Exodus 4 - Moses follows the call

The first half of Exodus 4 is the call of Moses. The second half is Moses traveling back to Egypt. There are several questions that come to mind. One big question that I'm sure commentators have opined since this came out. From Jewish and Israeli commentators by sages and priests until today.

v. 18 - Why did Moses lie to Jethro, his father in law? Or did he? Perhaps you think he did not. Moses says he wanted to see his family. That is a natural reason. But it is not the real reason. He never mentioned that he is going back to lead his people, to be their savior. He never mentions the special cane and his leprosy trick.

Then in v. 19 we are given additional information. This looks like a gloss, something inserted later. To me it looks inserted. The flow of the narrative would be just fine without this verse, maybe actually better.

I am sort of surprised that Moses took his family. He is going to wage war. You do not take your family to into a war (v. 20). In verse 20 the writer does mention the staff which is the sign of God's power with him. Moses takes both his family and his weapon of war.

God prophesies that the first born of Egypt will die before they let you go. God says that Israel is his first born.

Then we have the strangest thing of all. I'm know many people have had many opinions about this, from the Talmud to the present. Vs. 24-26 - Why did God (or an angel) try to kill him? What does it even mean? How does Zipporah know what to do? So when the verse says "put him to death" is God referring to Moses' son or to Moses himself?

So anyway after this trial the family makes it to Israel. Moses performs the signs before the Israelites that God told him to use before the Egyptians and they accept him as their leader. Just like that.