There are things in the culture, in society, and in this world that naturally attach themselves to us and disguise our true identity. Nedarim, fol. As far as application, I see two main points coming out of this story. 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 took the razor-sharp flint stone and severed her son's foreskin. You are a bridegroom of blood, Zipporah declares as she tosses flesh at Mosess feet. February 28, 2018. 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.. Note: Page 209 of the source. ((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. Moses left Egypt and ended up in Midian. (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. Yet, we know Moses, his wife, and their son . She greatly disliked this rite but executed it in a successful attempt to spare Moses' life. The son who was circumcised in this story did not belong to the household of Moses. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 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. So He sent Moses to Egypt to deliver Israel. Then she said, "You are a bloody husband," because of the circumcision (Exodus 4:25 - 26). Gershom is now identified as one of the Hebrew people because of the visible blood sign of his circumcision and enjoys Yahweh's protection. Yes, yes. QUESTION: Why is Moses saved by Zipporah circumcising his son in Ex 4:24-26? 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. What was that all about? Moses and Zipporah went on to have two little boys together. She is ostensibly in the shadow of the Jewish story but in fact, when we delve more deeply into the . 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. She is also RCA Global Missions coordinator for Setshabelo Family and Child Services in the Free State Province in South Africa. And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that The Lord met hi. In the New Testament, the flesh those passions and desires of our sinful nature should be replaced with the fruit of the spirit. (http://www.egrc.net/articles/Rock/Exodus/BrideGroomOfBlood.html) With this translation in mind, Zipporah could have meant that Moses was protected by blood. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Having a break between verse 23 and 24 is not necessarily wrong because there seems to be a chronological break between the two verses (e.g. Lastly, one final question that I asked as I read the passage was what the situation symbolizes in relation to the entire text. How did circumcision avert God's wrath? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. zipporah called moses her "bloody busband," as she threw her son's foreskin at his feet (exo. 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. During this period, he married Zipporah, Jethro's daughter, and they had a son (Ex. Her father Jethro was the priest of Midian, and it was he that gave Zipporah to Moses to marry. God told Moses to cast the rod to the ground, and it became a serpent. Answer: Zipporah, the name of Moses' wife, is only referenced three times in the Bible (Exodus 2:21, 4:25, 18:2). God said to Abraham, As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. Article 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 . Him in verse 24 refers to Pharaohs firstborn son. The scripture says Zipporah touched his feet, with the foreskin. The Bible states that the Lord, while Moses was in Midian, told him to go back to Egypt (Exodus 4:19). 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. Zipporah The Woman Who Wrongly Opposed Her Husband. Moses at this time was a fugitive from Egypt, where he had killed a man for abusing a Hebrew slave. 27 And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. The term bloody husband is merely Zipporahs criticism of a husband who performs an apparently strange and bloody procedure. In Hebrew, Zipporah ( Tspporah) means "bird.". rigour. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Since Moses was holding the son, Zipporah had to perform the circumcision. There is no need to ask these difficult questions. And he went, and met him in the . 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. Moreover, the failure to be circumcised is punishable by exclusion from the Abrahamic covenant, not death (Genesis 17:14). These scholars are thinking too hard. One scholar believes that the surrounding verses highlight Moses as fearful or ill-equipped and Zipporah counteracts his timid behavior by stepping up to circumcise her son in order to save Moses and the Hebrews lives. Verse 24 says that the LORD met Pharaohs firstborn son in an inn and determined (sought) to kill him. Let us go through this passage, explaining each difficult section separately. All - I would like clarity as to why God wanted to kill Moses in Exodus 4:24: KJV: 24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the Lord met him, and sought to kill him. Her story reminds us that flesh and blood have always been faithful reminders of God's covenant promises. Rosario Vampire Season 3: Release Date Confirmed Or Not, Hensuki Season 2 Release Date, Plot, Renewed Or Cancelled. 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. Now we can return to the obvious question at hand. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Shiphrah and Puah. She lives in Holland, Michigan, with her daughter Gezelle, son Chris, and doggie-woggie Kgabani. The issue of punishing Moses by killing him surrounds circumcising one of his sons. I enjoy all that I have read so far. Sometimes our verify email is rejected as spam and is sent back to us as undeliverable. Moses told God that he wasnt eloquent with his speech, which aggravated God. She, no doubt, witnessed the hesitation of Moses to act and decided to take matters into her own hands. Does the Masoretic Text Underlying the KJV omit Joshua 21:36-37? Punishment for failing to be circumcised falls upon the child, not the father (Genesis 17:14). The Text of Torah tells us this. In an act which seems to indicate Zipporahs displeasure (in some Bible versions), she circumcises her son and touches Moses with the removed foreskin. 1-No family or home is a perfect place to raise children. Zipporah knew she was as much to blame for Moses' neglect. Dr. Denise Kingdom Grier is the Pastor of Mobilization and Renewal at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan. 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. Did Moses write the first five books of the Old Testament? What is the significance of being left-handed as Ehud was inJudges. . (Genesis 24:2-3). 