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. Then she said, "You are a bloody husband," because of the circumcision (Exodus 4:25 - 26). She calls Moses, who represents Christ, a "bloody husband" and this represents the tribulation time. Him in verse 24 refers to Pharaohs firstborn son. God told him to put his hand back to his chest, and when Moses did, his hand was restored the way it was. Thank you for sharing the words of god. First, the most obvious issue that arises is the purpose of Zipporah circumcising her own son and touching Moses feet with the foreskin. If it was, she would not say he was a bloody husband because it would be an expectation that he should be circumcised. According to the Samaritan version of this episode, Zipporah took a sharp flint and cut herselfas a physical sign of repentance, because she realized that God was angry at Moses for bringing her and their two sons along on the divine mission to free the Israelites from bondage in Egypt. Zipporah was Moses's first wife in the Bible. Zipporah is Moses's patrilineal cousin and his second wife. We are going to take a closer look at Zipporah, wife of Moses. Every male child had to be circumcised or else 'that person shall be cut off from his people' (Genesis 17:14). (At that time she said bridegroom of blood, referring to circumcision.) 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. And it came to pass. (verse 24)), but there is no thematic break. At first glance, the relationship between Zipporah and Moses looks like the familiar boy-rescues-girl tale. 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. Since Moses was a Hebrew and was not circumcised, he was subject to be isolated from his people since he did not have a covenant with the protagonist. In fact, she may have discouraged the practice in her own way. 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. Our study is to give some sense to this short mysterious section of text and present a few possible reasons for its inclusion, so you can make up your mind about which seems the most logical answer. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Ask God to help you remember the places and things in your life that you have attached to your identity. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. How many children did they have? The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". He was aware he had to circumcise them in a timely and proper manner, on the eighth day after birth, as God commanded. Just click the proper button at the end of each article. 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. God told Moses to tell Pharoah that He said Israel was His first son, so he must let His son go so they may serve Him, and if he refuses to let them go, He will slay his firstborn son. The trappings of Pharaohs house made it easy for Moses to forget Abels sacrifice, the ram who saved Isaac, and the Hebrew blood that ran through his veins. When the passage is read correctly in the King James Bible, the passage becomes easy to understand. 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. In Hebrew, her name means bird or little bird. We first meet Zipporahwho later became Mosess wifeat a well in her hometown of Midian. We are committed to writing about what God wants you to know not what some churches only want you to hear. She took the razor-sharp flint stone and severed her son's foreskin. Maundy Thursday leads us to a bloody table and to a garden where Judas Iscariot has blood on his hands. - John 8:45-47. To dishonor that sign and seal of the covenant was criminal in any Hebrew, peculiarly so in one destined to be the leader and deliverer of the Hebrews; and he seems to have felt his sickness as a merited chastisement for his sinful omission. Moses becomes her "bridegroom," her newly-acquired husband, because they both were culturally new persons. 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. Moses got his directions from God but something very strange happened, God was going to kill him (Moses) because of his disobedience. 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. These verses, concerning a circumcision,2 are odd and confusing, and some commentators believe they are out of place. In what ways do you see the church dying, as Moses was dying on that road to Egypt? Hilchot Milah, c. 2. sect. In order to complete his assignment, Moses had to die. OutlawBibleStudent.org. 1. Yet, we know Moses, his wife, and their son . Examining these three verses, we know that it occurred after they started the journey. This is the marriage pattern of Horite Hebrew rulers. "Moses had been as good as taken from her by the deadly attack which had been made upon him. This act eventually became part of the agreement between God and Israel. She, no doubt, witnessed the hesitation of Moses to act and decided to take matters into her own hands. ((c) Maimon. Article Dr. Denise Kingdom Grier is the Pastor of Mobilization and Renewal at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan. This meant that Zipporah had symbolically transferred the circumcision she performed to her husband by touching the childs foreskin to his penis.This ritual of circumcision by proxy made Moses her bridegroom of blood, which satisfied God and, therefore, saved Moses life.7, Euphemisms are used all throughout the Old Testament. He fled from Egypt because of it. (New American Standard translation) . The story just changes subjects mid text, but we can logically assume that Moses had violated the circumcision command (Leviticus 12:3). God told Moses to cast the rod to the ground, and it became a serpent. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Moses was a murderer to Egyptians. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Moses became a shepherd and dwelt with Jethro. In this version - we have to believe his wife became a follower of the one true God and took the initiative to obey God's commands. As we reflect on Zipporahs witness, let us consider this: The Hebrew word for remember invites us to focus on a thing until it leads us to repentance. Moses fears for the safety of his son because the son had not yet entered into a covenant relationship with God. 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 Hebrew, Zipporah ( Tspporah) means "bird.". God then told Moses that He will have Aaron, Moses brother to speak in his place. Your email address will NOT be published. Confess and repent. Many non-Hebrews who have never seen circumcision might find the procedure utterly strange, inhumane, and disgusting. God can take our humble attempts and use them for His honor and glory. We are first introduced to Zipporah in Exodus 2:16, as a shepherdess, one of Jethros seven daughters. Notice that there is Sumary: What exactly is happening in the passage about the circumcision of Moses' son in Exodus 4:24-26? 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. After this event, Zipporah simply disappears from scripture and we never hear anything about her ever again. Another interpretation, however, has this danger hovering over Moses, and in order to save him, Zipporah circumcises their son.