Both Jews and non-Jews recognised circumcision as a
distinguishing mark of Judaism. A mishnah lists some of circumcision’s greatest
attributes: “R. Ishmael says: Great is circumcision, whereby the covenant was
made thirteen times [cf. Genesis 17]. R. Jose says: Great is circumcision which
overrides even the rigour of the Sabbath. R. Joshua b. Karha says: Great is
circumcision, which even for the sake of Moses, the righteous, was not
suspended so much as an hour [cf. Ex. 4:24ff]. R. Nehemiah says: Great is circumcision
which overrides the laws of leprosy-signs [cf. Neg . 7:5]. Rabbi says: Great is
circumcision, for despite all the religious duties which Abraham our father
fulfilled, he was not called ‘perfect’ until he circumcised himself, as it is
written, Walk before me, and be thou perfect (Gen. 17:1). After another
fashion [it is said], Great is circumcision: but for it, the Holy One, blessed
is he, had not created his world, as it is written, Thus saith the Lord, but
for my covenant day and night, I had not set forth the ordinances of heaven and
earth (Jer. 33:25)” (Ned. 3:11).
While circumcision can be applied to the heart, the
physical act can never be abolished: “R. Elazar of Modim said: One who profanes
things sacred, and one who slights the festivals, and one who causes his fellowman’s
face to blanch in public, and one who nullifies the covenant of our father
Abraham [i.e., removes his circumcision], peace be upon him, and he who
exhibits impudence towards the Torah, even though he has to his credit [knowledge
of] the Torah and good deeds, he has not a share in the life of the world to
come” (PA 3:11).
This attitude also demonstrates how central the covenant is
to the Jewish community’s identity in the purity of its descent—and thus to God’s
promises of redemption: “At that time thy people shall be delivered (Dan
12:1). Through whose merit? . . . R. Samuel bar Nahmani said: Through the merit
of their lineage, for it is said Bring My sons from far, and My daughters
from the end of the earth; every one that is called by Ny name (Isa.
43:6b-7). R. Levi said: Through the merit of circumcision. For the verse of
this comment says that At that time thy people shall be delivered, and
in another place it is written At that time thy people shall be delivered,
and in another place it is written At that time the Lord said unto Joshua: ‘Make
thee knives of flint, and circumcise . . . the children of Israel’ (Josh.
5:2)” (Mid.Ps. 20:3). (Hilary Le Cornu and Joseph Shulam, A Commentary on
the Jewish Roots of Galatians [Jerusalem: Netivyah Bible Instruction Ministry,
2005], 92-93)