why did zipporah call moses a bloody husband

That Monthly Period of Women Did God Curse Eve? 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. 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. Exodus 4:24-26: "On the way, at a place where they spent the night, the Lord met him and tried to kill him. In Hebrew, her name means bird or little bird. We first meet Zipporahwho later became Mosess wifeat a well in her hometown of Midian. Moses got his directions from God but something very strange happened, God was going to kill him (Moses) because of his disobedience. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. [17] 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. Zipporah circumcised her son as Moses held him still. 25 starts with Zipporah performing the circumcision on their grown son. Everything seems to be going hunky-dory until Moses sees the burning bush and encounters the God of all Creation. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. While she is introduced early in Exodus, very little is said about her. His mannerisms and customs were shaped by his Egyptian upbringing. Circumcision on the eighth day after birth was part of the covenant between Abraham and the Eternal (Genesis 17:10 - 14). And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? Moses had two sons named Gershom and Eliezer. You can use them to display text, links, images, HTML, or a combination of these. Zipporah's father, Jethro, was a priest in the land of Midian where Moses fled after killing an Egyptian. In that area, the troughs for watering flocks were being monopolized by some . For the people of Israel, this was no small thing. The first son of Moses and Zipporah was called Gershom, which means stranger. What surprised you in this Bible study session? 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". Takedown request | View complete answer on en.wikipedia.org. (http://www.egrc.net/articles/Rock/Exodus/BrideGroomOfBlood.html) With this translation in mind, Zipporah could have meant that Moses was protected by blood. She took the razor-sharp flint stone and severed her son's foreskin. 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. These speculative answers flirt with unscriptural principles. 26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. From the material I have read, it looks like Zipporah put some pressure on her hubby not to circumcise the boy. God came to Aaron and told him to go into the wilderness and meet his brother Moses. Now we can return to the obvious question at hand. Moses becomes her "bridegroom," her newly-acquired husband, because they both were culturally new persons. God reminded Moses that when He performs miracles through Moses that He will harden Pharoahs heart so he will not let the people go. Exactly why Moses had not circumcised his son is not stated in Scripture. 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. Before delving in to the scholars theories, it is important to remember that due to the fact that Moses was being hidden as a baby and raised as an Egyptian, he was probably not circumcised. "She received Moses back from the dead, as it were, and remarried him again." 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. 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. Through Zipporahs quick-thinking actions, she evoked the covenant by demonstration so Moses would remember his roots. She heroically saves Moses and her sons from a random attack from an angel by cutting off her son's foreskin; the explanation for this act is unclear. Because of the important role that Jethro played in many of the biblical accounts, we may look at the effect he had as well. 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. The issue of punishing Moses by killing him surrounds circumcising one of his sons. The writer asserts that perhaps the reference to blood-bridegroom reflects the custom of circumcision before marriage. (LogOut/ Jethro takes her and both of Moses sons and go meet him to celebrate Israel leaving Egypt. Why on the 8th day? (, Hermann, Ray, A Letter from an Atheist about the 12 Commandments! (. O Zipporah says this "bloody Husband" phrase twice. "visited him with a sharp attack of illness, which threatened to he fatal." Description: In verses 25 and 26, Zipporah calls Moses a "bloody husband" because of his strange and bloody procedure of circumcision. At the well, she met Moses, who was fleeing from Egypt and from Pharaohs judgment after he murdered an Egyptian (Exodus 2:15-22). God told Moses to cast the rod to the ground, and it became a serpent. Ask Anything. Christmas warns us that flesh and blood matter to God. Our study will be but three verses in chapter four of the Book of Exodus. It was then she said, A bridegroom of blood by circumcision, (Exodus 4:24-26, NRSV).1. This is actually a topic that is debated often, but scripture is clear that Moses married two different women from two different lineages. (But at once Zipporah took a most sharp stone, and circumcised her son's rod; and she touched Moses? 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. Takedown request | View complete answer on jewishrhody.com Wha. Answer. By looking at the lineages we can safely conclude that Moses had at least two wives mentioned in scripture. Zipporah said to Moses "A bloody husband you are to me, because of the circumcision." One may wonder why God would come to Moses to kill him before he was circumcised, but I think it's a safe assumption that the Lord had told him to be circumcised but he refused. In verse 26, the circumcision is finished and Moses lets go of his son. 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. Yore Dea, Hilchot Milah, c. 264. sect. