far as application, I see two main points coming out of this story. She is ostensibly in the shadow of the Jewish story but in fact, when we delve more deeply into the . Zipporah, having circumcised her son, corrected the mistake and saved her husband, whose life was in danger due to non-observance of the commandment. This is actually a topic that is debated often, but scripture is clear that Moses married two different women from two different lineages. Moses' brother, Aaron, married a woman named Elisheba . 2. Her first reaction was to circumcise her son without being told to do so. Note: Page 603 of the source. God asked Moses what was in his hand, and Moses said a rod. 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. 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. By performing the rite, Zipporah had recovered her husband; his life was purchased for her by the blood of her child. But now the time had come that God would save His people. With the prowess of The Lion Kings Mufasa to his son, Simba, Zipporahs actions roar, Remember who you are. You, Moses, are of the bloodline of Abraham. Through Zipporahs quick-thinking actions, she evoked the covenant by demonstration so Moses would remember his roots. The term bloody husband is merely Zipporahs criticism of a husband who performs an apparently strange and bloody procedure. Did Moses write the first five books of the Old Testament? Speculation: What I find to be particularly interesting is that Zipporah immediately knew who the Lord was and exactly why he was there. Circumcision is a covenant, not a sacrifice that atones for sin. After doing the needful for her son like that, she owned Moses. Rev. feet, and said, The blood of the circumcision of my child is stopped, and she went away from him; Let the dead bury their dead, but follow thou me. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. And in the Book of Ruth, it says, When he lies down, observe the place where he lies; then, go and uncover his feet and lie down; and he will tell you what to do, (Ruth 3:4).8. We can also safely conclude that Zipporah opposed the circumcision of her son. 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. First, the most obvious issue that arises is the purpose of Zipporah circumcising her own son and touching Moses feet with the foreskin. What problem would this solve? A little bit of kindness and compassion on the part of Moses turns a casual meeting into a close relationship. The underlined words above are words that were supplied by the NIV translators. This article is part of the She Is Called Women of the Bible Study Series. For the people of Israel, this was no small thing. The protagonist speaks to Moses and Zipporah feels that her family is being threatened and does what she can to save her husband and/or her children. A couple of examples are when a husband and wife had sexual relations, it is said that they lay together or they knew each other. One article states that the Hebrew word for bridegroom is hatan which means protected or circumcised in the closely related languages of Akkadian and Arabic. Source: Anacalypsis (London: : Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longman, Paternoster Row) 1836 A.D. The Study Bible for Women says: "Zipporah performed the rite that Moses had neglected; circumcision was necessary to identify the son as a "son of Israel", a member of the covenant community". After a new Pharaoh comes to power back in Egypt, God commands Moses to return to lead the Israelites out of their bondage. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Throughout your generations every male among you shall be circumcised when he is eight days old . Moses got his directions from God but something very strange happened, God was going to kill him (Moses) because of his disobedience. In verse 23, God makes it clear that he will slay Pharaohs firstborn son if Pharaoh refuses to let go of Israel. Whichever of those reasons, may be correct, the result was that the wife and mother took action which eliminated the death threat. He also could have easily justified to himself not carrying it out knowing his wife, a non-Israelite, would have been displeased with him performing it a second time. I believe this caused quite a division in the family relationship. Source: The New International Encyclopdia, Volume 11 (Dodd, Mead) 1911 A.D. Zipporah touched Moses' feet with the foreskin, and then called Moses a bloody husband, "a bridegroom of blood," in her displeasure. We do not send any commercial advertising, and you can easily unsubscribe at any time. 1)Why did God seek to kill Moses 2) or was is his son that the angel wanted to kill since the passage said "him" 3)why Zipporah called Moses "bloody husband" 4) why would an angel seek to kill an ordained messenger on his journey God had the foreknowledge of Pharaohs refusal to let Israel go, so God was already prepared to seek the death of the firstborn son. This is supported by a midrash (Jewish interpretation) in the Book of Jasher (Sepir Ha Yasher) 79:8-12 (which is not the authentic Book of Jasher mentioned in the Old Testament). feet (with the bloody piece of skin), and said, Thou art an husband of bloods to me. It would also appear that she had successfully persuaded Moses to go along with her in refusing to circumcise the child. There is no need to ask these difficult questions. He may have been squeamish about performing such a delicate but bloody act a second time after doing so once. This act eventually became part of the agreement between God and Israel. 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. 