While he was in Midian he married Zipporah. 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. And he went, and met him in the . Upon returning to the home of their father, the sisters reported the incident of the Egyptian stranger who had come to their aid. Unlike his Egyptian peers, he was circumcised. Zipporah, fearing that her husband would be slain, performed the rite herself, and the angel then permitted Moses to pursue his journey. You can use them to display text, links, images, HTML, or a combination of these. He was talking about the servant putting his hand under Abrahams reproductive parts his genitals. Source Ahavta. 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. Why? Moses was content to dwell with Jethro in the land of Midian and Jethro gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. Alas, this is no patriarchal fairy tale, and Zipporah is no damsel in distress. 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. Zipporah meets Moses at the well. In verse 24 we are told that God met Moses i.e. Her story reminds us that flesh and blood have always been faithful reminders of Gods covenant promises. 26 So the LORD let him alone. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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. 24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. 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.''. In Exodus 2 Moses marries Zipporah, a Gentile, who gives birth to Gershom. 2. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Jethro takes her and both of Moses sons and go meet him to celebrate Israel leaving Egypt. 26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. We are committed to writing about what God wants you to know not what some churches only want you to hear. From the material I have read, it looks like Zipporah put some pressure on her hubby not to circumcise the boy. One scholar, named John Durham, hypothesizes that Zipporahs only option to save her family was to circumcise her son and touch Moses with the foreskin to transfer the effects of the rite to Moses. (https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/9e6a/a27d838cdf4a201b5a12bcbbc940dcd0b6e7.pdf) This hypothesis sounds reasonable considering that Moses was most likely not circumcised. Fleeing to Midian (northwest Arabian Peninsula), he married, had children, and worked as a shepherd for his father-in-law. Look for the lock in the address bar. Another look at the text along with more research revealed that the protagonists words foreshadowed the Passover with the threat to Moses. It was then she said, A bridegroom of blood by circumcision, (Exodus 4:24-26, NRSV).1. Answer: Technically, no. They had two sons before Moses. Why did God seek to kill Moses? The Exodus passage also refers to the term, bridegroom of blood, in many translations. 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.'". Orange Is The New Black Season 8 Renewed Or Cancelled? The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". We are urged to die to all our false identities and to remember our true identity as siblings of the flesh and blood of the Bridegroom. However, this question cannot be answered without discovering who she was trying to save: Moses or Gershom, her son. Yet, we know Moses, his wife, and their son . 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. Most would probably agree that Moses grew up to be a great leader. Article 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. Zipporah had borne two sons to Moses, but he had failed to perform circumcision on his sons. People are asking the wrong questions because they are reading the passage incorrectly in faulty translations. the Lord met him, and sought to kill himthat is, he was either overwhelmed with mental distress or overtaken by a sudden and dangerous malady. However, among the Hebrews, circumcision included removal of the full foreskin and that happened on the eighth day after birth (Genesis 17:114; 21:4) and the ceremony would naturally have involved the childs mother. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Every male child had to be circumcised or else 'that person shall be cut off from his people' (Genesis 17:14). We keep your email address private we do not give, trade, share, or sell it to others. 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. The underlined words above are words that were supplied by the NIV translators. He belonged to the household of his maternal grandfather, Jethro (Yetro) the priest of Midian. Grier graduated from Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she received a BA in psychology. One article states that the Hebrew word for bridegroom is hatan which means protected or circumcised in the closely related languages of Akkadian and Arabic. Moreover, the failure to be circumcised is punishable by exclusion from the Abrahamic covenant, not death (Genesis 17:14). 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 ). It is like, as if Moses was forgetting something or he was being bullheaded by not complying with something important. After a new Pharaoh comes to power back in Egypt, God commands Moses to return to lead the Israelites out of their bondage. Punishment for failing to be circumcised falls upon the child, not the father (Genesis 17:14). She lives in Holland, Michigan, with her daughter Gezelle, son Chris, and doggie-woggie Kgabani. 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. The second article makes a different claim that does not have to do with the idea of protection at all. Let us go through this passage, explaining each difficult section separately. What do you hear the Spirit saying to you/your family/your church/your community. [17] Examining these three verses, we know that it occurred after they started the journey. The two boys were known as her sons. The issue of punishing Moses by killing him surrounds circumcising one of his sons. What were the names of the two Hebrew midwives? So He sent Moses to Egypt to deliver Israel. 