The Hill of Foreskins and the Condition for Entering the Land

"And he circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins" (Joshua 5:3) - a place where he made a hill from the foreskins. Rav Nachman said: "Give a portion to seven" (Ecclesiastes 11:2) - this is the generation that Moses circumcised on the eighth day; "and also to eight" - this is the generation that Joshua circumcised. [Translator's note: the homily reads "seven" and "eight" as alluding to the two circumcising generations; text terse.] "And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised" (Joshua 5:4) - and he circumcised them. He said to them: What do you suppose, that you will enter the land uncircumcised? Thus the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Abraham, "And I will give to you and to your seed after you" (Genesis 17:8) - on the condition, "and you shall keep My covenant" (Genesis 17:9).