Study Notes Week 17

Read
Aloud together to hear the Word (Leviticus 23:1-3; Nehemiah 8:1-4; Luke 4:16-17)

Bereshiyt (Genesis) 17:1-27

17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, [Elohim]^(LXX) appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am El Shaddai. Walk before me and be perfect. 2 I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” 3 Abram fell on his face. Elohim talked with him, saying, 4 “As for me, behold, my covenant is with you. You will be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 Your name will no more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you. Kings will come out of you. 7 I will establish my covenant between me and you and your seed after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be an Elohim to you and to your seed after you. 8 I will give to you, and to your seed after you, the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. I will be their Elohim.” 9 Elohim said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall guard my covenant, you and your seed after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall guard, between me and you and your seed after you. Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin. It will be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 He who is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he who is born in the house, or bought with money from any foreigner who is not of your seed. 13 He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your money, must be circumcised. My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 The uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin [on the eighth day],^(LXX) that soul shall be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant.” 15 Elohim said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but her name shall be Sarah. 16 I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will be a mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her.” 17 Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to him who is one hundred years old? Will Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth?” 18 Abraham said to [the Elohim],^(MTT) “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” 19 Elohim said [to Abraham],^(LXX) “Truly, [behold],^(LXX) Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant [and]^(LXX) for his seed after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this appointed time next year.” 22 When he finished talking with him, Elohim went up from Abraham. 23 Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house, and all who were bought with his money: every male among the men of Abraham's house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the same day, as Elohim had said to him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 Ishmael, his son, was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 In the same day both Abraham and Ishmael, his son, were circumcised. 27 All the men of his house, those born in the house, and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.

Torah Portion Summary
Context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8)

1. Genesis 17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, [Elohim]^(LXX) appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am El Shaddai. Walk before me and be perfect.
   1. Often translated as “God Almighty,” אֵל שַׁדַּי El Shaddai (H410 +  H7706) literally means “Mighty Breasted One” where שַׁדַּי shaddai is derived from שָׁדַיִם shadayim (H7699 & H7700) which means “breasts” (cf. Genesis 49:25) and figuratively represents “abundant provision,” thus El Shaddai can be translated as “God of abundant provision.” The Old Akkadian word for breast was shadwi. The hypothetical derivation of Hebrew shaddai from Akkadian shaddu’a “mountaineer” or shaddu “mountain” is based on phonetic association rather than philology. The Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translated shaddai as “all powerful”.
   2. Perfect = תָּמִים tamiym (H8549) in Hebrew which means to be whole and free of wound or injury; free of defect or impairment; having all its proper parts or components. תָּמִים tamiym is equivalent to the Greek word τέλειος teleios (G5046) which means to be complete or finished (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.) (cf. John 19:30); of men it means to be full grown, adult, of full age, or mature.
2. Genesis 17:2 I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.”
   1. Covenant = בְּרִית beriyt or brit (H1285) literally means “to eat meat” and comes from a root word which means to feed grain to a person or livestock to fill or fatten them up. Livestock were fed grains to become fat as the choicest for slaughter. When related to covenants in the Bible, a covenant was established through a sacrifice of a choice, fatted, animal which was cut in two and the parties of the covenant would pass through the two divided pieces of the cut animal (cf. Genesis 15:9-10, 17-21; Jeremiah 34:18-20). If either party who has passed through the pieces fails to meet the agreed upon words of the covenant, then the party who has not broken the covenant are allowed to “cut them off” from the covenant just as the animals were cut (cf. Genesis 17:14 “…that soul shall be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant.”
      1. Genesis 15:9-10, 17-21 He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young dove.” 10 He brought him all these, and cut them in two in the middle, and laid each half opposite the other; but he didn’t cut the birds in two…It came to pass that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 In that day [Elohim]^(LXX)(mss) cut a covenant with Abram, saying, “I have given this land to your seed, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates: 19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, [the Hivites],^(LXX) the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”
      2. Jeremiah 34:18-20 I will give the men who have transgressed my covenant, who have not raised up the words of the covenant which they cut before me when they cut the calf in two and passed between its parts: 19 the princes of Judah, the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, the priests, and all the people of the land, who passed between the parts of the calf. 20 I will even give them into the hand of their enemies and into the hand of those who seek their life. Their dead bodies will be food for the birds of the heavens and for the animals of the land.
