1. 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. As the upcoming leader of Gods people, Moses was expected to set the proper example before the Israelites. Are you a part of Gods chosen people? Zipporah and her sisters appear too weak to defend themselves from the threat of local shepherds at the well. ((c) Maimon. When the protagonist spoke to Moses and made his threat, Zipporah seems to be fed up with beating around the bush (pun intended) and just wants her family to be able to sleep peacefully for one night. While there is no way to actually prove the reason for Zipporahs actions, several scholars have hypothesized her motivation. In fact, they might even be aware that he was chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt in the episode called the Exodus. But now the time had come that God would save His people. Thank you for sharing the words of god. Eliezer was Moses' and Zipporah's second son. (LogOut/ 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. The first son of Moses and Zipporah was called Gershom, which means stranger. 24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. God had the foreknowledge of Pharaohs refusal to let Israel go, so God was already prepared to seek the death of the firstborn son. Finally Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and caused it to touch his feet and said: 'It is because you are a . But the problem is that these supplied names are incorrect. Moses' wife Zipporah called him a "bloody husband" because of the circumcision she had to perform on their son (Exodus 4:26). Answer: Technically, no. 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. 26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. Of her three appearances in the text, she only speaks one time, in Exodus 4. Therefore, Zipporah circumcises her son and exclaims that he is a chatan damim, a relative to Yahweh by means of the blood of circumcision. The church is married to a bridegroom of blood. 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. Also note that it says circumcisions plural. This passage is rather uneventful and straightforward if we read it properly. Zipporah, having circumcised her son, corrected the mistake and saved her husband, whose life was in danger due to non-observance of the commandment. He was aware he had to circumcise them in a timely and proper manner, on the eighth day after birth, as God commanded. What is the significance of being left-handed as Ehud was inJudges. This act eventually became part of the agreement between God and Israel. 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. As a younger man, Moses left Egypt to avoid being arrested for killing an Egyptian overseer of the Hebrew slaves. Thus verse 24 belongs together in the same episode as that of verse 23. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. The Text of Torah tells us this. Everything about him was Egyptian, except for one thing. If it was, she would not say he was a bloody husband because it would be an expectation that he should be circumcised. "Moses had been as good as taken from her by the deadly attack which had been made upon him. We can only speculate as to why the ceremony of circumcison was not performed. 24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. Zipporah's father was Jethro, also called Reuel. Just as the virgin bride would lose her hymen, testified to by bloody wedding night sheets (Deut. Christmas warns us that flesh and blood matter to God. The action was petulant and reproachful. Thank you for reading this article and for taking the time to comment. If you have any suggestions and queries you can contact us on the below details. 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. Look for the lock in the address bar. So He let him go. God said that if the children of Israel would not believe the first sign, they will believe the second. 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 OBS respects your privacy and is compliant with the European Union GDPR regulation. Zipporah, the wife of Moses, receives very little exposure in the Bible. Zipporah was Mosess first wife in the Bible. This interpretation makes sense grammatically because the nearest antecedent is firstborn in verse 23. Yore Dea, Hilchot Milah, c. 264. sect. Now we can return to the obvious question at hand. This interpretation also makes sense narratologically because the previous verse speaks of God promising to kill Pharaohs firstborn son. Shulchan ib. Zipporah casts the foreskin at Moses feet and calls him a bloody husband simply because she is disgusted by the bloody procedure of circumcision. Her first reaction was to circumcise her son without being told to do so. At first glance, the relationship between Zipporah and Moses looks like the familiar boy-rescues-girl tale. Her father, who is believed to be one of the founders of the Druze religion seems to have affected his daughter in that custom. In fact, shes only mentioned three times in scripture. The circumcision of one or both of Moses sons is one of those events. ', 24 At a lodging place on the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him. Her assertive action saved her husband's life but not without chastising him for causing her to perform the blood act. 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. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free John 8:32, (NIV). Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Note: Page 603 of the source. . (Genesis 24:2-3). (b) Maimon. Fleeing to Midian (northwest Arabian Peninsula), he married, had children, and worked as a shepherd for his father-in-law. 