Exodus 4:24 - Printer Friendly

ESV: At a lodging place on the way the Lord met him and sought to put him to death.

NIV: At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met Moses and was about to kill him.

NASB: But it came about at the overnight encampment on the way, that the Lord met Moses, and sought to put him to death.

CSB: On the trip, at an overnight campsite, it happened that the Lord confronted him and intended to put him to death.

NLT: On the way to Egypt, at a place where Moses and his family had stopped for the night, the Lord confronted him and was about to kill him.

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

NKJV: And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the Lord met him and sought to kill him.

This begins one of the most obscure passages in the Old Testament (Exodus 4:25–26). God has commissioned Moses to demand the release of the Israelites from Egypt (Exodus 3:10). Moses has obtained permission to leave his extended family (Exodus 4:18). coming with him are his wife, Zipporah (Exodus 2:21) and sons Gershom (Exodus 2:22) and Eliezer (Exodus 18:4).

Abruptly, the text indicates that God threatened Moses' life. No details are given; this might have been a serious illness. Upcoming verses will mention circumcision of one of Moses' sons; this ends the threat. Scholars speculate that Moses had not circumcised one of the sons, possibly because Zipporah objected. Given a mission to speak the words of God (Exodus 4:12), it would have been hypocritical for Moses to ignore a fundamental command (Genesis 17:10).

Others note a parallel between Moses facing death before crossing into Egypt and Jacob's brush with danger before crossing the Jabbok river (Genesis 32:22–26).

Exodus 4:18–26 includes a bizarre incident in the life of Moses. He plans to return to Egypt , to perform the signs given by God, and to challenge Egypt's Pharaoh to release Israel. On the way, Moses seems to fall deathly ill, at God's hand. Moses' wife circumcises one of their sons and transfers some meaning of the ceremony to Moses by touching his feet. This removes the danger, and Moses continues on towards Egypt.

While speaking with God in the form of a supernaturally burning bush, Moses expresses a lack of confidence. God gives Moses several miraculous signs so he can prove the source of his message. Moses is still unsure because of his poor speech. Though irritated, God appoints Moses' brother, Aaron, to be the spokesman while Moses relays the words of God. Moses returns to Egypt. Along the way, he nearly dies due to God's anger over some issue related to circumci-sion. After meeting his brother, Moses convinces the elders of Israel that his mission is genuine.

Moses, born an Israelite (Exodus 2:1) but raised by an Egyptian princess (Exodus 2:10) fled into exile after killing an abu-sive Egyptian taskmaster (Exodus 2:14–15). Later, Moses meets God (Exodus 3:6) and receives the initial command to challenge Pharaoh for the freedom of the Israelites (Exodus 3:18–20). In this chapter, Moses makes excuses about his public speaking and nearly dies because of an uncircumcised son. Israel's elders believe Moses' story. But in the next chapter, Moses' early confrontation with Pharaoh goes poorly; the people are worked even hard-er (Exodus 5:5–9) and they begin to turn against Moses (Exodus 5:20–21).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.

Accessed 4/9/2025 6:21:07 AM