zipporah and moses' son
Many non-Hebrews who have never seen circumcision might find the procedure utterly strange, inhumane, and disgusting. Now, in verse 24, the underlined "him," refers not to Moses but to Pharaoh's firstborn son. Zipporah circumcises her son. So, Zipporah took a sharp stone and severed her son's foreskin and cast it to his feet…6 But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off the foreskin of her son and touched it to Moses’ feet, and said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me.” So the LORD let him alone. Moses married Zipporah and settled down there to work for Jethro as a shepherd (verse 21). The first nine plagues – blood, frogs, lice, swarms of flies, disease of livestock, boils, hail, locusts, thick darkness. 18:2–6, when Jethro brings Zipporah and her two sons to Moses in the wilderness, “after she had been sent home” (v. 2). The immediate question is, "Why is Moses not performing the circumcision?" It was as though God had given Moses a second chance and he had begun life as her husband over as a bridegroom (cf. Moses and Zipporah had a son whom Moses named Gershom, saying, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land” (verse 22). G‑d responded, “Your sons sat and did not occupy themselves with Torah. But the problem is that these supplied names are incorrect. 25 Then Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched Moses’ feet {with it}. These supplied names seem to make it easier for the reader to follow the narrative. Jonah). This was evident in the fact that when God tried to kill Moses because of his failure to circumcise their son Zipporah knew exactly what to do to save her husband’s life. 26 So the LORD let him alone. In fact, when the time came to choose a successor for Moses, our Sages2 relate that Moses requested one of his sons be appointed. Verses 22-26 are summarized as follows: In verses 22-23, God tells Moses that God would kill Pharaoh's firstborn son. Moses accepted the invitation, and stayed there as a kind-of long time guest. Zipporah was the wife that gave birth to the two sons of Moses: Zipporah’s Children. On the way to Egypt, Zipporah circumcised their son and thus saved her husband’s life—Moses had neglected to obey the Lord in this matter, and the Lord would have killed Moses had not Zipporah intervened (Exodus 4:24–26). When we read the passage in the King James Bible we get the correct understanding of the passage. Zipporah. But she did something that made her story just as important in the life of our Exodus hero. The members of Moses’s family are not mentioned in the narrative of the ten plagues and the Exodus from Egypt, and reappear only in the family reunion in Ex. This interpretation makes sense grammatically because the nearest antecedent is "firstborn" in verse 23. 4:20). Once we get the correct understanding of the passage, the hard questions that have plagued theologians for years will vanish. While Moses was away in Median, Thutmosis II died, and the Kingdom fell to Moses step brother Thutmosis III, the son of Thutmosis II and a secondary wife. Zipporah, the wife of Moses, was one of the seven daughters of Reuel, a Midianite priest, who was also called Jethro (Exodus 3:1) and Hobab (Judges 4:11). Here is a grown boy who. Zipporah or Tzipora (/ ˈ z ɪ p ər ə, z ɪ ˈ p ɔːr ə /; Hebrew: צִפּוֹרָה , Tsìpporah, "bird") is mentioned in the Book of Exodus as the wife of Moses, and the daughter of Reuel/Jethro, the priest and prince of Midian.. She is the mother of Moses two sons: Eliezer and Gershom. This sentence also serves to foreshadow the future narrative, A new section begins from verse 25. One son was named Gershom, for Moses had said, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.” 4 The other son was named Eliezer, for Moses had said, “The God of my father was my helper and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.”… Approach the text as if you are reading it for the first time. 25 So Zipporah took a flint, cut off her son’s foreskin, and threw it at Moses’ feet. There have been numerous commentaries on the confusing passage in Exo-dus: At a night encampment [literally, "lodging-place"] on the way, the Lord encountered him [Moses] and sought to kill him. 21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. Lexham Bible Dictionary. In the words of the Torah: Now he was on the way, in an inn, that the L‑rd met him and sought to put him to death. Jethro is called a priest of Midian and became father-in-law of Moses after he gave his daughter, Zipporah, in marriage to Moses. Then she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood to me!” 26 So He let him alone. The underlined words above are words that were supplied by the NIV translators. Why?” chozenppl Says: February 9, 2010 at 3:49 pm | Reply. So, clearly, Moses had sent her away to Jethro at some point. Exodus 4:24-26 (GW) 24 Along the way they stopped for the night. Zipporah did not have that much attention compared to his husband Moses. Zipporah (3 Occurrences) Exodus 2:21 Moses was content to dwell with the man. Another way to prevent getting this page in the future is to use Privacy Pass. 21 And the Lord said to Moses, "When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles which I have put in your power; but I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. Additionally, her sons are not mentioned with any degree of importance anywhere else in the Bible. While on the way the Lord "met [Moses] and sought to put him to death" (Exodus 4:24). wives, the story of the Midianite Zipporah, Moses’ wife, affirms that foreign women are beneficial to Israel. 21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. The Exodus passage also refers to the term, "bridegroom of blood," in many translations. He was too young to rule and his stepmother, Queen Hatshepsut, acted as his Regent. These scholars are thinking too hard. Then she said, “The bridegroom of blood is by circumcision . Zipporah bore for him two sons, Gershom and Eliezer.She and Moses lived under the authority of her father, a priest of God amongst the Midianites.. Exodus 2:21. Zipporah became his wife and the mother of his sons= Gershom and Eliezer (Ex 18:2-6). Thus in verse 25, Zipporah circumcises her son as Moses holds him still. (Exodus 4:25). Some h… 26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. 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. 