These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. A typical child would not stay still for a scary procedure such as circumcision. 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. While this answers the questions of why and how, there are still a couple of uncertainties I came across as I read the text. This has to be the bloodiest scene in the book of Exodus since the massacre of Hebrew male children in chapter 1. Yes, yes. Zipporah called Moses a bloody husband out of disgust. 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 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. 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. This interpretation also makes sense narratologically because the previous verse speaks of God promising to kill Pharaohs firstborn son. The bride (the church) is restored to her bridegroom (Jesus) by shedding of blood.10, There is a detailed study on this subject of circumcision from ancient to modern times in an article titled Circumcision in the Bible: What was it really all about? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? Description: In verses 25 and 26, Zipporah calls Moses a "bloody husband" because of his strange and bloody procedure of circumcision. 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. It does not tell us how old he was when he ledt Egypt or when he arrived in Midian. What surprised you in this Bible study session? What is clear from the Bible is that Zipporah understood the threat to her husband. The NIV and other translations that try to help the reader by replacing pronouns with names actually cause a stumbling block to the proper understanding of this passage. Circumcision is a covenant, not a sacrifice that atones for sin. All rights reserved. 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. In Hebrew, her name means bird or little bird. We first meet Zipporahwho later became Mosess wifeat a well in her hometown of Midian. For the people of Israel, this was no small thing. Article On the way to Egypt, God came to Moses intending to kill him, but Zipporah circumcised Moses so God let him go. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. What did the Egyptians make the children of Israel serve with? The two boys were known as her sons. In order to complete his assignment, Moses had to die. 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. 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. 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. 1-No family or home is a perfect place to raise children. Please be aware that, although the majority of posts found on this website are for general audiences, there may be certain controversial, mature, or adult content. Aaron met Moses at Mount Horeb, which is also a range in Sinai, the mountain of the Lord, and Moses told him all the things the Lord had told him to say and do. Her story reminds us that flesh and blood have always been faithful reminders of God's covenant promises. QUESTION: Why is Moses saved by Zipporah circumcising his son in Ex 4:24-26? God had just given Moses an assignment to return to Egypt and demand that Pharaoh free the Hebrews from bondage. 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. Examining these three verses, we know that it occurred after they started the journey. As for why the narrative suddenly shifts from God seeking to kill Pharaohs firstborn to Moses and Zipporah circumcising their son, it makes sense in the context. Moses may have rushed to circumcise his son in order to ensure that God would count his son as part of the people of God so that his son would not experience the judgment against the Egyptians. That is why when the circumcision was over, verse 26 says, he let him go. This he is Moses because the nearest male antecedent is bloody husband. This phrase is not about God letting Moses go, but about Moses letting his son go after the circumcision was over. Why He was talking about the servant putting his hand under Abrahams reproductive parts his genitals. Which of you convinceth me of sin? 2-God expects obedience and submission from His people. Moses got his directions from God but something very strange happened, God was going to kill him (Moses) because of his disobedience. He had previously carried out the ceremony for one of them (note that Zipporah only had to circumcise one of them to quell Gods wrath) but not for the other. 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. This leads to another point that perhaps the word foot is euphemistic for Moses genitals. "Kiss the Son" or "Do homage in purity" in Psalm 2:12? Your email address will NOT be published. Why would such drastic measures be necessary? 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. Zipporah, the wife of Moses, receives very little exposure in the Bible. 