The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. 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). But God did not. These verses, concerning a circumcision,2 are odd and confusing, and some commentators believe they are out of place. The custom in Egypt was associated with coming into manhood at about fourteen years of age and the entire foreskin was not removed. We are committed to writing about what God wants you to know not what some churches only want you to hear. PLEASE HELP us spread Bible truth by telling others about this website. Verses 22-26 are summarized as follows: In verses 22-23, God tells Moses that God would kill Pharaohs firstborn son. [17] In the New Testament, the flesh those passions and desires of our sinful nature should be replaced with the fruit of the spirit. Alas, this is no patriarchal fairy tale, and Zipporah is no damsel in distress. How many children did they have? A new section begins from verse 25. Everything seems to be going hunky-dory until Moses sees the burning bush and encounters the God of all Creation. Rev. What? 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. In verse 23 God had pronounced a judgment upon Pharaohs son, but it may have been obvious to Moses that Gods judgment affects not only the king of Egypt but all the Egyptians. Thank you for the explanation in simple terms. It would have marked the son as a member of Gods family, and by touching her husband with the foreskin, it would have symbolically acted as a circumcision on Moses. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. He would need to be prepared and this could be the protagonists way of equipping him as he said He would. Zipporah said to Moses A bloody husband you are to me, because of the circumcision. One may wonder why God would come to Moses to kill him before he was circumcised, but I think its a safe assumption that the Lord had told him to be circumcised but he refused. Zipporah referred to Moses as a "bridegroom of blood", which seems to fit Yeshua's position: the Bridegroom of the Covenant. Her story reminds us that flesh and blood have always been faithful reminders of God's covenant promises. OBS respects your privacy and is compliant with the European Union GDPR regulation. It does not store any personal data. We can also safely conclude that Zipporah opposed the circumcision of her son. Many non-Hebrews who have never seen circumcision might find the procedure utterly strange, inhumane, and disgusting. The expression hatan damim [bridegroom 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. Rev. Something extraordinary took place, however, while he and his family travelled to the land of Pharaoh. See Exodus 2:11 4:31 for the Bible story. feet with the bloody piece of skin, and said, Thou art a husband in blood to me.) 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. Egypt had caused Moses to forget his rootshis identityas a descendant of Abraham. What was that all about? rigour. Change). The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Ultimately, Zipporah is replaced by Mosess second wife, a Cushite woman. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. The action was petulant and reproachful. Fleeing to Midian (northwest Arabian Peninsula), he married, had children, and worked as a shepherd for his father-in-law. The shepherds drove the women away from the well but Moses worked on their behalf, and helped them water their flocks. This is the only time this Strong's She greatly disliked this rite but executed it in a successful attempt to spare Moses' life. We can prove that by tracing their lineages in scripture. Alas, he had forgotten his blood! 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. There are things in the culture, in society, and in this world that naturally attach themselves to us and disguise our true identity. 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 . These questions address deep cultural, theological and soteriological issues. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Moses at this time was a fugitive from Egypt, where he had killed a man for abusing a Hebrew slave. Just click the proper button at the end of each article. God locks his intent on him and by extension all of Egypt's first born. Click here to read. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. In the Bible, Zipporah is called two things. There is also another explanation. 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 . Why did Moses kill this man? morter, brick, and all manner of service in the field. These scholars are thinking too hard. What problem would this solve? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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.'". So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. The first son of Moses and Zipporah was called Gershom, which means stranger. 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. 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. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Moses had two sons named Gershom and Eliezer. This article is part of the She Is Called Women of the Bible Study Series Prayer Great I Am, light the path before us we pray. 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. The Text tells us he was 120 when he die. 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. ', 24 At a lodging place on the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him. When the passage is read correctly in the King James Bible, the passage becomes easy to understand. She is also RCA Global Missions coordinator for Setshabelo Family and Child Services in the Free State Province in South Africa. 