This leads to another point that perhaps the word foot is euphemistic for Moses genitals. Moses at this time was a fugitive from Egypt, where he had killed a man for abusing a Hebrew slave. It might refer to the child, for in response Zipporah cuts off her sons foreskin and thus saves his life. Maundy Thursday leads us to a bloody table and to a garden where Judas Iscariot has blood on his hands. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Church Father and philosopher, Augustine of Hippo, had a very negative attitude toward sexuality. In Hebrew, her name means bird or little bird. We first meet Zipporahwho later became Mosess wifeat a well in her hometown of Midian. Answer. --Heb., a husband of bloods A husband, i.e., who causes the blood of his children to be shed unnecessarily for some unintelligible reason. Source: Memorials of Gilbert Haven, Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) 1880 A.D. This could indicate why the protagonist threatened Moses life. Now we can return to the obvious question at hand. While there is no way to actually prove the reason for Zipporahs actions, several scholars have hypothesized her motivation. God then told Moses that He will have Aaron, Moses brother to speak in his place. God told Moses that those who sought his life in Egypt, meaning especially Pharoah, had died. Why did God seek to kill Moses? Ask God to reveal these places and/or things. If you dont receive the verify page, please try again after adjusting your email filter to recognize the email address containing: @outlawbiblestudent.org. 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). Because Moses had chosen to side with the oppressed (the Hebrew slaves) rather than the oppressors (the ruling Egyptians). What did Zipporah do to Moses? As I mentioned before, Moses was probably not circumcised because his parents were hiding him as a newborn baby so he could be raised as an Egyptian. 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. It does not seem to me that she was opposed to the circumcision. 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. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Source: Anacalypsis (London: : Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longman, Paternoster Row) 1836 A.D. Through Zipporahs quick-thinking actions, she evoked the covenant by demonstration so Moses would remember his roots. Moreover, the failure to be circumcised is punishable by exclusion from the Abrahamic covenant, not death (Genesis 17:14). Moses' wife Zipporah called him a "bloody husband" because of the circumcision she had to perform on their son (Exodus 4:26). 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. Did Moses write the first five books of the Old Testament? This ancient cultural practice was well established, but there was some difference in the method compared to that of the Israelites. This is actually a topic that is debated often, but scripture is clear that Moses married two different women from two different lineages. Alas, he had forgotten his blood! She called Moses a "bloody husband" because of the circumcision. 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. 26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? Why would such drastic measures be necessary? Zipporah, having circumcised her son, corrected the mistake and saved her husband, whose life was in danger due to non-observance of the commandment. So she does what she has to do. 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. Why did Zipporah call Moses a bloody husband? Why? Zipporah's father was Jethro, also called Reuel. Remember who you are; you are a bridegroom of blood. Although some Bible versions substitute Moses name, the actual Hebrew wording states him. Moses said, "I have been a stranger in a strange land." 21 And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go. 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). 24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. 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. Listed on Blogspots 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. They had two sons before Moses. God said that if the children of Israel would not believe the first sign, they will believe the second. The flesh and blood in the hands of his wife Zipporah would not let Moses forget. 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.. Does the Masoretic Text Underlying the KJV omit Joshua 21:36-37? Nedarim, fol. She lives in Holland, Michigan, with her daughter Gezelle, son Chris, and doggie-woggie Kgabani. At least, the Egyptian in him had to die in order for the bloody, Israelite Moses, in his truest identity, to fulfill the purpose for which he was born. What did the Egyptians make the children of Israel serve with? Male circumcision has a special meaning in the Old Testament. See References & Notes for the link.14, Copyright 2021, Dr. Ray Hermann Who is the bridegroom? 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. 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.'". Just trying to dcide which book is my first to purchase. She greatly disliked this rite but executed it in a successful attempt to spare Moses' life. A little bit of kindness and compassion on the part of Moses turns a casual meeting into a close relationship. Well, to answer that question, we need a little more background information. In the Samaritan Bible, which featured the first five books of Moses, Zipporah is called Kaashet . Moses got himself a wife, Jethro got himself a son-in-law and a shepherd for his sheep; and Zipporah got herself a mate. _______________________________________________. We can also safely conclude that Zipporah opposed the circumcision of her son. (But at once Zipporah took a most sharp stone, and circumcised her son's rod; and she touched Moses? Circumcision was important to God, at least until Christ was crucified. She felt that this was God's way of showing His. She is a longtime student of the Word who brings dynamic and prophetic insights to her preaching, teaching, and pastoral life. At his feet.Moses feet, undoubtedly. He has self-published three books, Common Thoughts on The Word in 2016 and Eye of a Needle in 2017 and Common Thoughts on The Word II in 2019. 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. This attack upon Moses, as well as the motive for it, is not fully explained. People are asking the wrong questions because they are reading the passage incorrectly in faulty translations. The scripture says Zipporah touched his feet, with the foreskin. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. It was on his way back to Egypt that the event described in the text took place. God had the foreknowledge of Pharaohs refusal to let Israel go, so God was already prepared to seek the death of the firstborn son. You can also send a message to your friends about an article just by clicking on the Facebook, Twitter, or other Social Site buttons. Moreover, we know that Zipporah circumcised Gershom and touched Moses with the foreskin to take the place of Moses circumcision, give him the credentials for leading the Israelites out of Egypt, and protect his family from the wrath of the protagonist. The Text of Torah tells us this. 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.) In order to understand this scene, some background information is in order. Article Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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). 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. "Devolvit ipse acuto sibi pondera silice." His wife worried more about him then he worried about himself. Juvenal Satyr 6. Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me , Zipporah, having taken a sharp knife, circumcised her son, and fell down at his. 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. These speculative answers flirt with unscriptural principles. On the trip, at an overnight campsite, it happened that the Lord confronted him and sought to put him to death. 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. You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. Something extraordinary took place, however, while he and his family travelled to the land of Pharaoh. 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. 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. 27 And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. This passage is rather uneventful and straightforward if we read it properly. Just as the virgin bride would lose her hymen, testified to by bloody wedding night sheets (Deut. As Moses and his family arrive back in Egypt he meets up with the Lord who seeks to kill him. Failure to meet Gods requirement would put both his life and ministry in jeopardy.3. 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