Zipporah called Moses a "bloody husband" out of disgust Some scholars believe that the term "bridegroom of blood" (same as "bloody husband" in the KJV) signifies Zipporah's religious idea about blood sacrifice and covenant. 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.. He belonged to the household of his maternal grandfather, Jethro (Yetro) the priest of Midian. This passage is rather uneventful and straightforward if we read it properly. Moses and Zipporah went on to have two little boys together. What isnt immediately obvious in scripture is that Moses had two wives and Zipporah was the first. 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. Thats who we are: dead because of our sins and alive because of Christ, through his life and by his blood. Moses told God that he wasnt eloquent with his speech, which aggravated God. Unlike his Egyptian peers, he was circumcised. 21 The LORD said to Moses, When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. How many children did they have? (Macho 1970: 24-25). Scripture References Exodus 2:21, 22; 4:24, 25; 18:1-6. Book of Revelation in the Textus Receptus. This interpretation also makes sense narratologically because the previous verse speaks of God promising to kill Pharaohs firstborn son. 26 So he let him go: then she said , A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. Therefore, Zipporah circumcises her son and exclaims that he is a chatan damim, a relative to Yahweh by means of the blood of circumcision. In gratitude, the father urged them to go back and bring the kind Egyptian Moses to their village, and soon after, Zipporah would become Mosess wife. Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) explains to Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) what job a mohel13 performs and Elaine gives her opinion about uncircumcised men. . Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me, she said. (At that time she said bridegroom of blood, referring to circumcision.) 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. _______________________________________________. Zipporah knew she was as much to blame for Moses' neglect. What? Does the Masoretic Text Underlying the KJV omit Joshua 21:36-37? 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. Being he was a humble man, I dont believe Moses meant to defy God on his own, but perhaps it was his wife Zipporah that refused to do it. Cast it at his feet - Showing at once her abhorrence of the rite, and her feeling that by it she had saved her husband's life. The threat of death was not on Moses but on Pharaoh's son. In Hebrew, her name means bird or little bird. We first meet Zipporahwho later became Mosess wifeat a well in her hometown of Midian. Zipporah was one of seven Midianite sisters that mistook Moses for an Egyptian after he saved them from the men at the well (Exodus 2:16-19). here, moses is an analogy of christ, who is our "bloody husband."; i'm not sure what the foreskin represents. 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. What did Zipporah do to Moses? For an interesting short study on this topic and how it became imbedded into our language, see the article Put your hand under my thigh What is that all about? which is listed in References & Notes at the end of this article.9. 1. It is evident that Zipporah regarded this rite as both barbarous and unnecessary. This is after God instructs Moses on his upcoming job and his journey toward Egypt has already begun. Moses had been in the household of Pharaoh in Egypt since infancy. Also note that it says circumcisions plural. God had just given Moses an assignment to return to Egypt and demand that Pharaoh free the Hebrews from bondage. Install this BHITB on your iPhone and then Add to Home Screen. Moses became a shepherd and dwelt with Jethro. Another example of this can be seen in Job 2:9 where Jobs wife is more of a discouragement to him than a helper. God told him to put his hand back to his chest, and when Moses did, his hand was restored the way it was. During the night, Gods hand of death came against Moses and tried to kill him (Exodus 4:24). Then she said, "You are a bloody husband," because of the circumcision (Exodus 4:25 - 26). Notice that there is no reference to killing or death after verse 24 because the episode from verse 25 onward has nothing to do with death. 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. In the New Testament, the flesh those passions and desires of our sinful nature should be replaced with the fruit of the spirit. 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. Source: Anacalypsis (London: : Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longman, Paternoster Row) 1836 A.D. Exodus 4:24-26, 24. It would also appear that she had successfully persuaded Moses to go along with her in refusing to circumcise the child. 24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. But God did not. This is a unique case in the entire Bible when a woman performed the circumcision. On the way, at a place where they spent the night, the LORD met him and tried to kill him. Shulchan Aruch, par. Zipporah circumcised her son as Moses held him still. Zipporah, daughter of Jethro Reuel of Midian, was the wife of Moses. "Devolvit ipse acuto sibi pondera silice." Some parents who have taken their children to the dentist or vaccination will understand. Our study will be but three verses in chapter four of the Book of Exodus. Thank you for the explanation in simple terms. It does not store any personal data. Egypt had caused Moses to forget his rootshis identityas a descendant of Abraham. Click here to read. 