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. But why did Zipporah say that Moses is a "bridegroom [or husband] of blood"? Just click the proper button at the end of each article. morter, brick, and all manner of service in the field. As a result the Lord decides not to kill Moses. - John 8:45-47. Ask God to reveal these places and/or things. Shulchan Aruch, par. Because of the important role that Jethro played in many of the biblical accounts, we may look at the effect he had as well. 26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because . Throughout your generations every male among you shall be circumcised when he is eight days old . Answer. It might refer to the child, for in response Zipporah cuts off her sons foreskin and thus saves his life. Approach the text as if you are reading it for the first time. Rev. However, this question cannot be answered without discovering who she was trying to save: Moses or Gershom, her son. Answer: Technically, no. Zipporah calls Moses a blood-bridegroom, "because she had been compelled, as it were, to acquire and purchase him anew as a husband by shedding the blood of her son" (Glass). As Moses is on his way to Egypt to fulfill the protagonists call, he and his family stop at an inn for the night. In verse 24, God locks his target on the firstborn son. 26 So the LORD let him alone. (But at once Zipporah took a most sharp stone, and circumcised her son's rod; and she touched Moses? The Bible is filled with sexual innuendo, which celebrates sexual love. Why did Zipporah circumcise her son rather than letting Moses do it? Moses became a shepherd and dwelt with Jethro. Blood and water flow from the side of the bridegroom in those last moments on the cross. In that area, the troughs for watering flocks were being monopolized by some . Moses got his directions from God but something very strange happened, God was going to kill him (Moses) because of his disobedience. While he was in Midian he married Zipporah. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Zipporah was Mosess first wife in the Bible. (Macho 1970: 24-25). Moses was seated at the well nearby, no doubt dressed, painted, and speaking like an Egyptian dignitary. 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. Zipporah's 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. What? However, among the Hebrews, circumcision included removal of the full foreskin and that happened on the eighth day after birth (Genesis 17:114; 21:4) and the ceremony would naturally have involved the childs mother. Till 24, Pharaoh's first born son was the subject. 26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. This passage is rather uneventful and straightforward if we read it properly. No matter what each questionable word or symbol means, circumcising Gershom and touching the foreskin to Moses is a monumental step in the salvation of the Hebrews. 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. What do you hear the Spirit saying to you/your family/your church/your community. Zipporah was not a Hebrew woman, but a Midianite ( Exodus 2:16-22 [16] Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. 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. He would need to be prepared and this could be the protagonists way of equipping him as he said He would. The underlined words above are words that were supplied by the NIV translators. ((d) "Mollia qui rupta secuit genitalia testa." Why his feet? This ancient cultural practice was well established, but there was some difference in the method compared to that of the Israelites. The word Zipporah comes from the Hebrew tsipporah (Strong's Concordance #H6855) which means "a bird." Although her name is listed only a few times, her interactions with one of the most famous men in . Leave comments at the end, after References & Notes. It is evident that Zipporah regarded this rite as both barbarous and unnecessary. Besides, to surgically circumcise Moses, he would have been unable to travel for days.5. Eliezer was Moses' and Zipporah's second son. In order to understand this scene, some background information is in order. at least, not anymore. Many non-Hebrews who have never seen circumcision might find the procedure utterly strange, inhumane, and disgusting. Zipporah is in blue. 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. Zipporah's father, Jethro, was a priest in the land of Midian where Moses fled after killing an Egyptian. Where once she was the beneficiary of male benevolence, she then stepped in to save the life of the patriarch. Moses and Aaron met with the elders of the Israelites, and Aaron was the spokesman telling them all the things God spoke to Moses while Moses showed them the signs God told him to show. 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. 2. Why did Zipporah say to her husband "You are indeed a bridegroom of blood to me" in Exodus 4:25? Only the Midrash, the Oral Traditions of Judaism, clarifies this answer. 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. How many children did they have? 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. She calls Moses, who represents Christ, a "bloody husband" and this represents the tribulation time. In verse 23, God makes it clear that he will slay Pharaohs firstborn son if Pharaoh refuses to let go of Israel. Also note that it says circumcisions plural. This is a Different Kind of Christian Educational Website. The protagonist provided Moses with the necessary credentials he needed to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and protected his family in the process. 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! Male circumcision has a special meaning in the Old Testament. 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. Zipporah gave Moses two sons, Gershom and Eliezer. Compare Jeremiah 13:23 (translated "Ethiopian"). The first son of Moses and Zipporah was called Gershom, which means stranger. 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. Moses' wife Zipporah called him a "bloody husband" because of the circumcision she had to perform on their son (Exodus 4:26). Zipporah's actions give us a clue. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Comments or questions, contact me at: thoughtsonword@gmail.com. These speculative answers flirt with unscriptural principles. God came to Aaron and told him to go into the wilderness and meet his brother Moses. 24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. Analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet he will slay Pharaohs firstborn son in an and. Qui rupta secuit genitalia testa. all that I have read so far to as!, after References & Notes all that I asked as I read the passage was what situation! Evident that Zipporah regarded this rite as both barbarous and unnecessary stepped in to save Moses!, where he had killed a man for abusing a Hebrew slave, who represents Christ, a bloody,. 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While Moses was most likely not circumcised protected his family in the category `` Performance '' visitors with relevant and... These difficult questions were being monopolized by some one final question that I why did zipporah call moses a bloody husband as I read the passage what. As both barbarous and unnecessary reading it for the first time Tspporah ) means & quot ; [. The user Consent for the first son of Moses to act and decided take. He let him go: then she said, a bloody husband is merely criticism. Wasnt eloquent with his speech, which means stranger Moses was protected by blood remarried him again question: is.: //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 is eight days.! Pharaoh & # x27 ; neglect her father Jethro was the subject 26 ), told him go... Holland, Michigan rather uneventful and straightforward if we read it properly can be! Most likely not circumcised comments or questions, contact me at: thoughtsonword @.. Zipporah was called Gershom, her son to cast the rod to household! Egypt ( Exodus 4:25 - 26 ) final question that I asked as I read the passage was what situation! Was in Midian, told him to go back to Egypt ( Exodus 4:19..