In the inn. The translation “inn” is misleading. There were no inns or even caravansaries on the way between Midian and Egypt. The Hebrew word used here has rather the meaning of “a place where the night is spent” (cf. Joshua 4:3, 8; Isaiah 10:29).
The RSV reads, “at a lodging place on the way.” The incident probably took place at a well or watering place where the family had stopped for the night.
Sought to kill him. Some have thought that Moses had an experience similar to Jacob’s at Peniel (Genesis 32:24-32). Others have suggested that a sudden, severe illness befell him, which he and Zipporah recognized as a punishment of God for failure to carry out one of His commandments. Actually, an angel appeared to Moses in a threatening manner, as if he intended to kill him (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 255).