Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Jonathan D. Safren" <yonsaf AT beitberl.beitberl.ac.il>]

Dear Ian,
Circumcision has apparently been practiced among the Jewish People, and
before that, the Israelites, since the Stone Age.
Evidence: On two different occasions when there is mention of the
implement used to perform the circumcision, it is a flint knife - in Ex.
4 and Josh. 5. Perhaps at the time the stories weere written, a metal
knife was already used, but they retain a memory of the earlier
implement. And there would be no reason to have used a flint knife
unless the custom originated at a period when there were only flint
knives.
Sincerely,
Jonathan D. Safren
Dept. of Biblical Studies
Beit Berl College
Beit Berl Post Office 44905
Israel