Weird Verse ... Error?

Devin P

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Surely this isn't an error, and I'm only confused because of my lack of understanding, but in Exodus 4:20, it says "sons" even in the original hebrew when compared to the strongs it says sons as plural. The only thing is, up until this point, he only had his first son.

That, and in Exodus 4:24-25 - what?

I'm guessing that, because while he was part of Israel, he had not been raised traditionally, and so, because we are to follow as we are called, while it wasn't demanded that he be circumcised - because that's how he was when God called him, it was expected that his son was, because he had not yet been grown. Something I think He was unaware of at that time, while his wife was not. That's just my take on it, I'm open to any other interpretations on this topic however as I'm not vast in my understanding and can still learn much much more.
 

mark kennedy

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Surely this isn't an error, and I'm only confused because of my lack of understanding, but in Exodus 4:20, it says "sons" even in the original hebrew when compared to the strongs it says sons as plural. The only thing is, up until this point, he only had his first son.

That, and in Exodus 4:24-25 - what?

I'm guessing that, because while he was part of Israel, he had not been raised traditionally, and so, because we are to follow as we are called, while it wasn't demanded that he be circumcised - because that's how he was when God called him, it was expected that his son was, because he had not yet been grown. Something I think He was unaware of at that time, while his wife was not. That's just my take on it, I'm open to any other interpretations on this topic however as I'm not vast in my understanding and can still learn much much more.
Moses had two sons:

The sons of Moses were Gershom and Eliezer. (1 Chronicles 23:15)
If memory serves Moses was near 80 around this time. I don't think he was having children that late in life.
 
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Paul of Eugene OR

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Surely this isn't an error, and I'm only confused because of my lack of understanding, but in Exodus 4:20, it says "sons" even in the original hebrew when compared to the strongs it says sons as plural. The only thing is, up until this point, he only had his first son.

That, and in Exodus 4:24-25 - what?

I'm guessing that, because while he was part of Israel, he had not been raised traditionally, and so, because we are to follow as we are called, while it wasn't demanded that he be circumcised - because that's how he was when God called him, it was expected that his son was, because he had not yet been grown. Something I think He was unaware of at that time, while his wife was not. That's just my take on it, I'm open to any other interpretations on this topic however as I'm not vast in my understanding and can still learn much much more.

These little inconsistencies come up from time to time in scripture. If you keep studying His word, you'll run across others from time to time. Please keep that in mind and don't go around, yourself, blithely saying the Bible is inerrant in every little thingy. Let others be guilty of that. The Bible is only inerrant when properly interpreted, and it is the Spirit that enables proper interpretation.

As for the circumcision thing, when I make the definitive movie of the Bible, in this part Moses will have sought to circumcise his son and Zipporah will have said no, that's crude and nobody is going to maim MY son like that . . . and so the boy was never circumcised. But then as Moses was going back to redeem Israel with an uncircumcised son, God intervened to cause Moses to fall ill, and Zipporah realized that Moses would not survive unless she circumcised the son . . . so she did, to save Moses' life. Moses could not have participated in the covenant without following the custom the Israelites had adopted from the days of Abraham. In my movie, Moses will fall down in pain, suffering, and Zipporah will demand of the angel of God . . . "WHY?" and the answer will come "YOU KNOW WHY -" and so forth.
 
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Devin P

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Moses had two sons:

The sons of Moses were Gershom and Eliezer. (1 Chronicles 23:15)
If memory serves Moses was near 80 around this time. I don't think he was having children that late in life.

Right, he was 80. But at this point in scripture "Exodus 4:20" he only had his first born. Or at least only one had been mentioned. After a google search I realize that is the case. It was a 40 year stay in Midian. What do you make of Exodus 4:24?
 
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mark kennedy

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Right, he was 80. But at this point in scripture "Exodus 4:20" he only had his first born. Or at least only one had been mentioned. After a google search I realize that is the case. It was a 40 year stay in Midian. What do you make of Exodus 4:24?
The only thing I can figure is Moses didn't circumcise one of his sons, perhaps the oldest but we just don't know.
 
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Lulav

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20 And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.

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.

24And 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.


The Bible isn't always chronological, especially the Torah.

I read this as Moses put his first born son and his pregnant wife upon the donkey. On the way to Egypt she gives birth. On the eighth day he should have been circumcised but Moses might have felt it would be too dangerous to him out in the desert.

That is speculation of course but I think logical.
 
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