Every man born in your house and every man purchased with money of yours must without fail get circumcised . . .

Gen. 17:10-14, 22-27.

 3. What two questions arise from the record at Genesis 17:10-14?

³ Two questions arise here. There is no question as to God’s right in the matter, but perhaps we wonder why circumcision was chosen as the sign, especially as, humanly speaking, the operation involves some pain and embarrassment. When God gives a sign, or symbol, to be observed, usually its fitness can be seen quite readily, such as water immersion as a symbol of one’s dedication to Jehovah. The other question is, Why was the entire household involved, including all the male slaves? Was it not just Abraham and his descendants who were actually in the covenant? We will be interested to see if God’s Word throws any light on these questions.

 4. (a) What situation arose requiring God’s command given at Joshua 5:2-7? (b) How does Jehovah’s word at Joshua 5:9 have special significance?

⁴ The Hebrew Scriptures show that Abraham’s descendants, the Israelites, continued to observe the above requirement. It was incorporated in the Law given through Moses, though not given as a new commandment. (Lev. 12:3) However, during the forty years’ wandering in the wilderness, the baby boys then born were not circumcised. It was a new generation that finally crossed the river Jordan into the Promised Land. Jehovah then gave the order to Joshua to circumcise all the sons of Israel. When completed, Jehovah said significantly: “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you.” (Josh. 5:2-9) Since the evidence indicates that the Egyptians practiced circumcision, this may mean that now the Egyptians would have no basis for reproaching Israel due to the uncircumcision of so many of its males. Also, there was now a younger generation of Jehovah’s people, from whom the last trace had been cut away, in symbol at least, from having any connection with Egypt, along with its false gods and unclean worship. Now we can begin to appreciate that circumcision, the “sign of the covenant” given to Abraham, was a fitting symbol of pure worship also in Abraham’s case, marking those in covenant relationship with Jehovah as a distinct people. From Gilgal on, this requirement has continued to be observed by the Israelites, who became known as the Jews.