   2. Made vs. Cut. Most often translated “cut a covenant” כָּרַת בְּרִית karat berit (H3772 + H1285) literally means “cut a covenant” because the animal sacrificed when a covenant is enter into is cut in half (cf. Genesis 15:9-10,17-18; Exodus 24:8; Hebrews 9:16-20).
3. Genesis 17:3 Abram fell on his face. Elohim talked with him, saying,
   “As for me, behold, my covenant is with you. You will be the father of a multitude of nations. Your name will no more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you. Kings will come out of you. I will establish my covenant between me and you and your seed after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be an Elohim to you and to your seed after you. I will give to you, and to your seed after you, the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. I will be their Elohim.”
   1. 17:4 “As for me, behold, my covenant is with you. You will be the father of a multitude of nations.
   2. 17:5 Your name will no more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.
      1. Instead of just “exalted father” (אַבְרָם Abram), אַבְרָהָם Abraham (H85) means “father of a multitude”
   3. 17:6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you. Kings will come out of you.
   4. 17:7 I will establish my covenant between me and you and your seed after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be an Elohim to you and to your seed after you.
      1. Everlasting = עוֹלָם ‘olam and literally means, “a hidden time” as in a time hidden from the present; a distant time in the past or future. When עוֹלָם ‘olam is used to reference something that is everlasting or eternal, the equivalent Greek is αιωνιον or αἰώνιος (aionion or aiónios) which means eternal, everlasting, or perpetual and is related to the Greek αἰών aeon or eon (G165) which refers to an unbroken age or perpetuity of time.
   5. 17:8 I will give to you, and to your seed after you, the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. I will be their Elohim.”
4. Genesis 17:9 Elohim said to Abraham,
   “As for you, you shall guard my covenant, you and your seed after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall guard, between me and you and your seed after you. Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin. It will be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 He who is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he who is born in the house, or bought with money from any foreigner who is not of your seed. 13 He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your money, must be circumcised. My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 The uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin [on the eighth day],^(LXX) that soul shall be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant.”
   1. 17:9 Elohim said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall guard my covenant, you and your seed after you throughout their generations.
   2. 17:10 This is my covenant, which you shall guard, between me and you and your seed after you. Every male among you shall be circumcised.
      1. Circumcised vs. Uncircumcised
         1. Circumcise = מוּל mul (H4135) means to “cut the front” as in removing the foreskin of a male’s reproductive part. מוּל mul comes from a root word that means “to speak” in the sense of being a continuation or chain of words to form sentences which starts with the “front” or first word spoken.
            1. Corresponds to the Hebrew word אָמַר amar (H559) which means “to speak words” as in a continuation or combination of words to make a sentence (cf. Genesis 1:3; Genesis 2:16; Exodus 8:27; Exodus 35:4).
            2. Metaphorically, the circumcision of the flesh is the “front” of the covenants that seem to start the continuation of words (covenants) to tell the story of the Good News (the full “sentence” so to speak)
               1. Genesis 9:13 I set my rainbow in the cloud, and it will be a sign of a covenant between me and the earth.
               2. Exodus 31:16-17 Therefore the sons of Israel shall guard the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days YHWH made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
         2. Uncircumcised = עָרֵל arel (H6189) literally means “to have foreskin”
      2. Circumcision is not a “Mosaic” covenant
         1. John 7:22-24 Moses has given you circumcision, not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers, and on the Sabbath you circumcise a boy. 23 If a boy receives circumcision on the Sabbath, that the Torah of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I made a man completely healthy on the Sabbath? 24 Don’t judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”
         2. Genesis 25:1-6 Abraham took another wife, and her name was Keturah. 2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3 Jokshan became the father of Sheba, and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. 4 The sons of Midian were Efah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah. 5 Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac, 6 but Abraham gave gifts to the sons of Abraham’s concubines. While he still lived, he sent them away from Isaac his son, eastward, to the east country.
