Exodus 4:18-28
4:18 a Moses was now eighty years old (see 7:7 b), but he was still formally subject to his father-in-law.4:20 c he carried the staff of God: Whatever he may have said to Jethro, Moses was going to Egypt in obedience to God and in the expectation of being used by God (see 4:17 d).
Summary for Exod 4:21-23: 4:21-23 e These verses summarize the events of the next several chapters, beginning with the request to let the people go so that they could worship God (5:3 f) and concluding with the final plague, the death of the firstborn (11:4-6 g). God was preparing the rescuer for the difficult task ahead (see 11:9 h).
Summary for Exod 4:24-26: 4:24-26 i This incident is shrouded in mystery. That Zipporah responded immediately and circumcised her son suggests that she and Moses had discussed the possibility of doing so previously and had decided it was not necessary. Why would having an uncircumcised son lead to God’s intent to kill the rescuer he had carefully prepared and called? Perhaps if Moses had arrived in Egypt claiming to represent the God of the Israelites’ ancestors and yet had not done the one thing God had commanded of his followers to this point (Gen 17:10 j), then the people would have been less inclined to follow God in a radically exclusive way.
4:25 k a bridegroom of blood: The context suggests that this statement was part of the circumcision ritual of that time. Perhaps it reflects a practice among some Semites (as among certain African groups today) of performing circumcision when the child had attained puberty.
4:27 l Aaron’s coming to meet Moses is the first recorded confirmation of God’s promises (see 4:14 m).
• mountain of God: A reference to Mount Sinai.
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