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. (m) This act was extraordinary: for Moses was very sick and God even then required it. John 1:1 Does this Bible verse prove Jesus is God? Failure to meet Gods requirement would put both his life and ministry in jeopardy.3. It might refer to the child, for in response Zipporah cuts off her sons foreskin and thus saves his life. First, the most obvious issue that arises is the purpose of Zipporah circumcising her own son and touching Moses feet with the foreskin. Read the passage again and see how simple it is. Zipporah, like most mothers, probably would have been so anxious about having to travel to Egypt with her children that by the time they made it to the inn, she was exhausted and just wanted to rest. Some parents who have taken their children to the dentist or vaccination will understand. His wife worried more about him then he worried about himself. While there is no way to actually prove the reason for Zipporahs actions, several scholars have hypothesized her motivation. Wait. Note: Page 603 of the source. The Text tells us he was 120 when he die. Shulchan ib. The name Gershom means foreigner. 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). God reminded Moses that when He performs miracles through Moses that He will harden Pharoahs heart so he will not let the people go. Some translations might be easier to read, but they may not be easier to understand. 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. The original Hebrew only has pronouns such as he and him in those places. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Her response to her husbands impending death is to perform a circumcision on her son and toss the foreskin at her husband Moses. Zipporah is the wife of Moses, given to him in marriage by her Midianite priest father. Zipporah referred to Moses as a "bridegroom of blood", which seems to fit Yeshua's position: the Bridegroom of the Covenant. 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. For the people of Israel, this was no small thing. So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. Exodus 4:24-26. What problem would this solve? 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. This is the marriage pattern of Horite Hebrew rulers. He was talking about the servant putting his hand under Abrahams reproductive parts his genitals. Top Christian Blogs, Quality Content Authenticity Uniqueness Reliability Trustworthy Ease of Use Data Security. There is also another explanation. Zipporah casts the foreskin at Moses feet and calls him a bloody husband simply because she is disgusted by the bloody procedure of circumcision. Shulchan Aruch, par. 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. 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. In the Bible, Zipporah is called two things. Sometimes its our careers, our family name, or our traditions that are such a part of us that we forget Pauls reminder that our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20), and our identity is hidden in Christ. We will be very happy to hear from you. 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. 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. 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". 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. 26 So he let him go: then she said , A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. 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. The standard explanation is that Moses had not circumcised his son, as Jehovah had ordered for all descendants of Abraham. (Exodus 4:21-26). feet (with the bloody piece of skin), and said, Thou art an husband of bloods to me. Just as the virgin bride would lose her hymen, testified to by bloody wedding night sheets (Deut. Zipporah in the Bible was the wife of Moses and the daughter of Jethro, the priest of Midian. Devils Line Season 2: Release Date CONFIRMED or CANCELED! Comments or questions, contact me at: thoughtsonword@gmail.com. I still wonder who warned Zipporah. After God brought His people out of Egypt through the leadership of Moses, Jethro reunites Moses and his family in Exodus 18:5-6. "Kiss the Son" or "Do homage in purity" in Psalm 2:12? Rev. Jesus Knew Where to Find the Lost Tribes of Israel, An aftermath of Sodom and Gomorrah: the Rape of Lot, Wake Up, Folks: Its time to get right with God, Unless otherwise noted, all scripture is taken from, Heiser, Michael, Thoughts on the Bridegroom of Blood, (, Petersen, Nate, Moses and the Bridegroom of Blood (Exodus 4:24-26), (, Hermann, Ray, Put your hand under my thigh What is that all about? (, Hermann, Ray Circumcision in the Bible: What was it really all about? Ask God to reveal these places and/or things. On the trip, at an overnight campsite, it happened that the Lord confronted him and sought to put him to death. 4:25). 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. 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 ). A couple of examples are when a husband and wife had sexual relations, it is said that they lay together or they knew each other. 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). The expression hatan damim [bridegroom 2. His first wife was his Kushite half-sister. (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. 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. Dr. Denise Kingdom Grier is the Pastor of Mobilization and Renewal at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan. This could indicate why the protagonist threatened Moses life. Brother of Goliath or Goliath in 2 Samuel 21:19? It would also appear that she had successfully persuaded Moses to go along with her in refusing to circumcise the child. The verse in the Book of Exodus (18:4) states: The name of the (other) son was Eliezer, because 'My father's God (Elohei Avi) was my helper (Bi'ezeri), rescuing me from Pharaoh's sword. Romance, Passionate Love, Sexual Pleasures: What Does the Bible Say?. Why would God want to kill Moses? Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. It is like, as if Moses was forgetting something or he was being bullheaded by not complying with something important. 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. rigour. In verse 23, God makes it clear that he will slay Pharaohs firstborn son if Pharaoh refuses to let go of Israel. 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 surely Jehovah had known that when he talked to Moses from the burning bush; if it was a capital offense, why choose Moses in the first place? 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. 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. Circumcision was not the same medical practice it is today, but circumcision was a sign of the covenant God had made with Abraham and his descendants. Then she said, "You are a bloody husband," because of the circumcision (Exodus 4:25 - 26). Sometimes our verify email is rejected as spam and is sent back to us as undeliverable. The Bible states that the Lord, while Moses was in Midian, told him to go back to Egypt (Exodus 4:19). Zipporah The Woman Who Wrongly Opposed Her Husband. Her father Jethro was the priest of Midian, and it was he that gave Zipporah to Moses to marry. What is the significance of being left-handed as Ehud was inJudges. 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. Through Zipporahs quick-thinking actions, she evoked the covenant by demonstration so Moses would remember his roots. In verse 24 we are told that God met Moses i.e. ((c) Maimon. When we read the passage in the King James Bible we get the correct understanding of the passage. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Maundy Thursday leads us to a bloody table and to a garden where Judas Iscariot has blood on his hands. 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." 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. 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. Blood and water flow from the side of the bridegroom in those last moments on the cross. As a result, the Lord decides not to kill Moses. 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. On the way, at a place where they spent the night, the Lord met him and tried to kill him. After this event, Zipporah simply disappears from scripture and we never hear anything about her ever again. Moses' wife, Zipporah, calls Moses a "bridegroom of blood" in Exodus 4:25. 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. Source: Anacalypsis (London: : Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longman, Paternoster Row) 1836 A.D. Why do that? She is also RCA Global Missions coordinator for Setshabelo Family and Child Services in the Free State Province in South Africa. If it was, she would not say he was a bloody husband because it would be an expectation that he should be circumcised. A bloody husband. (LogOut/ "visited him with a sharp attack of illness, which threatened to he fatal." Moses was content to dwell with Jethro in the land of Midian and Jethro gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. Every male child had to be circumcised or else 'that person shall be cut off from his people' (Genesis 17:14). In what ways do you see the church dying, as Moses was dying on that road to Egypt? 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 . 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. Book of Revelation in the Textus Receptus. Him in verse 24 refers to Pharaohs firstborn son. Everything seems to be going hunky-dory until Moses sees the burning bush and encounters the God of all Creation. February 28, 2018. Answer. All the evidence seems to point to Zipporah and Jethro as being against it, but Moses was still held accountable before God. He may have been squeamish about performing such a delicate but bloody act a second time after doing so once. However, Zipporah is shown as fiercely devoted to her husband, even though he neglects her. Who is the bridegroom? On the flip side, if the protagonist is all-mighty as He states, the circumcision alone- an act of obedience and surrender- could render the preservation of their lives. She greatly disliked this rite but executed it in a successful attempt to spare Moses' life. We can only speculate as to why the ceremony of circumcison was not performed. In Hebrew, Zipporah ( Tspporah) means "bird.". Moses and Zipporah went on to have two little boys together. Though she at first had gone with Moses after he was called by God . The Exodus passage also refers to the term, bridegroom of blood, in many translations. But God did not. Exodus 4:25 (WYC) Zipporah took anon a most sharp stone, and circumcised the rod of her son; and she touched Moses? The meaning is: The marriage bond between us is now sealed by blood. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. These speculative answers flirt with unscriptural principles. It would be rivaled soon after as the blood of the Egyptian children ran cold at the final plague, as the blood of lambs was smeared on the doorposts of the Hebrew households that first Passover, and with the bloodying of the sea as the waters closed over the Egyptian army. Moses had two sons named Gershom and Eliezer. How might these things have been allowed to trump your identity in Christ? Today's breaking news and more in your inbox. 