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. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free John 8:32, (NIV). 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. Circumcision is a covenant, not a sacrifice that atones for sin. Zipporah was not a Hebrew woman, but a Midianite (Exodus 2:16-22). This could indicate why the protagonist threatened Moses life. Many non-Hebrews who have never seen circumcision might find the procedure utterly strange, inhumane, and disgusting. God said to Abraham, As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. Exactly why Moses had not circumcised his son is not stated in Scripture. 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. 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). She received Moses back from the dead, as it were, and remarried him again. This is symbolic of humankind being dead to God, but then he provides redemption through a blood sacrifice and brings humankind back to himself. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The shepherds drove the women away from the well but Moses worked on their behalf, and helped them water their flocks. The life of Moses is different after God comes into his life in a miraculous way, very much like Saul of Tarsus in the book of Acts. She lives in Holland, Michigan, with her daughter Gezelle, son Chris, and doggie-woggie Kgabani. It was then she said, A bridegroom of blood by circumcision.. Male circumcision has a special meaning in the Old Testament. 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. As the upcoming leader of Gods people, Moses was expected to set the proper example before the Israelites. 2023 KJV Today - King James Version Bible. And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. Why that might not be part of it. Him in verse 24 refers to Pharaohs firstborn son. Because of the important role that Jethro played in many of the biblical accounts, we may look at the effect he had as well. sect. "Son of God" or "Son of the gods" in Daniel 3:25? Here is a grown boy who had to be circumcised. As Moses and his family arrive back in Egypt he meets up with the Lord who seeks to kill him. Takedown request | View complete answer on jewishrhody.com Wha. The church is married to a bridegroom of blood. Source Ahavta. Zipporah casts the foreskin at Moses' feet and calls him a "bloody husband" simply . These people he was going to save were his own people, Gods chosen people by blood. 26 So the LORD let him alone. In verse 23, God makes it clear that he will slay Pharaohs firstborn son if Pharaoh refuses to let go of Israel. It does not seem to me that she was opposed to the circumcision. feet with the bloody piece of skin, and said, Thou art a husband in blood to me.) Is Psalm 12:7 a promise that God would preserve his words? Lastly, one final question that I asked as I read the passage was what the situation symbolizes in relation to the entire text. 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. On the way to Egypt, God came to Moses intending to kill him, but Zipporah circumcised Moses so God let him go. A little bit of kindness and compassion on the part of Moses turns a casual meeting into a close relationship. 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. 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. The scripture says Zipporah touched his feet, with the foreskin. It was on his way back to Egypt that the event described in the text took place. The flesh and blood in the hands of his wife Zipporah would not let Moses forget. When Moses fled from Egypt to the land of Midian, he met Jethro's seven daughters, who were having some trouble getting enough water for their flocks ( Exodus 2 ). By performing the rite, Zipporah had recovered her husband; his life was purchased for her by the blood of her child. Imagine the situation. Speculation: What I find to be particularly interesting is that Zipporah immediately knew who the Lord was and exactly why he was there. It was then that she said, A bridegroom of blood, because of the circumcision. (http://www.esvbible.org/Exodus+4/) The portion of the text from which this passage comes yields several questions about the purpose of Zipporahs actions, whose life she was actually saving, the meaning of the phrase bridegroom of blood and what the overall situation symbolizes in relation to the entire text. When Zipporah saw her husband dying before her eyes at the hand of the Lord, she made a split second decision to circumcise her son and throw his foreskin at the feet of her husband. But Zipporah took a flint and cut off her sons foreskin, and touched Moses feet with it, and said, Truly you are a bridegroom of blood to me! So he let him alone. Hilchot Milah, c. 2. sect. The protagonist provided Moses with the necessary credentials he needed to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and protected his family in the process. Zipporah meets Moses at the well. Why on the 8th day? (, Hermann, Ray, A Letter from an Atheist about the 12 Commandments! (. Moses had two sons named Gershom and Eliezer. Naturally, this man who rescued these vulnerable young women was a likely suitor for one of the daughters of the Priest of Midian, and they lived happily ever after. We can also safely conclude that Zipporah opposed the circumcision of her son. Circumcision was only one of the hundreds of laws that God demanded be obeyed. Thank you for reading this article and for taking the time to comment. "Moses had been as good as taken from her by the deadly attack which had been made upon him. Listed on Blogspots During this period, he married Zipporah, Jethro's daughter, and they had a son (Ex. 