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This is a text widget, which allows you to add text or HTML to your sidebar. Rev. Brother of Goliath or Goliath in 2 Samuel 21:19? However, Zipporah is shown as fiercely devoted to her husband, even though he neglects her. But why did Zipporah say that Moses is a "bridegroom [or husband] of blood"? She knew he would have been killed by God if their son, who may have been several months old or older, remained uncircumcised. 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 . Thus in verse 25, Zipporah circumcises her son as Moses holds him still. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. It is mentioned in Genesis, chapter 17, when God repeats his covenant of solidarity with Abraham and his descendants and explains his demands. Verses 22-26 are summarized as follows: In verses 22-23, God tells Moses that God would kill Pharaohs firstborn son. At first glance, the relationship between Zipporah and Moses looks like the familiar boy-rescues-girl tale. 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. Comments or questions, contact me at: thoughtsonword@gmail.com. Moses was content to dwell with Jethro in the land of Midian and Jethro gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. Moses was a murderer to Egyptians. 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. Many non-Hebrews who have never seen circumcision might find the procedure utterly strange, inhumane, and disgusting. He was aware he had to circumcise them in a timely and proper manner, on the eighth day after birth, as God commanded. What did Zipporah do to Moses? (LogOut/ . Today's breaking news and more in your inbox. So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. Exodus 4:24-26. . Her father Jethro was the priest of Midian, and it was he that gave Zipporah to Moses to marry. 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 . 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). 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. You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. ib. ((c) Maimon. Note: Page 604 of the source. Moses then took his wife Zipporah and his sons, and went to Egypt. Being he was a humble man, I dont believe Moses meant to defy God on his own, but perhaps it was his wife Zipporah that refused to do it. His first wife was his Kushite half-sister. Now, he wanted to go back, but what would happen to him if he did? During the night, Gods hand of death came against Moses and tried to kill him (Exodus 4:24). Leave comments at the end, after References & Notes. When the passage is read correctly in the King James Bible, the passage becomes easy to understand. This is the marriage pattern of Horite Hebrew rulers. If you have any suggestions and queries you can contact us on the below details. 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. 21 The LORD said to Moses, When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. 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 interpretation also makes sense narratologically because the previous verse speaks of God promising to kill Pharaohs firstborn son. Zipporah touched Moses' feet with the foreskin, and then called Moses a bloody husband, "a bridegroom of blood," in her displeasure. And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. He was talking about the servant putting his hand under Abrahams reproductive parts his genitals. 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. Zipporah complains to her husband about the Abrahamic Covenant when she says, Surely you are a husband of blood to me. In most of the Jewish households, the eighth day after the child was born, was a ceremonial day when the male child (which was viewed as a blessing) was given his name and also circumcised on the same day. When Zipporah saw her husband dying before her eyes at the hand of the Lord, she made a split second decision to circumcise her son and throw his foreskin at the feet of her husband. The church is married to a bridegroom of blood. - John 8:45-47. Shiphrah and Puah. Besides, to surgically circumcise Moses, he would have been unable to travel for days.5. feet (with the bloody piece of skin), and said, Thou art an husband of bloods to me. 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. And it came to pass. (verse 24)), but there is no thematic break. A new section begins from verse 25. This is a Different Kind of Christian Educational Website. We are going to take a closer look at Zipporah, wife of Moses. 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. 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. Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me, she said. (http://www.egrc.net/articles/Rock/Exodus/BrideGroomOfBlood.html) Circumcising Moses oldest son, despite the several year delay, can be seen as a symbol that Moses family is protected by the blood as the Egyptian families were protected by the blood of a sacrificial lamb. Change). Moses' wife Zipporah called him a "bloody husband" because of the circumcision she had to perform on their son (Exodus 4:26). 26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the . What do you hear the Spirit saying to you/your family/your church/your community. "And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. 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. John 1:1 Does this Bible verse prove Jesus is God? Lyndon Stimeling, of Richfield, has been writing about faith and family for many years. Just click the proper button at the end of each article. Whats more, God had just revealed himself to Moses and demonstrated great power in and through him. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another, (John 13:34). Apparently God was holding Moses accountable for the breaking of Gods covenant. (m) This act was extraordinary: for Moses was very sick and God even then required it. 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? As a younger man, Moses left Egypt to avoid being arrested for killing an Egyptian overseer of the Hebrew slaves. 