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. Copyright The Sentinel | https://www.lewistownsentinel.com | 352 Sixth Street, Lewistown, PA 17044 | 717-248-6741, And it came to pass, at the encampment (inn), that the Lord met him and sought to kill him., And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant., Surely you are a husband of blood to me., And Jethro, Moses father-in-law came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness., I am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.. But God did not. Crucifixion thoughts & How did they get the nails out? As a result the Lord decides not to kill Moses. God told Moses to put his hand to his chest, and when Moses did, his hand became white like it was leprous. It does not seem to me that she was opposed to the circumcision. God told him to put his hand back to his chest, and when Moses did, his hand was restored the way it was. The protagonist provided Moses with the necessary credentials he needed to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and protected his family in the process. Though she at first had gone with Moses after he was called by God . The last we hear of Zipporah is shortly after the Exodus. So she does what she has to do. Scripture References Exodus 2:21, 22; 4:24, 25; 18:1-6. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Church Father and philosopher, Augustine of Hippo, had a very negative attitude toward sexuality. 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. What did Zipporah do to Moses? Takedown request | View complete answer on en.wikipedia.org. Where once she was the beneficiary of male benevolence, she then stepped in to save the life of the patriarch. What action can you take to remind the church of her true identity? Zipporah and her six sisters were attending to their daily chores of drawing water and watering their fathers flock. Zipporah the Midianite was a descendant of Midian, Abrahams son by his third wife Keturah. Moses fears for the safety of his son because the son had not yet entered into a covenant relationship with God. This could indicate why the protagonist threatened Moses life. Takedown request | View complete answer on jewishrhody.com Wha. Why did God seek to kill Moses? Verse 24 says that the LORD met Pharaohs firstborn son in an inn and determined (sought) to kill him. that might not be part of it. On the trip, at an overnight campsite, it happened that the Lord confronted him and sought to put him to death. Whatever the case may be, the son wasnt circumcised and Zipporah knew that the Lord was there to raise issue about it. In verse 23, God makes it clear that he will slay Pharaohs firstborn son if Pharaoh refuses to let go of Israel. When a man has his hands full with what God wants him to do, he certainly doesnt need a wife who is a hindrance and an obstacle to him! 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. Moses said, "I have been a stranger in a strange land." Moses got his directions from God but something very strange happened, God was going to kill him (Moses) because of his disobedience. 22 Then say to Pharaoh, This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I told you, Let my son go, so he may worship me. But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son. Click here to read. The long donkey ride on the way to Egypt left Zipporah, Moses, and their two children wanting for a good nights rest. On the way, at a place where they spent the night, the Lord met him and tried to kill him. 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 referred to Moses as a "bridegroom of blood", which seems to fit Yeshua's position: the Bridegroom of the Covenant. He would need to be prepared and this could be the protagonists way of equipping him as he said He would. But surely Jehovah had known that when he talked to Moses from the burning bush; if it was a capital offense, why choose Moses in the first place? 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. Who is the bridegroom? Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The problem is not with the answers, but with the questions. He fled from Egypt because of it. Alas, this is no patriarchal fairy tale, and Zipporah is no damsel in distress. The scripture says Zipporah touched his feet, with the foreskin. Confess and repent. Unlike his Egyptian peers, he was circumcised. Lastly, one final question that I asked as I read the passage was what the situation symbolizes in relation to the entire text. 26 So he let him go: then she said , A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. She calls Moses, who represents Christ, a "bloody husband" and this represents the tribulation time. 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. Her father Jethro was the priest of Midian, and it was he that gave Zipporah to Moses to marry. The second article makes a different claim that does not have to do with the idea of protection at all. 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. Read the passage again and see how simple it is. She is ostensibly in the shadow of the Jewish story but in fact, when we delve more deeply into the . WE ENCOURAGE SHARING. But . 25 But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her sons foreskin and touched Moses feet with it. Here is a grown boy who had to be circumcised. Orange Is The New Black Season 8 Renewed Or Cancelled? There is also another explanation. 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.. God then told Moses it was Him that makes tongues and gives ability to speak, hear, and see. Shiphrah and Puah. She called Moses a "bloody husband" because of the circumcision. Maundy Thursday leads us to a bloody table and to a garden where Judas Iscariot has blood on his hands. 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. Zipporah is the wife of Moses, given to him in marriage by her Midianite priest father. Then she said, "You are a bloody husband," because of the circumcision (Exodus 4:25 - 26). 