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. 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 . Why do that? 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. The Exodus passage also refers to the term, bridegroom of blood, in many translations. Most would probably agree that Moses grew up to be a great leader. While he was in Midian he married Zipporah. What action can you take to remind the church of her true identity? God told Moses to put his hand to his chest, and when Moses did, his hand became white like it was leprous. 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. Moses held him down so Zipporah had to do it, although she was disgusted with the whole . In his mission to Pharaoh, Moses was to be placed in a position of great peril; his life could be preserved only through the protection of holy angels. John 1:1 Does this Bible verse prove Jesus is God? 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. By performing the rite, Zipporah had recovered her husband; his life was purchased for her by the blood of her child. 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. Source: Anacalypsis (London: : Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longman, Paternoster Row) 1836 A.D. Circumcision was only one of the hundreds of laws that God demanded be obeyed. (m) This act was extraordinary: for Moses was very sick and God even then required it. Moses told God that he wasnt eloquent with his speech, which aggravated God. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 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. The shepherds drove the women away from the well but Moses worked on their behalf, and helped them water their flocks. Zipporah regarded the bloody rites of her husband's religion as cruel and barbarous, and cast the foreskin of her son at his feet, as though he were a Moloch requiring a bloody offering. On the way, at a place where they spent the night, the LORD met him and tried to kill him. - John 8:45-47. Zipporah is the wife of Moses, given to him in marriage by her Midianite priest father. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. morter, brick, and all manner of service in the field. PLEASE HELP us spread Bible truth by telling others about this website. 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. February 28, 2018. 24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. 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 long donkey ride on the way to Egypt left Zipporah, Moses, and their two children wanting for a good nights rest. 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. Lastly, one final question that I asked as I read the passage was what the situation symbolizes in relation to the entire text. Because Moses had chosen to side with the oppressed (the Hebrew slaves) rather than the oppressors (the ruling Egyptians). Now, in verse 24, the underlined him, refers not to Moses but to Pharaohs firstborn 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. The term bloody husband is merely Zipporahs criticism of a husband who performs an apparently strange and bloody procedure. The first son of Moses and Zipporah was called Gershom, which means stranger. Juvenal Satyr 6. In order to understand this scene, some background information is in order. 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. Great I Am, light the path before us we pray. God then told Moses that He will have Aaron, Moses brother to speak in his place. Another example is when Abraham said to his servant, Put your hand under my thigh and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Sometimes we must utilize the resources we have and make the most of them. 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). Answer: Technically, no. In this. ib. We can prove that by tracing their lineages in scripture. In verse 24, God locks his target on the firstborn son. 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.'". There does seem to be some anger on behalf of Zipporah against Moses, throwing the bloodied foreskin at his feet, and calling him a bloody husband to me. 25 But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her sons foreskin and touched Moses feet with it. As the upcoming leader of Gods people, Moses was expected to set the proper example before the Israelites. We do not send any commercial advertising, and you can easily unsubscribe at any time. 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. feet with the bloody piece of skin, and said, Thou art a husband in blood to me.) 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. Her assertive action saved her husband's life but not without chastising him for causing her to perform the blood act. Read the passage again and see how simple it is. God locks his intent on him and by extension all of Egypt's first born. When the protagonist spoke to Moses and made his threat, Zipporah seems to be fed up with beating around the bush (pun intended) and just wants her family to be able to sleep peacefully for one night. It does not store any personal data. Moses becomes her "bridegroom," her newly-acquired husband, because they both were culturally new persons. What were the names of the two Hebrew midwives? These verses, concerning a circumcision,2 are odd and confusing, and some commentators believe they are out of place. Then again, as some researchers suggest, God may have sought to kill not Moses, but Mosess son because he had not been marked as a member of Israel through circumcision. Moses got his directions from God but something very strange happened, God was going to kill him (Moses) because of his disobedience. "Son of God" or "Son of the gods" in Daniel 3:25? 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. 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. The expression hatan damim [bridegroom 26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the . Answer: Zipporah, the name of Moses' wife, is only referenced three times in the Bible (Exodus 2:21, 4:25, 18:2). But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. This act eventually became part of the agreement between God and Israel. Through Zipporahs quick-thinking actions, she evoked the covenant by demonstration so Moses would remember his roots. And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? What? However, Zipporah is shown as fiercely devoted to her husband, even though he neglects her. It does not seem to me that she was opposed to the circumcision. As we reflect on Zipporahs witness, let us consider this: The Hebrew word for remember invites us to focus on a thing until it leads us to repentance. Change). Whatever the reason, Zipporah had to think and act quickly in order to save her husbands life. This ancient cultural practice was well established, but there was some difference in the method compared to that of the Israelites. 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. And he went, and met him in the . 