circumcision, ... lets cut straight to the point (pt.1)

[Shmanu YAH]

shalom alychem - peace be upon all. ALL praises, honor and glory to the most high YHWH and "baruka ha bo b'shem YHWH"- "blessed your coming in the name of YHWH" @ Yahushua!.

                                I sincerely pray all is well or you should know assuredly it will be soon.

                                                                           part 1

In this much needed message I'd like to articulate to some and clarify to others a age old act that is much more than a ritual or tradition, that we have all heard of by now know as: the "circumcision". Firstly lets give all honor and glory to the most high YHWH not just for giving us his word but also for giving us the proper understanding and revealing his intention through the "ruach h'emet" aka spirit of truth ( which can NOT be mistranslated or mis-transcribed ).

In the language of our fathers the word circumcision is "mulah" (Strong's 4139), pronounced "moo-lah" meaning: before, (fore-)front, & to cut short, (Strong's 4136 + 4135), so we see this definition in ibryt is self explanatory. This was a age old commanded practice that we see carried all the way through to the basar aka "new testament" (Acts 16:1-3) and should continue today.

The first example of this commanded to be done we read in b'reshyt / Genesis 17:9-14, And Elohym said unto Abraham, "Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. 11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. 12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. 13 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an EVERLASTING COVENANT. 14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant". .......- STOP!, not only do we see the the command (not suggestion) to circumcise, we also see the purpose >>> to declare a covenant with YHWH !!!. This may not make sense to many but we should read and understand that cutting, or for a more plain understanding: breaching and removing the skin that covers the male's "privy member" is mainly done to whole-heartedly declare a better covering ( from YHWH ) than our human skin could ever provide! ....todah YHWH, ( and here we come thousands of years later and try to cover ourselves with condoms? ---> insane! ). Notice the wisdom of YHWH to make sure all males are NOT born circumcized, so it's NOT a given - BUT instead a action that must be taken to show our allegiance to him. Maybe the "new testament only" readers should check what apostle Paul wrote in Romans 3:1-2, 1 "What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? 2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of Elohym". .......- well, well, well, ~ are the oracles of YHWH important or not? ( please re-read hebrews 5:12 )

We have heard about the 5 covenants in the scriptures but we need to understand there were at least 5 covenant "actions" in the scriptures involving cutting / separating that don't often get examined:
1) Adam ~ the animal was cut / separated from it's skins so Adam and Chawah would still live and have covering.
2) Noah ~ The rest of the earth's inhabitants were cut-off from Noah and his family that passed through the waters.
3) Abraham was asked to separate from his father's land and people and then later he had to cut up animals and lay them apart.
4) Mosaic ~ the children of Israel were separated from the bondage of Mytzraym after many plagues hit that place and much bloodshed.
5) bryt chadesha - the "re-newed covenant" through the piercing of Yahushua who was seperated from his mortal flesh and passed from death to eternal life!.

                                   ( remember, "actions" speaks LOUDER than words! )

 

Now before we get too far ahead of ourselves or miss the main point we should understand, lets go back a little and look at a example of a "covenant" between YHWH and Abraham.

In b'reshyt chapter 15 we recall the dialogue between YHWH and Abram concerning the promise of finally having much offspring / seed of his own. Abram wanted a sign or a confirmation from YHWH so the most high made a strong "covenant" with him. Lets re-read chapter 15:9-11, And he said unto him, "Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon". 10 And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not. 11 And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away. .......- notice how there was a attempt to taint the covenant by unclean predatory creatures from the lower realms of the heavens ( like h'shatan and his fallen flock ).... but a man must be diligent and watchful to make sure it doesn't happen! - now lets continue to learn the full procedure of a covenant, in verses 17-21 it states: And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. 18 In the same day YHWH made a covenant with Abram, saying, "Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: 19 The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, 20 And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, 21 And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites". .......- and later we actually read the practice of the circumcision performed by Abraham on his son in b'reshyth 21:3-5, And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. 4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as Elohym had commanded him. 5 And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him........- a "command" for the purpose of confirming a covenant - NOT a suggestion!

As always I like to examine the scriptural words so that we may attain full understanding. The word "covenant" in scripture is actually "b'ryt" (Strong's 1285 + 1254) pronounced "ber-eet" meaning: covenant, league, a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh). .......- so we can now see for a strong covenant to be made, flesh had to be cut and the covenant makers would pass between to two cut (karat) pieces to confirm it, thats why in hebrew writings they would many times write "cut the covenant". It is also necessary to note that the word for covenant "b'ryt" shares it root from the same root the word "ba'rut" which means "meat" ( Strong's 1267 ) also comes from so there will always be a connection between covenant ~ and something being cut to confirm that covenant ( ZechariYah 12:10 prophesied John 19:34 ). We should also note for future reference: NO it's not a co-incedence that the word we use "Hebrew" from "Ibryt" and the word "b'ryt" are rooted together from that word for "covenant" which is why the book of "ibrym" aka "hebrews" speaks often about covenant. We should also keep in mind the method the covenants aka 10 commandments were given to Moshe by, in debarym / deut 4:13 we read: ....and he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone. .......- these torah directions were "cut" from and into stone by the finger of Elohym and he didn't need bloodshed to confirm any command.

