God tried to kill Moses?
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What your reading here is a poor translation and separation of events.
And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the Lord met him and sought to kill him.
Verse 24 above is still speaking about pharaohs son not moses.
Verse 25 ....shows that moses went straight home to his wife and straight away went to circumcise his son in fear of what the Lord said about the first born.
It would seem that at this time his son was full grown and his wife was unable to hold the lad down as we know this is not a pleasant experience.
As we read in verse 26 after his wife showed her discuss with the covenant ritual "he let him go"
Pointing to moses releasing his son.
Scholars and theologians have debated these scriptures for some time and this is the most agreed view on the issue.
Circumcision does not cover or forgive sin. Nor does the one preforming it release any kind of sin situation.
I agree with this view and it does seem to fit the events well.
I am sure if moses had a sin issue the Lord would of revealed it to us in the scriptures.
And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the Lord met him and sought to kill him.
Verse 24 above is still speaking about pharaohs son not moses.
Verse 25 ....shows that moses went straight home to his wife and straight away went to circumcise his son in fear of what the Lord said about the first born.
It would seem that at this time his son was full grown and his wife was unable to hold the lad down as we know this is not a pleasant experience.
As we read in verse 26 after his wife showed her discuss with the covenant ritual "he let him go"
Pointing to moses releasing his son.
Scholars and theologians have debated these scriptures for some time and this is the most agreed view on the issue.
Circumcision does not cover or forgive sin. Nor does the one preforming it release any kind of sin situation.
I agree with this view and it does seem to fit the events well.
I am sure if moses had a sin issue the Lord would of revealed it to us in the scriptures.
“And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.”
Numbers 20:12 KJV
Moses died before he entered the promised land because he sinned. But it wasn’t God who condemned him
“Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.”
Exodus 23:20-21
Numbers 20:12 KJV
Moses died before he entered the promised land because he sinned. But it wasn’t God who condemned him
“Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.”
Exodus 23:20-21
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What exactly is happening in the passage about the circumcision of Moses' son in Exodus 4:24-26?
"24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. 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. 26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision." (Exodus 4:21-26, KJV)
Many have been taught that in Exodus 4:24-26 God is seeking to kill Moses, and in response Zipporah circumcises her son to avert God's wrath. This is supported by a midrash (Jewish interpretation) in the Book of Jasher (Sepir Ha Yasher) 79:8-12 (which is not the authentic Book of Jasher mentioned in the Old Testament). The Exodus passage also refers to the term, "bridegroom of blood," in many translations. This passage has perplexed many students of the word over the years.
- Why did God seek to kill Moses?
- How did circumcision avert God's wrath?
- Why did Zipporah circumcise her son rather than letting Moses do it?
- What exactly is a "bridegroom of blood"?
The problem is not with the answers, but with the questions. People are asking the wrong questions because they are reading the passage incorrectly in faulty translations. When the passage is read correctly in the King James Bible, the passage becomes easy to understand. There is no need to ask these difficult questions.
The NIV says from Exodus 4:21-26:
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. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. 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.'"
24 At a lodging place on the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him. 25 But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' feet with it. "Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me," she said. 26 So the LORD let him alone. (At that time she said "bridegroom of blood," referring to circumcision.) (Exodus 4:21-26)
The underlined words above are words that were supplied by the NIV translators. The original Hebrew only has pronouns such as "he" and "him" in those places. These supplied names seem to make it easier for the reader to follow the narrative. But the problem is that these supplied names are incorrect. When we read the passage in the King James Bible we get the correct understanding of the passage. Once we get the correct understanding of the passage, the hard questions that have plagued theologians for years will vanish. 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. Approach the text as if you are reading it for the first time.
The KJV says from Exodus 4:21-26:
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. 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. 24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him.
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. 26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. (Exodus 4:21-26)
Let us go through this passage, explaining each difficult section separately.
