Rav Huna bar Kapara said: Abraham our patriarch sat and expounded: Orla is stated regarding a tree and orla is stated regarding man.19The foreskin, which is removed during a circumcision, is also called orla. Just as orla that is stated regarding the tree is in the place where it produces fruit, so orla that is stated regarding man is in the place where he produces offspring. Rabbi Ḥanin ben Pazi said: Did Abraham already know a fortiori inferences and verbal analogies?
Rather, He hinted it to him: “I will establish My covenant between Me and you [and will multiply you exceedingly]” (Genesis 17:2), [implying that it is in] the place from which he procreates. Rabbi Yishmael taught: The Holy One blessed be He sought to have the priesthood emerge from Shem, as it is stated: “Malkitzedek king of Shalem [brought out bread and wine and he was a priest of God, the Most High]” (Genesis 14:18).
When he gave precedence to the blessing of Abraham over the blessing of the Omnipresent,20“And he blessed him and said: Blessed be Abram…and blessed be God, the most High…” (Genesis 14:19–20). Abraham said to him: ‘Does one give precedence to blessing the servant over blessing the master?’ The Holy One blessed be He removed it from him and gave it to Abraham, as it is stated: “The utterance of the Lord to my master” (Psalms 110:1) and it is written thereafter: “The Lord has taken an oath, and He will not renounce it; you are a priest forever by My decree [divrati], like Malkitzedek” (Psalms 110:4); due to the speech [diburo] of Malkitzedek.
That is what is written: “Blessed is Abram to God, the Most High, master of heaven and earth” (Genesis 14:19). Rabbi Yishmael and Rabbi Akiva, Rabbi Yishmael says: Abraham was a High Priest; that is what is written: “The Lord has taken an oath, and He will not renounce it; you are a priest forever”; and it is written: “You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin” (Genesis 17:11). From where would he circumcise?
If he would circumcise from the ear, he would remain ineligible to sacrifice. If he would circumcise from the heart, he would remain ineligible to sacrifice. If he would circumcise from the mouth, he would remain ineligible to sacrifice. From where would he circumcise and be eligible to sacrifice?
One must say this is a mitzva of [the tip of] the body.21It must be that it is the foreskin that is removed, after which the individual remains unblemished. Rabbi Akiva says: There are four instances of orla. Orla is stated regarding the ear: “Their ear is obstructed [arela]” (Jeremiah 6:10); orla regarding the mouth, as it is stated: “I am one of obstructed lips [aral sefatayim]” (Exodus 6:30); it is stated regarding the heart, as it is stated: “The entire house of Israel is of uncircumcised heart [arlei lev]” (Jeremiah 9:25).
And it is written: “Walk before Me and be perfect” (Genesis 17:1). Where should he circumcise? If he would circumcise from the ear he would not be perfect. If he would circumcise from the mouth he would not be perfect.
Where could he circumcise and be perfect? One must say this is the male organ. Nagda said: It is written: “And one who is eight days old [shall be circumcised]” (Genesis 17:12). From where should he be circumcised?
If from the ear, he will not be able to hear. If from the mouth, he will not be able to speak. If from the heart, he will not be able to think. From where could he be circumcised and be able to hear, speak, and think?
One must say this is the male organ. Rabbi Tanḥuma said: Nagda’s [reasoning] is the most logical. “An uncircumcised male who will not circumcise [the flesh of his foreskin]” (Genesis 17:14); Rabbi Yudan in the name of Rabbi Yitzḥak, and Rabbi Berekhya in the name of Rabbi Yitzḥak, and they taught it in the name of Rabbi Yosei ben Ḥalafta: “An uncircumcised male” – is there an uncircumcised female? Rather, at the place that one sees him and knows whether he is male or female, that is where one circumcises him.