As a second witness from scripture we see this form of covenant confirmation in YermiYAH / JeremiYAH chapter 34:17-20, Therefore thus saith YHWH; "Ye have not hearkened unto me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbour: behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith YHWH, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth. 18 And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant, which have not performed the words of the covenant which they had made before me, when they cut the calf in twain, and passed between the parts thereof, 19 The princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, and the priests, and all the people of the land, which passed between the parts of the calf ; 20 I will even give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life: and their dead bodies shall be for meat unto the fowls of the heaven, and to the beasts of the earth". .......- this prophecy assuredly warned them of the wrath to come to them for their irresponsible act of entering into a blood covenant with YHWH and then breaking it..... BAD CAREER MOVE !!!

This type behaviour was exposed to us earlier in JeremiYAH chapter 31:31-32, "....... Behold, the days come, saith YHWH, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them", saith YHWH:, .......- referring back to the ordinance of slaughtering the Passover - putting that blood on the doorpost ( the forefront of the dwelling ) - then passing through it in the morning after he had passed through first that night through the spirit of a sent destroyer, ( Exodus 12;7, 12-13 ). A blood covenant aka "token" that the most high commanded the children of Yisrael to do so that he could pass through and confirm that covenant like he did when Abram cut up the animals and the smoking furnace & burning lamp passed through them. Causing a living creature to pass from life to death is a serious thing, and passing between that transformation is even more serious!

In ancient times if you broke a blood covenant, YOU and YOUR FAMILY or YOUR Co-HORTS will endure the same thing that you did to that animal - divided, separated and bloodsheded! ( Remember Israel and Judah getting divided?...... now think deeply why it happened ) Even the supposedly knowledgeable throughout the globe haven't figured out -> this is one of the main reasons we DON'T have the desired unity today!, .....DUH ( covenant breaking will never pay off! ) How can you successfully have unity with man while having division from YHWH?

As another witness lets revisit what the most high spoke through the real prophecy IsaiYah in chapter 28:14-15, Wherefore hear the word of YHWH, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. 15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall NOT come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: .......- WRONG!!!! - they actually thought they could hide from breaking a covenant with YHWH? ....and not be punished? ~ You see what was then promised by YHWH in verses 17-19, "....Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be TRODDEN DOWN by it. 19 From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report".

NOW, let's look back with a fuller understanding at the interaction between EliYahu aka "Eliyah the prophet" and those wannabe fraud prophets. In 1st Kings chapter 18:19-23 we remember reading what EliYahu instructed Ahab, ".....now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table". 20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, "How long halt ye between two opinions? if YHWH be Elohym, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him". And the people answered him not a word. 22 Then said Elijah unto the people, "I, even I only, remain a prophet of YHWH; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. 23 Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under" .......- we can see a set-up coming with a flare for the dramatic! - but lets keep reading to get the point. In verses 24-28 we read: "and call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of YHWH: and the Mighty One that answereth by fire, let him be Elohym". And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken. 25 And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. 26 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. 27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked. 28 And they cried aloud, and CUT THEMSELVES after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. ........- just look at these frauds trying to force a blood covenant by cutting themselves to appeal to a GOD that can't deliver! - as we read in verse 29, And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded ........- OH WELL, ( what a desperate and vain attempt at a circumcision! )

Now lets look at a real covenant keeper and the results - 30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of YHWH that was broken down. 31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of YHWH came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: 32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of YHWH: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, "Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood". 34 And he said, "Do it the second time". And they did it the second time. And he said, "Do it the third time". And they did it the third time. 35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. 36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, "YHWH Elohym of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art Elohym in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 37 Hear me, YHWH, hear me, that this people may know that thou art YHWH the Elohym, and that thou hast turned their heart back again". 38 Then the fire of YHWH fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. ........- proof positive that he will confirm his covenant with his chosen in the eyes of ALL!, 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, "YHWH, he is the Elohym; YHWH, he is the Elohym". 40 And Elijah said unto them, "Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape". And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and SLEW them there. ........- again, bad things happen to those that transgress YHWH's covenant for their own directives - they got cut to pieces like the bullock that they cut up!

As a side note: We have assuredly heard of covenants between man and YHWH or man and other men, - but lets NOT forget there is also punishment for females that transgress. Just because females can't be circumcised like a male that doesn't mean they don't have to hold up their own degree of honor and dignity!

If you re-read the torah - particularly debarym / deuteronomy 22:13-21 you will remember, If any man take a wife, and go in unto her, and hate her, 14 And give occasions of speech against her, and bring up an evil name upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her not a maid: 15 Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel’s virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate: 16 And the damsel’s father shall say unto the elders, I gave my daughter unto this man to wife, and he hateth her; 17 And, lo, he hath given occasions of speech against her, saying, I found not thy daughter a maid; and yet these are the tokens of my daughter’s virginity. And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city. 18 And the elders of that city shall take that man and chastise him; 19 And they shall amerce him in an hundred shekels of silver, and give them unto the father of the damsel, because he hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin of Israel: and she shall be his wife; he may not put her away all his days. 20 But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel: 21 Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father’s house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you. .......- OH OH, ~ lets see if you have the gutts to tell that to your family, friends, neighbors and even those down at your local churches!

We need to understand that our private parts should remain private for the purposes of sanctity, but these parts are to be utilized properly at their appointed times for the correct reasons. Many don't even have enough sense to understand the the male privy member's daily use of urinating is solely to ELIMINATE toxins out of the body carried by urine / unclean water, >>> while he stands ....yes, the human male was constructed by the creator to "stand upright" as he allows inpurties pass out of his flesh through the covenant token area.
to be continued.........

 

selah and shalom