"Him" in verse 24 refers to Pharaoh's firstborn son
In verse 23, God makes it clear that he will slay Pharaoh's firstborn son if Pharaoh refuses to let go of Israel. Now, in verse 24, the underlined "him," refers not to Moses but to Pharaoh's firstborn son. This interpretation makes sense grammatically because the nearest antecedent is "firstborn" in verse 23. This interpretation also makes sense narratologically because the previous verse speaks of God promising to kill Pharaoh's firstborn son. Thus verse 24 belongs together in the same episode as that of verse 23. Many translations (even some KJV editions) begin a new section after verse 23 (often with a new section heading), obscuring the fact that "him" in verse 24 refers to Pharaoh's firstborn son mentioned in verse 23. Having a break between verse 23 and 24 is not necessarily wrong because there seems to be a chronological break between the two verses (e.g. "And it came to pass...." (verse 24)), but there is no thematic break.
Verse 24 says that the LORD met Pharaoh's firstborn son in an inn and determined ("sought") to kill him. 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. This sentence also serves to foreshadow the future narrative.
Zipporah circumcised her son as Moses held him still
A new section begins from verse 25. The narrative begins with a picture of Zipporah circumcising her son. The immediate question is, "Why is Moses not performing the circumcision?" The answer is that Moses had to hold on to the son so that the son would stay still. Imagine the situation. Here is a grown boy who had to be circumcised. A typical child would not stay still for a scary procedure such as circumcision. Some parents who have taken their children to the dentist or vaccination will understand. Zipporah, being a woman, probably did not have enough strength to completely keep still a grown boy. So Moses had to keep the boy still. Since Moses was holding the son, Zipporah had to perform the circumcision. That is why when the circumcision was over, verse 26 says, "he let him go." This "he" is Moses because the nearest male antecedent is "bloody husband." This phrase is not about God letting Moses go, but about Moses letting his son go after the circumcision was over.
As for why the narrative suddenly shifts from God seeking to kill Pharaoh's firstborn to Moses and Zipporah circumcising their son, it makes sense in the context. In verse 23 God had pronounced a judgment upon Pharaoh's son, but it may have been obvious to Moses that God's judgment affects not only the king of Egypt but all the Egyptians. 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.
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. These scholars are thinking too hard. Zipporah casts the foreskin at Moses' feet and calls him a "bloody husband" simply because she is disgusted by the bloody procedure of circumcision. Many non-Hebrews who have never seen circumcision might find the procedure utterly strange, inhumane, and disgusting. The term "bloody husband" is merely Zipporah's criticism of a husband who performs an apparently strange and bloody procedure.
Conclusion
Verses 22-26 are summarized as follows: In verses 22-23, God tells Moses that God would kill Pharaoh's firstborn son. In verse 24, God locks his target on the firstborn son. Moses fears for the safety of his son because the son had not yet entered into a covenant relationship with God. Thus in verse 25, Zipporah circumcises her son as Moses holds him still. In verse 26, the circumcision is finished and Moses lets go of his son. In verses 25 and 26, Zipporah calls Moses a "bloody husband" because of his strange and bloody procedure of circumcision. 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.
Read the passage again and see how simple it is. This passage is rather uneventful and straightforward if we read it properly. The difficult questions asked by scholars are easily answered, and some of them simply become irrelevant. 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. God was able to write "Moses" or "LORD" if he wanted to. But God did not. Some translations might be easier to read, but they may not be easier to understand.
Read more articles from: The King James Version is Demonstrably Inerrant
No that doesnt make much sense either...plus there wasnt any underlining of passages
I thought was referring to Gershom, Moses son not the PHAROAHS son...
and also the holding down doesnt make sense. It assumes Gershom was grown...was he? And that Zipporah was weak, well she wasnt THAT weak.
while the KJV doesnt presume like the other versions that say Moses (on the identity of who God was trying to kill) it isnt that clear either.