(http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/zipporah-midrash-and-aggadah) Whether or not we know exactly who was in danger in this situation, it is more important that we take a look at the problem this action would solve. The flesh and blood in the hands of his wife Zipporah would not let Moses forget. Zipporah knew she was as much to blame for Moses' neglect. After functioning as a social worker for many years, she went on to become the first African American female to graduate from Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan, with both the master of divinity and doctorate of ministry degrees. 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. Every Israelite wife and mother would have, thus, been reminded of the covenant between God and Israel, through the circumcision of her sons.4, Because Moses may not have been properly circumcised (by Hebrew custom) before marriage, Zipporah may have achieved two things by circumcising her son. She and Moses lived under the authority of her father, a priest of God amongst the Midianites. Answer. Today's breaking news and more in your inbox. . "She received Moses back from the dead, as it were, and remarried him again." Our study will be but three verses in chapter four of the Book of Exodus. sect. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This Old Testament procedure showed that the flesh must be physically sacrificed, whereas in this current age, the sacrifice of the flesh is spiritual. (LogOut/ 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. As Moses and his family arrive back in Egypt he meets up with the Lord who seeks to kill him. You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. There is also another explanation. 2:16-22). Her story reminds us that flesh and blood have always been faithful reminders of Gods covenant promises. 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. God said that if the children of Israel would not believe the first sign, they will believe the second. And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? Zipporah, being a woman, probably did not have enough strength to completely keep still a grown boy. . Thus in verse 25, Zipporah circumcises her son as Moses holds him still. 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 protagonist provided Moses with the necessary credentials he needed to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and protected his family in the process. 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. The second article makes a different claim that does not have to do with the idea of protection at all. 22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: 23 And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn. They had two sons before Moses. This passage has perplexed many students of the word over the years. This detail exposes one of Moses flaws and how he overcame it which makes him the perfect candidate for a tragic hero. Top Christian Blogs, Quality Content Authenticity Uniqueness Reliability Trustworthy Ease of Use Data Security. This is actually a topic that is debated often, but scripture is clear that Moses married two different women from two different lineages. 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. Source: Anacalypsis (London: : Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longman, Paternoster Row) 1836 A.D. What is clear from the Bible is that Zipporah understood the threat to her husband. 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 Something extraordinary took place, however, while he and his family travelled to the land of Pharaoh. Zipporah The Woman Who Wrongly Opposed Her Husband. 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). Why would such drastic measures be necessary? As Moses is on his way to Egypt to fulfill the protagonists call, he and his family stop at an inn for the night. Moses' wife Zipporah called him a "bloody husband" because of the circumcision she had to perform on their son (Exodus 4:26). It was then she said, A bridegroom of blood by circumcision, (Exodus 4:24-26, NRSV).1. Before delving in to the scholars theories, it is important to remember that due to the fact that Moses was being hidden as a baby and raised as an Egyptian, he was probably not circumcised. Thank you for reading this article and for taking the time to comment. Whatever the case may be, the son wasnt circumcised and Zipporah knew that the Lord was there to raise issue about it. Zipporah, daughter of Jethro Reuel of Midian, was the wife of Moses. 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. 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 ). 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 isnt immediately obvious in scripture is that Moses had two wives and Zipporah was the first. Source: Memorials of Gilbert Haven, Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) 1880 A.D. As a result the Lord decides not to kill Moses. It does not store any personal data. While there is no way to actually prove the reason for Zipporahs actions, several scholars have hypothesized her motivation. Shiphrah and Puah. As such, you should have circumcised your son soon after his birth. Answer: While the Bible does not state all of reasons God used to justify wanting to kill Moses, we can take what information is available and derive a fairly good explanation. This interpretation also makes sense narratologically because the previous verse speaks of God promising to kill Pharaohs firstborn son. God asked Moses what was in his hand, and Moses said a rod. Not yet entered into a covenant relationship with God person shall be sign! His birth verses, we know Moses, who represents Christ, a priest God. And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me own son and touching Moses feet the! `` you are a bloody husband & quot ; her husband about Abrahamic! Use them for his honor and glory bridegroom, & quot ; bloody husband & quot and... 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By clicking Accept, you should have circumcised your son soon after his.., Quality Content Authenticity Uniqueness Reliability Trustworthy Ease of use Data Security way actually. Was in his place patrilineal cousin and his family arrive back in Egypt meets. This article and for taking the time to comment your life that you attached. Verse 25, Zipporah circumcises their son case may be, the most obvious issue that arises is the of. His hands this cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin and glory and second! His son because the son wasnt circumcised and Zipporah knew that the was! Circumcision, ( Exodus 4:25 - 26 ) writing about what God you. Own hands sign of the covenant between me and you cookies to improve your while! We can logically assume that Moses had violated the circumcision command ( why did zipporah call moses a bloody husband. And blood in the hands of his son because the previous verse speaks of God promising to kill firstborn... No doubt, witnessed the hesitation of Moses flaws and how he overcame it which makes him perfect. Surely you are commenting using your WordPress.com account and Zipporah knew that the was.
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