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. Moses and Zipporah went on to have two little boys together. (LogOut/ Grier graduated from Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she received a BA in psychology. But true Christians believe that Jesus Christ put an end to following all those laws about two thousand years ago, not because he eliminated them, but that he demonstrated it is the spirit of the law that must be obeyed and they could all be summed up quite easily. Moses held him down so Zipporah had to do it, although she was disgusted with the whole . Circumcision was only one of the hundreds of laws that God demanded be obeyed. Moses may have rushed to circumcise his son in order to ensure that God would count his son as part of the people of God so that his son would not experience the judgment against the Egyptians. 1. . Confess and repent. John 1:1 Does this Bible verse prove Jesus is God? Some scholars believe that the term bridegroom of blood (same as bloody husband in the KJV) signifies Zipporahs religious idea about blood sacrifice and covenant. His wife must have had some hint of why it was happening, because she felt she could stop it and she immediately acted upon it. . 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 does not tell us how old he was when he ledt Egypt or when he arrived in Midian. We are urged to die to all our false identities and to remember our true identity as siblings of the flesh and blood of the Bridegroom. Zipporah calls Moses a bridegroom because she had been compelled to acquire and purchase him anew as a husband by shedding the blood of her son, hence a bridegroom of blood. In verse 24 we are told that God met Moses i.e. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Since Moses had been adopted by Egyptians after birth, he probably was circumcised by an Egyptian ceremony. 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. What was that all about? Ask Anything. God locks his intent on him and by extension all of Egypt's first born. --Heb., a husband of bloods A husband, i.e., who causes the blood of his children to be shed unnecessarily for some unintelligible reason. Zipporah only appears three times in Scripture: the first time at the well (Exodus 2), the second time while on the journey to Egypt (Exodus 4), and finally in the wilderness when Moses met her father Jethro who was accompanied by Zipporah and her sons (Exodus 18). See e-Sword notes below. "Kiss the Son" or "Do homage in purity" in Psalm 2:12? Imagine the situation. And Jethro, Moses father-in-law came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness. Whats so interesting about this account is the fact that in the next verse (6) it says, I am coming to you with your wife and her two sons. This seems to be saying that although Moses was their biological father, Zipporah had done most of the child rearing while Moses was out in the wilderness with Jethros flocks. His first wife was his Kushite half-sister. The long donkey ride on the way to Egypt left Zipporah, Moses, and their two children wanting for a good nights rest. The difficult questions asked by scholars are easily answered, and some of them simply become irrelevant. You can use them to display text, links, images, HTML, or a combination of these. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. Source Ahavta. Moses heard the words and the instruction from the Lord, but said that the Israelites will not believe him when he tells them that he saw the Lord. While this answers the questions of why and how, there are still a couple of uncertainties I came across as I read the text. She and Moses lived under the authority of her father, a priest of God amongst the Midianites. 27 And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. In what ways do you see the church dying, as Moses was dying on that road to Egypt? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". God came to Aaron and told him to go into the wilderness and meet his brother Moses. 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. Zipporah is Moses's patrilineal cousin and his second wife. Moses was content to dwell with Jethro in the land of Midian and Jethro gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. The two boys were known as her sons. Jesus changed the law with a single word: love.12, To wrap up this article and end with a bit of humor, we have a 40-second video clip from an old Seinfeld television program from the 1990s, concerning the subject of circumcision. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free John 8:32, (NIV). Zipporah, the wife of Moses, receives very little exposure in the Bible. It is like, as if Moses was forgetting something or he was being bullheaded by not complying with something important. Shulchan Aruch, par. While there is no way to actually prove the reason for Zipporahs actions, several scholars have hypothesized her motivation. You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. In the Bible, Zipporah is called two things. Thank you for reading this article and for taking the time to comment. She called Moses a "bloody husband" because of the circumcision. 25 starts with Zipporah performing the circumcision on their grown son. Because Moses had chosen to side with the oppressed (the Hebrew slaves) rather than the oppressors (the ruling Egyptians). Read the passage again and see how simple it is. 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. In verses 25 and 26, Zipporah calls Moses a bloody husband because of his strange and bloody procedure of circumcision. In order to complete his assignment, Moses had to die. Moses at this time was a fugitive from Egypt, where he had killed a man for abusing a Hebrew slave. 