Philo: On Circumcision from the Ancient Writings of The Set-Apart Bible. Read free with the Sacred Names (Yahuah, Yahshua, Elohim) and audio narration.
1 The genera and heads of all special laws, wnich are lied "the ten commandments," have been discussed with curacy in the former treatise. We must now proceed to nsider the particular commands as we read them in the bsequent passages of the holy scriptures ; and we will gin with that which is turned into ridicule by people in neral. The ordinance of circumcision of the parts of ueration is ridiculed, though it is an act which is practised no slight degree among other nations also, and most pecially by the Egyptians, who appear to me to be the ast populous of all nations, and the most abounding in all ads of wisdom. In consequence of which it would be DSt fitting for men to discard childish ridicule, and to vestigate the real causes of the ordinance with more prunce and dignity, considering the reasons why the custom s prevailed, and not being precipitate, so as without amiiiation to condemn the folly of mighty nations, recolJting that it is not probable that so many myriads should i circumcised in every generation, mutilating the bodies themselves and of their nearest relations, in a manner lich is accompanied with severe pain, without adequate use ; but that there are many reasons which might enQiage men to persevere and continue a custom which has en introduced by previous generations, and that these are )m reasons of the greatest weight and importance. 176 PHILO JUD^EUS. First of all, that it is a preventive of a painful disease, and of an affliction difficult to be cured, which they call a carbuncle ;* because, I imagine, when itb ecomes inflamed it burns; from which fact it has derived that appellation. And this disease is very apt to be engendered among those who have not undergone the rite of circumcision. Secondlv, it secures the cleanliness of the whole body in a way that 'is suited to the people consecrated to God ; with which object the Egyptian priests, being extravagant in their case, shave the whole of their bodies ; for some of these evils which ought to be got rid of are collected in and lodge under the hair and the prepuce. Thirdly, there is the resemblance of the part that is circumcised to the heart ; for both parts are prepared for the sake of generation ; for the breath contained within the heart is generative of thoughts, and the generative orgaD itself is productive of living beings. Therefore, the men of old thought it right to make the evident and visible organ, by which the objects of the outward senses are generated, resemble that invisible anc superior part, by means of which ideas are formed. Tin fourth, and most important, is that which relates to the pro vision thus made for prolificness ; for it is said that th seminal fluid proceeds in its path easily, neither being at al scattered, nor flowing on its passage into what may h called the bags of the prepuce. On which account thos nations which practise circumcision are the most prolifi and the most populous.