         3. Jubilees 20:1 And in the forty-second jubilee, in the first year of the seventh week, Abraham called Ishmael, and his twelve sons, and Isaac and his two sons, and the six sons of Keturah, and their sons. 2. And he commanded them that they should observe the way of the Lord; that they should work righteousness, and love each his neighbour, and act on this manner amongst all men; that they should each so walk with regard to them as to do judgment and righteousness on the land. 3. That they should circumcise their sons, according to the covenant which He had made with them, and not deviate to the right hand or the left of all the paths which the Lord had commanded us; and that we should keep ourselves from all fornication and uncleanness, [and renounce from amongst us all fornication and uncleanness].
         4. Exodus 4:24-26 On the way at a lodging place, [an angel of]^(LXX) YHWH met him and sought to kill him. 25 Then Zipporah took a flint, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet; and she said, “[This is the blood of my child’s circumcision.]”^(LXX) 26 So [the angel]^(LXX) let him alone, [for she said it was the blood of my child’s circumcision].^(LXX)
            1. Exodus 4:24-26 (Masoretic) On the way at a lodging place, YHWH met him and wanted to kill him. 25 Then Zipporah took a flint, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet; and she said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me.” 26 So he let him alone. Then she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.
            2. Exodus 4:24-26 (Septuagint) And it came to pass that the angel of the Lord met him by the way in the inn, and sought to slay him. 25 and Sepphora having taken a stone cut off the foreskin of her son, and fell at his feet and said, The blood of the circumcision of my son is staunched: 26 and he departed from him, because she said, The blood of the circumcision of my son is staunched.
            3. Exodus 4:24-26 (Jerusalem Targum) But it was on the way, in the place of lodging that the angel of the Lord met him, and sought to kill him, because Gershom his son had not been circumcised, inasmuch as Jethro his father-in-law had not permitted him to circumcise him: but Eliezer had been circumcised, by an agreement between them two. And Zipporah took a stone, and circumcised the foreskin of Gershom her son, and brought the severed part to the feet of the angel, the Destroyer, and said, The husband sought to circumcise, but the father-in-law obstructed him; and now let this blood of the circumcision atone for my husband. And the destroying angel desisted from him, so that Zipporah gave thanks, and said, How lovely is the blood of this circumcision that hath delivered my husband from the angel of destruction!
            4. Exodus 4:24-26 (Revised Mechanical Translation)
               The Revised Mechanical Translation by Jeff Benner is a new and unique method of translation that brings you a literal and faithful word-for-word translation of the Hebrew text through the English language.
               And it came to pass, in the road, in the place of lodging, and YHWH encountered him and he searched out to kill him, 25 and Tsiporah took a sharp stone and she cut the foreskin of her son, and she touched it to his feet, and she said, given that you are an in-law of bloodshed to me, 26 and he sunk down from him, at that time she said, an in-law of bloodshed for the circumcisions
      3. Male = זָכוּר zakhur (H2138) because the males of the family remember and pass down the family history through story and family name. Males also act and speak for the family. זָכַר zakhar (H2142) means to recall or act upon events of the past (cf. Genesis 9:16; Deuteronomy 25:17; Numbers 11:5). This word can further mean to remember in thought as a memorial (Exodus 20:8; Numbers 15:39), to mention through speech (cf. Exodus 23:13), to act or speak on behalf of  another (cf. 1 Samuel 4:18). זָכוּר zakhur is equivalent to the Greek word μιμνῄσκομαι mimnēskomai (G3403) which means to remind; to be recalled or to return to one’s mind, to remind one’s self of, to remember; to be recalled to mind, to be remembered, had in remembrance; to remember a thing; or be mindful of.
