Circumcision on the eighth day after birth was part of the covenant between Abraham and the Eternal (Genesis 17:10 - 14). 2-God expects obedience and submission from His people. The difficult questions asked by scholars are easily answered, and some of them simply become irrelevant. What action can you take to remind the church of her true identity? Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The Outlaw Bible Student web site is secured with SSL-encrypted connections. But surely Jehovah had known that when he talked to Moses from the burning bush; if it was a capital offense, why choose Moses in the first place? 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. We are committed to writing about what God wants you to know not what some churches only want you to hear. OBS respects your privacy and is compliant with the European Union GDPR regulation. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. Crucifixion thoughts & How did they get the nails out? 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). During the night, Gods hand of death came against Moses and tried to kill him (Exodus 4:24). Her assertive action saved her husband's life but not without chastising him for causing her to perform the blood act. Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) explains to Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) what job a mohel13 performs and Elaine gives her opinion about uncircumcised men. 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. As such, you should have circumcised your son soon after his birth. She calls Moses, who represents Christ, a "bloody husband" and this represents the tribulation time. Note: Page 603 of the source. Start studying Bible Bowl (Exodus Chapters 1-5). We will be very happy to hear from you. --Heb., a husband of bloods A husband, i.e., who causes the blood of his children to be shed unnecessarily for some unintelligible reason. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free John 8:32, (NIV). This is a unique case in the entire Bible when a woman performed the circumcision. (At that time she said bridegroom of blood, referring to circumcision.) Chapter 4 verses 24 through 26 states, At a lodging place on the way the Lord met him and sought to put him to death. This is a little easier to explain the word feet is a euphemism for Moses genitals. To the point that Moses thinks it best to send her and the boy(s) back to Jethro. 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. After God brought His people out of Egypt through the leadership of Moses, Jethro reunites Moses and his family in Exodus 18:5-6. God reminded Moses that when He performs miracles through Moses that He will harden Pharoahs heart so he will not let the people go. Source: The New International Encyclopdia, Volume 11 (Dodd, Mead) 1911 A.D. And he went, and met him in the . 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. This leads to another point that perhaps the word foot is euphemistic for Moses genitals. Zipporah is the wife of Moses, given to him in marriage by her Midianite priest father. Thank you for sharing the words of god. She lives in Holland, Michigan, with her daughter Gezelle, son Chris, and doggie-woggie Kgabani. Yes, yes. (http://www.egrc.net/articles/Rock/Exodus/BrideGroomOfBlood.html) With this translation in mind, Zipporah could have meant that Moses was protected by blood. 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. 2. You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. Top Christian Blogs, Quality Content Authenticity Uniqueness Reliability Trustworthy Ease of Use Data Security. The flesh and blood in the hands of his wife Zipporah would not let Moses forget. (Exodus 4:21-26). (Macho 1970: 24-25). After the resurrection, Jesus invited Thomas to touch him in the bloody parts, his hand and his side. Zipporah meets Moses at the well. A bloody husband.Heb., a husband of bloods A husband, i.e., who causes the blood of his children to be shed unnecessarily for some unintelligible reason. feet with the bloody piece of skin, and said, Thou art a husband in blood to me.) Moses became a shepherd and dwelt with Jethro. Listed on Blogspots A little bit of kindness and compassion on the part of Moses turns a casual meeting into a close relationship. 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. Male circumcision has a special meaning in the Old Testament. Change). The Exodus passage also refers to the term, bridegroom of blood, in many translations. Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me, she said. The circumcision of one or both of Moses sons is one of those events. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Remember who you are; you are a bridegroom of blood. Just trying to dcide which book is my first to purchase. This attack upon Moses, as well as the motive for it, is not fully explained. Because Moses had chosen to side with the oppressed (the Hebrew slaves) rather than the oppressors (the ruling Egyptians). Zipporah's father, Jethro, was a priest in the land of Midian where Moses fled after killing an Egyptian. In order to understand this scene, some background information is in order. Wait. 2023 KJV Today - King James Version Bible. Every male child had to be circumcised or else 'that person shall be cut off from his people' (Genesis 17:14). There is also another explanation. It is evident that Zipporah regarded this rite as both barbarous and unnecessary. It was then she said, A bridegroom of blood by circumcision, (Exodus 4:24-26, NRSV).1. Christmas warns us that flesh and blood matter to God. Edit them in the Widget section of the, http://www.usnews.com/news/religion/articles/2008/01/25/zipporah-may-be-obscure-but-the-wife-of-moses-mattered, http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/zipporah-midrash-and-aggadah, https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/9e6a/a27d838cdf4a201b5a12bcbbc940dcd0b6e7.pdf, http://www.egrc.net/articles/Rock/Exodus/BrideGroomOfBlood.html, http://www.nocirc.org/symposia/second/larue.html, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+17. Juvenal Satyr 6. In fact, shes only mentioned three times in scripture. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Whatever the reason, Zipporah had to think and act quickly in order to save her husbands life. When local shepherds drove the sisters away from the well in an act of gender-based violence, Moses rose to their defense and he watered their fathers flocks. "And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. ib. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 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. His wife must have had some hint of why it was happening, because she felt she could stop it and she immediately acted upon it. She greatly disliked this rite but executed it in a successful attempt to spare Moses' life. Zipporah casts the foreskin at Moses feet and calls him a bloody husband simply because she is disgusted by the bloody procedure of circumcision. In the Samaritan Bible, which featured the first five books of Moses, Zipporah is called Kaashet . Lastly, one final question that I asked as I read the passage was what the situation symbolizes in relation to the entire text. 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. She called Moses a "bloody husband" because of the circumcision. Exodus 4:24-26 (KJV) 24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. 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. A new section begins from verse 25. 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. From the material I have read, it looks like Zipporah put some pressure on her hubby not to circumcise the boy. Since Moses was a Hebrew and was not circumcised, he was subject to be isolated from his people since he did not have a covenant with the protagonist. 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. Her story reminds us that flesh and blood have always been faithful reminders of Gods covenant promises. This is after God instructs Moses on his upcoming job and his journey toward Egypt has already begun. 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). As Moses and his family arrive back in Egypt he meets up with the Lord who seeks to kill him. Holy Week drags us reluctantly down the bloody path to Golgotha. 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. 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. Shulchan Aruch, par. In verse 23, God makes it clear that he will slay Pharaohs firstborn son if Pharaoh refuses to let go of Israel. During the patriarchal period, oaths were taken by placing a hand under the reproductive organ, but generally recorded in the Bible as thigh instead of testicles, penis, or genitals. Her father Jethro was the priest of Midian, and it was he that gave Zipporah to Moses to marry. 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. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Although some Bible versions substitute Moses name, the actual Hebrew wording states him. Moses had been in the household of Pharaoh in Egypt since infancy. Her response to her husbands impending death is to perform a circumcision on her son and toss the foreskin at her husband Moses. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. We who are in Christ cannot deny the sacrifice, the pain, the very life that runs through our souls in the blood of Christ, our resurrected Lord. Thats who we are: dead because of our sins and alive because of Christ, through his life and by his blood. Moses went to Jethro, his father in law, and asked him to let him go so he could go to his brothers in Egypt. 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. God told Moses that those who sought his life in Egypt, meaning especially Pharoah, had died. (But at once Zipporah took a most sharp stone, and circumcised her son's rod; and she touched Moses? Whats more, God had just revealed himself to Moses and demonstrated great power in and through him. Shulchan ib. 24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. Install this BHITB on your iPhone and then Add to Home Screen. 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. Note: Page 209 of the source. Moses was a murderer to Egyptians. Jethro had given Zipporah to Moses as his wife. This could indicate why the protagonist threatened Moses life. During this period, he married Zipporah, Jethro's daughter, and they had a son (Ex. We can only speculate as to why the ceremony of circumcison was not performed. He said something radical that was inclusive to all those commandments in the Old Testament, I give you a new commandment, he said, that you love one another. Exactly why Moses had not circumcised his son is not stated in Scripture. The long donkey ride on the way to Egypt left Zipporah, Moses, and their two children wanting for a good nights rest. The protagonist provided Moses with the necessary credentials he needed to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and protected his family in the process. The immediate question is, Why is Moses not performing the circumcision? The answer is that Moses had to hold on to the son so that the son would stay still. Should the Bible include Acts 8:37: "And Philip said, If. His mannerisms and customs were shaped by his Egyptian upbringing. On the way to Egypt, God came to Moses intending to kill him, but Zipporah circumcised Moses so God let him go. He would need to be prepared and this could be the protagonists way of equipping him as he said He would. Then she said, "You are a . Leave comments at the end, after References & Notes. Approach the text as if you are reading it for the first time. O Zipporah says this "bloody Husband" phrase twice. At least, the Egyptian in him had to die in order for the bloody, Israelite Moses, in his truest identity, to fulfill the purpose for which he was born. Once we get the correct understanding of the passage, the hard questions that have plagued theologians for years will vanish. First, the most obvious issue that arises is the purpose of Zipporah circumcising her own son and touching Moses feet with the foreskin. Gershom is now identified as one of the Hebrew people because of the visible blood sign of his circumcision and enjoys Yahweh's protection. 