Bible Myths and their Parallels in other Religions by T. W. Doane

CIRCUMCISION. In the words of the Rev. Dr. Giles: "The rite of circumcision must not be passed over in any work that concerns the religion and literature of that (the Jewish) people."[85:1] The first mention of Circumcision, in the Bible, occurs in Genesis,[85:2] where God is said to have commanded the Israelites to perform this rite, and thereby establish a covenant between him and his chosen people: "This is my _covenant_ (said the Lord), which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; every male child among you shall be circumcised." "We _need not doubt_," says the Rev. Dr. Giles, "that a _Divine command_ was given to Abraham that all his posterity should practice the rite of circumcision."[85:3] Such may be the case. If we believe that the Lord of the Universe communes with man, we _need not doubt_ this; yet, we are compelled to admit that nations other than the Hebrews practiced this rite. The origin of it, however, as practiced among other nations, has never been clearly ascertained. It has been maintained by some scholars that this rite drew its origin from considerations of health and cleanliness, which seems very probable, although doubted by many.[85:4] Whatever may have been its origin, it is certain that it was practiced by many of the ancient Eastern nations, who never came in contact with the Hebrews, in early times, and, therefore, could not have learned it from them. The _Egyptians_ practiced circumcision at a very early period,[85:5] at least as early as the _fourth_ dynasty--pyramid one--and therefore, long before the time assigned for Joseph's entry into Egypt, from whom some writers have claimed the Egyptians learned it.[86:1] In the decorative pictures of Egyptian tombs, one frequently meets with persons on whom the denudation of the prepuce is manifested.[86:2] On a stone found at Thebes, there is a representation of the circumcision of Ramses II. A mother is seen holding her boy's arms back, while the operator kneels in front.[86:3] All Egyptian priests were obliged to be circumcised,[86:4] and Pythagoras had to submit to it before being admitted to the Egyptian sacerdotal mysteries.[86:5] Herodotus, the Greek historian, says: "As this practice can be traced both in Egypt and Ethiopia, to the remotest antiquity, it is not possible to say which first introduced it. The Phenicians and Syrians of Palestine acknowledge that they borrowed it from Egypt."[86:6] It has been recognized among the _Kaffirs_ and other tribes of _Africa_.[86:7] It was practiced among the _Fijians_ and _Samoans of Polynesia_, and some races of _Australia_.[86:8] The _Suzees_ and the _Mandingoes_ circumcise their women.[86:9] The _Assyrians_, _Colchins_, _Phenicians_, and others, practiced it.[86:10] It has been from time immemorial a custom among the _Abyssinians_, though, at the present time, Christians.[86:11] The antiquity of the custom may be assured from the fact of the _New Hollanders_, (never known to civilized nations until a few years ago) having practiced it.[86:12] The _Troglodytes_ on the shore of the Red Sea, the _Idumeans_, _Ammonites_, _Moabites_ and _Ishmaelites_, had the practice of circumcision.[86:11] The _ancient Mexicans_ also practiced this rite.[86:13] It was also found among the _Amazon_ tribes of _South America_.[87:1] These Indians, as well as some African tribes, were in the habit of circumcising their women. Among the _Campas_, the women circumcised themselves, and a man would not marry a woman who was not circumcised.[87:2] They performed this singular rite upon arriving at the age of puberty.[87:3] Jesus of Nazareth was circumcised,[87:4] and had he been really the founder of the Christian religion, so-called, it would certainly be incumbent on all Christians to be circumcised as he was, and to observe that Jewish law which he observed, and which he was so far from abrogating, that he declared: "heaven and earth shall pass away" ere "one jot or one tittle" of that law should be dispensed with.[87:5] But the Christians are not followers of the religion of Jesus.[87:6] They are followers of the religion of the _Pagans_. This, we believe, we shall be able to show in Part Second of this work. FOOTNOTES: [85:1] Giles: Hebrew and Christian Records, vol. i. p. 249. [85:2] Genesis, xvii. 10. [85:3] Giles: Hebrew and Christian Records, vol. i. p. 251. [85:4] Mr. Herbert Spencer shows (Principles of Sociology, pp. 290, 295) that the sacrificing of a part of the body as a religious offering to their deity, was, and is a common practice among savage tribes. Circumcision may have originated in this way. And Mr. Wake, speaking of it, says: "The _origin_ of this custom has not yet, so far as I am aware, been satisfactorily explained. The idea that, under certain climatic conditions, circumcision is necessary for cleanliness and comfort, does not appear to be well founded, as the custom is not universal even within the tropics." (Phallism in Ancient Religs., p. 36.) [85:5] "Other men leave their private parts as they are formed by nature, except those who have learned otherwise from them; but the Egyptians are _circumcised_. . . . They are circumcised for the sake of cleanliness, thinking it better to be clean than handsome." (Herodotus,