Abraham circumcises his Household

23. And Abraham took, &c. This verse repeats the directions contained in Genesis 17:11.

in the selfsame day As in Genesis 17:26: see note on Genesis 7:13. The expression is characteristic of P. The performance of this rite upon all the males of Abraham's household, consisting of several hundred (cf. Genesis 14:14), in one day is hardly to be understood literally. The narrative is more concerned with the thought of the symbolism of a ritual precept, than with its literal practicability. The operation for full-grown males is a serious one, and not unattended with risk, cf. 34.

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