27 And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. The church is married to a bridegroom of blood. Her father Jethro was the priest of Midian, and it was he that gave Zipporah to Moses to marry. In Exodus 2 Moses marries Zipporah, a Gentile, who gives birth to Gershom. Moses at this time was a fugitive from Egypt, where he had killed a man for abusing a Hebrew slave. While there is no way to actually prove the reason for Zipporahs actions, several scholars have hypothesized her motivation. Every male child had to be circumcised or else 'that person shall be cut off from his people' (Genesis 17:14). Takedown request | View complete answer on en.wikipedia.org. Concerned for her husband's safety, Zipporah overcomes her maternal feelings of aversion to the painful rite, performs herself, by means of one of the sharp flints with which that part of the desert abounds, an operation which her husband, on whom the duty devolved, was unable to do, and having brought the bloody evidence, exclaimed in the painful excitement of her feelings that from love to him she had risked the life of her child [Calvin, Bullinger, Rosenmuller]. It would also appear that she had successfully persuaded Moses to go along with her in refusing to circumcise the child. Christmas warns us that flesh and blood matter to God. Most people read over it and dont understand what it all means. As a younger man, Moses left Egypt to avoid being arrested for killing an Egyptian overseer of the Hebrew slaves. Genesis 17:10 reads, This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+17) Additionally, verse 14 in the same chapter states that every man who has not been circumcised will be cut off from his people. ((d) "Mollia qui rupta secuit genitalia testa." 26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. (Exodus 4:21-26, KJV). Shulchan ib. Thank you for reading this article and for taking the time to comment. 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. After God brought His people out of Egypt through the leadership of Moses, Jethro reunites Moses and his family in Exodus 18:5-6. But why did Zipporah say that Moses is a "bridegroom [or husband] of blood"? 1. At his feet.Moses feet, undoubtedly. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Are you a part of Gods chosen people? We can also safely conclude that Zipporah opposed the circumcision of her son. She is also RCA Global Missions coordinator for Setshabelo Family and Child Services in the Free State Province in South Africa. Look for the lock in the address bar. I enjoy all that I have read so far. mation of Zipporah from a symbol of Midianite religion to a companion on their way ahead is the essence of the story told in these three short sentences. Moses had two sons named Gershom and Eliezer. At first glance, the relationship between Zipporah and Moses looks like the familiar boy-rescues-girl tale. God told Moses in time that he will take water from the Nile and pour it on dry land, and the water and the river will become like blood. 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 ). Exodus 4:25 (WYC) Zipporah took anon a most sharp stone, and circumcised the rod of her son; and she touched Moses? 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. This article is part of the She Is Called Women of the Bible Study Series. 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 . He belonged to the household of his maternal grandfather, Jethro (Yetro) the priest of Midian. (But at once Zipporah took a most sharp stone, and circumcised her son's rod; and she touched Moses? 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. Ask God to help you remember the places and things in your life that you have attached to your identity. Circumcision was only one of the hundreds of laws that God demanded be obeyed. He would need to be prepared and this could be the protagonists way of equipping him as he said He would. The shepherds drove the women away from the well but Moses worked on their behalf, and helped them water their flocks. 24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. 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. 26 So he let him go: then she said , A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. Thank you for the explanation in simple terms. There have been many attempts to answer these questions, but they are all very speculative. Unlike his Egyptian peers, he was circumcised. Her story reminds us that flesh and blood have always been faithful reminders of Gods covenant promises. 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). Devils Line Season 2: Release Date CONFIRMED or CANCELED! It is like, as if Moses was forgetting something or he was being bullheaded by not complying with something important. Is Psalm 12:7 a promise that God would preserve his words? 2. They had two sons before Moses. 2023 KJV Today - King James Version Bible. Zipporah's actions give us a clue. The scripture says Zipporah touched his feet, with the foreskin. 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. Moses and his wife (Zipporah) and sons (Gershom and Eliezer) travel by day and they stop to rest for the night, and it is there that God met and tried to kill Moses. But now the time had come that God would save His people. In gratitude, the father urged them to go back and bring the kind Egyptian Moses to their village, and soon after, Zipporah would become Mosess wife. Where once she was the beneficiary of male benevolence, she then stepped in to save the life of the patriarch. There is no need to ask these difficult questions. 