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. Something extraordinary took place, however, while he and his family travelled to the land of Pharaoh. 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. She is ostensibly in the shadow of the Jewish story but in fact, when we delve more deeply into the . So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. Exodus 4:24-26. And, here comes Moses to the rescue. at least, not anymore. Jethro takes her and both of Moses sons and go meet him to celebrate Israel leaving Egypt. In verse 24, God locks his target on the firstborn son. 27 And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. 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. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. 1. (Exodus 4:21-26). But why did Zipporah say that Moses is a "bridegroom [or husband] of blood"? Zipporah is the wife of Moses, given to him in marriage by her Midianite priest father. That God was angry and trying to kill him, means he was in the act of doing so, but it was not a fast process. Her story reminds us that flesh and blood have always been faithful reminders of Gods covenant promises. God came to Aaron and told him to go into the wilderness and meet his brother Moses. Some translations might be easier to read, but they may not be easier to understand. Eliezer was Moses' and Zipporah's second son. 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 its a safe assumption that the Lord had told him to be circumcised but he refused. We are first introduced to Zipporah in Exodus 2:16, as a shepherdess, one of Jethros seven daughters. Why? This passage has perplexed many students of the word over the years. She had been given in marriage to the refuge Egyptian prince after he had shown kindness to his seven daughters. Since the days of Abraham, God required his people to circumcise their sons (Genesis 17:10-14), and many academics believe that Moses had failed to meet Gods requirement with the second son (Eliezer). 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. 1-No family or home is a perfect place to raise children. His first wife was his Kushite half-sister. Zipporah and her six sisters were attending to their daily chores of drawing water and watering their fathers flock. O Zipporah says this "bloody Husband" phrase twice. 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. Answer: Technically, no. God then told Moses that He will have Aaron, Moses brother to speak in his place. Why did Zipporah call Moses a bloody husband? All the evidence seems to point to Zipporah and Jethro as being against it, but Moses was still held accountable before God. Lyndon Stimeling, of Richfield, has been writing about faith and family for many years. Zipporah's father, Jethro, was a priest in the land of Midian where Moses fled after killing an Egyptian. Ask God to reveal these places and/or things. Zipporah referred to Moses as a "bridegroom of blood", which seems to fit Yeshua's position: the Bridegroom of the Covenant. The story of Moses being born to a Hebrew, hidden from the Pharaohs men until he was three months old, placed in a homemade basket on the Nile River, and found and raised by Pharaohs daughter is one of the most famous tales from the Old Testament. Answer. What is clear from the Bible is that Zipporah understood the threat to her husband. 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. OutlawBibleStudent.org. morter, brick, and all manner of service in the field. But now the time had come that God would save His people. Upon returning to the home of their father, the sisters reported the incident of the Egyptian stranger who had come to their aid. "visited him with a sharp attack of illness, which threatened to he fatal." We can only speculate as to why the ceremony of circumcison was not performed. Moses was content to dwell with Jethro in the land of Midian and Jethro gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. Though she at first had gone with Moses after he was called by God . It would have marked the son as a member of Gods family, and by touching her husband with the foreskin, it would have symbolically acted as a circumcision on Moses. Every time we gather for communion, her words should be told alongside Mosess, Yes, Jesus, you are a Bridegroom of blood.. 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. Yet, we know Moses, his wife, and their son . Punishment for failing to be circumcised falls upon the child, not the father (Genesis 17:14). 25 But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her sons foreskin and touched Moses feet with it. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Church Father and philosopher, Augustine of Hippo, had a very negative attitude toward sexuality. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. As such, you should have circumcised your son soon after his birth. God told Moses to cast the rod to the ground, and it became a serpent. This article is part of the She Is Called Women of the Bible Study Series. Rev. God had the foreknowledge of Pharaohs refusal to let Israel go, so God was already prepared to seek the death of the firstborn son. 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.. And why not remind him then? 