Because Moses was raised as an Egyptian (or adopted into Egyptian family) maybe he did forget to circumcise this son. Also, while it seems Zipporah may have been angry its not stated in scripture that she was 'disgusted'. She just called him a bloody husband! Maybe it was an endearment, like how people say they are are blood brothers.
If the passage has said 'I will slay your firstborn' and then as Moses went to the inn with HIS firstborn, God sought to kill his firstborn...it would make sense.
One has to back up a bit to where Moses is leaving for Egypt with his wife and sonS. So I wonder what happened to the other son.
I thought was referring to Gershom, Moses son not the PHAROAHS son...
and also the holding down doesnt make sense. It assumes Gershom was grown...was he? And that Zipporah was weak, well she wasnt THAT weak.
while the KJV doesnt presume like the other versions that say Moses (on the identity of who God was trying to kill) it isnt that clear either.
Because Moses was raised as an Egyptian (or adopted into Egyptian family) maybe he did forget to circumcise this son. Also, while it seems Zipporah may have been angry its not stated in scripture that she was 'disgusted'. She just called him a bloody husband! Maybe it was an endearment, like how people say they are are blood brothers.
If the passage has said 'I will slay your firstborn' and then as Moses went to the inn with HIS firstborn, God sought to kill his firstborn...it would make sense.
One has to back up a bit to where Moses is leaving for Egypt with his wife and sonS. So I wonder what happened to the other son.
I didn’t say he was struck down lol so I agree the angel probably didn’t physically kill him his sin did
have you ever read the account of Moses death on the Mount ? It tells you why Moses died before he entered the promised land. Which was what he was chosen to do lead the people into the promised land I think alot
Of people miss that God turned hen over to angels because they built the false idol when moses was getting the tablets of stone
“And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.”
Acts 7:41-43
the first commandment was broken as God was writing it down for Moses so at that point he set angels over the ordination of the law and it explicitly says the angel will not forgive any transgression that’s why Moses died the unforgiving angel was the authority over him because of what they did
that covenant is cursed which is why we have the new
have you ever read the account of Moses death on the Mount ? It tells you why Moses died before he entered the promised land. Which was what he was chosen to do lead the people into the promised land I think alot
Of people miss that God turned hen over to angels because they built the false idol when moses was getting the tablets of stone
“And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.”
Acts 7:41-43
the first commandment was broken as God was writing it down for Moses so at that point he set angels over the ordination of the law and it explicitly says the angel will not forgive any transgression that’s why Moses died the unforgiving angel was the authority over him because of what they did
that covenant is cursed which is why we have the new
well I havent re-read the Bible much further than the earlier Exodus passage regarding the circumcision but I do recall something about how Aaron worshipped the golden calf and Moses got them to repent and forced them to eat gold dust or something (the golden calf ground up into a powder) ...so maybe some died from metal poisoning I dont know.
What do you think Moses actually died of? Does it say or did the angels simply carry him away like they did with Elijah.
What do you think Moses actually died of? Does it say or did the angels simply carry him away like they did with Elijah.
Regarding death of firstborn son, I thought God sought to kill ALL the firstborn in Egypt not just the Pharoahs own son. also it doesnt make sense God met the Pharoahs son at the inn lol. seeing s th previous passage, both Moses, his wife and their sons were travelling TO Egypt and would have stayed in an inn. The Pharoahs son wasnt going anywhere!
The only way He could tell the sons of Israel apart from the firstborns of Egypt was through circumcision?
Moses had already experienced the Egyptians after his own life when there was a purge of all the new born sons of Hebrews (but they spared the girls) though he was saved by being put in the basket. He wasnt the firstborn of Jochebed though. (Aaron and Miriam were his elder siblings) But...was he the firstborn son of his adopted Egyptian family?
Was Moses not circumcised?
anyway
The only way He could tell the sons of Israel apart from the firstborns of Egypt was through circumcision?