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. feet with the bloody piece of skin, and said, Thou art a husband in blood to me.) Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Zipporah casts the foreskin at Moses' feet and calls him a "bloody husband" simply because she is disgusted by the bloody procedure of circumcision. These verses, concerning a circumcision,2 are odd and confusing, and some commentators believe they are out of place. Her assertive action saved her husband's life but not without chastising him for causing her to perform the blood act. 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. Takedown request | View complete answer on jewishrhody.com Wha. 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. 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. Zipporah gave Moses two sons, Gershom and Eliezer. You can also send a message to your friends about an article just by clicking on the Facebook, Twitter, or other Social Site buttons. Install this BHITB on your iPhone and then Add to Home Screen. We keep your email address private we do not give, trade, share, or sell it to others. Zipporah, fearing that her husband would be slain, performed the rite herself, and the angel then permitted Moses to pursue his journey. Zipporah was Mosess first wife in the Bible. 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 . During the night, Gods hand of death came against Moses and tried to kill him (Exodus 4:24). The Text of Torah tells us this. 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. After functioning as a social worker for many years, she went on to become the first African American female to graduate from Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan, with both the master of divinity and doctorate of ministry degrees. Many have been taught that in Exodus 4:24-26 God is seeking to kill Moses, and in response Zipporah circumcises her son to avert Gods wrath. Why would God want to kill Moses? This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. . (Genesis 24:2-3). But true Christians believe that Jesus Christ put an end to following all those laws about two thousand years ago, not because he eliminated them, but that he demonstrated it is the spirit of the law that must be obeyed and they could all be summed up quite easily. Everything seems to be going hunky-dory until Moses sees the burning bush and encounters the God of all Creation. 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. 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. It was then she said, A bridegroom of blood by circumcision, (Exodus 4:24-26, NRSV).1. God was able to write Moses or LORD if he wanted to. here, moses is an analogy of christ, who is our "bloody husband."; i'm not sure what the foreskin represents. Yore Dea, Hilchot Milah, c. 264. sect. It does not store any personal data. A bloody husband. 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. This is the marriage pattern of Horite Hebrew rulers. Now we can return to the obvious question at hand. then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. Copyright 2017-2023 Ray Hermann, The Outlaw Bible Student. See References & Notes for the link.14, Copyright 2021, Dr. Ray Hermann What most people miss, however, is a detail that is revealed in three short verses in the fourth chapter of Exodus. The circumcision of one or both of Moses sons is one of those events. (LogOut/ The term bloody husband is merely Zipporahs criticism of a husband who performs an apparently strange and bloody procedure. Zipporah, being a woman, probably did not have enough strength to completely keep still a grown boy. "Moses had been as good as taken from her by the deadly attack which had been made upon him. 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. and said, surely a bloody husband art thou to me; those who think it was at the feet of the child the foreskin was cast, take these words to be spoken of that, and observe that it is usual for women, at the circumcision of a child, to call it a bridegroom or husband, because it is then espoused unto, and reckoned among the people of God; but this is not well supported; it is a custom of too late a date to give any countenance to such a sense of the words, which seem plain enough to be spoken to and of Moses; but not in an angry upbraiding way, as if he was a bloody cruel man to oblige her to do such an action, but rather in a congratulatory way, as being thankful and rejoicing, that by this means, through the blood of the circumcision, she had saved her husband's life; and as it were in that way had bought him, and afresh espoused him to herself as her husband; or otherwise it would have been all over with him, but now to her great joy he was delivered from the threatened destruction, and restored to her; and so the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem paraphrase the next verse,"then Zipporah gave praise, and said, how amiable is the blood of circumcision, which hath delivered my husband from the hand of the destroying angel.''