Circumcision was practiced by Egyptians. The historical record of circumcision was found in an image of circumcision of an adult carved into the tomb of Ankh-Mahor at Saqqarat, dating to about 2400-2300 BCE. It was done by the Egyptians probably for hygienic reasons and/or in connection to a spiritual purpose. Circumcision was then adopted by the Semites, then the Jews and Muslims. Undocumented history, however, dates the rite to much earlier times. It was known to have been practiced by people in Sudan, Ethiopia, east of the Mediterranean, and later by Polynesians and even among the Aztec and Mayan peoples in the Americas.
God ordered circumcision to Abram (Abraham). It was given as the "sign of covenant" that had to be performed to all his descendants and every male in their households born and bought by them. The covenant had two parts - the covenant of multiplication of descendants and the covenant of securing the land of Canaan for his descendants. At the age of ninety nine, Abram was circumcised. That was probably in 2067 BCE. Ishmael, his first son, was also circumcised at that time when he was thirteen years old. Issac was born the next year and circumcised on the day when he was eight days old. The circumcision has since been recognized as the mark of Jews, and has been practiced as its original procedure and fashion until today.
The Lord commanded Joshua to circumcise the Israelite males when they had crossed the River Jordan, for they had not been circumcised while their fathers, dead in the desert, had been circumcised. This account written in Joshua reveals that even in Egypt as slaves, the Hebrews practiced circumcision. But for an unknown reason, they neglected the practice while wandering in the desert. At Joshua's command, they were circumcised at Gibeath Haaraloth, meaning hill of foreskins, and the place was called Gilgal, which sounds like roll in Hebrew. But the meaning of the circumcision at that time was given differently, for "the Lord said to Joshua, 'Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you'" (Joshua 5:9). Instead of reminding of the covenant, God put a different meaning of the rite as the removal of the reprach of Egypt. How so?
Perhaps because the sign of covenant also implied honor, dignity, and privilege as the chosen people of God. The covenant was for proliferation of descendants and the possession of the land, but it also meant living in prosperity, security, and honor under the protection of God. Therefore, it was a reproach for them to live as slaves in Egypt. God wanted to restore their status with the covenantal rite.
Israelties distinguished their identity from other peoples by circumcision. David, standing before Saul, said, "this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them [lion and bear], because he has defiled the armies of the living God" (1 Samuel 17:36). The covenant-bearing mark meant pride and privilege for the people of Israel and they were not hesitant to put a difference between them and others with the mark. This also provides an evidence of continuation of the rite in Israel at the time of David.
Jesus was circumcised on his eighth day of birth, which is a clear evidence that the practice was done even in his days on earth. However, Apostle Paul dismissed the significance of the mark as the privileged sign of Jews. For him, what matters is a circumcision of the heart not the flesh: "A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code" (Romans 2:28-29). Therefore, the sign of covenant given to Abram was interpreted as to mean a circumcision of the heart by the Spirit. Apostle Paul also interpreted that being Jews means being chosen people in the sense that they become children of God. Hence, the covenant given to Abram now means the bestowment of salvation and eternal life as they become children of eternal God.
In sum, God adopted the rite of circumsion practiced by Egyptians and other peoples to make a sign of seal for his covenant with Abram and his descendants. It was the covenant of multiplication of people and the securing of the land. So it meant prosperity, dignity, and establishment of his kingdom by his people. But the circumcision was a type or a shadow of what was to come. The real meaning of the rite was revealed by Apostle Paul. It means the circumcision of the heart by the Spirit and is the mark of salvation and eternal life, a more elevated blessing than the one promised to Abram.
