Moses, our leader, lawgiver, the one who spoke to God face to face... even he wasn't perfect.

We often think of Moses as this unwavering figure, right? But the texts paint a more nuanced picture. A picture where even Moses doubts, where he makes mistakes, and where he faces consequences.

One such instance occurred on his journey back to Egypt, the very journey where he was headed to free the Israelites. It's a rather bizarre and unsettling story, really. God, we are told, was "ill pleased" with Moses. Why? Because of an "artifice," as Legends of the Jews puts it (Ginzberg). Apparently, Moses lacked sufficient faith in the prophecy concerning the duration of the Egyptian oppression. Remember Joseph? Well, he'd prophesied that the oppression would last 210 years. Moses seemingly didn't trust that timeline completely.

And for this lack of faith, bam! Punishment.

The story goes that two angels, Af and Hemah, appeared and swallowed Moses whole, right down to his feet! Can you imagine?

What could possibly save him?

Well, here's where Zipporah, Moses' wife, steps in, and this is where the story gets even wilder. She swiftly circumcised their son Gershom, and with incredible speed – described as being as nimble as a bird – touched Moses' feet with the blood of the circumcision. Only then did the angels release him.

It’s a strange, even shocking scene. Why was their son uncircumcised in the first place?

The Legends offers an explanation. It says that Jethro, Zipporah's father, had made a condition before consenting to the marriage. He wanted their firstborn son to be raised as a Gentile.

This detail adds layers to the story, doesn't it? It shows the tensions that existed even within Moses's own family, the compromises he had to make, and the cultural complexities of the time. It makes him feel so much more human, doesn't it?

So, what can we take away from this strange tale? Perhaps it's a reminder that even our greatest leaders are fallible. Maybe it is a testament to the power of faith, even when it is tested. Or maybe it's about the importance of honoring our traditions, even when faced with difficult choices. It's a potent mix of faith, family, and divine intervention, leaving us with plenty to ponder.