      4. Jubilees 15:25-34 This law is for all the generations for ever, and there is no circumcision of the days, and no omission of one day out of the eight days; for it is an eternal ordinance, ordained and written on the heavenly tables. 26. And every one that is born, the flesh of whose foreskin is not circumcised on the eighth day, belongeth not to the children of the covenant which the Lord made with Abraham, but to the children of destruction; nor is there, moreover, any sign on him that he is the Lord’s, but he is destined to be destroyed and slain from the land, and to be rooted out of the land, for he hath broken the covenant of the Lord our Elohim. 27. For all the angels of the face (i.e. presence) and all the angels of sanctification have been so created from the day of their creation (cf. Matthew 22:30; Mark 12:25; Luke 20:36), and before the angels of the face and the angels of sanctification He hath sanctified Israel, that they should be with Him and with His holy angels. 28. And do thou command the sons of Israel and let them observe the sign of this covenant for their generations as an eternal ordinance, and they will not be rooted out of the land. 29. For the command is ordained for a covenant, that they should observe it for ever among all the sons of Israel. 30. For Ishmael and his sons and his brothers and Esau, the Lord did not cause to approach Him, and he chose them not because they are the children of Abraham, because He knew them, but He chose Israel to be His people. 31. And He sanctified it, and gathered it from amongst all the children of men; for there are many nations and many peoples, and all are His, and over all hath He placed spirits in authority to lead them astray from Him. 32. But over Israel He did not appoint any angel or spirit, for He alone is their ruler (cf. Deuteronomy 32:8-9), and He will preserve them and require them at the hand of His angels and His spirits, and at the hand of all His powers in order that He may preserve them and bless them, and that they may be His and He may be theirs from henceforth for ever. 33. And now I announce unto thee that the sons of Israel will not keep true to this ordinance, and they will not circumcise their sons according to all this law; for in the flesh of their circumcision they will omit this circumcision of their sons, and all of them, sons of Beliar, will leave their sons uncircumcised as they were born. 34. And there will be great wrath from the Lord against the sons of Israel, because they have forsaken His covenant and turned aside from His word, and provoked and blasphemed, inasmuch as they do not observe the ordinance of this law; for they have treated their members like the Nations, so that they may be removed and rooted out of the land. And there will no more be pardon or forgiveness unto them so that there should be forgiveness and pardon for all the sin of this eternal error.
         1. Matthew 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of Elohim in heaven.
         2. Mark 12:25 For when they will rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
         3. Luke 20:36 For they can’t die any more, for they are like the angels and are sons of Elohim, being sons of the resurrection.
   3. 17:11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin. It will be a sign of the covenant between me and you.
      1. The sign of the covenant in flesh
         1. “Circumcision” as a noun is not used in the Torah, Prophets, or Writings (Tanakh) and is only used as a noun in the Apostolic Scriptures.
            1. Genesis 17:9-14 Elohim said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall guard my covenant, you and your seed after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall guard, between me and you and your seed after you. Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin. It will be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 He who is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he who is born in the house, or bought with money from any foreigner who is not of your seed. 13 He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your money, must be circumcised. My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 The uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin [on the eighth day],^(LXX) that soul shall be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant.”
            2. John 7:21-24 Yeshua answered them, “I did one work and you all marvel because of it. 22 Moses has given you circumcision, not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers, and on the Sabbath you circumcise a boy. 23 If a boy receives circumcision on the Sabbath, that the Torah of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I made a man completely healthy on the Sabbath? 24 Don’t judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”
            3. Acts 7:6-8 Elohim spoke in this way: that his seed would live as sojourners in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years. 7 ‘I will judge the nation to which they will be in bondage,’ said Elohim, ‘and after that they will come out and serve me in this place.’ (cf. Genesis 15:13-14) 8 He gave him the covenant of circumcision. So Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day. Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.