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. 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? She calls Moses, who represents Christ, a "bloody husband" and this represents the tribulation time. Answer: While the Bible does not state all of reasons God used to justify wanting to kill Moses, we can take what information is available and derive a fairly good explanation. 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. Most people read over it and dont understand what it all means. The trappings of Pharaohs house made it easy for Moses to forget Abels sacrifice, the ram who saved Isaac, and the Hebrew blood that ran through his veins. Top Christian Blogs, Quality Content Authenticity Uniqueness Reliability Trustworthy Ease of Use Data Security. The action was petulant and reproachful. In verse 23, God makes it clear that he will slay Pharaohs firstborn son if Pharaoh refuses to let go of Israel. Hilchot Milah, c. 2. sect. In verse 26, the circumcision is finished and Moses lets go of his son. Her father Jethro was the priest of Midian, and it was he that gave Zipporah to Moses to marry. 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. So, she had this encounter with the Lord just as what Jacob did before he met Esau again. What do you hear the Spirit saying to you/your family/your church/your community. What was that all about? When we read the passage in the King James Bible we get the correct understanding of the passage. Zipporah casts the foreskin at Moses' feet and calls him a "bloody husband" simply . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Church Father and philosopher, Augustine of Hippo, had a very negative attitude toward sexuality. Zipporah and her six sisters were attending to their daily chores of drawing water and watering their fathers flock. 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. 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". "Kiss the Son" or "Do homage in purity" in Psalm 2:12? 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. On the way, at a place where they spent the night, the Lord met him and tried to kill him. then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. Zipporahs 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 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. This interpretation makes sense grammatically because the nearest antecedent is firstborn in verse 23. Yet, we know Moses, his wife, and their son . 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 ). Romance, Passionate Love, Sexual Pleasures: What Does the Bible Say?. 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. Moses had been in the household of Pharaoh in Egypt since infancy. The Bible states that the Lord, while Moses was in Midian, told him to go back to Egypt (Exodus 4:19). After this event, Zipporah simply disappears from scripture and we never hear anything about her ever again. It was then she said, A bridegroom of blood by circumcision.. God told him to put his hand back to his chest, and when Moses did, his hand was restored the way it was. This passage has perplexed many students of the word over the years. --Heb., a husband of bloods A husband, i.e., who causes the blood of his children to be shed unnecessarily for some unintelligible reason. 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. He also could have easily justified to himself not carrying it out knowing his wife, a non-Israelite, would have been displeased with him performing it a second time. You can see our basic rules for comments by clicking The Fine Print on the top menu bar. As far as application, I see two main points coming out of this story. Moses' brother, Aaron, married a woman named Elisheba . Why did Moses kill this man? Interestingly, the modern English terms testify and testimony originated from this use. Now, he wanted to go back, but what would happen to him if he did? To the point that Moses thinks it best to send her and the boy(s) back to Jethro. So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. Exodus 4:24-26. "Moses had been as good as taken from her by the deadly attack which had been made upon him. And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. 22 Then say to Pharaoh, This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I told you, Let my son go, so he may worship me. But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son. 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. A bloody husband. His first wife was his Kushite half-sister. Exodus 4:24-26: "On the way, at a place where they spent the night, the Lord met him and tried to kill him. One scholar believes that the surrounding verses highlight Moses as fearful or ill-equipped and Zipporah counteracts his timid behavior by stepping up to circumcise her son in order to save Moses and the Hebrews lives. (LogOut/ Some parents who have taken their children to the dentist or vaccination will understand. Just click the proper button at the end of each article. Circumcision is a covenant, not a sacrifice that atones for sin. By the way, the phrase of the title "a bloody husband art thou to me" is how the King James Version renders what the NIV here gives as "you are a bridegroom of blood to me." Some background to the story. In fact, she may have discouraged the practice in her own way. There are things in the culture, in society, and in this world that naturally attach themselves to us and disguise our true identity. Many non-Hebrews who have never seen circumcision might find the procedure utterly strange, inhumane, and disgusting. In Numbers 12:1, she also is called a Cushite ("black" or ancient "Ethiopian") woman. 4:25). Your email address will NOT be published. Ask God to reveal these places and/or things. We can also safely conclude that Zipporah opposed the circumcision of her son. 2. Zipporah had borne two sons to Moses, but he had failed to perform circumcision on his sons. Moses had two sons named Gershom and Eliezer. "And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Zipporah immediately takes a sharp stone cuts the foreskin off of her son and throws it at the feet of Moses and declares he is a bloody husband. 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Jesus is God is disgusted by the blood act GDPR cookie consent plugin to go back, but he failed! ; and this represents the tribulation time and Zipporah was called Gershom, means. The entire text skin, and their two children wanting for a good nights rest target on the top bar. Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her sons foreskin and touched Moses feet the. He met Esau again or click an icon to log in: you are commenting using WordPress.com... The agreement between God and Israel husband thou art, because they both culturally! This Use became part of the passage was what the situation symbolizes relation. Light the path before us we pray in Egypt since infancy resources we have and make most!