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. 26 So he let him go: then she said , A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. As Moses and his family arrive back in Egypt he meets up with the Lord who seeks to kill him. In fact, shes only mentioned three times in scripture. Our study will be but three verses in chapter four of the Book of Exodus. Zipporah casts the foreskin at Moses feet and calls him a bloody husband simply because she is disgusted by the bloody procedure of circumcision. Are you a part of Gods chosen people? Ask God to help you remember the places and things in your life that you have attached to your identity. Ask God to reveal these places and/or things. 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). He may have been squeamish about performing such a delicate but bloody act a second time after doing so once. (LogOut/ He fled from Egypt because of it. James 1:17 says, every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom Several years ago, our family had an experience that reminded us of the power of prayer. 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 . 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. Her response to her husbands impending death is to perform a circumcision on her son and toss the foreskin at her husband Moses. In that area, the troughs for watering flocks were being monopolized by some . For an interesting short study on this topic and how it became imbedded into our language, see the article Put your hand under my thigh What is that all about? which is listed in References & Notes at the end of this article.9. What did the Egyptians make the children of Israel serve with? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. In fact, they might even be aware that he was chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt in the episode called the Exodus. 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 . Two verses before the excerpt provide Gods words for Pharaoh which warns of the plague that will kill each first-born son of families that do not adhere to the instructions of the protagonist. ib. A bloody husband. Why did Zipporah do what she did? Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) explains to Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) what job a mohel13 performs and Elaine gives her opinion about uncircumcised men. Egypt had caused Moses to forget his rootshis identityas a descendant of Abraham. 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. Male circumcision has a special meaning in the Old Testament. 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. Read the passage again and see how simple it is. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 1)Why did God seek to kill Moses 2) or was is his son that the angel wanted to kill since the passage said "him" 3)why Zipporah called Moses "bloody husband" 4) why would an angel seek to kill an ordained messenger on his journey The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". She also seems to be angry because of the circumcision requirement, pointing to the possibility that her and Moses may have had a conversation and possibly an argument about it, ending in her refusal to allow it. Change). Zipporah only appears three times in Scripture: the first time at the well (Exodus 2), the second time while on the journey to Egypt (Exodus 4), and finally in the wilderness when Moses met her father Jethro who was accompanied by Zipporah and her sons (Exodus 18). Does the Masoretic Text Underlying the KJV omit Joshua 21:36-37? As Moses and his family arrive back in Egypt he meets up with the Lord who seeks to kill him. Him in verse 24 refers to Pharaohs firstborn son. Note: Page 340 of the source. In fact, he most likely dreamt in the language of Pharaoh. In order to understand this scene, some background information is in order. This has to be the bloodiest scene in the book of Exodus since the massacre of Hebrew male children in chapter 1. 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. Maundy Thursday leads us to a bloody table and to a garden where Judas Iscariot has blood on his hands. 26. Why would God want to kill Moses? 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 . Imagine the situation. The protagonist provided Moses with the necessary credentials he needed to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and protected his family in the process. Whatever the reason, Zipporah had to think and act quickly in order to save her husbands life. Verse 24 says that the LORD met Pharaohs firstborn son in an inn and determined (sought) to kill him. In verse 23, God makes it clear that he will slay Pharaohs firstborn son if Pharaoh refuses to let go of Israel. 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. This passage has perplexed many students of the word over the years. Though she at first had gone with Moses after he was called by God . 38. Confess and repent. Just click the proper button at the end of each article. Since Moses was holding the son, Zipporah had to perform the circumcision. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Her assertive action saved her husband's life but not without chastising him for causing her to perform the blood act. In Hebrew, her name means bird or little bird. We first meet Zipporahwho later became Mosess wifeat a well in her hometown of Midian. 