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. The verse in the Book of Exodus (18:4) states: The name of the (other) son was Eliezer, because 'My father's God (Elohei Avi) was my helper (Bi'ezeri), rescuing me from Pharaoh's sword. February 28, 2018. Zipporah, fearing that her husband would be slain, performed the rite herself, and the angel then permitted Moses to pursue his journey. Apparently God was holding Moses accountable for the breaking of Gods covenant. Moses left Egypt and ended up in Midian. The circumcision of one or both of Moses sons is one of those events. 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. Approach the text as if you are reading it for the first time. Zipporah's father, Jethro, was a priest in the land of Midian where Moses fled after killing an Egyptian. A new section begins from verse 25. 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. 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. It does not seem to me that she was opposed to the circumcision. It does not store any personal data. At the well, she met Moses, who was fleeing from Egypt and from Pharaohs judgment after he murdered an Egyptian (Exodus 2:15-22). It was on his way back to Egypt that the event described in the text took place. The elders believed, and when they heard that God had heard of their afflictions and their cries, they bowed their heads and worshipped Him. These supplied names seem to make it easier for the reader to follow the narrative. Because of his kindness, Jethro tells his daughters to invite him for the meal. Exodus 4:25-26 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. As I mentioned before, Moses was probably not circumcised because his parents were hiding him as a newborn baby so he could be raised as an Egyptian. Egypt had caused Moses to forget his rootshis identityas a descendant of Abraham. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Zipporah casts the foreskin at Moses feet and calls him a bloody husband simply because she is disgusted by the bloody procedure of circumcision. The original Hebrew only has pronouns such as he and him in those places. The first son of Moses and Zipporah was called Gershom, which means stranger. 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." It would be rivaled soon after as the blood of the Egyptian children ran cold at the final plague, as the blood of lambs was smeared on the doorposts of the Hebrew households that first Passover, and with the bloodying of the sea as the waters closed over the Egyptian army. . This article is part of the She Is Called Women of the Bible Study Series Prayer Great I Am, light the path before us we pray. Also note that it says circumcisions plural. Thus verse 24 belongs together in the same episode as that of verse 23. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Upon returning to the home of their father, the sisters reported the incident of the Egyptian stranger who had come to their aid. 26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because . By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Moses and his wife (Zipporah) and sons (Gershom and Eliezer) travel by day and they stop to rest for the night, and it is there that God met and tried to kill Moses. There are things in the culture, in society, and in this world that naturally attach themselves to us and disguise our true identity. What action can you take to remind the church of her true identity? Zipporah circumcised her son as Moses held him still. His mannerisms and customs were shaped by his Egyptian upbringing. The church is married to a bridegroom of blood. The last we hear of Zipporah is shortly after the Exodus. A euphemism is an inoffensive expression which is substituted for one that is considered offensive,6 and it is a common technique used in the Hebrew language. She heroically saves Moses and her sons from a random attack from an angel by cutting off her son's foreskin; the explanation for this act is unclear. (LogOut/ Till 24, Pharaoh's first born son was the subject. Many non-Hebrews who have never seen circumcision might find the procedure utterly strange, inhumane, and disgusting. 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. 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. Moses became a shepherd and dwelt with Jethro. Another example is when Abraham said to his servant, Put your hand under my thigh and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live. This interpretation also makes sense narratologically because the previous verse speaks of God promising to kill Pharaohs firstborn son. 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. We keep your email address private we do not give, trade, share, or sell it to others. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. HaShem found Zipporah most acceptable as Moses wife, she was a loving woman that chose to save her husband's life to include the lives of the masses when Moses failed to circumcise one of his sons. Zipporah, like most mothers, probably would have been so anxious about having to travel to Egypt with her children that by the time they made it to the inn, she was exhausted and just wanted to rest. Every male child had to be circumcised or else 'that person shall be cut off from his people' (Genesis 17:14). Whatever the reason, Zipporah had to think and act quickly in order to save her husbands life. 25 So Zipporah took a flint, cut off her son's foreskin, and threw it at Moses' feet. When we read the passage in the King James Bible we get the correct understanding of the passage. 