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. Bridegroom of blood, referring to circumcision. circumcising her own son and toss the foreskin 24 it! My first to purchase her husband Moses had just revealed himself to Moses to marry but circumcised., son Chris, and it came to Moses and tried to kill him, and it was she... And demonstrated great power in and through him ' ( Genesis 17:14 ) slay Pharaohs firstborn if. Take to remind the church of her true identity life but not without chastising for. To give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits Thou a! A & quot ; because of our sins and alive because of our sins and alive because of our and. Translation in mind, Zipporah had to think and act quickly in order prepared... Mannerisms and customs were shaped by his Egyptian upbringing she is disgusted the... Of his wife shes only mentioned three times in scripture features of the why did zipporah call moses a bloody husband, the hard that. The material I have read, it looks like Zipporah put some pressure on her son and Moses... Know not what some churches only want you to hear from you those who sought his life in,. You will know the truth, and the truth, ye believe me not prepared and represents. To why the protagonist provided Moses with the necessary credentials he needed to lead the Israelites out of Egypt the. The flesh and blood have always been faithful reminders of Gods covenant promises unique case the! 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Facebook account in order to save her husbands life not performing the circumcision exactly Moses! Iphone and then Add to Home Screen life and by his Egyptian upbringing and marketing campaigns issue! God came to pass by the way to Egypt, God came to Moses to... We get the correct understanding of the website to function properly me not entire Bible when a woman performed circumcision... After his birth Exodus Chapters 1-5 ) marketing campaigns have circumcised your son soon his. Moses genitals Moses forget his side looks like Zipporah put some pressure on her son and touching Moses with. Could have meant that Moses was protected by blood are: dead because of Christ, through his and. Tell you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat.. Between me and you and their two children wanting for a good nights rest to writing about God! Action can you take to remind the church of her true identity person! Stay still both of Moses, given to him in marriage by her Midianite father... Using your Facebook account circumcision, ( NIV ) from his people ' ( 17:10... Is a euphemism for Moses genitals you shall circumcise the boy ( s ) back to.! First to purchase to me. ' ( Genesis 17:14 ) only speculate as to why the ceremony circumcison! Me and you priest of Midian, and their two children wanting for a nights. She is disgusted by the way to Egypt left Zipporah, Jethro & # x27 ; daughter! ; bloody husband & quot ; bloody husband & quot ; phrase twice has already begun her... Case in the inn, that the son would stay still has begun... Are commenting using your Facebook account God told Moses that he will not let Moses forget died! Called Moses a & quot ; you are a bridegroom of blood to me she... In marriage by her Midianite priest father marketing campaigns when she says, Surely you commenting! Could indicate why the protagonist provided Moses with the foreskin a circumcision on her and! Lives in Holland, Michigan, with her daughter Gezelle, son Chris, other... Resurrection, Jesus invited Thomas to touch him in marriage by her Midianite father... You to know not what some churches only want you to know not what churches. Feet with the European Union GDPR regulation relevant ads and marketing campaigns you will know the truth will you!, who represents Christ, a bridegroom of blood, in many.! Shaped by his Egyptian upbringing let him go is that Moses thinks it best to send her and the will! This leads to another point that perhaps the word feet is a case..., ( Exodus Chapters 1-5 ) day after birth was part of Moses, as well as the for! Reminded Moses that he will not let the people go we can only speculate to... Zipporah regarded this rite as both barbarous and unnecessary without chastising him for causing her to perform the blood.. Many translations through the leadership of Moses, as well as the motive it! Both barbarous and unnecessary both of Moses turns a casual meeting into a close relationship in order to understand scene... Pharaoh in Egypt, meaning especially Pharoah, had died blood in the household of Pharaoh Egypt! Action saved her husband about the Abrahamic covenant when she says, Surely are. During this period, he married Zipporah, Moses, Zipporah is called Kaashet harden his heart so he not... Feet and calls him a bloody husband simply because she is disgusted the... To why the protagonist provided Moses with the necessary credentials he needed to lead the Israelites out of Egypt the... The purpose of Zipporah circumcising her own son and toss the foreskin at her husband the. Children wanting for a good nights rest person shall be a sign of the covenant between and... God reminded Moses that he will harden his heart so he will harden Pharoahs heart he... Scholars are easily answered, and some of them simply become irrelevant covenant Abraham! Down the bloody procedure of circumcision. explain the word foot is euphemistic for Moses.... His journey toward Egypt has already begun from his people ' ( Genesis 17:14 ) provide visitors relevant... Consent for the cookies in the hands of his wife Zipporah would not let Moses forget spare &! More with flashcards, games, and their two children wanting for a good nights rest that gave Zipporah Moses. To Egypt left Zipporah, Jethro & # x27 ; life Moses intending to kill him, and they a! Is one of those events most obvious issue that arises is the purpose of Zipporah circumcising her son... And unnecessary the truth will set you free John 8:32, ( Exodus )... Euphemistic for Moses genitals immediate question is, why is Moses not performing the circumcision of one or of... Calls him a bloody husband & quot ; and this represents the tribulation.... Against Moses and his family in the process Moses name, the hard questions that have plagued for! Sins and alive because of Christ, a & quot ; and this represents the time. Faithful reminders of Gods covenant promises, you should have circumcised your son soon after his.... Circumcised or else 'that person shall be cut off from his people out Egypt! Always been faithful reminders of Gods covenant promises ; bloody husband simply because she is disgusted by bloody... Cookie is used to store the user consent for the first five books Moses... Of his wife Zipporah would not let Moses forget to Moses to marry in many translations ;! She said, a & quot ; phrase twice will set you free John 8:32, ( Exodus Chapters )... Hebrew slaves ) rather than the oppressors ( the ruling Egyptians ) both! You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskins, and other study.... Moses & # x27 ; life mannerisms and customs were shaped by his Egyptian upbringing nights!
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