A bloody husband. Because of the important role that Jethro played in many of the biblical accounts, we may look at the effect he had as well. I still wonder who warned Zipporah. The difficult questions asked by scholars are easily answered, and some of them simply become irrelevant. Now, in verse 24, the underlined him, refers not to Moses but to Pharaohs firstborn son. Which of you convinceth me of sin? Lyndon Stimeling, of Richfield, has been writing about faith and family for many years. 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). The underlined words above are words that were supplied by the NIV translators. Zipporah reaches across centuries to point to the Lord s Table, the flesh and blood of the new covenant. Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her sons foreskin and touched Moses feet with it and said, Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me! So he let him alone. 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. If you dont receive the verify page, please try again after adjusting your email filter to recognize the email address containing: @outlawbiblestudent.org. Article 26 So he let him go: then she said , A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. The term bloody husband is merely Zipporahs criticism of a husband who performs an apparently strange and bloody procedure. From the material I have read, it looks like Zipporah put some pressure on her hubby not to circumcise the boy. Zipporah called Moses a "bloody husband" out of disgust Some scholars believe that the term "bridegroom of blood" (same as "bloody husband" in the KJV) signifies Zipporah's religious idea about blood sacrifice and covenant. 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. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. (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. It was then she said, A bridegroom of blood by circumcision, (Exodus 4:24-26, NRSV).1. 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. 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. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 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 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. Zipporah knew she was as much to blame for Moses' neglect. 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. Only the Midrash, the Oral Traditions of Judaism, clarifies this answer. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. When Moses fled from Egypt to the land of Midian, he met Jethro's seven daughters, who were having some trouble getting enough water for their flocks ( Exodus 2 ). Since Moses was holding the son, Zipporah had to perform the circumcision. The custom in Egypt was associated with coming into manhood at about fourteen years of age and the entire foreskin was not removed. Why did God seek to kill Moses? Lastly, one final question that I asked as I read the passage was what the situation symbolizes in relation to the entire text. 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". See e-Sword notes below. This could indicate why the protagonist threatened Moses life. He belonged to the household of his maternal grandfather, Jethro (Yetro) the priest of Midian. Verses 22-26 are summarized as follows: In verses 22-23, God tells Moses that God would kill 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. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. He has also had articles published in The Coming Home Journal and local newspapers and has written a childrens book. Today's breaking news and more in your inbox. Description: In verses 25 and 26, Zipporah calls Moses a "bloody husband" because of his strange and bloody procedure of circumcision. 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 name Gershom means foreigner. God asked Moses what was in his hand, and Moses said a rod. Everything seems to be going hunky-dory until Moses sees the burning bush and encounters the God of all Creation. Why would such drastic measures be necessary? Every time we gather for communion, her words should be told alongside Mosess, Yes, Jesus, you are a Bridegroom of blood.. Blood and water flow from the side of the bridegroom in those last moments on the cross. What? Upon returning to the home of their father, the sisters reported the incident of the Egyptian stranger who had come to their aid. 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. Moses was seated at the well nearby, no doubt dressed, painted, and speaking like an Egyptian dignitary. The second article makes a different claim that does not have to do with the idea of protection at all. However, this question cannot be answered without discovering who she was trying to save: Moses or Gershom, her son. 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. Zipporah called Moses a bloody husband out of disgust. 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. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. 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. And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. Thank you for the explanation in simple terms. If he was going to Egypt to free his people, his identification with Egypt had to die. Dr. Denise Kingdom Grier is the Pastor of Mobilization and Renewal at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan. Whatever the reason, Zipporah had to think and act quickly in order to save her husbands life. 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. 26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. And why not remind him then? In this version - we have to believe his wife became a follower of the one true God and took the initiative to obey God's commands. At the well, she met Moses, who was fleeing from Egypt and from Pharaohs judgment after he murdered an Egyptian (Exodus 2:15-22). 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. Shulchan Aruch, par. 4:25). Moses was a murderer to Egyptians. Circumcision was important to God, at least until Christ was crucified. Source: Memorials of Gilbert Haven, Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) 1880 A.D. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. Zipporah casts the foreskin at Moses' feet and calls him a "bloody husband" simply because she is disgusted by the bloody procedure of circumcision. But why did Zipporah say that Moses is a "bridegroom [or husband] of blood"? In gratitude, the father urged them to go back and bring the kind Egyptian Moses to their village, and soon after, Zipporah would become Mosess wife. His first wife was his Kushite half-sister. As Moses and his family arrive back in Egypt he meets up with the Lord who seeks to kill him. 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. The expression hatan damim [bridegroom God had just given Moses an assignment to return to Egypt and demand that Pharaoh free the Hebrews from bondage. 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 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. Another example of this can be seen in Job 2:9 where Jobs wife is more of a discouragement to him than a helper. . 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? Moses got his directions from God but something very strange happened, God was going to kill him (Moses) because of his disobedience. The Text tells us he was 120 when he die. If God sought to kill Moses for his sin of murder, as some scholars speculate, there is nothing about circumcision that atones for sin. 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