         2. “Of the circumcision” tells us that a sect had arisen called “the circumcision”
            1. Acts 10:45 They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles.
            2. Acts 11:2 When Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him
            3. Romans 2:25-29 For circumcision indeed profits, if you are a doer of the law, but if you are a transgressor of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 If therefore the uncircumcised keep the ordinances of the law, won’t his uncircumcision be accounted as circumcision? 27 Won’t those who are physically uncircumcised, but fulfill the law, judge you, who with the letter and circumcision are a transgressor of the law? 28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men, but from Elohim. (cf. Psalms 51:4)
            4. Romans 3:1-4 Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the profit of circumcision? 2 Much in every way! Because first of all, they were entrusted with the revelations of Elohim. 3 For what if some were without faith? Will their lack of faith nullify the faithfulness of Elohim? 4 May it never be! Yes, let Elohim be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written, “that you might be justified in your words, and might prevail when you come into judgment.”
            5. 1 Corinthians 7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is keeping the commandments of Elohim.
               1. Since the act of circumcising a male of eight days old or one who was bought with money is a commandment, it’s apparent that Paul here is referring to the sect, or sect’s teachings, of the circumcision.
            6. Galatians 6:12-13 As many as desire to make a good impression in the flesh compel you to be circumcised, just so they may not be persecuted for the cross of Messiah. 13 For even they who receive circumcision don’t keep the Torah themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised, so that they may boast in your flesh.
            7. Galatians 6:15 For in Messiah Yeshua neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
            8. Ephesians 2:11 Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “uncircumcision” by that which is called “circumcision,” in the flesh, made by hands
            9. Philippians 3:2-6 Beware of the dogs; beware of the evil workers; beware of the false circumcision. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship Elohim in the Spirit, and rejoice in Messiah Yeshua, and have no confidence in the flesh; 4 though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If any other man thinks that he has confidence in the flesh, I yet more: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the assembly; concerning the righteousness which is in the Torah, found blameless.
      2. The ultimate show that righteousness is of faith and not found in circumcision is found Joshua 5:1-8
         1. Joshua 5:1-8 When all the kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, who were by the sea, heard how YHWH had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the sons of Israel until we had crossed over, their heart melted, and there was no more spirit in them, because of the sons of Israel. 2 At that time, YHWH said to Joshua, “Make flint knives, and circumcise again the sons of Israel the second time.” 3 Joshua made himself flint knives, and circumcised the sons of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. 4 This is the reason Joshua circumcised them: all the people who came out of Egypt, who were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness along the way, after they came out of Egypt. 5 For all the people who came out were circumcised; but all the people who were born in the wilderness along the way as they came out of Egypt had not been circumcised. 6 For the sons of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness until all the nation, even the men of war who came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they didn’t listen to the voice of YHWH. YHWH swore to them that he wouldn’t let them see the land which YHWH swore to their fathers that he would give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7 Their sons, whom he raised up in their place, were circumcised by Joshua, for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them on the way. 8 When they were done circumcising the whole nation, they stayed in their places in the camp until they were healed.
   4. 17:12 He who is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he who is born in the house, or bought with money from any foreigner who is not of your seed.
      1. Luke 1:57 Now the time that Elisheva should give birth was fulfilled, and she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zechariah, after the name of his father. 60 His mother answered, “Not so; but he will be called Yochanan.”
      2. Luke 2:21 When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Yeshua, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
   5. 17:13 He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your money, must be circumcised. My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
   6. 17:14 The uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin [on the eighth day],^(LXX) that soul shall be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant.”
   7. What about circumcision of the heart? Is heart circumcision the only circumcision needed?
      1. To circumcise ones heart is a command of the Torah in Deuteronomy 10:12-16 Now, Israel, what does YHWH your Elohim ask of you, but to fear YHWH your Elohim, to walk in all his ways, to love him, and to serve YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 to guard the commandments of YHWH [your Elohim]^(LXX)(SP) and his statutes, which I command you today for your good? 14 Behold, to YHWH your Elohim belongs the heavens, the heavens of the heavens, and the land, with all that is therein. 15 Only YHWH had a delight in your fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all peoples, as it is today. 16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-necked.
