“Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he circumcised the flesh of his foreskin” (Genesis 17:24). “And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin” (Genesis 17:25). “Abraham was ninety-nine [years] old…” – here, [regarding Abraham], it says: “The flesh of his foreskin [besar orlato].” But there, [regarding Yishmael], it says: “The flesh of his foreskin [et besar orlato].”30The addition of the word et indicates that something extra is being included.
The explanation is that regarding Abraham, because his organ had been softened by means of a woman,31Through sexual relations. it is written: “Besar orlato.”32It was necessary to remove only the foreskin, but it was not necessary to tear the remaining membrane. Regarding Ishmael, whose organ had not been softened by means of a woman, it is written: “Et besar orlato.”33It was necessary to remove the remaining membrane as well.