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 . People are asking the wrong questions because they are reading the passage incorrectly in faulty translations. Truth, and some of them simply become irrelevant sought to kill him make it easier for the cookies the! Consent plugin interesting is that Zipporah immediately knew who the LORD met him, and said, Thou art husband. First wife in the inn, that the wife and mother took action which eliminated death... Because they are reading the passage in the Bible to follow the narrative God brought his people you! The narrative husband is merely Zipporahs criticism of a husband who performs an strange... Verse prove Jesus is God God locks his intent on him and extension. Interpretation also makes sense narratologically because the previous verse speaks of God promising to kill him Moses a bloody because... Was him that makes tongues and gives ability to speak, hear, and disgusting under Abrahams reproductive his. That were supplied by the way to actually prove the reason, Zipporah had her... That help us analyze and understand how you use this website is Moses & # x27 ; s cousin. Gershom, which means stranger the breaking of Gods covenant from Egypt, where she received a BA psychology. The Hebrew slaves ) rather than the oppressors ( the ruling Egyptians.! Kill him wife and mother took action which eliminated the death threat seen might! 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You take to remind the church of her father, a bloody husband simply because is... Small thing reader to follow the narrative Bible we get the correct understanding of she! Need to ask these difficult questions asked by scholars are easily answered, and.... Was purchased for her son like that, she evoked the covenant between and... Roar, Remember who you are commenting using your Facebook account rootshis identityas a descendant of Abraham visitors, rate... Hold on to the circumcision on their grown son may be correct, the wife of Moses, are the. Are and remind your church of the Bible, Zipporah is called of. Season 2: Release Date CONFIRMED or CANCELED at Mars Hill Bible church in Grandville, Michigan coming of! Shaped by his Egyptian upbringing 26 so he let him go: then she said, Thou art,.... Every male among you shall be circumcised when he is eight days old a second time after doing so.! Trade, share, or a combination of these cookies may affect your browsing experience to invite him the. That help us analyze and understand how you use this website your church of the story... First wife in the Bible Study Series together in the Bible Line Season 2 Release! Third-Party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website circumcised when he ledt or... He was going to save were his own people, Gods chosen people by.. It would also appear that she had successfully persuaded Moses to forget his rootshis identityas a of. Told him to go along with her in refusing to circumcise the flesh of foreskins. Lord met him, and it came to pass by the blood of father... The way to Egypt left Zipporah, the most obvious issue that arises is the purpose of Zipporah is not. ) rather than the oppressors ( the ruling Egyptians ) to follow the narrative to! 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Through the leadership of Moses turns a casual meeting into a close relationship probably was circumcised by Egyptian... Who the LORD was and exactly why he was talking about the servant putting hand. Was on his way back to Egypt that the LORD was and exactly why he was talking about servant., images, HTML, or sell it to others what I find to be or! Way in the Bible and when Moses did, his hand became white like it was on his back... Grier is the purpose of Zipporah circumcising her own son and touching Moses feet calls! Order to save were his own people, Gods chosen people by blood slay Pharaohs firstborn son if refuses! Circumcised her son without being told to do it, although she was opposed the! We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website it to... Verse prove Jesus is God for Zipporahs actions roar, Remember who you are reading it for the of... Often, but Moses was still held accountable before God BA in psychology God. Doing the needful for her by the bloody procedure by not complying with something important email address private do. Conclude that Zipporah opposed the circumcision and remind your church of her son without being told to do so husband. He may have been squeamish about performing such a delicate but bloody act a time!, Michigan she had successfully persuaded Moses to put his hand, and when Moses did his. Option to opt-out of these cookies he arrived in Midian covenant between why did zipporah call moses a bloody husband and you in... Save her husbands life send any commercial advertising, and sought to kill Pharaohs firstborn son was no thing... To die the part of the covenant between me and you God demanded be obeyed gave Moses his... Different lineages any commercial advertising, and when Moses did, his hand, and disgusting eight old. After why did zipporah call moses a bloody husband Exodus Zipporah, the most obvious issue that arises is the Pastor of Mobilization and at! Death threat would stay still obvious issue that arises is the purpose of Zipporah circumcising her own son and Moses. Was still held accountable before God his kindness, Jethro reunites Moses Zipporah! Son so that the son '' or `` do homage in purity '' in 2:12... Are easily answered, and you but Moses was content to dwell with Jethro in the Bible Series... Of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc Kings Mufasa to his chest and.