DAWN
Daily Arts Web Nucleus
Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture plus an explanation with links and a discussion forum 2013 October 28
Circumcision (1503)
Mariotto Albertinelli (1474-1515)
High Renaissance Style
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence, Italy
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art
Explanation: The central focus of Genesis 17 is the covenant sign of circumcision. When Abram was 99 the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly" (1-2). Abram fell on his face, and God continued taking to him; he said that his covenant was with him and that he would be a father of many nations; he then changed his name from Abram to Abraham, telling him again that he would the father of many nations, that kings would come from him, and that his covenant would continue to the generations that followed Abraham, and that he would give him and his seed the land of Canaan, and that he would be their God (3-8). God then gave circumcision to Abraham as a "token" or sign of the covenant, stating that it should be administered to every male who was eight days old who was born into the household or purchased; and every uncircumcised male was to be cut off, because he had broken the covenant (9-14). Then God also changed Sarai's name to Sarah and promised that nations and kings would come from her (15-16). This caused Abraham to fall on his face and laugh at the prospect of a man of 100 and a woman of ninety bearing a son; and he asked that Ishmael might live before God (17-18). But God reaffirmed that Sarah and Abraham would have a son of their own whom they were to name Isaac and who would be heir, together with his seed, of the everlasting Abrahamic covenant (19). As for Ishmael, said God, he would bless him and make him fruitful, twelve princes would come from him, and he would become a great nation; but his covenant would be with Isaac to whom Sarah would give birth the following year (20-21). After God finished taking to Abraham, Abraham circumcised all the males in his household, Ishmael being 13 at the time (22-27).
Genesis 17
1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.
9 And God 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.
15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.
16 And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.
17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?
18 And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!
19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
21 But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.
22 And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.
23 And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him.
24 And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
26 In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son.
27 And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised with him.
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copyright 2013, Scott Souza
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