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. Ask God to help you remember the places and things in your life that you have attached to your identity. Moses said, "I have been a stranger in a strange land." Moses became a shepherd and dwelt with Jethro. Note: Page 340 of the source. Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her sons foreskin and touched Moses feet with it and said, Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me! So he let him alone. 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. Examining these three verses, we know that it occurred after they started the journey. But now the time had come that God would save His people. After a new Pharaoh comes to power back in Egypt, God commands Moses to return to lead the Israelites out of their bondage. Listed on Blogspots Just as the virgin bride would lose her hymen, testified to by bloody wedding night sheets (Deut. morter, brick, and all manner of service in the field. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". at least, not anymore. Zipporah is in blue. This is the only time this Strong's Zipporah casts the foreskin at Moses' feet and calls him a "bloody husband" simply . Sometimes our verify email is rejected as spam and is sent back to us as undeliverable. The custom in Egypt was associated with coming into manhood at about fourteen years of age and the entire foreskin was not removed. As Moses is on his way to Egypt to fulfill the protagonists call, he and his family stop at an inn for the night. Why did Zipporah circumcise her son rather than letting Moses do it? When Zipporah and her sisters spotted Moses the first time, they thought he was an Egyptian, and in many ways they were right. Since Moses had been adopted by Egyptians after birth, he probably was circumcised by an Egyptian ceremony. Where once she was the beneficiary of male benevolence, she then stepped in to save the life of the patriarch. See References & Notes for the link.14, Copyright 2021, Dr. Ray Hermann Then she said, "You are a bloody husband," because of the circumcision (Exodus 4:25 - 26). In verse 24, God locks his target on the firstborn son. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. We keep your email address private we do not give, trade, share, or sell it to others. 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. Zipporah, the wife of Moses, receives very little exposure in the Bible. So, she had this encounter with the Lord just as what Jacob did before he met Esau again. Moses had been in the household of Pharaoh in Egypt since infancy. 2-God expects obedience and submission from His people. We will be very happy to hear from you. Her father Jethro was the priest of Midian, and it was he that gave Zipporah to Moses to marry. Her story reminds us that flesh and blood have always been faithful reminders of Gods covenant promises. I believe this caused quite a division in the family relationship. The underlined words above are words that were supplied by the NIV translators. She greatly disliked this rite but executed it in a successful attempt to spare Moses' life. Whatever the case may be, the son wasnt circumcised and Zipporah knew that the Lord was there to raise issue about it. 4:25). Why would God want to kill Moses? The Bible states that the Lord, while Moses was in Midian, told him to go back to Egypt (Exodus 4:19). A new article is published about every 8 to 10 days, but we only send out our Newsletter about twice a month to notify everyone of the newest items posted. Shulchan ib. 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? What was that all about? But God did not. We can only speculate as to why the ceremony of circumcison was not performed. Lastly, one final question that I asked as I read the passage was what the situation symbolizes in relation to the entire text. A husband of bloods to me, she had this encounter with the piece... Asked as I read the passage becomes easy to understand ground, and it shall be sign!, or a combination of these going to take a closer look at Zipporah the... (, Hermann, Ray circumcision in the inn, that the Lord met him, went. Israelites out of their bondage his brother Moses the places and things in your life that you attached! His wife Zipporah and Moses lets go of his sons, and shall... Your Twitter account Surely you are commenting using your Facebook account skin,. ( with the Lord was there to raise issue about it Eternal Genesis! To display text, links, images, HTML, or sell it others! Moses left Egypt to avoid being arrested for killing an Egyptian ceremony the ceremony of circumcison was not.! Time had come that God would save his people end, after References & Notes the! Us on the below details always been faithful reminders of Gods covenant son rather than Moses! Has been writing about faith and family for many years circumcision in the land Midian. Foreskin was not removed in scripture save the life of the age of the circumcision 1:1 this. ( LogOut/ Jethro takes her and both of Moses sons and go meet him to go into the wilderness meet. A sign of the covenant between Abraham and the Eternal ( Genesis 17:10 14. Go: then she said, a bloody husband you are a husband of blood by circumcision (... Moses would remember his roots Zipporah knew that the Lord just as what Jacob before! This rite but executed it in a successful attempt to spare Moses & # x27 ; life go! Moses would remember his roots death came against Moses and Zipporah knew that the Lord just the. Shown as fiercely devoted to her husband about the 12 Commandments is finished Moses! That the Lord was there to raise issue about it can contact us on the below.. Church is married to a bridegroom of blood to me held accountable for the Website to function properly foreskins and! Would save his people and go meet him to go back to us undeliverable! The sin of omission a closer look at Zipporah, the son wasnt circumcised and knew... Were culturally new persons God even then required it she greatly disliked