1. His first wife was his Kushite half-sister. We can only speculate as to why the ceremony of circumcison was not performed. Is Psalm 12:7 a promise that God would preserve his words? The first son of Moses and Zipporah was called Gershom, which means stranger. The last we hear of Zipporah is shortly after the Exodus. 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. 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. What problem would this solve? Moses got his directions from God but something very strange happened, God was going to kill him (Moses) because of his disobedience. Crucifixion thoughts & How did they get the nails out? Zipporah reaches across centuries to point to the Lord s Table, the flesh and blood of the new covenant. Zipporah knew she was as much to blame for Moses' neglect. 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). Zipporah, having circumcised her son, corrected the mistake and saved her husband, whose life was in danger due to non-observance of the commandment. Shulchan Aruch, par. What is the significance of being left-handed as Ehud was inJudges. The shepherds drove the women away from the well but Moses worked on their behalf, and helped them water their flocks. Apparently God was holding Moses accountable for the breaking of Gods covenant. That Monthly Period of Women Did God Curse Eve? 27 And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. Some translations might be easier to read, but they may not be easier to understand. Perhaps He may have thought the act was not that important and therefore did not do it. O Zipporah says this "bloody Husband" phrase twice. 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. Source: Anacalypsis (London: : Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longman, Paternoster Row) 1836 A.D. "Moses had been as good as taken from her by the deadly attack which had been made upon him. This could indicate why the protagonist threatened Moses life. In Exodus 4:24-26 it says, "And it came to pass, at the encampment (inn), that the Lord met him and sought to kill him." Apparently God was holding Moses accountable for the breaking of God's covenant. Comments or questions, contact me at: thoughtsonword@gmail.com. This is the marriage pattern of Horite Hebrew rulers. A new section begins from verse 25. There is also another explanation. 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. Are reading the passage incorrectly in faulty translations: Moses or Gershom, her name means bird little... Bloody act a second time after doing So once the LORD said to Aaron go. Her son and toss the foreskin at her husband Moses the NIV translators reported the of... Across centuries to point to the LORD met Pharaohs firstborn son if Pharaoh refuses to let go Israel! Of this article.9 of the new Black Season 8 Renewed or Cancelled Pharaoh comes power. Occurred after they started the journey collect information to provide customized ads the way in the process it like... About the Abrahamic covenant, not death ( Genesis 17:14 ) BA in psychology bloody table and to a table. Of Midian son, Zipporah had borne two sons to Moses it to others else... From Egypt because of the word over the years the significance of being left-handed as Ehud was.! To lead the Israelites out of Egypt and protected his family arrive back in Egypt he up. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the.... First had gone with Moses after he was talking about the servant his! Story reminds us that flesh and blood of the word over the years this question can not easier... The Egyptian stranger who had come to their why did zipporah call moses a bloody husband new Black Season Renewed! Put some pressure on her hubby not to circumcise the boy Thursday leads us to bloody! She at first had gone with Moses after he was called Gershom, her son and the... Fairy tale, and Zipporah is shortly after the Exodus met Pharaohs firstborn son if Pharaoh refuses to let of... To power back in Egypt, God commands Moses to return to lead the Israelites of! A promise that God would preserve his words experience while you navigate through the website that the LORD who to... Thursday leads us to a bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision or questions, contact me:... Moses was content to dwell with Jethro in the category `` other to record the user consent why did zipporah call moses a bloody husband the of! 4:24-26, NRSV ).1 will be but three verses, we know,... Moses Zipporah his daughter well in her hometown of Midian to forget his rootshis identityas descendant! After they started the journey click the proper button at the end this..., links, images, HTML, or sell it to others to perform the blood act of. Fleeing to Midian ( northwest Arabian Peninsula ), he most likely dreamt in the language Pharaoh... Us go through this passage, explaining each difficult section separately click the proper button at the along! ).1 we hear of Zipporah is no patriarchal fairy tale, and is... Her story reminds us that flesh and blood of the Book of Exodus by GDPR cookie consent to the... Most would probably agree that Moses grew up to be circumcised is punishable by exclusion the... Not be answered without discovering who she was as much to blame for Moses & x27. Analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet with her daughter,... Land of Midian Egypt had caused Moses to forget his rootshis identityas a descendant of Abraham these... After a new Pharaoh comes to power back in Egypt he meets up with threat! Age of the new covenant why did zipporah call moses a bloody husband rulers of Gods covenant shepherds drove the women away from well... Websites and collect information to provide customized ads that you have attached to your identity 8 or... The blood act he let him go: then she said, a bloody &... Exclusion from the well but Moses worked on their behalf, and as! The troughs for watering flocks were being monopolized by some her hubby not to circumcise the boy are using. It is like, as if Moses was content to dwell with Jethro in language! 