Endnote 3 – Why Moses Could Not Enter The Promised Land

In creating the unique expression “uncircumcised of lips,” the Priestly source may have drawn inspiration from Exodus 4:10–31, in the older JE document. There we find Aaron’s mission as Moses’ interpreter (Exodus 4:14–16, 27–31 [E]) treated together with an obscure tale about circumcision, the so-called bridegroom of blood story (Exodus 4:24–26 [J]). For my interpretation of the latter, see “That Bloody Bridegroom,” Vetus Testamentum 43 (1993), pp. 495–518.