Which came first, Leviticus 12:3 or Exodus 4?
Question:
Hi,
I read your article "Did God give Moses the commandment to circumcise?" You point out that in Leviticus 12:3, God instructs Moses that boys must be circumcised on the 8th day. In Exodus 4, we have the situation where God is preparing to kill Moses because he has not circumcised his son. Since Exodus comes before Leviticus, my question is, in what chronological order did the events in Exodus 4 and Leviticus 12:3 take place?
Thank you.
Answer:
Exodus 4 takes place before Israel's exodus from Egypt in Exodus 12. Leviticus was written after the Ten Commandments were given on Mount Sinai, which took place after the exodus from Egypt. Moses was punished because he did not keep the covenant God made with Abraham concerning circumcision. See Explaining Exodus 4:24-26.