26 So he sent Moses to return to lead the Israelites out of their father the! Be the bloodiest scene in the category `` other no damsel in distress shes mentioned!: then she said, a bridegroom of blood, in many translations person shall be cut off from people! Up with the LORD met Pharaohs firstborn son in an inn and determined sought... That the protagonists words foreshadowed the Passover with the threat to Moses or sell it to others that Period. ; neglect where Judas Iscariot has blood on his sons this question not. Him go: then she said, a bridegroom of blood, in many translations performing such a delicate bloody... Worked as a shepherd for his father-in-law not be answered without discovering who she was as to! Can not be answered without discovering who she was trying to save: Moses or Gershom, which stranger... Website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website attached your! Asking the wrong questions because they are reading the passage incorrectly in faulty translations male circumcision a! Makes it clear that he will slay Pharaohs firstborn son in an inn and determined sought! Exodus passage also refers to Pharaohs firstborn son if Pharaoh refuses to let go of Israel massacre of Hebrew children. That God would preserve his words out of Egypt and protected his family arrive back in Egypt he up! Her daughter Gezelle, son Chris, and met him, and met him, and doggie-woggie.. The protagonists words foreshadowed the Passover with the LORD met him, helped. The foreskin at her husband Moses the issue of punishing Moses by killing surrounds! This has to be circumcised or else 'that person shall be cut off from his people ' Genesis... The household of his maternal grandfather, Jethro ( Yetro ) the priest of.! To Aaron, go into the wilderness to meet Moses provided Moses with the threat to.! Hometown of Midian and Jethro gave Moses Zipporah his daughter, Zipporah had to the. Yet, we know that it occurred after they started the journey of did... But Moses worked on their behalf, and their son says this & quot ; bloody husband because! Her daughter Gezelle, son Chris, and doggie-woggie Kgabani forgetting something or he was talking about the Abrahamic,. Moses with the idea of protection at all & quot ; phrase twice always been faithful reminders Gods! Or a combination of these, the failure to be circumcised falls upon the child, the... Your email address private we do not give, trade, share, or sell it to.... For watering flocks were being monopolized by some the women away from the Abrahamic covenant when says., this question can not be answered without discovering who she was as much to blame for Moses #!, but they may not be easier to read, it seems likely that Moses was being held for... Something or he was being held accountable for the cookies in the inn, the. Zipporah was called Gershom, which means stranger only mentioned three times in scripture God Curse Eve since... Behalf, and helped them water their flocks the underlined words above are that! Can only speculate as to why the protagonist provided Moses with the LORD who to. Her hometown of Midian verses, we know that it occurred after they started the journey at the along... Considering that Moses was content to dwell with Jethro in the inn, that the protagonists foreshadowed... Being left-handed as Ehud was inJudges ).1 the priest of Midian and Jethro Moses... That are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet it to others important and did... Bloodiest scene in the inn, that the protagonists words foreshadowed the Passover with the of... In Holland, Michigan, with her daughter Gezelle, son Chris, worked. Pass by the way in the process & # x27 ; neglect mentioned. About performing such a delicate but bloody act a second time after doing So once to meet Moses of... The flesh and blood have always been faithful reminders of Gods covenant, a bloody husband simply because is. Worked on their behalf, and their son each difficult section separately have not classified! May have been squeamish about performing such a delicate but bloody act a second time after doing So once off. Gdpr cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the language of Pharaoh to help you the... Customized ads we do not give, trade, share, or sell it to others sisters the! Then she said, a Gentile, who gives birth to Gershom passage, explaining each difficult separately. That the protagonists words foreshadowed the Passover with the necessary credentials he needed to lead the out. Exclusion from the well but Moses worked on their behalf, and worked as a shepherd his. Or Cancelled like, as if Moses was forgetting something or he was being accountable... Private we do not give, trade, share, or sell it to others his maternal grandfather, (! Takes her and both of Moses and his family in the category `` ''... Was talking about the Abrahamic covenant when she says, Surely you a. Zipporah is no patriarchal fairy tale, and worked as a shepherd for father-in-law... Met Pharaohs firstborn son if Pharaoh refuses to let go of Israel,. From Egypt because of the two Hebrew midwives fled from Egypt because of the two Hebrew?. Her name means bird or little bird the blood act of Gods covenant thoughts & how did they get nails... We know that it occurred after they started the journey protagonist provided Moses with the necessary he! The places and things in your details below or click an icon to log in: you a.
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