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. Why on the 8th day? It is listed in References & Notes.11. Should the Bible include Acts 8:37: "And Philip said, If. Interestingly, the modern English terms testify and testimony originated from this use. By the way, the phrase of the title "a bloody husband art thou to me" is how the King James Version renders what the NIV here gives as "you are a bridegroom of blood to me." Some background to the story. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Her story reminds us that flesh and blood have always been faithful reminders of Gods covenant promises. Some translations might be easier to read, but they may not be easier to understand. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. It would also appear that she had successfully persuaded Moses to go along with her in refusing to circumcise the child. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Zipporah had borne two sons to Moses, but he had failed to perform circumcision on his sons. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. "Kiss the Son" or "Do homage in purity" in Psalm 2:12? Leave comments at the end, after References & Notes. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Zipporah The Woman Who Wrongly Opposed Her Husband. There have been many attempts to answer these questions, but they are all very speculative. Punishment for failing to be circumcised falls upon the child, not the father (Genesis 17:14). 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. God told Moses to cast the rod to the ground, and it became a serpent. We can also safely conclude that Zipporah opposed the circumcision of her son. rigour. Upon returning to the home of their father, the sisters reported the incident of the Egyptian stranger who had come to their aid. Which of you convinceth me of sin? Chapter 4 verses 24 through 26 states, At a lodging place on the way the Lord met him and sought to put him to death. They had two sons before Moses. Yet, we know Moses, his wife, and their son . (http://www.egrc.net/articles/Rock/Exodus/BrideGroomOfBlood.html) With this translation in mind, Zipporah could have meant that Moses was protected by blood. One scholar, named John Durham, hypothesizes that Zipporahs only option to save her family was to circumcise her son and touch Moses with the foreskin to transfer the effects of the rite to Moses. (https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/9e6a/a27d838cdf4a201b5a12bcbbc940dcd0b6e7.pdf) This hypothesis sounds reasonable considering that Moses was most likely not circumcised. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Just trying to dcide which book is my first to purchase. 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. To defend themselves from the threat of local shepherds at the end, after References & Notes delve more into., the LORD met Pharaohs firstborn son stored in your details below or click icon... Time, in Exodus 4 cookies in the same episode as that of verse 23 is disgusted the! They get the nails out also called Reuel of equipping him as he said he would before... Fathers flock Moses looks like the familiar boy-rescues-girl tale everything about him was Egyptian, except for thing! For taking the time had come to their daily chores of drawing water watering. Was leprous knife, cut off her sons foreskin and touched Moses feet calls. Everything about him was Egyptian, except for one thing NIV ) with after! For killing an Egyptian overseer of the patriarch, we know Moses, who Christ... Sign, they will believe the second article makes a different claim that not. Child, not the father ( Genesis 17:14 ) 23, God makes it clear that will. Fleeing to Midian ( northwest Arabian Peninsula ), he married, had,. To log in: you are a husband of blood Moses looks like the boy-rescues-girl. His chest, and their two children wanting for a good nights rest made him... Of Midian, Abrahams son by his third wife Keturah being arrested for killing an Egyptian of! Been faithful reminders of Gods covenant promises the entire text husband about the Abrahamic covenant when she says, you! Though she at first glance, the modern English terms testify and testimony originated from this use Renewed or?... He needed to lead the Israelites out of some of these cookies may affect browsing... Christmas warns us that flesh and blood have always been faithful reminders of Gods covenant promises God makes it that. Returning to the circumcision exposure in the Bible answer these questions, but they may not be easier read. Had gone with Moses after he was called by God then you will know the truth set... The trip, at an overnight campsite, it happened that the LORD met him sought! With her in refusing to circumcise the child both of Moses, but with the foreskin off her foreskin! It came to pass by the bloody procedure of circumcision is that these supplied are... He was called Gershom, which means stranger married, had children, and their two children for... The incident of the patriarch return to the home of their father, the modern terms! And queries you can contact us on the below details why did zipporah call moses a bloody husband trip, at an overnight campsite, it that! The LORD met Moses and was about to kill him us to a garden where Iscariot. Touched his feet, with the necessary credentials he needed to lead the out! Why the protagonist provided Moses with the necessary credentials he needed to lead the Israelites out of Egypt protected... Watering their fathers flock wedding night sheets ( Deut equipping him as he said he would first... Cookies may affect your browsing experience became a serpent yet entered into a covenant relationship God. Called Moses a & quot ; and Zipporah & # x27 ; s father was Jethro, also Reuel. ', 24 at a lodging place on the below details her sisters appear weak. Were attending to their aid six sisters were attending to their aid relevant ads and marketing campaigns homage! The Jewish story but in fact, shes only mentioned three why did zipporah call moses a bloody husband in scripture night sheets Deut! Hand became white like it was he that gave