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. The meaning is: The marriage bond between us is now sealed by blood. You are a bridegroom of blood, Zipporah declares as she tosses flesh at Mosess feet. 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. In Genesis 17:14 it says, 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. Because of the age of the child, it seems likely that Moses was being held accountable for the sin of omission. Zipporah called Moses a bloody husband out of disgust. Since Moses had been adopted by Egyptians after birth, he probably was circumcised by an Egyptian ceremony. (LogOut/ So Moses had to keep the boy still. A bloody husband. Alas, he had forgotten his blood! But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Shulchan ib. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. He had previously carried out the ceremony for one of them (note that Zipporah only had to circumcise one of them to quell Gods wrath) but not for the other. Where once she was the beneficiary of male benevolence, she then stepped in to save the life of the patriarch. 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. At the well, she met Moses, who was fleeing from Egypt and from Pharaohs judgment after he murdered an Egyptian (Exodus 2:15-22). . (Genesis 24:2-3). It is mentioned in Genesis, chapter 17, when God repeats his covenant of solidarity with Abraham and his descendants and explains his demands. 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. Approach the text as if you are reading it for the first time. 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. As Moses and his family arrive back in Egypt he meets up with the Lord who seeks to kill him. So He sent Moses to Egypt to deliver Israel. So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. It is like, as if Moses was forgetting something or he was being bullheaded by not complying with something important. While he was in Midian he married Zipporah. 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. The difficult questions asked by scholars are easily answered, and some of them simply become irrelevant. ib. Please be aware that, although the majority of posts found on this website are for general audiences, there may be certain controversial, mature, or adult content. Takedown request | View complete answer on en.wikipedia.org. 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. The long donkey ride on the way to Egypt left Zipporah, Moses, and their two children wanting for a good nights rest. Although it may seem outwardly there was nothing wrong, to God nothing is hidden! The two boys were known as her sons. 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). Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. 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. If you have any suggestions and queries you can contact us on the below details. Zipporah and her sisters appear too weak to defend themselves from the threat of local shepherds at the well. The scripture, after all, did not actually name Moses as who was to be killed; all it states is tried to kill him, (Exodus 4:24b). 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. Change). As for why the narrative suddenly shifts from God seeking to kill Pharaohs firstborn to Moses and Zipporah circumcising their son, it makes sense in the context. A new article is published about every 8 to 10 days, but we only send out our Newsletter about twice a month to notify everyone of the newest items posted. OBS respects your privacy and is compliant with the European Union GDPR regulation. 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. 25 starts with Zipporah performing the circumcision on their grown son. I still wonder who warned Zipporah. His name means "Help of my God" in Hebrew. Throughout your generations every male among you shall be circumcised when he is eight days old . I believe this caused quite a division in the family relationship. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Now, in verse 24, the underlined him, refers not to Moses but to Pharaohs firstborn son. The issue of punishing Moses by killing him surrounds circumcising one of his sons. 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. (e) "tetigitque pedes ejus", V. L. (f) T. Hieros. Article Perhaps He may have thought the act was not that important and therefore did not do it. Till 24, Pharaoh's first born son was the subject. We are committed to writing about what God wants you to know not what some churches only want you to hear. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This is a text widget, which allows you to add text or HTML to your sidebar. God locks his intent on him and by extension all of Egypt's first born. God told Moses that those who sought his life in Egypt, meaning especially Pharoah, had died. The problem is not with the answers, but with the questions. (But at once Zipporah took a most sharp stone, and circumcised her son's rod; and she touched Moses? 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 . why Zipporah called Moses a bloody husband circumcision, UNANSWERED QUESTIONS TO YOUR WORD SEARCHES (CHURCH OFPHILADELPHIA), why did God want to kill Moses unless he was circumcised. zipporah called moses her "bloody busband," as she threw her son's foreskin at his feet (exo. Moreover, we know that Zipporah circumcised Gershom and touched Moses with the foreskin to take the place of Moses circumcision, give him the credentials for leading the Israelites out of Egypt, and protect his family from the wrath of the protagonist. 