      2. Jeremiah 4:3-4 For YHWH says to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, “Break up your fallow ground, and don’t sow among thorns. 4 Circumcise yourselves to YHWH, and take away the foreskins of your heart, you men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go out like fire, and burn so that no one can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
         1. Matthew 13:22 What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
      3. Deuteronomy 30:1-6 It will happen, when all these things have come on you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you will call them to mind among all the nations where YHWH your Elohim has driven you, 2 and return to YHWH your Elohim and obey his voice according to all that I command you today, you and your sons, with all your heart and with all your soul, 3 that then YHWH your Elohim will release you from captivity, have compassion on you, and will return and gather you from all the peoples where YHWH your Elohim has scattered you. 4 If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of the heavens, from there YHWH your Elohim will gather you, and from there he will bring you back. 5 YHWH your Elohim will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you will possess it. He will do you good, and increase your numbers more than your fathers. 6 YHWH your Elohim will circumcise your heart, and the heart of your seed, to love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.
         1. Those of Israel who would forsake the covenant, would be circumcised in heart by YHWH as part of the renewed covenant of Jeremiah 31.
         2. Colossians 2:8-15 Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elemental spirits of the world, and not after Messiah. 9 For in him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily, 10 and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Messiah, 12 having been buried with him in immersion, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of Elohim, who raised him from the dead. 13 You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 wiping out the handwriting in dogma which was against us. He has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. 15 Having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
      4. For the sons of Israel, circumcision of the heart AND flesh have always been required. It’s both/and, not either/or.
         1. Ezekiel 44:6-9 You shall tell the rebellious, even the house of Israel, ‘The Lord YHWH says: “You house of Israel, let that be enough of all your abominations, 7 in that you have brought in [sons of]^(mss) foreigners, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to profane it, even my house, when you offer my bread, the fat and the blood; and they have broken my covenant, to add to all your abominations. 8 You have not guarded the duty of my holy; but you have set guards of my duty in my sanctuary for yourselves.” 9 YHWH says, “No [son of a]^(mss) foreigner, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any [sons of]^(LXX) foreigners who are among the sons of Israel.
5. Genesis 17:15 Elohim said to Abraham,
   “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but her name shall be Sarah. I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will be a mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her.”
   1. 17:15 Elohim said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but her name shall be Sarah.
      1. Sarai means “to rule” and specifically means “my princess or my noblewoman” as the “yod” (י) ending in Sarai (שְׂרַי) is a possessive marker, thus meaning “my princess”.
      2. Genesis 17:15-16 “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but her name shall be Sarah. 16 I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will be a mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her.”
         1. The name Sarah drops the possessive “my” to simply being a noblewoman who will be the mother of nations whom kings of people will come.
         2. שָׂרָה Sarah (H8283) = noblewoman or ruler (feminine) of nations
         3. Galatians 4:22-26 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant, and one by the free woman. 23 However, the son by the servant was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise. 24 These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar. 25 For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
         4. 1 Peter 3:5-6 For this is how in the past the holy women who hoped in Elohim also adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands. 6 So Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose children you now are if you do well and are not put in fear by any terror.
   2. 17:16 I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will be a mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her.”
6. Genesis 17:17 Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to him who is one hundred years old? Will Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth?”
7. Genesis 17:18 Abraham said to [the Elohim],^(MTT) “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!”
8. Genesis 17:19 Elohim said [to Abraham],^(LXX) “Truly, [behold],^(LXX) Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant [and]^(LXX) for his seed after him.
9. Genesis 17:20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this appointed time next year.”
10. Genesis 17:22 When he finished talking with him, Elohim went up from Abraham.
11. Genesis 17:23 Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house, and all who were bought with his money: every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the same day, as Elohim had said to him.
12. Genesis 17:24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 Ishmael, his son, was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 In the same day both Abraham and Ishmael, his son, were circumcised.
13. Genesis 17:27 All the men of his house, those born in the house, and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.