תלמוד על שמות 4:25

A child who lived only one day counts to his father and mother as a fully-grown man.¹With respect to mourning; cf. Nid. 44a (Sonc. ed., p. 303). The phrase ḥathan shalem, lit. ‘a complete bridegroom’, is based on ḥathan damim, a bridegroom of blood (Ex. 4, 25). For the idea that circumcision makes one ‘complete’, cf. Ned. 31b (Sonc. ed., p. 93). [The words] ‘who lived only one day’ are not to be taken as an [irreducible] limit;²lit. ‘the end of the matter’. even if only his head and the greater part of his body came out viable [he is so counted, but in their formulation of the law] the Sages speak of what actually happens.

Because Moses was lazy for circumcision, the angel tried to kill kim. That is what is written¹⁷⁴Ex. 4:24.: “The Eternal met him and wanted to kill him.” Rebbi Yose said, far be the thought that Moses was lazy for circumcision but he argued on his own: To perform circumcision and leave would be dangerous¹⁷⁵Acute danger to a person’s life suspends all commandments and prohibitions (except those of murder, incest and adultery, and idolatry). In practice, this means that it is forbidden to circumcize a sick baby.. To wait¹⁷⁶To wait in Midyan until the baby had recovered. In the Babli, 31b, this argument is attributed to Rebbi. The argument of Rabban Simeon ben Gamliel is quoted in his name, 32a., the Holy One, praise to Him, told him: “Go, return to Egypt.” But because he was lazy in preparing for the overnight stay before circumcision; that is what is written¹⁷⁴Ex. 4:24.: “It was on the way, at the overnight stay.” Rabban Simeon ben Gamliel said, far be the thought that the angel wanted to kill Moses; it was the baby. Come and see, who is called ḥātān¹⁷⁷Since Ṣippora, being a Midyanite Arab, spoke Arabic, the root ختن can mean either to circumcize or to become a relative through one’s wife. Therefore, the word is appropriate both for the boy and his father.? Moses or the baby? There are Tannaïm who state that Moses is called ḥātān. There are Tannaïm who state that the baby is called ḥātān. He who said that Moses is called ḥātān: Ḥātān, blood is required from you¹⁷⁸Explanations of the expression חתן דמים.. And he said that the baby is called ḥātān: Ḥātān, in blood you are preserved for me. “Ṣippora took a flintstone and cut her son’s prepuce and touched his feet.¹⁷⁹Ex. 4:25.” Rebbi Jehudah, Rebbi Neḥemiah, and the rabbis. One said, Moses’s feet. Another said, the angel’s feet. Another said, the baby’s feet. He who said Moses’s feet: Here I cut your obligation for you. He who said, the angel’s feet: Here your mission was accomplished. He who said the baby’s feet, she touched the baby’s body. “He left off from him; then she said, a blood ḥātān for circumcisions¹⁸⁰Ex. 4:26..” From here that there are two circumcisions; one for baring the gland and one for the fibers¹⁸¹A circumcision is not valid unless the gland is exposed and the wound is smooth; cf. Babli Yebamot 71b..