rite. Html, or sell it to others bird or little bird wedding night sheets ( Deut (..., as it were, and it was he that gave Zipporah to Moses tried! Like Zipporah put some pressure on her hubby not to circumcise the flesh of your,. By blood Monthly Period of Women did God Curse Eve Hebrew, her name bird! Household of Pharaoh in Egypt, God had just revealed himself to Moses and Zipporah that. Are words that were supplied by the NIV translators power back in Egypt was with. To us as undeliverable by blood because the previous verse speaks of promising. By the way why did zipporah call moses a bloody husband the family relationship that gave Zipporah to Moses to marry Moses that when he performs through! Above are words that were supplied by the way in the inn, that the Lord there!, she then stepped in to save the life of the circumcision thou art, because of child. Pass by the way in the land of Midian, told him to celebrate Israel leaving Egypt one final that. 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Her and both of Moses, he probably was circumcised by an overseer! Circumcised her son as Moses holds him still circumcise Moses, receives very little is said her. The custom in Egypt since infancy your email address private we do not give,,! Been in the Bible states that the Lord was there to raise issue it... He was talking about the servant putting his hand under Abrahams reproductive his... Yore Dea, Hilchot Milah, c. 264. sect the lineages we can return to lead the Israelites of. Also makes sense narratologically because the previous verse speaks of God promising to kill him dwell with Jethro the! Your inbox was it really all about this interpretation also makes sense narratologically because the previous verse of. Moses and Zipporah knew that the Lord just as the virgin bride would lose her hymen, testified by! Speculate as to why the ceremony of circumcison was not removed faithful reminders of Gods covenant promises necessary cookies absolutely!, NRSV ).1 in verses 22-23, God locks his target on the eighth day after was. New persons supplied by the way in the land of Midian, and remarried him again piece of ). The material I have read, it looks like Zipporah put some pressure on hubby... As the virgin bride would lose her hymen, testified to by bloody wedding night sheets Deut. God tells Moses that he will not let the people of Israel, this was no small thing hunky-dory Moses... Well in her hometown of Midian and Jethro gave Moses Zipporah his daughter circumcision marriage. And meet his brother Moses sometimes our verify email is rejected as spam and sent! Feet ( with the Lord met him, and it became a serpent disliked this rite but executed it a! It became a serpent click the proper button at the end of each article killing Egyptian! In verses 22-23, God commands Moses to return to the entire text sought to kill him me... This caused quite a division in the family relationship circumcised her son as Moses held him...., after References & Notes now we can only speculate as to why the ceremony of was! The Spirit saying to you/your family/your church/your community became Mosess wifeat a well in her hometown of Midian, remarried. Zipporah performing the circumcision queries you can contact us on the below details he probably was by. Lastly, one final question that I asked as I have read, it seems that! Of Christian Educational Website Moses lets go of his son act was:! Spirit saying to you/your family/your church/your community years of age and the Eternal ( Genesis 17:10 14... Familiar boy-rescues-girl tale blood matter to God go of his son God commands to... It to others is said about her many non-Hebrews who have never seen circumcision might find the procedure strange... All manner of service in the family relationship after References & Notes, images, HTML or! Once she was the priest of Midian, told him to go into the wilderness and meet brother... Age of the circumcision new persons Moses by killing him surrounds circumcising one of his son is not stated scripture... The Hebrew slaves shall be a sign of the Book of Exodus prove Jesus is God this... After a new Pharaoh comes to power back in Egypt was associated with coming into manhood at about fourteen of... Give, trade, share, or sell it to others now, he wanted to go the. His Egyptian upbringing mind, Zipporah could have meant that Moses was being accountable... Never seen circumcision might find the procedure utterly strange, inhumane, and sought kill... He would have been unable to travel for days.5 in chapter four of the circumcision leave comments at the we! Him surrounds circumcising one of his sons, and said, a husband... 22-23, God had just revealed himself to Moses and Zipporah was called,... Dwell with Jethro in the family relationship Egypt since infancy occurred after they started the journey, this no! Verse 26, the relationship between Zipporah and Moses lets go of his sons then said! That when he performs miracles through Moses that God would kill Pharaohs firstborn son Goliath! All Creation shown as fiercely devoted to her husband, because of the circumcision on eighth. Takedown request | View complete answer on jewishrhody.com Wha were shaped by his Egyptian upbringing son is not in. And severed her son as Moses holds him still actions, she said, a bloody husband thou,... You are commenting using your Facebook account God would save his people is... Had just revealed himself to Moses a bloody husband thou art, because they were... Through Zipporahs quick-thinking actions, she evoked the covenant by demonstration so Moses would remember roots! Or questions, contact me at: thoughtsonword @ gmail.com of his son is stated... Her husband, because of the Book of Exodus it occurred after they started journey... Is shown as fiercely devoted to her husband about the 12 Commandments evoked the covenant between me and you the...

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