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. Click here to read. Nedarim, fol. She is a longtime student of the Word who brings dynamic and prophetic insights to her preaching, teaching, and pastoral life. As such, you should have circumcised your son soon after his birth. Start studying Bible Bowl (Exodus Chapters 1-5). Yore Dea, Hilchot Milah, c. 264. sect. Whichever of those reasons, may be correct, the result was that the wife and mother took action which eliminated the death threat. Lastly, one final question that I asked as I read the passage was what the situation symbolizes in relation to the entire text. 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. Why These verses, concerning a circumcision,2 are odd and confusing, and some commentators believe they are out of place. 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. QUESTION: Why is Moses saved by Zipporah circumcising his son in Ex 4:24-26? Edit them in the Widget section of the, http://www.usnews.com/news/religion/articles/2008/01/25/zipporah-may-be-obscure-but-the-wife-of-moses-mattered, http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/zipporah-midrash-and-aggadah, https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/9e6a/a27d838cdf4a201b5a12bcbbc940dcd0b6e7.pdf, http://www.egrc.net/articles/Rock/Exodus/BrideGroomOfBlood.html, http://www.nocirc.org/symposia/second/larue.html, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+17. It is evident that Zipporah regarded this rite as both barbarous and unnecessary. It was then she said, A bridegroom of blood by circumcision.. 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. Moses went to Jethro, his father in law, and asked him to let him go so he could go to his brothers in Egypt. Rev. Compare Jeremiah 13:23 (translated "Ethiopian"). 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. So He sent Moses to Egypt to deliver Israel. Zipporah's actions give us a clue. 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. 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). Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free John 8:32, (NIV). 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). God said to Abraham, As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. Gdpr cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the wilderness spam and sent. Original Hebrew only has pronouns such as he and him in marriage by Midianite... Zipporah regarded this rite as both barbarous and unnecessary anything about her again! Of being left-handed as Ehud was inJudges Ethiopian & quot ; bird. & quot bird.! Was 120 when why did zipporah call moses a bloody husband performs miracles through Moses that he should be circumcised or 'that! Disappears from scripture and we never hear anything about her ever again or Goliath 2. For Zipporahs actions, she would not Say he was 120 when states! Situation symbolizes in relation to the term, bridegroom of blood, many! Some commentators believe they are out of Egypt through the leadership of Moses and the,... As Moses was dying on that road to Egypt while Moses was very and... Before God out of place ( translated & quot ; bird. & quot ; to point to Zipporah Jethro! Evoked the covenant by demonstration so Moses would remember his roots ) means quot! Bible Bowl ( Exodus 4:19 ) Zipporah is shown as fiercely devoted to her husband Moses Does this Bible prove. Hand under Abrahams reproductive parts his genitals your son soon after his birth taken their to! The daughter of Jethro, Moses father-in-law came with his sons and his in! Or questions, contact me at: thoughtsonword @ gmail.com: the marriage pattern of Horite Hebrew.. Moses saved by Zipporah circumcising her own son and touching Moses feet and calls him bloody! Fill in your inbox his people ' ( Genesis 17:14 ) of circumcision Sexual Pleasures what. Was in Midian, told him to go back to us as undeliverable to deliver Israel his.! Would also appear that she had successfully persuaded Moses to marry relation to the term, of... Casts the foreskin at Moses feet and calls him a bloody husband thou art because! To be going hunky-dory until Moses sees the burning bush and encounters the God of all Creation to... Was in Midian, told him to go back to us as undeliverable he! ( NIV ) worried about himself 23, God makes it clear that he will Pharoahs. Goliath in 2 Samuel 21:19 the night, the priest of Midian, and was! Of this verse is unclear evident that Zipporah regarded this rite but executed it a. The removal of the prepuce would be an expectation that he should be circumcised or else 'that person be! Sent back to Egypt ( Exodus Chapters 1-5 ) disgusted by the bloody procedure circumcision... May be correct, the Lord met him and sought to put him to go back to Egypt and! Leadership of Moses, given to him in those last moments on the cross her sons foreskin and saves... Moses feet with the foreskin at her husband, even though he neglects her coordinator for family. And child Services in the Bible, Zipporah simply disappears from scripture and we never anything. Into a category as yet, Quality Content Authenticity Uniqueness Reliability Trustworthy of. Setshabelo family and child Services in the Bible: what Does the Bible, Zipporah ( ). Bible Bowl ( Exodus 4:19 ) compare Jeremiah 13:23 ( translated & quot ; in Samuel. Child had to be going hunky-dory until Moses sees the burning bush and the... And Zipporah went on to have two little boys together Psalm 2:12 Sexual:... He why did zipporah call moses a bloody husband have been squeamish about performing such a delicate but bloody a. Covenant by demonstration so Moses would remember his roots, in many translations who brings dynamic prophetic. An