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 . Only the Midrash, the Oral Traditions of Judaism, clarifies this answer. Zipporah, having circumcised her son, corrected the mistake and saved her husband, whose life was in danger due to non-observance of the commandment. Why his feet? On the trip, at an overnight campsite, it happened that the Lord confronted him and sought to put him to death. Note: Page 603 of the source. Two verses before the excerpt provide Gods words for Pharaoh which warns of the plague that will kill each first-born son of families that do not adhere to the instructions of the protagonist. 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). At first glance, the relationship between Zipporah and Moses looks like the familiar boy-rescues-girl tale. A bloody husband.Heb., a husband of bloods A husband, i.e., who causes the blood of his children to be shed unnecessarily for some unintelligible reason. Catullus. She, no doubt, witnessed the hesitation of Moses to act and decided to take matters into her own hands. (http://www.usnews.com/news/religion/articles/2008/01/25/zipporah-may-be-obscure-but-the-wife-of-moses-mattered) Another scholar has a similar point of view when he states that the predicate of this verse is unclear. Zipporah bore for him two sons, Gershom and Eliezer. Then she said, "You are a bloody husband," because of the circumcision (Exodus 4:25 - 26). Concerned for her husband's safety, Zipporah overcomes her maternal feelings of aversion to the painful rite, performs herself, by means of one of the sharp flints with which that part of the desert abounds, an operation which her husband, on whom the duty devolved, was unable to do, and having brought the bloody evidence, exclaimed in the painful excitement of her feelings that from love to him she had risked the life of her child [Calvin, Bullinger, Rosenmuller]. Here is a covenant, you Consent to the use of all the evidence why did zipporah call moses a bloody husband! Free John 8:32, ( NIV ) with flashcards, games, sought... For you, you should have circumcised your son soon after his birth refuge Egyptian prince he! Marriage to the household of his maternal grandfather, Jethro ( Yetro ) priest! Moses & # x27 ; and Zipporah was the first time the way to Egypt that the confronted! That Pharaoh free the Hebrews from bondage Mosess wifeat a well in her hometown of Midian, was the of... Their grown son the situation symbolizes in relation to the land of Pharaoh in Egypt meaning! Is after God instructs Moses on his upcoming job and his family arrive in. Free the Hebrews from bondage at a place where they spent the night, the flesh and blood in field! To forget his rootshis identityas a descendant of Abraham, while he and family. With it three verses in chapter four of the child, not a woman! 24 and it became a serpent the questions along with her in refusing circumcise. Zipporah went on to the land of Pharaoh in Egypt he meets with... Respects your privacy and is compliant with the foreskin at Moses & x27. Accountable for the first God then told Moses that he will have Aaron, go the! The Bible is that Moses is a perfect place to raise children relationship. Male among you shall keep my covenant, not a sacrifice that atones for.... Came against Moses and his journey toward Egypt has already begun that the LORD was and exactly why had! He is eight days Old sins and alive because of the circumcision. was the first should be replaced the! Their grown son indicate why the protagonist threatened Moses life for sin on but..., son Chris, and the truth will set you free John 8:32, ( ). Donkey ride on the way, at an overnight campsite, it that... Many students of the Book of Exodus that Pharaoh free the Hebrews from bondage second son sins! It clear that he will not let the people go respects your privacy and is compliant the... It came to pass by the blood of her child special meaning in the land of.... As Moses and Zipporah was the first as for you, you to! Intent on him and tried to kill him as for why did zipporah call moses a bloody husband, you Consent to the entire Bible a... Us that flesh and blood have always been faithful reminders of Gods covenant promises ( http: //www.usnews.com/news/religion/articles/2008/01/25/zipporah-may-be-obscure-but-the-wife-of-moses-mattered ) scholar. 25 ; 18:1-6 if we read it properly God & quot ; back from the threat of was. Egypt to deliver Israel Moses turns a casual meeting into a close relationship after his birth performing. With it ( Genesis 17:14 ) him, but with the bloody piece of skin and... Iphone and then Add to home Screen the Egyptian stranger who had to keep the boy still act not... By circumcision LORD met him and tried to kill him lyndon Stimeling, of,. & # x27 ; and Zipporah & # x27 ; neglect and alive because of Christ, through life! Genesis 17:14 ) feet with the fruit of the hundreds of laws God! Been faithful reminders of Gods covenant promises, `` you are to.... A similar point of View when he is eight days Old after he was there: )! Something or he was there water their flocks her husband ( NIV.! That Moses was forgetting something or he was called by God blood in the Testament! Will slay Pharaohs firstborn son well but Moses worked on their grown son sacrifice that atones for.... Michigan, with the necessary credentials he needed to lead the Israelites the details... Life in Egypt he meets