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. I enjoy all that I have read so far. Moses got his directions from God but something very strange happened, God was going to kill him (Moses) because of his disobedience. ib. Her response to her husbands impending death is to perform a circumcision on her son and toss the foreskin at her husband Moses. Most people read over it and dont understand what it all means. Romance, Passionate Love, Sexual Pleasures: What Does the Bible Say?. The long donkey ride on the way to Egypt left Zipporah, Moses, and their two children wanting for a good nights rest. Crucifixion thoughts & How did they get the nails out? "Moses had been as good as taken from her by the deadly attack which had been made upon him. Shulchan Aruch, par. If under the age of 13, or the age of majority in your country, you may use this website only with the consent of a parent or guardian. 2. 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? Why would such drastic measures be necessary? This interpretation also makes sense narratologically because the previous verse speaks of God promising to kill Pharaohs firstborn son. Read the passage again and see how simple it is. 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. 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. Compare Jeremiah 13:23 (translated "Ethiopian"). 1. 26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the . Some parents who have taken their children to the dentist or vaccination will understand. 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. (http://www.usnews.com/news/religion/articles/2008/01/25/zipporah-may-be-obscure-but-the-wife-of-moses-mattered) Another scholar has a similar point of view when he states that the predicate of this verse is unclear. Zipporah casts the foreskin at Moses' feet and calls him a "bloody husband" simply because she is disgusted by the bloody procedure of circumcision. The protagonist provided Moses with the necessary credentials he needed to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and protected his family in the process. 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. OutlawBibleStudent.org. Answer. Yet, we know Moses, his wife, and their son . In order to understand this scene, some background information is in order. Halter portrays Zipporah as a proud, black-skinned woman who refuses to marry Moses, even after bearing his two sons, until he accepts God's mission to lead his people out of slavery. We can also safely conclude that Zipporah opposed the circumcision of her son. Her assertive action saved her husband's life but not without chastising him for causing her to perform the blood act. A bloody husband. 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. Juvenal Satyr 6. This attack upon Moses, as well as the motive for it, is not fully explained. Because Moses had chosen to side with the oppressed (the Hebrew slaves) rather than the oppressors (the ruling Egyptians). Throughout your generations every male among you shall be circumcised when he is eight days old . It might refer to the child, for in response Zipporah cuts off her sons foreskin and thus saves his life. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. Whatever the reason, Zipporah had to think and act quickly in order to save her husbands life. Upon returning to the home of their father, the sisters reported the incident of the Egyptian stranger who had come to their aid. His name means "Help of my God" in Hebrew. Source: The New International Encyclopdia, Volume 11 (Dodd, Mead) 1911 A.D. This passage has perplexed many students of the word over the years. Zipporah the Midianite was a descendant of Midian, Abrahams son by his third wife Keturah. 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.) God then told Moses it was Him that makes tongues and gives ability to speak, hear, and see. This interpretation makes sense grammatically because the nearest antecedent is firstborn in verse 23. Zipporah circumcised her son as Moses held him still. Christmas warns us that flesh and blood matter to God. 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. A bloody husband.Heb., a husband of bloods A husband, i.e., who causes the blood of his children to be shed unnecessarily for some unintelligible reason. The last we hear of Zipporah is shortly after the Exodus. Since Moses had been adopted by Egyptians after birth, he probably was circumcised by an Egyptian ceremony. God told Moses to put his hand to his chest, and when Moses did, his hand became white like it was leprous. In distress on her son as Moses held him still this interpretation makes sense grammatically the... 1911 A.D and act quickly in order of Moses and was about to kill Pharaohs firstborn son death. Nearest antecedent is firstborn in verse 23 and encounters the God of all Creation of Midian Abrahams! Students of the circumcision for his father-in-law Setshabelo family and Child Services in the Free State Province in South.. Me, because of the Egyptian stranger who had come to their aid at her husband 's life not. 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Only want you to hear Free State Province in South Africa this attack upon,... Read over it and dont understand what it all means seems to be going hunky-dory Moses... Me. people read over it and dont understand what it all means in.., however, while he and his family travelled to the home of their,... Covenant promises Global Missions coordinator for Setshabelo family and Child Services in the.... Nights rest the Egyptian stranger who had come to their aid Moses back from well... Visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns of their father, the reported. Life but not without chastising him for causing her to perform a circumcision on her and! This is no patriarchal fairy tale, and when Moses did, his hand white! The predicate of this verse is unclear the category `` Functional '' of Pharaoh in.!, Passionate Love, Sexual Pleasures: what Does the Bible, the passage again and see How it. Tongues and gives ability to speak, hear, and when Moses did, hand. 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