someotherguy

Okay, I'm trying to get some clarification on a passage in Exodus four. For most of the chapter God is explaining to Moses what he needs to do to lead the his people out of Egypt, but then seemingly out of nowhere God decides that he needs to kill Moses because he hasn't been circumcised. Luckily, Moses survives but only by the (fore)skin of his teeth (obligatory groan). What exactly is going on in this passage? Is it some sort of mixing of two different passages or am I missing something? Any thoughts?

Anat

Just for clarification: God wanted to kill Moses because he had failed to circumcise his son.

24 And it came to pass on the way at the lodging-place, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. 25 Then Zipporah took a flint, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet; and she said: 'Surely a bridegroom of blood art thou to me.' 26 So He let him alone. Then she said: 'A bridegroom of blood in regard of the circumcision.'

From this story comes the halakha that if a father fails to circumcise his son the duty reverts to the mother.

Now, why couldn't God have reminded Moses to take care of the circumcision before leaving Midian, I have no idea.

someotherguy

Right, sorry for the confusion. I was a bit tipsy last night when I wrote that.

Jayhawker Soule

I wonder if the variant with God being replaced by an angel is earlier.

Anat

Whichever version, theologically it doesn't matter, as angels are merely messengers of God (that's the literal meaning of 'malakh') and have no free will.

Jayhawker Soule

They apparently have enough free will to make an on-the-spot-decision.

Chris Weimer

Where do you get that angels have no free will?

fta

My copy of the Good News Bible notes that the word "feet" here may be an Old Testament euphemism for the genitals. Kinda puts a new spin on the story of Ruth lying down at Boaz's "feet", huh? :devil3:

Anat

Well, that's the common Jewish theology, I'm not sure what it is based on. It is also said each angel has only one, very specific mission and they cease to exist after performing it. Hence there are three angels visiting Abraham in Genesis 18, but once one of them completed his mission (which was announcing Isaac's birth within a year) he vanished, and only the remaining two went to visit Lot.

Sheshbazzar

What I find intriguing is Moses's 'track record' with regard to the whole subject of circumcision, It was demanded by Yahweh from the time of Abraham (Gen.17:9-14) yet Moses did NOT obey that Covenant law to preform it, and although he latter instituted very specific laws requiring the practice (Ex. 12:43-49 and Lev.12:3) He evidently restrained all of the Israelites from actually engaging in the practice for the next 40 years!
Because when they finally entered the 'Promised Land' all the male children born during that 40 years were still uncircumcised,(Josh 5:2-8) in a willful violation of all the detailed laws that had been so formally instituted, and that all the people had sworn to keep.
As the Scriptures present this in a chronological order, consider how much stronger Moses's unwritten teachings must have been over the written, to restrain his people from ever actually carrying out the practice all those years, while they had both the Traditions and the Laws requiring it.