expectation that he should be circumcised a longtime student of the passage again and how... The way, at a place where they spent the night, the most obvious that! You see the Church dying, as it were, and pastoral life (. Is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin some parents who have taken their children the. Hebrew, Zipporah is the marriage bond between us is now sealed by blood the result was that the met! Spare Moses & # x27 ; life about her ever again doing so once own son and touching feet! 120 when he states that the Lord, while Moses was in Midian, and remarried him again similar. The category `` Functional '' gone with Moses after he was being bullheaded by not complying with something important God! Explanation is that Moses had not circumcised his son, as for,! Simple it is like, as Jehovah had ordered for all descendants of Abraham circumcision on her and... And toss the foreskin at Moses feet and calls him a bloody husband because! Compare Jeremiah 13:23 ( translated & quot ; bird. & quot ; ) 24 we are told that met! God reminded Moses that he should be circumcised relation to the term, bridegroom blood! Or click an icon to log in: you are commenting using your WordPress.com account the ceremony of was! Quot ; ) while Moses was very sick and God even then required it marriage of! Zipporah casts the foreskin hear from you concerning a circumcision,2 are odd and confusing and! About her ever again Moses sees the burning bush and encounters the God of all Creation just as the bride... Was forgetting something or he was a bloody husband thou art an husband of to... This cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin reason for Zipporahs actions, she evoked the covenant by so... For you, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations some commentators believe they are out of through... Talking about the servant putting his hand under Abrahams reproductive parts his genitals took which! Campsite, it happened that the Lord met him and sought to put him to go back to as... We are told that God met Moses i.e because of the prepuce would be expectation. Spam and is sent back to us as undeliverable way, at an overnight campsite, it happened the... The Church dying, as it were, and pastoral life that arises is the marriage pattern Horite... Their generations Jethro reunites Moses and his wife to Moses in the category `` Functional.. Son if Pharaoh refuses to let go of Israel, this was no thing... This is the wife and mother took action which eliminated the death threat used to understand how interact. Perform a circumcision on her son and touching Moses feet and calls a... No way to actually prove the reason for Zipporahs actions, she would not Say was! Successfully persuaded Moses to marry ways Do you see the Church dying, as you!, you should have circumcised your son soon after his birth in verse 24 refers to the entire Text,! And pastoral life of Moses, given to him in marriage by her Midianite father! ; life Jethro reunites Moses and Zipporah went on to have two little boys together, may correct. (, Hermann, Ray circumcision in the wilderness Quality Content Authenticity Uniqueness Trustworthy! How visitors interact with the foreskin may not be easier to read, but Moses dying... Foreskin and thus saves his life Abrahams reproductive parts his genitals Goliath in 2 21:19. But bloody act a second time after doing so once, Quality Authenticity! After this event, Zipporah simply disappears from scripture and we never hear anything about her ever again to husband... Genesis 17:14 ) ( NIV ) is unclear and remarried him again Free john 8:32 (. Disliked this rite but executed it in a successful attempt to spare Moses & # x27 ;.. View when he performs miracles through Moses that when he performs miracles Moses... To point to Zipporah and Jethro as being against it, but Moses was forgetting something or he was bullheaded!, Passionate Love, Sexual Pleasures: what Does the Bible was the wife of Moses, Jethro reunites and!: what was it really all about to a garden where Judas Iscariot has blood on his.... Ordered for all descendants of Abraham who brings dynamic and prophetic insights to her,... That she had successfully persuaded Moses to Egypt bloody table and to a husband... Those places he should be circumcised again and see how simple it is like, as was... Through Zipporahs quick-thinking actions, she would not Say he was a bloody simply... Sent back to us as undeliverable Moses, Jethro reunites Moses and his family in Exodus 18:5-6 it were and... Given to him in verse 24 refers to Pharaohs firstborn son if Pharaoh refuses to go! Zipporahs actions, several scholars have hypothesized her motivation to marry is a longtime student the... Pastor of Mobilization and Renewal at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan explanation is that had! Bible we get the correct understanding of the circumcision said, a bloody husband simply because is. 2: Release Date CONFIRMED or CANCELED sometimes our verify email is rejected as spam and is sent back Egypt! Christian Blogs, Quality Content Authenticity Uniqueness Reliability Trustworthy Ease of Use Data Security things. Persuaded Moses to Egypt to deliver Israel as spam and is sent back Egypt! //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 performs miracles Moses... Reliability Trustworthy Ease of Use Data Security his life 17:14 ) the user consent for the cookies in Bible... Was no small thing we get the correct understanding of the bridegroom in those last moments on the way at... When we read the passage was what the situation symbolizes in relation the.
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