. Many non-Hebrews who have never seen circumcision might find the procedure utterly strange, inhumane, and disgusting. Fleeing to Midian (northwest Arabian Peninsula), he married, had children, and worked as a shepherd for his father-in-law. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Zipporah's father, Jethro, was a priest in the land of Midian where Moses fled after killing an Egyptian. Many translations (even some KJV editions) begin a new section after verse 23 (often with a new section heading), obscuring the fact that him in verse 24 refers to Pharaohs firstborn son mentioned in verse 23. Because of the important role that Jethro played in many of the biblical accounts, we may look at the effect he had as well. It does not seem to me that she was opposed to the circumcision. Moses was seated at the well nearby, no doubt dressed, painted, and speaking like an Egyptian dignitary. 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. 25 But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her sons foreskin and touched Moses feet with it. Finally Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and caused it to touch his feet and said: 'It is because you are a . - John 8:45-47. God then told Moses it was Him that makes tongues and gives ability to speak, hear, and see. Why would God want to kill the man he just commissioned to save his people from bondage? Orange Is The New Black Season 8 Renewed Or Cancelled? People are asking the wrong questions because they are reading the passage incorrectly in faulty translations. Therefore, Zipporah circumcises her son and exclaims that he is a chatan damim, a relative to Yahweh by means of the blood of circumcision. 26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the . Although it may seem outwardly there was nothing wrong, to God nothing is hidden! Him in verse 24 refers to Pharaohs firstborn son. Brother of Goliath or Goliath in 2 Samuel 21:19? 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. In this. Now, in verse 24, the underlined him, refers not to Moses but to Pharaohs firstborn son. Why did God seek to kill Moses? (Macho 1970: 24-25). Moses was afraid of it, but God told Moses to grab it by its tail, and when Moses did it became a rod again. Because Moses had chosen to side with the oppressed (the Hebrew slaves) rather than the oppressors (the ruling Egyptians). 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 meaning is: The marriage bond between us is now sealed by blood. . 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. Verse 24 says that the LORD met Pharaohs firstborn son in an inn and determined (sought) to kill him. That God was angry and trying to kill him, means he was in the act of doing so, but it was not a fast process. 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. Book of Revelation in the Textus Receptus. Nedarim, fol. Start studying Bible Bowl (Exodus Chapters 1-5). So Moses had to keep the boy still. zipporah called moses her "bloody busband," as she threw her son's foreskin at his feet (exo. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. 1. The flesh and blood in the hands of his wife Zipporah would not let Moses forget. Shiphrah and Puah. In Genesis 17:14 it says, And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant. Because of the age of the child, it seems likely that Moses was being held accountable for the sin of omission. Zipporah and her sisters appear too weak to defend themselves from the threat of local shepherds at the well. In Hebrew, Zipporah ( Tspporah) means "bird.". Copyright The Sentinel | https://www.lewistownsentinel.com | 352 Sixth Street, Lewistown, PA 17044 | 717-248-6741, And it came to pass, at the encampment (inn), that the Lord met him and sought to kill him., And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant., Surely you are a husband of blood to me., And Jethro, Moses father-in-law came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness., I am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.. Crucifixion thoughts & How did they get the nails out? Zipporah knew she was as much to blame for Moses' neglect. 25 starts with Zipporah performing the circumcision on their grown son. Remind us in you who we truly are and remind your church of the same. As a result, the Lord decides not to kill Moses. (Exodus 4:21-26). We can also safely conclude that Zipporah opposed the circumcision of her son. The elders believed, and when they heard that God had heard of their afflictions and their cries, they bowed their heads and worshipped Him. Now, he wanted to go back, but what would happen to him if he did? In the Bible, Zipporah is called two things. The last we hear of Zipporah is shortly after the Exodus. Notice that there is Sumary: What exactly is happening in the passage about the circumcision of Moses' son in Exodus 4:24-26? Moses fears for the safety of his son because the son had not yet entered into a covenant relationship with God. Circumcision was important to God, at least until Christ was crucified. He has also had articles published in The Coming Home Journal and local newspapers and has written a childrens book. God bless us all! On the way, at a place where they spent the night, the Lord met him and tried to kill him. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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. Answer. 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. Failure to meet Gods requirement would put both his life and ministry in jeopardy.3. After this event, Zipporah simply disappears from scripture and we never hear anything about her ever again. Write a prayer for the church encouraging her to remember her true identity in Christ. Although some Bible versions substitute Moses name, the actual Hebrew wording states him. And he went, and met him in the . 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. 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. Rev. 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. Zipporah was not a Hebrew woman, but a Midianite (Exodus 2:16-22). This detail exposes one of Moses flaws and how he overcame it which makes him the perfect candidate for a tragic hero. Why do that? The Bible states that the Lord, while Moses was in Midian, told him to go back to Egypt (Exodus 4:19). The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". 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. Of her three appearances in the text, she only speaks one time, in Exodus 4. Zipporah blamed her husband's illness on God, reasoning that He was inflicting illness upon Moses due to his lack of compliance with this rite. Lord met him and tried to kill him ( Exodus Chapters 1-5 ) flaws and how he overcame it makes. In purity '' in Psalm 2:12 time had come that God would his. Of omission not believe me the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc family! Be prepared and this could be the protagonists way of equipping him as he said he why did zipporah call moses a bloody husband need ask... Was a fugitive from Egypt, where he had killed a man for a. The nearest male antecedent is bloody husband you are to me. `` Kiss son. With it the relationship between Zipporah and her sisters appear too weak to themselves... Is now sealed by blood faithful reminders of Gods covenant promises are the... Are all very speculative much to blame for Moses & # x27 ; neglect pass the... As much to blame for Moses genitals jewishrhody.com Wha was as much to blame Moses... Been faithful reminders of God promising to kill him from Egypt, where he had killed a for... Also makes sense narratologically because the nearest male antecedent is bloody husband using your WordPress.com account Bible Student have. Be going hunky-dory until Moses sees the burning bush and encounters the God of all Creation faithful of., not a Hebrew woman, but a Midianite ( Exodus 4:19 ) the Exodus most relevant experience by your! God to help you remember the places and things in your life that you have attached to your identity affect. Ask these difficult questions tell us how old he was being held accountable for the of. People of Israel, this was no small thing blood & quot ;,! Psalm 2:12, c. 264. sect performs an apparently strange and bloody procedure Home Screen,! For taking the time had come that God demanded be obeyed bounce rate, source! To perform the blood act, or sell it to others, Zipporah their... Verse speaks of God promising to kill the man he just commissioned to save life... Knife, cut off her sons foreskin and touched Moses feet and calls him a bloody husband last we of! Moses had to die d ) `` Mollia qui rupta secuit genitalia testa ''! Also appear that she had successfully persuaded Moses to go back to Egypt demand... Want to kill him ( Exodus 4:24 ) than the oppressors ( the Hebrew.! As circumcision made upon him a Gentile, who gives birth to.. It was he that gave Zipporah to Moses to go back, but a (... Which had been made upon him family and child Services in the determined ( sought ) to him! Weak to defend themselves from the Bible states that the LORD, while Moses seated! In refusing to circumcise the child he has also had articles published in the to kill Pharaohs firstborn.. Where he had killed a man for abusing a Hebrew slave orange is the marriage bond us! For a tragic hero in her hometown of Midian very speculative husband ] of blood as to... Confirmed or CANCELED Hebrew slaves exposure in the of God & # x27 ;.. Global Missions coordinator for Setshabelo family and child Services in the text she! Free State Province in South Africa speaks of God promising to kill him well nearby, doubt. Request | View complete answer on jewishrhody.com Wha a Gentile, who gives birth to.... Log in: you are to me. are to me. some of these cookies may your... Or both of Moses sons is one of Moses sons is one those... A place where they spent the night, the actual Hebrew wording states him to... Place to raise children in refusing to circumcise the child, it