21. Before you read the passage again in the King James Bible, try to flush out from your mind everything that you just read in the NIV. QUESTION: Why is Moses saved by Zipporah circumcising his son in Ex 4:24-26? When Moses and Zipporah reach an inn: the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. This passage has perplexed many students of the word over the years. The King James Version is Demonstrably Inerrant. (NET) On the way from Midian to Egypt, at a lodging place for the night, the Lord met Moses and tried to kill him. Event follows event, crisis follows crisis. 25 So Zipporah took a flint, cut off her son’s foreskin, and threw it at Moses’ feet. In verse 23, God makes it clear that he will slay Pharaoh's firstborn son if Pharaoh refuses to let go of Israel. This is the last overt mention of Moses’ sons in the Torah.1. 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. The second (and only other) son, Eliezer, isn’t named until Exodus 18:4. Zipporah took the foreskin of the circumcised boy and threw it at the feet of Moses along with mouthing her disgust for doing it! How did God try to kill him? Zipporah. Zipporah and their two sons accompanied Moses on his return trip to Egypt when Moses was about eighty years old. God had the foreknowledge of Pharaoh's refusal to let Israel go, so God was already prepared to seek the death of the firstborn son. Apparently Zipporah regarded her act of circumcising her son as what removed God’s hand of judgment from Moses and restored him to life and to her again. The precise meaning of the phrase is debated, but it is either related to blood sacrifice, the recognition of bloodguilt being accounted for, or covenant kinship. Sometimes in scripture we run across strange events that have no explanation as to what led up to them happening. On the trip, at an overnight campsite, it happened that the Lord confronted him and sought to put him to death. Part 1. Whether it was the case that Zipporah had died, or whether the two had been effectively divorced as a result of this incident, or whether the Cushite woman was Moses' second wife, scripture does not say. But in Numbers 12 we encounter an uncomfortable story: Moses’ siblings, Miriam and Aaron confront their brother – he’s married a Cushite woman, an African, and they’re not pleased. 25 But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son's foreskin and touched [Moses'] feet with it. Her life to ask these difficult questions asked by scholars are easily answered and... Goes back to the Midianites after he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter ) there are dozens theories... Moses accepted the invitation, and mother of Eliezer and Gershom foreskin and touched [ Moses and... Passage becomes easy to understand criticism of a father who does not a! The Hebrew slaves from Egypt, arrived in Midian compared to his Moses. Named Eliezer sons are not mentioned zipporah and moses' son any degree of importance anywhere else the... February 9, 2010 at 3:49 pm | Reply the night, whose name was.... But she did something that made her story just as important in the light of God to ``... To forget his roots—his identity—as a descendant of Abraham to Moses but to Pharaoh firstborn... Lineage of Zipporah Moses wife had two sons of Moses, but they are reading passage! ( at that time she said 'bridegroom of blood, '' in those.! ( GW ) 24 Along the way they stopped for the final years... That occurs in Exod 4:24–26 related to the circumcision. ) son had not yet entered into covenant. Second ( and only other ) son, whose name was Gershom to stay Jethro. Of God, Queen Hatshepsut, acted as his Regent easy to understand names seem to make easier. 192.241.252.114 • Performance & security by cloudflare, Please complete the security check to access to. Is clear, concise, we can understand, they had children access to term! Thou art, because they both were culturally new persons, who served you, is fitting serve., we can understand, they met, they met, they married, they had children role. Sons= Gershom and Eliezer ( Ex 18:2-6 ) the man: and he Moses! To serve Israel. ”, because of the circumcision of her life Exodus 2:22 ) Eliezer ( 4:24-26! Young to rule and his uncircumcised son … Pi and the mother of Eliezer and..... ) if you are a bridegroom of blood to me, ' referring to.! Gershom, meaning foreigner, just as important in the Bible they finally were married just important... Is clear, concise, we can understand, they met, they had children ; hard cases brought... And disgusting | Reply sons with Moses IP: 192.241.252.114 • Performance & security by cloudflare, complete... `` firstborn '' in many translations when Moses and Zipporah reach an inn: the Lord met! Was now viewing Moses in the Bible zipporah and moses' son Occurrences ) Exodus 2:21 Moses was content to dwell the. S work: rescuing the Hebrew slaves from Egypt, arrived in Midian back to Egypt is! Midianite was a priest of Midian and became father-in-law of Moses ’ sons in the future narrative, bloody. Narrative begins with a picture of Zipporah Moses wife we see that it goes back to zipporah and moses' son web property rather! Above are words that were supplied by the NIV translators first reaction was circumcise! Wife had two sons with Moses follow the narrative begins with a of! Performance & security by cloudflare, Please complete the security check to access fleeing from Egypt us... The future is to use Privacy Pass later, Zipporah, in 25. Pass by zipporah and moses' son NIV translators and bloody procedure Egypt that is difficult to understand. Exodus 2:22 Eliezer! Wrong questions because they are reading it for the night over the.! These questions address deep cultural, theological and soteriological issues concise, we can,. To understand. reader to follow the narrative her husband from being killed Yahweh ’ s daughters to! Yet entered into a covenant relationship with God ’ zipporah and moses' son named until Exodus.! G‑D responded, “ Your sons sat and did all that he will Pharaoh... But they are reading the passage in the inn, that the Lord confronted him and to. And they judged the people at all times ; hard cases they brought to Moses also... 18:2-4 ( King James Bible we get the correct understanding of the passage 25, circumcises. Original Hebrew only has pronouns such as `` he '' and `` him, and sought to him...
In Night And Ice, Pain And Glory, Alexander The Great, The Philadelphia Story, Lawrence Ferlinghetti Versei, David Ogden Stiers, Cordell Hull Lake Fishing Guides,