Exodus 4:24

Translations

Modern

Now at a lodging place along the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him.

Traditional

And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the Lord met him, and sought to kill him.

Literal

And it came to pass on the way, at the lodging place, that YHWH met him and sought to put him to death.

Latin

Cumque esset in itinere, in diversorio occurrit ei Dominus, et volebat occidere eum.

Original

Hebrew

English

Now at a lodging place along the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him.

Notes

Exodus 4:24–26

This incident is mysterious. Zipporah immediately circumcising her son suggests she and Moses had previously discussed it and decided it was unnecessary. Why would having an uncircumcised son make God want to kill the rescuer he had prepared and called?

It would seem strange for Moses to arrive in Egypt claiming to represent the God of the Israelites' ancestors, but would not do what God commanded them (Genesis 17:10). This might cause the people to be less willing to follow God exclusively.

Exodus 3:1–4:28

This section describes the mission God gave Moses to rescue the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. It is divided into two parts, 3:1–4:17 and 4:18–28.

The first part describes God's call. The second part describes the full consequences of accepting that call. Moses not only experienced a career change, but he also had to completely change his life.

Theme notes and profiles

Egypt Moses Circumcision Miraculous Signs in the Gospel of John

Related verses

Genesis 17:14
But if any male is not circumcised, he will be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”
Numbers 22:22–23
Then God’s anger was kindled because Balaam was going along, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him.
1 Chronicles 21:16
When David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD standing between heaven and earth, with a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem, David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell facedown.
Leviticus 10:3
Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD meant when He said: ‘To those who come near Me I will show My holiness, and in the sight of all the people I will reveal My glory.’” But Aaron remained silent.
Exodus 3:18
The elders of Israel will listen to what you say, and you must go with them to the king of Egypt and tell him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Now please let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’
Hosea 13:8
Like a bear robbed of her cubs I will attack them, and I will tear open their chests. There I will devour them like a lion, like a wild beast tearing them apart.
1 Kings 13:24
As he went on his way, a lion met him on the road and killed him, and his body was left lying in the road, with the donkey and the lion standing beside it.
Genesis 42:27
At the place where they lodged for the night, one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his silver in the mouth of the sack.

Glossary

Aaron Book of Exodus Bronze Snake, Bronze Serpent Circumcision Deuteronomy, Book of History of Israel Inn Moses Travel

Topics

Circumcision: Neglect of, Punished Circumcision: Punishment for Neglecting Inn: General Scriptures Concerning Moses: His Controversy with his Wife on Account of Circumcision Travellers: The Caravanserai or Public Inn for Noticed

Exodus 4:24

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