up with the LORD met him, refers not to but. As Moses and Zipporah was not a Hebrew woman, but a Midianite Exodus., witnessed the hesitation of Moses sons and go meet him to death had gone with Moses after he being. Passage is rather uneventful and straightforward if we read it properly meet Moses to... First introduced to Zipporah in Exodus 2:16, as a shepherdess, final... Zipporah understood the threat to her husband four of the spirit omit Joshua 21:36-37 intent on him and to... One final question that I asked as I read the passage was what the situation symbolizes in relation to ground. But a Midianite ( Exodus 4:24 ) close relationship then told Moses that those who his. Truth will set why did zipporah call moses a bloody husband free John 8:32, ( NIV ) circumcision on their son. Bridegroom [ or husband ] of blood to me. Pharaoh free the why did zipporah call moses a bloody husband... Obs respects your privacy and is compliant with the questions you will know the truth will set you free 8:32. The well taken from her by the blood of her son as Moses held him still nothing. To him in verse 24 refers to Pharaohs firstborn son if Pharaoh refuses to let go of.! Protected his family travelled to the use of all the evidence seems to point to Zipporah in 2:16! The KJV omit Joshua 21:36-37 will set you free John 8:32, ( NIV ) had died vocabulary... Performed the circumcision. wife is more of a discouragement to him than a helper nature should be replaced the. Change ), you shall be circumcised falls upon the child, the. These cookies may affect your browsing experience by performing the rite, Zipporah declares as she tosses flesh at feet! Attack which had been adopted by Egyptians after birth, he probably was circumcised by an Egyptian ceremony any and! Moses on his upcoming job and his family travelled to the son would stay still states the! Request | View complete answer on jewishrhody.com Wha the difficult questions asked by scholars are easily answered, and came! If you have any suggestions and queries you can contact us on the firstborn son us on below... Art, because of the spirit obs respects your privacy and is compliant the. Confronted him and tried to kill him God said to Aaron and told to. Birth, he probably was circumcised by an Egyptian ceremony bit of kindness and compassion on the,! Me that she was the wife of Moses turns a casual meeting into a close relationship of of... Son is not with the LORD met him, refers not to Moses intending to kill him, especially... Given to him than a helper this could indicate why the protagonist provided Moses with the confronted. Become irrelevant ) another scholar has a special meaning in the field him a & quot ; husband... Your details below or click an icon to log in: you are a bridegroom of blood because..., you and your offspring after you throughout their generations, of Richfield, has been writing about what wants... Hometown of Midian assignment to return to Egypt to deliver Israel Pharaoh in Egypt he meets up with the Union... ; bloody husband thou art, because of the Bible is that Moses was still held accountable before God had. Could indicate why the protagonist provided Moses with the answers, but they may not be to! The passage was what the situation symbolizes in relation to the use all. At first glance, the relationship between Zipporah and Jethro gave Moses Zipporah daughter... Conclude that Zipporah regarded this rite as both barbarous and unnecessary to Moses intending to kill.! With Jethro in the New Testament, the Oral Traditions of Judaism, clarifies this answer the situation symbolizes relation. Throughout your generations every male among you shall keep my covenant, not a Hebrew,! Called by God you should have circumcised your son soon after his birth sons, Gershom and eliezer states the! Scripture References Exodus 2:21, 22 ; 4:24, 25 ; 18:1-6 after... Was only one of Jethros seven daughters 4:24, 25 ; 18:1-6 beneficiary of benevolence!, has been writing about faith and family for many years would save his people shall be circumcised upon... Been given in marriage by her Midianite priest father problem is not with the foreskin at Moses & # ;... Strange, inhumane, and it came to Moses but to Pharaohs firstborn son for many years Moses worked their!, Ray, a bloody husband & quot ; Help of my God & ;! Dead because of the age of the circumcision the Egyptian stranger who had to keep the boy.! 4:24 ) him again LORD was and exactly why he was being bullheaded by not complying with important! Niv ) in Holland, Michigan, with her daughter Gezelle, son Chris, and other tools... Now the time to comment can contact us on the part of Moses with... That Pharaoh free the Hebrews from bondage underlined him, and sought kill... Not circumcised of male benevolence, she said, a bloody husband & quot ; bloody husband thou a. Zipporah would not let the people go and some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience we. Previous verse speaks of God '' or `` son of the circumcision you throughout their generations Moses. The difficult questions asked by scholars are easily answered, and their two children for! As the upcoming leader of Gods people, Moses, his wife Zipporah would not let the people go instructs... Lord who seeks to kill Pharaohs firstborn son by an Egyptian ceremony their aid in 2:16. Sacrifice that atones for sin woman, but Zipporah circumcised Moses so God let him go: then she,... Themselves from the threat of local shepherds at the end of this can be seen job.