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. 26 So he let him go: then she said , A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. If we read the preceding verses, we see that this occurs after God had just given Moses instructions as to what to say to Pharaoh. Zipporah regarded the bloody rites of her husbands 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. ', 24 At a lodging place on the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him. 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. They had two sons before Moses. morter, brick, and all manner of service in the field. 2-God expects obedience and submission from His people. God then told Moses it was Him that makes tongues and gives ability to speak, hear, and see. Whatever the case may be, the son wasnt circumcised and Zipporah knew that the Lord was there to raise issue about 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? 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". The name Gershom means foreigner. It is easy to print, download, and email articles. He had previously carried out the ceremony for one of them (note that Zipporah only had to circumcise one of them to quell Gods wrath) but not for the other. 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. "Moses had been as good as taken from her by the deadly attack which had been made upon him. 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. In fact, she may have discouraged the practice in her own way. 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]. Of her three appearances in the text, she only speaks one time, in Exodus 4. And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? (But at once Zipporah took a most sharp stone, and circumcised her son's rod; and she touched Moses? Blood and water flow from the side of the bridegroom in those last moments on the cross. Exodus 4:25 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. 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. These questions address deep cultural, theological and soteriological issues. Zipporah's father was Jethro, also called Reuel. Zipporah The Woman Who Wrongly Opposed Her Husband. John 1:1 Does this Bible verse prove Jesus is God? The problem is not with the answers, but with the questions. Zipporah is Moses's patrilineal cousin and his second wife. . Note: Page 340 of the source. 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. 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. 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. Why did Moses kill this man? 26. Why his feet? 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. If you dont receive the verify page, please try again after adjusting your email filter to recognize the email address containing: @outlawbiblestudent.org. 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. (b) Maimon. The life of Moses is different after God comes into his life in a miraculous way, very much like Saul of Tarsus in the book of Acts. 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. It is mentioned in Genesis, chapter 17, when God repeats his covenant of solidarity with Abraham and his descendants and explains his demands. 22:13-19), the removal of the prepuce would be the grooms parallel loss. (http://www.nocirc.org/symposia/second/larue.html) This assertion makes sense, but the first idea that Zipporah used the word hatan to mean protect seems more valid for the situation. This is after God instructs Moses on his upcoming job and his journey toward Egypt has already begun. Ask God to help you remember the places and things in your life that you have attached to your identity. Zipporah was Moses's first wife in the Bible. But why did Zipporah say that Moses is a "bridegroom [or husband] of blood"? Note: Page 209 of the source. In fact, shes only mentioned three times in scripture. Therefore, Zipporah circumcises her son and exclaims that he is a chatan damim, a relative to Yahweh by means of the blood of circumcision. Now, in verse 24, the underlined him, refers not to Moses but to Pharaohs firstborn son. We can prove that by tracing their lineages in scripture. Lastly, one final question that I asked as I read the passage was what the situation symbolizes in relation to the entire text. And in the Book of Ruth, it says, When he lies down, observe the place where he lies; then, go and uncover his feet and lie down; and he will tell you what to do, (Ruth 3:4).8. Thus in verse 25, Zipporah circumcises her son as Moses holds him still. What most people miss, however, is a detail that is revealed in three short verses in the fourth chapter of Exodus. He was talking about the servant putting his hand under Abrahams reproductive parts his genitals. The long donkey ride on the way to Egypt left Zipporah, Moses, and their two children wanting for a good nights rest. 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. Moses and Zipporah went on to have two little boys together. 4:25). QUESTION: Why is Moses saved by Zipporah circumcising his son in Ex 4:24-26? Zipporah was Mosess first wife in the Bible. A typical child would not stay still for a scary procedure such as circumcision. Upon returning to the home of their father, the sisters reported the incident of the Egyptian stranger who had come to their aid. 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. Note: Page 604 of the source. This short excerpt that seems disgusting and meaningless to most readers is actually a tale of obedience and preparation for the duties and years to come as Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt. (At that time she said bridegroom of blood, referring to circumcision.) Zipporah knew she was as much to blame for Moses' neglect. Some parents who have taken their children to the dentist or vaccination will understand. Here is a grown boy who had to be circumcised. sect. This has to be the bloodiest scene in the book of Exodus since the massacre of Hebrew male children in chapter 1. Although some Bible versions substitute Moses name, the actual Hebrew wording states him. 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. As a younger man, Moses left Egypt to avoid being arrested for killing an Egyptian overseer of the Hebrew slaves. Imagine the situation. Soon after meeting the One Who instructs him to return to Egypt in order to lead his Israelite brethren out of bondage in Egypt, "Moses took his wife and his sons, put them on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt." (Exodus 4:20.) She greatly disliked this rite but executed it in a successful attempt to spare Moses' life. These verses, concerning a circumcision,2 are odd and confusing, and some commentators believe they are out of place. And Jethro, Moses father-in-law came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness. Whats so interesting about this account is the fact that in the next verse (6) it says, I am coming to you with your wife and her two sons. This seems to be saying that although Moses was their biological father, Zipporah had done most of the child rearing while Moses was out in the wilderness with Jethros flocks. 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. rigour. Zipporah's father, Jethro, was a priest in the land of Midian where Moses fled after killing an Egyptian. Zipporah called Moses a bloody husband out of disgust. Answer. Her assertive action saved her husband's life but not without chastising him for causing her to perform the blood act. Circumcision was important to God, at least until Christ was crucified. It would also appear that she had successfully persuaded Moses to go along with her in refusing to circumcise the child. God then told Moses that He will have Aaron, Moses brother to speak in his place. 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. O Zipporah says this "bloody Husband" phrase twice. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Was as much to blame for Moses & # x27 ; neglect be, the LORD Moses. She was as much to blame for Moses & # x27 ; s was! 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