Moses had already experienced the Egyptians after his own life when there was a purge of all the new born sons of Hebrews (but they spared the girls) though he was saved by being put in the basket. He wasnt the firstborn of Jochebed though. (Aaron and Miriam were his elder siblings) But...was he the firstborn son of his adopted Egyptian family?
Was Moses not circumcised?
anyway
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no he died of old age before they entered the promised land because he sinned and the law doesn’t allow for forgiveness sin is death Moses died because he sinned against the law.
“He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:”
Hebrews 10:28 KJV
no mercy because the whole camp witnessed Moses transgression
Here’s the accounting stemming dorectly from what God told him when he smote the rock rather than speaking to it so he was told this
“And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.”
Numbers 20:12 KJV
That transgression led to this he led Moses up to the top of the mount so he could look at the promosed land but he was not allowed to enter he would die there on the mount looking into the promised land of Israel
“And the Lord said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.
So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth–peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.”
Deuteronomy 34:4-6 KJV
just like everyone save Enoch Moses died there was no eternal
Life at this time because of sin
do you see how Moses died according to the word spoken before ? That’s why we all die the word says if you sin you must die
“Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”
Ezekiel 18:4 KJV
so every sinner is condemned to death by Gods word. That’s the Old Testament for you in a nutshell everyone sinned and died since the law came to Moses
but that’s also why we have a New Testament that claims to be giving life to the dead as e ot puts every sinnner to death the New Testament breathes life into the believer
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
John 5:24 KJV
the e ot said they would all die , muses is saying ok now hear me and you will live even though you were held to death by sin ( transgressing the law of the ot )
he’s able to say this truly because he took The death of sinners upon himself and conquered death so he’s now able to save us from death because of sin of we repent and believe the gospel
it’s everyone is going to die for sure , but those who hear and believe the word of life the gospel and persevere will never die
like Enoch we will approach death and part our flesh alive
“He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:”
Hebrews 10:28 KJV
no mercy because the whole camp witnessed Moses transgression
Here’s the accounting stemming dorectly from what God told him when he smote the rock rather than speaking to it so he was told this
“And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.”
Numbers 20:12 KJV
That transgression led to this he led Moses up to the top of the mount so he could look at the promosed land but he was not allowed to enter he would die there on the mount looking into the promised land of Israel
“And the Lord said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.
So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth–peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.”
Deuteronomy 34:4-6 KJV
just like everyone save Enoch Moses died there was no eternal
Life at this time because of sin
do you see how Moses died according to the word spoken before ? That’s why we all die the word says if you sin you must die
“Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”
Ezekiel 18:4 KJV
so every sinner is condemned to death by Gods word. That’s the Old Testament for you in a nutshell everyone sinned and died since the law came to Moses
but that’s also why we have a New Testament that claims to be giving life to the dead as e ot puts every sinnner to death the New Testament breathes life into the believer
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
John 5:24 KJV
the e ot said they would all die , muses is saying ok now hear me and you will live even though you were held to death by sin ( transgressing the law of the ot )
he’s able to say this truly because he took The death of sinners upon himself and conquered death so he’s now able to save us from death because of sin of we repent and believe the gospel
it’s everyone is going to die for sure , but those who hear and believe the word of life the gospel and persevere will never die
like Enoch we will approach death and part our flesh alive
I figured that since the Bible doesnt say how Moses died
He probably...climbed the mountain further than he had ever gone before and got exhausted/altitude sickness and then died...or....
...fell off a ledge
...got eaten by mountain lions or vultures
...was burned up in the burning bush
....went on an extended fast and starved to death
...caught some mysterious deadly respiratory virus that meant he had trouble breathing
He probably...climbed the mountain further than he had ever gone before and got exhausted/altitude sickness and then died...or....
...fell off a ledge
...got eaten by mountain lions or vultures
...was burned up in the burning bush
....went on an extended fast and starved to death
...caught some mysterious deadly respiratory virus that meant he had trouble breathing