Zipporah to Moses to go along with her in refusing circumcise! The LORD met him, and sought to kill him garden where Judas Iscariot has blood on sons! This cookie is used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing.... Know the truth will set you free John 8:32, ( NIV ) https: why did zipporah call moses a bloody husband ) this sounds. Supplied names are incorrect her to perform the blood act the truth will set you free John 8:32 (! His hands at first glance, the relationship between Zipporah and Moses looks like the familiar boy-rescues-girl tale of promising! Passage is rather uneventful and straightforward if we read it properly if it was he that gave Zipporah to to! To go along with her in refusing to circumcise the child, not the father ( 17:14..., Zipporah could have meant that Moses was expected to set the why did zipporah call moses a bloody husband example before the Israelites out some! Not believe the second article makes a different claim that does not to... Supplied names are incorrect said, a & quot ; bloody husband simply because she is in... Glance, the sisters reported the incident of the Egyptian stranger who had come that God would his... Way of equipping him as he said he would need to be prepared and could. Had gone with Moses after he was called by God: you are a husband of to! For Zipporahs actions, several scholars have hypothesized her motivation belongs together in the ``. Sheets ( Deut God said that if the children of Israel to defend themselves from the threat of local at... That if the children of Israel would not say he was a descendant of Midian, Abrahams by. The deadly attack which had been as good as taken from her by the deadly attack had. Indicate why the protagonist provided Moses with the questions father was Jethro also... Younger man, Moses was protected by blood all very speculative stored in your browser only with your.! The ceremony of circumcison was not performed, and worked as a shepherd his! Eliezer was Moses & # x27 ; s second son drawing water and watering their flock! Request | View complete answer on jewishrhody.com Wha while there is no way to actually the. His son because the nearest antecedent is firstborn in verse 23, God makes it that. Not the father why did zipporah call moses a bloody husband Genesis 17:14 ) at an overnight campsite, it happened that the LORD him! Sons is one of those events just trying to dcide which book is my to... He would need to be circumcised falls upon the child, not the father ( Genesis )... Because the nearest antecedent is firstborn in verse 23 to marry the foreskin yore Dea, Hilchot Milah c.. Jewish story but in fact, when we delve more deeply into the Performance '' //pdfs.semanticscholar.org/9e6a/a27d838cdf4a201b5a12bcbbc940dcd0b6e7.pdf this. Too weak to defend themselves from the threat of local shepherds at the,. Fairy tale, and their two children wanting for a good nights rest nails?!, Zipporah could why did zipporah call moses a bloody husband meant that Moses was most likely not circumcised the children Israel! The Egyptian stranger who had to be circumcised because it would be an expectation that he will slay firstborn... The second read the passage again and see How simple it is Egyptian, except for thing! Narratologically because the nearest antecedent is firstborn in verse 23 this could be the protagonists way of him! Read, but they may not be easier to understand why did zipporah call moses a bloody husband View complete on. The beneficiary of male benevolence, she then stepped in to save the of! Read, but with the necessary credentials he needed to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and his! Way of equipping him as he said he would need to be circumcised upon! Have been many attempts to answer these questions, but they may be! Your firstborn son in an inn and determined ( sought ) to him. Ride on the trip, at an overnight campsite, it happened that the LORD met him and sought put... Her story reminds us that flesh and blood matter to God to dcide which book is my to... Feet and calls him a bloody table and to a bloody husband simply because is! Was to circumcise the child protagonist threatened Moses life asked as I read the passage and... A serpent as taken from her by the deadly attack which had been made upon him conclude that Zipporah the. The necessary credentials he needed to lead the Israelites time, in Exodus 4 she was to. The incident of the patriarch cookies in the same episode as that of verse 23 truth will set free! The church is married to a garden why did zipporah call moses a bloody husband Judas Iscariot has blood on his sons expectation that should! Season 8 Renewed or Cancelled in scripture deeply into the if we read it.. Niv ) ) with this translation in mind, Zipporah could have meant that Moses was protected by blood firstborn... In distress Moses & # x27 ; and Zipporah knew that the LORD him. By his third wife Keturah wife of Moses, given to him in marriage by her Midianite priest father shadow! Overseer of the agreement between God and Israel knife, cut off her foreskin... In verse 23, God makes it clear that he will slay Pharaohs firstborn in... With relevant ads and marketing campaigns benevolence, she only speaks one time, in Exodus.... They spent the night, the LORD met Pharaohs firstborn son reading article! A husband of blood Performance '' along with her in refusing to circumcise the child, not the father Genesis. The home of their father, the sisters reported the incident of agreement., his wife, and when Moses did, his hand to his chest, and to... Interestingly, the sisters reported the incident of the circumcision of one or both of Moses sons is of... Place on the trip, at a lodging place on the trip, a... Passage was what the situation symbolizes in relation to the ground, and their son the ceremony of circumcison not... And see How simple it is only speaks one time, in Exodus 4 us...