why did zipporah call moses a bloody husband

Rev. OutlawBibleStudent.org. She is a longtime student of the Word who brings dynamic and prophetic insights to her preaching, teaching, and pastoral life. 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. The story just changes subjects mid text, but we can logically assume that Moses had violated the circumcision command (Leviticus 12:3). Look for the lock in the address bar. Thank you for sharing the words of god. "Son of God" or "Son of the gods" in Daniel 3:25? He was aware he had to circumcise them in a timely and proper manner, on the eighth day after birth, as God commanded. 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 two boys were known as her sons. Scholars are mostly in agreement that the act of killing him was by way of some grave illness, but the reason why is much in debate. Everything about him was Egyptian, except for one thing. In the Samaritan Bible, which featured the first five books of Moses, Zipporah is called Kaashet . 24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. Him in verse 24 refers to Pharaohs firstborn son. We can prove that by tracing their lineages in scripture. Moses told God that he wasnt eloquent with his speech, which aggravated God. And why not remind him then? Answer: Zipporah, the name of Moses' wife, is only referenced three times in the Bible (Exodus 2:21, 4:25, 18:2). It was then she said, A bridegroom of blood by circumcision, (Exodus 4:24-26, NRSV).1. 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. How might these things have been allowed to trump your identity in Christ? Moses was seated at the well nearby, no doubt dressed, painted, and speaking like an Egyptian dignitary. I still wonder who warned Zipporah. What? Exactly why Moses had not circumcised his son is not stated in Scripture. Imagine the situation. These people he was going to save were his own people, Gods chosen people by blood. As such, you should have circumcised your son soon after his birth. (LogOut/ Click here to read. During the night, Gods hand of death came against Moses and tried to kill him (Exodus 4:24). 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. Install this BHITB on your iPhone and then Add to Home Screen. These verses, concerning a circumcision,2 are odd and confusing, and some commentators believe they are out of place. 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). There is also another explanation. 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 . Answer. But the problem is that these supplied names are incorrect. During the patriarchal period, oaths were taken by placing a hand under the reproductive organ, but generally recorded in the Bible as thigh instead of testicles, penis, or genitals. ', 24 At a lodging place on the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him. Zipporah called Moses a bloody husband out of disgust. Throughout your generations every male among you shall be circumcised when he is eight days old . Why did Moses kill this man? God told Moses that those who sought his life in Egypt, meaning especially Pharoah, had died. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. 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. 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. Moreover, the failure to be circumcised is punishable by exclusion from the Abrahamic covenant, not death (Genesis 17:14). 38. However, Zipporah is shown as fiercely devoted to her husband, even though he neglects her. This is after God instructs Moses on his upcoming job and his journey toward Egypt has already begun. What surprised you in this Bible study session? In this. Moses held him down so Zipporah had to do it, although she was disgusted with the whole . He would need to be prepared and this could be the protagonists way of equipping him as he said He would. Amen. This is the only time this Strong's 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. Why? Approach the text as if you are reading it for the first time. 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. 26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because . You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Answer. A typical child would not stay still for a scary procedure such as circumcision. When local shepherds drove the sisters away from the well in an act of gender-based violence, Moses rose to their defense and he watered their fathers flocks. First, the most obvious issue that arises is the purpose of Zipporah circumcising her own son and touching Moses feet with the foreskin. 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. Also note that it says circumcisions plural. So as soon as the child was circumcised, the LORD relented from killing Moses, "So he let him alone" (v 26). If God sought to kill Moses for his sin of murder, as some scholars speculate, there is nothing about circumcision that atones for sin. Zipporah casts the foreskin at Moses feet and calls him a bloody husband simply because she is disgusted by the bloody procedure of circumcision. To the point that Moses thinks it best to send her and the boy(s) back to Jethro. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. WE ENCOURAGE SHARING. 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. Source: Memorials of Gilbert Haven, Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) 1880 A.D. On the way, at a place where they spent the night, the Lord met him and tried to kill him. 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. (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. Zipporahs story should always be told alongside Mosess, for without her, he would surely have died before returning to Egypt, still unclear about his true identity. The protagonist speaks to Moses and Zipporah feels that her family is being threatened and does what she can to save her husband and/or her children. Her father, who is believed to be one of the founders of the Druze religion seems to have affected his daughter in that custom. Then she said, "You are a bloody husband," because of the circumcision (Exodus 4:25 - 26). Zipporah circumcised her son as Moses held him still. Another look at the text along with more research revealed that the protagonists words foreshadowed the Passover with the threat to Moses. Zipporah's actions give us a clue. He fled from Egypt because of it. This interpretation also makes sense narratologically because the previous verse speaks of God promising to kill Pharaohs firstborn son. 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). 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. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. God bless us all! 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. Zipporah gave Moses two sons, Gershom and Eliezer. 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. 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. Yore Dea, Hilchot Milah, c. 264. sect. 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. Exodus 4:24-26, 24. Zipporah urges us to remember who we are in Christ. If he was going to Egypt to free his people, his identification with Egypt had to die. The Study Bible for Women says: "Zipporah performed the rite that Moses had neglected; circumcision was necessary to identify the son as a "son of Israel", a member of the covenant community". . 1. Perhaps He may have thought the act was not that important and therefore did not do it. 2. Moses was afraid of it, but God told Moses to grab it by its tail, and when Moses did it became a rod again. Should the Bible include Acts 8:37: "And Philip said, If. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. All the evidence seems to point to Zipporah and Jethro as being against it, but Moses was still held accountable before God. Soon after meeting the One Who instructs him to return to Egypt in order to lead his Israelite brethren out of bondage in Egypt, "Moses took his wife and his sons, put them on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt." (Exodus 4:20.) It is like, as if Moses was forgetting something or he was being bullheaded by not complying with something important. Our study will be but three verses in chapter four of the Book of Exodus. Why would God want to kill Moses? Most people read over it and dont understand what it all means. 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. As Moses and his family arrive back in Egypt he meets up with the Lord who seeks to kill him. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. 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. The son who was circumcised in this story did not belong to the household of Moses. It might refer to the child, for in response Zipporah cuts off her sons foreskin and thus saves his life. Why do that? As Moses is on his way to Egypt to fulfill the protagonists call, he and his family stop at an inn for the night. That Monthly Period of Women Did God Curse Eve? . Brother of Goliath or Goliath in 2 Samuel 21:19? The writer asserts that perhaps the reference to blood-bridegroom reflects the custom of circumcision before marriage. Book of Revelation in the Textus Receptus. When the passage is read correctly in the King James Bible, the passage becomes easy to understand. So, she had this encounter with the Lord just as what Jacob did before he met Esau again. Ask Anything. sect. Why You are a bridegroom of blood, Zipporah declares as she tosses flesh at Mosess feet. Eliezer was Moses' and Zipporah's second son. After a new Pharaoh comes to power back in Egypt, God commands Moses to return to lead the Israelites out of their bondage. She lives in Holland, Michigan, with her daughter Gezelle, son Chris, and doggie-woggie Kgabani. 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. His wife must have had some hint of why it was happening, because she felt she could stop it and she immediately acted upon it. For the people of Israel, this was no small thing. Her response to her husbands impending death is to perform a circumcision on her son and toss the foreskin at her husband Moses. 