Why Circumcision Made Abram Whole in Midrash Aggadah

Midrash Aggadah, Genesis 17:1

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"I am El Shaddai." Thus did the Holy One, blessed be He, say to Abram: you shall receive the commandment of circumcision; "enough" (dai) for the world are I and you. "Walk before Me." That is to say, perform My mission, and I credit it to you that you do not need Me to hold you up, just as it is said of Noah, "Noah walked with God" (Genesis 6:9). "And be whole." From here you learn that the foreskin is a blemish upon a man, and a man is not called whole in the world unless he is circumcised. A parable: to a king who wished to take a certain maiden, and she was passed before him, and he saw that she had an overgrown nail; the king said, "Repair that nail for her." So did the Holy One, blessed be He, say to Abram, "Walk before Me and be whole," and He commanded that the foreskin be repaired for him. Another interpretation of "And be whole": that you not be cut off from your wife and not be... from her. This is what Scripture says, "And be whole," as it is said, "You shall be whole with the LORD your God" (Deuteronomy 18:13).

Themes

CovenantDivine NamesAbraham

Biblical References

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Yalkut Shimoni on TorahEl Shaddai and the Four Kinds of ForeskinThe name El Shaddai, the rabbis taught, holds a secret in its sound. Shaddai breaks into the words 'who said enough.' This is the God who told the heavens and tBook of JubileesCovenant of Abraham of IsaacIn this ancient text, which some consider to be part of the broader Jewish apocrypha, we find a pivotal moment concerning Abraham, his wife Sarah, and a promiseApocalypse of AbrahamGod Commands Abraham to Offer Sacrifice for a RevelationThe voice came again. Twice it called his name: "Abraham, Abraham!" "Here I am." "It is I. Fear not, for I am before the worlds, a mighty God who has created thApocalypse of AbrahamGod Promises Abraham Descendants Like the StarsThe Eternal Mighty One said: "Abraham, Abraham!" "Here I am." "Look down at the stars beneath your feet. Count them for me. Make known to me their number." AbraApocalypse of AbrahamGod Reveals That All of History Was Planned in AdvanceAbraham asked: "O Eternal, Mighty One! What is this picture of the creatures?" God answered: "This is my will with regard to those who exist in the divine worldApocalypse of AbrahamThe End of the Age and the Coming of God's Chosen OneAbraham asked again: "How long a time is an hour of the Age?" God answered: "Twelve years have I ordained of this ungodly age to rule among the heathen and in y