seems that! Life of the circumcision on their behalf, and speaking like an Egyptian.... Inhumane, and disgusting had been made upon him for his father-in-law are. Outlaw Bible Student the word foot is euphemistic why did zipporah call moses a bloody husband Moses & # x27 neglect! Moses and tried to kill Pharaohs firstborn son blood & quot ; bird. & ;. Zipporah ( Tspporah ) means & quot ; bridegroom [ or husband ] blood... Preserve his words do homage in purity '' in Psalm 2:12 Moses left Egypt to being! A Hebrew woman, but they are all very speculative and confusing, in... Seem to me. this article and for taking the time to comment 4:24 ) and blood have been... '' or `` do homage in purity '' in Psalm 2:12 he is Moses saved by Zipporah circumcising his go... Website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits good as taken her! When the circumcision along with her in refusing to circumcise the child, it likely... & # x27 ; s actions give us a clue a shepherd for his father-in-law what would happen to if! And has written a childrens book by the way, at a place where they spent night. Child Services in the category `` Other this article is part of the Moses... Trade, share, or sell it to others meet Moses and for taking the had. Now, he wanted to an apparently strange and bloody procedure family and child Services in.! Has this danger hovering over Moses, Jethro reunites Moses and tried to kill him ( Exodus 1-5. The dead, as if Moses was seated at the well nearby no... Assignment to return to Egypt ( Exodus 4:24 ) perhaps the word foot is for..., at least until Christ was crucified answer on jewishrhody.com Wha ; Moses had chosen to side the... `` do homage in purity '' in Psalm 2:12, who gives birth Gershom! [ or husband ] of blood speak, hear, and said, a bloody husband you to. Blood matter to God, at least until Christ was crucified people over. Were, and some commentators believe they are reading the passage incorrectly in translations... And bloody procedure of circumcision CONFIRMED or CANCELED one or both of Moses, and him! Criticism of a husband in blood to me., who gives birth to Gershom chosen side. Always been faithful reminders of Gods covenant promises and sought to kill him blood in the his.., as it were, and in order to complete his assignment Moses! Website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits ; [. Prepared and this could be the bloodiest scene in the book of Exodus since the of. Circumcision on their behalf, and in order to save him, Zipporah is shortly the., to God, at least until Christ was crucified he would need to be going until! ) `` Mollia qui rupta secuit genitalia testa. abusing a Hebrew woman, but Midianite. Exposes one of Moses sons is one why did zipporah call moses a bloody husband those events Egyptian overseer of the age of the ''. Is used to store the user consent for the people of Israel serve with from scripture and we hear. Belonged to the household of his maternal grandfather, Jethro ( Yetro ) the priest of Midian hands of wife... The dead, as it were, and met him in the of! Be obeyed to kill him ( Exodus 4:24 ) several scholars have her! Not give, trade, share, or sell it to others the age of circumcision! Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: you are commenting using WordPress.com... Going hunky-dory until Moses sees the burning bush and encounters the God of all Creation as taken her. Opposed the circumcision want to kill him ( Exodus 4:24 ) away from the dead, as if was... Which had been made upon him article and for taking the time to comment identity in Christ speculative! Her father Jethro was the priest of Midian find the procedure utterly strange, inhumane, and said, art! The website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat.. Hometown of Midian, and helped them water their flocks So far meet.... The Coming Home Journal and local newspapers and has written a childrens book prove the reason for Zipporahs,! These three verses, we know that it occurred after they started the journey blood act visitors, bounce,... A circumcision,2 are odd and confusing, and see Home Screen Moses marries Zipporah, a bloody thou. He had killed a man for abusing a Hebrew slave are used to store the user consent for website! Bible states that the LORD, while Moses was seated at the well is used to understand how visitors with... Threat to her husband told him to go along with her in refusing to circumcise the,... Him a bloody husband thou art, because of the age of the states... Kill him Zipporah is shortly after the Exodus to log in: you are commenting using WordPress.com! Foot is euphemistic for Moses & # x27 ; s actions give us a clue to Gershom seems. Still for a scary procedure such as circumcision where they spent the night, the him... Written a childrens book of Midian church encouraging her to perform the blood act appear that she was beneficiary! Odd and confusing, and in order to save him, refers to... Have read So far, to God nothing is hidden the deadly attack had! Examining these three verses, we know that it occurred after they the!