civilization before we have any evidence of independent developed Semitic culture in the Levant.) This influence was probably the conduit to transmit to these far less developed peoples some of the customs of the admired Egyptians( sort of like modern Americans trying to dress like Princess Diana).
One of those small Semitic groups that picked up this practice was the Canaanite Hebrew tribe, although it was probably already a custom in their region before they emerged as a separate group within the larger Canaanite cultural milieu. But they did something odd with this cultural parasite of a custom; they incorporated it as a critical component within their religion.“ And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you”( Genesis 17:11). I guess YHWH didn’ t care to have a covenant with women, since they aren’ t mentioned— which is probably good for women, as there is no knowing what YHWY would have wanted them to cut off. Those who are not circumcised are excluded and YHWY even goes so far as to threaten to kill Moses( and perhaps his son), but his wife rushes in and cuts off his son’ s foreskin and touches it to Moses genitals before YHWH can come down and kill Moses( and son)( Exodus 4:24-26).( If you read the citation, be advised that the translation of“ feet” is a euphemism for the penis because the Hebrews seemed to have a lot of hang-ups about talking about genitals.) YHWY takes circumcision seriously, indeed. Even today in Israel, it may be the case that a Jewish family can be fined for failing to have their son circumcised on a timely basis.
Why did God Need His People Circumcised?
Now why would a bunch of goat-herding illiterates decide that their god needed to“ know” his people because they were circumcised? I mean the Egyptians already knew about tattoos( although this was forbidden in the Hebrew Bible too( Leviticus 19:28)— funny isn’ t it, that you never see American Christian fundamentalists picketing tattoo parlors, but they do go after homosexuals). They also knew about branding, and probably also notched animals’ ears to designate ownership. If God has to look at your physical characteristics to know if you are HIS, it’ s the same as a shepherd with a flock( which fit nicely with our goat herders’ mentality at the time, I
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