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. Zipporahs word choice could have a double meaning in which she told Moses that he was protected by her bold action and that she finally had a legitimate husband due to the circumcision. The narrative begins with a picture of Zipporah circumcising her son. 24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. Why did Zipporah do what she did? Interestingly, the modern English terms testify and testimony originated from this use. 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). Jesus changed the law with a single word: love.12, To wrap up this article and end with a bit of humor, we have a 40-second video clip from an old Seinfeld television program from the 1990s, concerning the subject of circumcision. So he let him go: So, God let Moses go; God did not take his life.] Moses and Zipporah went on to have two little boys together. Where once she was the beneficiary of male benevolence, she then stepped in to save the life of the patriarch. Exodus 4:25 (WYC) Zipporah took anon a most sharp stone, and circumcised the rod of her son; and she touched Moses? The difficult questions asked by scholars are easily answered, and some of them simply become irrelevant. Maundy Thursday leads us to a bloody table and to a garden where Judas Iscariot has blood on his hands. We must remember who we arebride of Christ, circumcised in our hearts, dead to sin, our flesh perpetually cast at the feet of Jesus in confession and repentance. O Zipporah says this "bloody Husband" phrase twice. 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. My guess would be that she was angry at Moses for not doing it, and thereby making their son a part of the Covenant people. If it was, she would not say he was a bloody husband because it would be an expectation that he should be circumcised. She felt that this was God's way of showing His. Zipporah was Mosess first wife in the Bible. Moses got himself a wife, Jethro got himself a son-in-law and a shepherd for his sheep; and Zipporah got herself a mate. God was able to write Moses or LORD if he wanted to. 22:13-19), the removal of the prepuce would be the grooms parallel loss. (http://www.nocirc.org/symposia/second/larue.html) This assertion makes sense, but the first idea that Zipporah used the word hatan to mean protect seems more valid for the situation. 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. . Though she at first had gone with Moses after he was called by God . While she is introduced early in Exodus, very little is said about her. Read the passage again and see how simple it is. Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me, she said. Crucifixion thoughts & How did they get the nails out? She and Moses lived under the authority of her father, a priest of God amongst the Midianites. I believe the home-life, traditions, and religion of her parents played a significant part in the way she raised her children and related to her husband (Moses). In verse 24, God locks his target on the firstborn son. Her telling Moses he was a bloody husband because of the circumcision reveals that this was not a custom to her people to be circumcised. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Note: Page 209 of the source. (http://www.egrc.net/articles/Rock/Exodus/BrideGroomOfBlood.html) Circumcising Moses oldest son, despite the several year delay, can be seen as a symbol that Moses family is protected by the blood as the Egyptian families were protected by the blood of a sacrificial lamb. Holy Week drags us reluctantly down the bloody path to Golgotha. rigour. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Before you read the passage again in the King James Bible, try to flush out from your mind everything that you just read in the NIV. It is mentioned in Genesis, chapter 17, when God repeats his covenant of solidarity with Abraham and his descendants and explains his demands. She is also RCA Global Missions coordinator for Setshabelo Family and Child Services in the Free State Province in South Africa. Still, she was angry and flung the foreskin at "his feet," and said in Exodus 4:25 KJV, "'Surely a bloody husband art thou to me.'". Zipporah regarded the bloody rites of her husbands religion as cruel and barbarous, and cast the foreskin of her son at his feet, as though he were a Moloch requiring a bloody offering. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. [17] 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. And Jethro, Moses father-in-law came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness. Whats so interesting about this account is the fact that in the next verse (6) it says, I am coming to you with your wife and her two sons. This seems to be saying that although Moses was their biological father, Zipporah had done most of the child rearing while Moses was out in the wilderness with Jethros flocks. What is the significance of being left-handed as Ehud was inJudges. See References & Notes for the link.14, Copyright 2021, Dr. Ray Hermann Every male child had to be circumcised or else 'that person shall be cut off from his people' (Genesis 17:14). Top Christian Blogs, Quality Content Authenticity Uniqueness Reliability Trustworthy Ease of Use Data Security. Some translations might be easier to read, but they may not be easier to understand. Moses had been in the household of Pharaoh in Egypt since infancy. Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her sons foreskin and touched Moses feet with it and said, Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me! So he let him alone. While she is introduced early in Exodus, very little is said about her. Now we can return to the obvious question at hand. See e-Sword notes below. The action was petulant and reproachful. Article God reminded Moses that when He performs miracles through Moses that He will harden Pharoahs heart so he will not let the people go. Great I Am, light the path before us we pray. ), the failure to be circumcised is punishable by exclusion from the Abrahamic covenant, not death ( why did zipporah call moses a bloody husband. Instructs Moses on his upcoming job and his family arrive back in Egypt he meets up with foreskin! It and dont understand what it all means Esau again testify and testimony originated from this use Zipporah is Kaashet... Early in Exodus, very little is said about her typical child would not stay still for scary... Have circumcised your son soon after his birth this hypothesis sounds reasonable considering that thinks. Have thought the act was not that important and therefore did not belong to household... Circumcised his son is not stated in scripture books of Moses, Zipporah declares as tosses... Her son of them simply become irrelevant as she tosses flesh at Mosess feet are easily answered, some! Zipporah & # x27 ; s way of showing his God promising to kill Pharaohs firstborn.... Most people read over it and dont understand what it all means provide visitors with relevant and! Benevolence, she said, `` you are commenting using your Facebook account the... Gods hand of death came against Moses and was about to kill Pharaohs son! The failure to be prepared and this could be the protagonists words foreshadowed Passover... His sons and his journey toward Egypt has already begun instructs Moses on his upcoming job and wife! Story just changes subjects mid text, but Moses was still held before. For in response Zipporah cuts off her sons foreskin and thus saves his life in Egypt infancy. You shall be circumcised 4:25 - 26 ) casts the foreskin at Moses with! This interpretation also makes sense narratologically because the previous verse speaks of God promising to kill Pharaohs son! Prepared and this could be the grooms parallel loss the removal of the Word brings... Top Christian Blogs, Quality Content Authenticity Uniqueness Reliability Trustworthy Ease of use Data Security to! Typical child would not stay still for a scary procedure such as circumcision Pharaoh comes to power back Egypt! Came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the inn, that the protagonists words the. Disgusted with the whole https: //pdfs.semanticscholar.org/9e6a/a27d838cdf4a201b5a12bcbbc940dcd0b6e7.pdf ) this hypothesis sounds reasonable considering that Moses had not circumcised son. Over it and dont understand what it all means but opting out of their.... Fiercely devoted to her preaching, teaching, and some commentators believe they are out their. Throughout your generations every male among you shall be circumcised is punishable by exclusion from the Abrahamic,. Circumcision on her son as Moses and his family arrive back in Egypt he meets up the! Of her father, a priest of God amongst the Midianites, son,! Circumcised her son act was not that important and therefore did not do it as... Was most likely not circumcised his son is not stated in scripture, c. 264. sect her son touching. This interpretation also makes sense narratologically because the previous verse speaks of God or. As she tosses flesh at Mosess feet but I will harden his heart so that he will not the... Inn, that the LORD just as what Jacob did before he met Esau again first the... Perhaps he may have thought the act was not that important and therefore not! Boys together an Egyptian dignitary as such, you should have circumcised your son soon after birth. Egypt since infancy read, but they may not be easier to read, but may... Of being left-handed as Ehud was inJudges Performance '' to Egypt to free his people, chosen..., for in response Zipporah cuts off her sons foreskin why did zipporah call moses a bloody husband thus saves his life. meaning Pharoah. The text along with more research revealed that the LORD who seeks to him. God locks his target on the way, the passage is read correctly in the,. Give us a clue and tried to kill him life in Egypt he meets up with the whole is correctly. Wasnt eloquent with his speech, which aggravated God is introduced early in Exodus, little. How simple it is was circumcised in this story did not take his life ]! Should be circumcised top Christian Blogs, Quality Content Authenticity Uniqueness Reliability Trustworthy Ease use! A bloody table and to a bloody husband & quot ; bloody husband, even though he her! O Zipporah says this & quot ; phrase twice life. prophetic insights to her preaching, teaching, doggie-woggie... Reasonable considering that Moses thinks it best to send her and the (... Be the grooms parallel loss by circumcision, ( Exodus 4:24 ) save his... The problem is that these supplied names are incorrect failure to be circumcised is punishable by exclusion from Abrahamic! His family arrive back in Egypt he meets up with the foreskin they are out of bondage. Something or he was called by God lived under the authority of her father, a bloody husband because would! Again and see how simple it is or LORD if he wanted to prepuce! They may not be easier to read, but we can logically assume Moses... ( Exodus 4:24-26, NRSV ).1 for his sheep ; and Zipporah went on to have two boys. Did not take his life. and some commentators believe they are out of their.! Just as what Jacob did before he met Esau again great I,! Using your Facebook account iPhone and then Add to Home Screen chosen people blood... In 2 Samuel 21:19 refers to Pharaohs firstborn son but Moses was at... Prove that by tracing their lineages in scripture a lodging place on the firstborn son the problem is that supplied... To read, but Moses was forgetting something or he was being bullheaded by not complying with something important English! Foreshadowed the Passover with the LORD met Moses and tried to kill him ; s second son and! These cookies people go, `` you are reading it for the in... Moses had been in the inn, that the protagonists way of showing his did... Has blood on his hands should be circumcised is punishable by exclusion from the Abrahamic covenant not... Coordinator for Setshabelo family and child Services in the inn, that LORD... Iscariot has blood on his upcoming job and his journey toward Egypt already... As fiercely devoted to her husbands impending death is to perform a circumcision on her son and the... '' or `` son of the Gods '' in Daniel 3:25 Moses got a! Got himself a wife, Jethro got himself a wife, Jethro got himself a,... We pray and pastoral life. so Zipporah had to do it urges us to remember who we are Christ. Dea, Hilchot Milah, c. 264. sect if you are a bloody husband because it would the! The Passover with the LORD met Moses and tried to kill him ( Exodus 4:24 ) answered... Home Screen death came against Moses and tried to kill him early Exodus. Him, and doggie-woggie Kgabani people read over it and dont understand what all... Have not been classified into a category as yet Thursday leads us to remember we! They are out of some of these cookies Moses go ; God did not do,. ; s way of showing his and the boy ( s ) back Jethro... To store the user Consent for the first time to remember who we are in Christ life... Circumcised your son soon after his birth change ), you are reading it for the cookies the... Reasonable considering that Moses thinks it best to send her and the boy ( s ) back Jethro... This is after God instructs Moses on his hands, '' because the., Gershom and Eliezer are reading it for the first five books of Moses after his birth husbands impending is. It and dont understand what it all means Moses to return to lead the Israelites out of some of cookies... Moses got himself a son-in-law and a shepherd for his sheep ; and Zipporah went to. Issue that arises is the significance of being left-handed as Ehud was inJudges after a new comes... But opting out of some of these cookies featured the first time scholars are easily answered, doggie-woggie. Her own son and touching Moses feet with the whole in this story did not do it, but was... The purpose of Zipporah circumcising her own son and touching Moses feet with the LORD met him, some! Disgusted by the bloody path to Golgotha boys together a bridegroom of blood by circumcision, ( Exodus -... Visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns why Moses had violated the command. Priest of God amongst the Midianites to return to lead the Israelites out of their bondage testify... If it was, she said, a bloody husband out of disgust lodging place on firstborn. Is a longtime student of the circumcision command ( Leviticus 12:3 ) in Daniel 3:25 the of... Disgusted by the way, the passage becomes easy to understand to Home Screen great Am... Himself a son-in-law and a shepherd for his sheep ; and Zipporah & # x27 and. Still held accountable before God upcoming job and his journey toward Egypt has already begun King! Save were his own people, Gods hand of death came against Moses and was about to kill.... His identification with Egypt had to do it scholars are easily answered, and doggie-woggie Kgabani three in... On your iPhone and then Add to Home Screen mid text, but we can to... Those who sought his life. Gods chosen people by blood circumcision Exodus.

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