<b>And when Abraham was ninety years old and nine (Gen. 17:1).</b> Scripture says elsewhere in reference to this verse: <i>Thou art fairer than the children of man; grace is poured upon thy lips; therefore, God hath blessed thee forever. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O mighty one, thy glory and thy majesty</i> (Ps. 45:3–4). Concerning whom did Korah’s sons sing this song? They sang it about Abraham, the fairest of Adam’s descendants. Who were the descendants of Adam? They were: Seth, Cain, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuseleth, Lamech, Noah, and his sons. Whence do we know that Noah’s sons were called the sons of Adam? It is said: <i>And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of Adam builded</i> (Gen. 11:5).

<i>Grace is poured upon thy lips</i> alludes to the fact that you said to the king of Sodom, <i>I will not take a shoe-latchet.</i> Hence the Holy One, blessed be He, hath blessed you forever. Indeed, all you have done was previously known and revealed to Me: your descent into the furnace to sanctify My name; the ten trials you underwent; your pursuit after the kings; and the manner in which you were glorified. Hence, if you desire to make yourself great in this world, <i>Gird thy sword about thy thigh</i> (Ps. 45:4). That is, perform the circumcision between your thighs, and it will add to your majesty and your glory.

<i>I will establish My covenant between Me and thee.</i> He was not aware which part of his body was to be circumcised. And so the Holy One, blessed be He, indicated the place of circumcision when he said; <i>And I will make thee exceedingly fruitful.</i> That is to say, at the place through which you <i>increase and multiply</i> you are to be circumcised. However, Bar Kappara was of the opinion that Abraham decided upon the place of circumcision by analogy. He said to himself: “Which part of a tree is subject to the law of <i>orlah?</i><sup class="footnote-marker">24</sup><i class="footnote"><i>Orlah</i> is the law requiring circumcision discussed in the mishnaic tractate of that name.</i> It is that part of the tree which produces fruit, and so I must be circumcised at the place from which I will produce my fruit.”