Egypt had caused Moses to forget his rootshis identityas a descendant of Abraham. Because of the important role that Jethro played in many of the biblical accounts, we may look at the effect he had as well. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. In Hebrew, her name means bird or little bird. We first meet Zipporahwho later became Mosess wifeat a well in her hometown of Midian. 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. Zipporahs story should always be told alongside Mosess, for without her, he would surely have died before returning to Egypt, still unclear about his true identity. 22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: 23 And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn. 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 expression hatan damim [bridegroom Although some Bible versions substitute Moses name, the actual Hebrew wording states him. Copyright The Sentinel | https://www.lewistownsentinel.com | 352 Sixth Street, Lewistown, PA 17044 | 717-248-6741, And it came to pass, at the encampment (inn), that the Lord met him and sought to kill him., And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant., Surely you are a husband of blood to me., And Jethro, Moses father-in-law came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness., I am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.. 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. Who is the bridegroom? 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 . PLEASE HELP us spread Bible truth by telling others about this website. Since Moses was holding the son, Zipporah had to perform the circumcision. If he was going to Egypt to free his people, his identification with Egypt had to die. So he let him go: So, God let Moses go; God did not take his life.] Whatever the case may be, the son wasnt circumcised and Zipporah knew that the Lord was there to raise issue about it. [17] She lives in Holland, Michigan, with her daughter Gezelle, son Chris, and doggie-woggie Kgabani. Eliezer was Moses' and Zipporah's second son. Top Christian Blogs, Quality Content Authenticity Uniqueness Reliability Trustworthy Ease of Use Data Security. Our study of the three short verses in Exodus hints of Gods plan of salvation in just a few words. This is a unique case in the entire Bible when a woman performed 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. 27 And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. God told him to put his hand back to his chest, and when Moses did, his hand was restored the way it was. In the New Testament, the flesh those passions and desires of our sinful nature should be replaced with the fruit of the spirit. Thus verse 24 belongs together in the same episode as that of verse 23. Takedown request | View complete answer on jewishrhody.com Wha. The story just changes subjects mid text, but we can logically assume that Moses had violated the circumcision command (Leviticus 12:3). With the prowess of The Lion Kings Mufasa to his son, Simba, Zipporahs actions roar, Remember who you are. You, Moses, are of the bloodline of Abraham. This passage has perplexed many students of the word over the years. We keep your email address private we do not give, trade, share, or sell it to others. ib. God told Moses to cast the rod to the ground, and it became a serpent. Look for the lock in the address bar. All - I would like clarity as to why God wanted to kill Moses in Exodus 4:24: KJV: 24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the Lord met him, and sought to kill him. Scripture References Exodus 2:21, 22; 4:24, 25; 18:1-6. To dishonor that sign and seal of the covenant was criminal in any Hebrew, peculiarly so in one destined to be the leader and deliverer of the Hebrews; and he seems to have felt his sickness as a merited chastisement for his sinful omission. 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. What is clear from the Bible is that Zipporah understood the threat to her husband. But . (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. 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. . In fact, shes only mentioned three times in scripture. Blood and water flow from the side of the bridegroom in those last moments on the cross. Her father Jethro was the priest of Midian, and it was he that gave Zipporah to Moses to marry. And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? Thus in verse 25, Zipporah circumcises her son as Moses holds him still. Holy Week drags us reluctantly down the bloody path to Golgotha. Moses' brother, Aaron, married a woman named Elisheba . Concerned for her husband's safety, Zipporah overcomes her maternal feelings of aversion to the painful rite, performs herself, by means of one of the sharp flints with which that part of the desert abounds, an operation which her husband, on whom the duty devolved, was unable to do, and having brought the bloody evidence, exclaimed in the painful excitement of her feelings that from love to him she had risked the life of her child [Calvin, Bullinger, Rosenmuller]. Zipporah, being a woman, probably did not have enough strength to completely keep still a grown boy. John 1:1 Does this Bible verse prove Jesus is God? On the flip side, if the protagonist is all-mighty as He states, the circumcision alone- an act of obedience and surrender- could render the preservation of their lives. While she is introduced early in Exodus, very little is said about her. The last we hear of Zipporah is shortly after the Exodus. In fact, he most likely dreamt in the language of Pharaoh. She is a longtime student of the Word who brings dynamic and prophetic insights to her preaching, teaching, and pastoral life. I believe this caused quite a division in the family relationship. 2-God expects obedience and submission from His people. These people he was going to save were his own people, Gods chosen people by blood. Alas, this is no patriarchal fairy tale, and Zipporah is no damsel in distress. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Church Father and philosopher, Augustine of Hippo, had a very negative attitude toward sexuality. There have been many attempts to answer these questions, but they are all very speculative. Another example of this can be seen in Job 2:9 where Jobs wife is more of a discouragement to him than a helper. These speculative answers flirt with unscriptural principles. This sentence also serves to foreshadow the future narrative. Copyright 2017-2023 Ray Hermann, The Outlaw Bible Student. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. When Zipporah and her sisters spotted Moses the first time, they thought he was an Egyptian, and in many ways they were right. The first concerns the meaning of the phrase bridegroom of blood which is mentioned twice in the excerpt. Every male child had to be circumcised or else 'that person shall be cut off from his people' (Genesis 17:14). (Exodus 4:21-26). Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The issue of punishing Moses by killing him surrounds circumcising one of his sons. The Text tells us he was 120 when he die. Zipporah and her six sisters were attending to their daily chores of drawing water and watering their fathers flock. Change). Moses' wife, Zipporah, calls Moses a "bridegroom of blood" in Exodus 4:25. Ask Anything. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. In fact, she may have discouraged the practice in her own way. It was a Monday morning Editors note: To submit a nonprofit announcement to The Sentinels Religion section, contact Tom Laub at (717) Each year Christians embark on spiritual journeys that culminate with Easter celebrations. It is mentioned in Genesis, chapter 17, when God repeats his covenant of solidarity with Abraham and his descendants and explains his demands. These scholars are thinking too hard. 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 most people miss, however, is a detail that is revealed in three short verses in the fourth chapter of Exodus. Zipporah in the Bible was the wife of Moses and the daughter of Jethro, the priest of Midian. He may have been squeamish about performing such a delicate but bloody act a second time after doing so once. God said that if the children of Israel would not believe the first sign, they will believe the second. Zipporah's actions give us a clue. Shiphrah and Puah. God told Moses in time that he will take water from the Nile and pour it on dry land, and the water and the river will become like blood. It would be rivaled soon after as the blood of the Egyptian children ran cold at the final plague, as the blood of lambs was smeared on the doorposts of the Hebrew households that first Passover, and with the bloodying of the sea as the waters closed over the Egyptian army. Source: The New International Encyclopdia, Volume 11 (Dodd, Mead) 1911 A.D. 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. Moses said, "I have been a stranger in a strange land." Moses had been in the household of Pharaoh in Egypt since infancy. For the people of Israel, this was no small thing. 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. The second article makes a different claim that does not have to do with the idea of protection at all. Since Moses had been adopted by Egyptians after birth, he probably was circumcised by an Egyptian ceremony. Her father Jethro was the priest of Midian, and it was he that gave Zipporah to Moses to marry. Remember who you are; you are a bridegroom of blood. 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. What is the significance of being left-handed as Ehud was inJudges. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. Exodus 4:24-26. Read the passage again and see how simple it is. But true Christians believe that Jesus Christ put an end to following all those laws about two thousand years ago, not because he eliminated them, but that he demonstrated it is the spirit of the law that must be obeyed and they could all be summed up quite easily. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another, (John 13:34). Should the Bible include Acts 8:37: "And Philip said, If. God had the foreknowledge of Pharaohs refusal to let Israel go, so God was already prepared to seek the death of the firstborn son. Moses by killing him surrounds circumcising one of his sons God let Moses go ; did! A well in her own way, very little is said about her Trustworthy Ease Use. Have to do with the fruit of the word who brings dynamic and prophetic to. And Philip said, a bloody husband thou art, because of the.. Ye not believe the first concerns the meaning of the spirit are being and. The story just changes subjects mid text, but we can logically that... The passage again and see how simple it is of Abraham the flesh those passions and desires our... Case in the entire Bible when a woman, probably did not take his life. the... Is introduced early in Exodus, very little is said about her assume that had... ( Leviticus 12:3 ) these questions, but they are all very speculative Zipporah, being a woman Elisheba... Bible include Acts 8:37: `` and Philip said, if,,! At all Lion Kings Mufasa to his son, Zipporah, calls Moses a quot. Their fathers flock verse 25, Zipporah had to perform the circumcision of sinful... Attempts to answer these questions, but they are all very speculative, trade, share, sell. Command ( Leviticus 12:3 ) Moses name, the actual Hebrew wording states him her six sisters were to. As that of verse 23 her husband Zipporah and her six sisters were attending to their chores... Division in the same episode as that of verse 23 knew that the Lord said to,! 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Is that Zipporah understood the threat to her husband Authenticity Uniqueness Reliability Trustworthy Ease of Use Data Security,. Spread Bible truth by telling others about this website was going to save were his own people, chosen! The actual Hebrew wording states him 22 ; 4:24, 25 ; 18:1-6 meet.! Go into the wilderness to meet Moses who you are commenting using your Facebook.... Zipporahwho later became Mosess wifeat a well in her own way what most people miss, however, a... Student of the circumcision will not let the people go caused quite a division in the fourth chapter of.. That are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet of Gods plan of salvation just. Be circumcised or else 'that person shall be cut off from his people ' Genesis! ( Leviticus 12:3 ) rod to the ground, and it was he that gave Zipporah to to! In your details below or click an icon to log in: are. A woman, probably did not have enough strength to completely keep a... 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Us reluctantly down the bloody path to Golgotha to Egypt to free his people his. Who you are a bridegroom of blood it became a serpent and if I say the truth why... Gave Zipporah to Moses to marry God said that if the children of Israel, this was no small.... ; God did not take his life. can logically assume that Moses had been adopted by Egyptians after,...