"The 'Bloody Bridegroom' in Exodus 4:24-26
by Ronald B. Allen
Bibliotheca Sacra 153 (July-September 1996): 259-69
At first glance, this article in the most recent issue of Bibliotheca Sacra,
Dallas Theological Seminary's theology journal, looks like it might be a
Perry Mason story: "Earl Stanley Gardner's 'The Case of the Bloody
Bridegroom.'" In fact, it is Part 3 of a four part series by Ronald
B. Allen, Professor of Biblical Exposition at DTS. The series is entitled
"On Paths Less Travelled: Discovering the Savior in Unexpected Places
in the Old Testament" and is based on material delivered by the author
as the W. H. Griffith Thomas Lectures at DTS in February 1995.
In previous articles, Prof. Allen discussed the relevance of the Old Testament
for modern Christians ("Affirming Right of Way on Ancient Paths",
Bib. Sac. 153, 3-11) and dissected Psalm 87 ("Psalm 87, A Song
Rarely Sung", Bib. Sac. 153, 131-40). Here he tackles one of
the most puzzling passages of the Old Testament, the so-called "Bloody
Bridegroom" passage in Exodus 4.
In this passage, Moses has received God's call to enter Egypt and deliver
His people from bondage. On the way there, we are told that "the Lord
met him and sought to put him to death." This surprising revelation
is followed by a seeming non sequiter: "Then Zipporah took a flint
and cut off her son's foreskin and threw it at Moses' feet, and she said
'You are indeed a bridegroom of blood to me.'"
This passage has plagued commentators, and Prof. Allen reviews some of the
interpretations previously advanced. He then tweezes apart this passage
by examining the Hebrew text, which paints a somewhat different picture
of this encounter. For example, that it was Moses' feet at which Zipporah
threw her son's foreskin is the interpretation of those who translated
this passage into English. The Hebrew text says she threw it as "his"
feet, without being clear to whom this pronoun refers. Discovering the
antecedant is a key to unravelling the text, and as Dr. Allen leads us through
the evidence and arguments supporting his interpretation, we do feel a
little like we are reading a Perry Mason mystery.
Dr. Allen's thoughtful, logical analysis of the text leads us to a conclusion
that makes sense and seems reasonable. It also leads us to a surprising
glimpse of the activity of our pre-incarnate Lord in an Old Testament story.
Anyone who has been baffled by this passage, or who plans to teach Exodus
should not fail to read this excellent paper.
Back To Journal Review Page