Arcana Coelestia # 2037
2037. This is My covenant, which ye shall keep between Me and you. That this signifies a token of the conjunction of all with the Lord, is evident from the signification of a “covenant,” as being conjunction, as explained before. That it is here the token of conjunction, is evident from the next verse, where it is called “a sign of a covenant:” “Ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and you.” All the external rites of the church were signs of the covenant, and were to be sacredly observed, because internal things were signified by them. Circumcision-which is treated of here-was nothing but a representative and significative rite, and as such is explained in what follows; nevertheless in various passages of the Word such rites are called the “covenant,” for the reason that external things represented and thereby signified internal things. The internal things are what belong to the covenant, because they are effective of conjunction, and the external things are not so except by means of the internal ones. The external things were merely signs of the covenant, or tokens of the conjunction, by means of which they might call to mind the internal things and thereby be conjoined by means of these. (Respecting the signs of the covenant, see above, n. 1308) All the internal things that belong to the covenant, or that are effective of conjunction, relate to love and charity, and proceed from love and charity; for on these two things, namely, loving God more than one’s self, and loving the neighbor as one’s self, “hang all the law and the prophets,” that is, the universal doctrine of faith (Matthew 22:34-39; Mark 12:28-35).
Genesis 17
1
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to Abram, and said to him, "I am God Almighty. Walk before me, and be blameless.
2
I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly."
3
Abram fell on his face. God talked with him, saying,
4
"As for me, behold, my covenant is with you. You will be the father of a multitude of nations.
5
Neither will your name any more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.
6
I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you. Kings will come out of you.
7
I will establish my covenant between me and you and your seed after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you and to your seed after you.
8
I will give to you, and to your seed after you, the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. I will be their God."
9
God said to Abraham, "As for you, you will keep my covenant, you and your seed after you throughout their generations.
10
This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your seed after you. Every male among you shall be circumcised.
11
You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin. It will be a token of the covenant between me and you.
12
He who is eight days old will be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he who is born in the house, or bought with money from any foreigner who is not of your seed.
13
He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your money, must be circumcised. My covenant will be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
14
The uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant."
15
God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but her name will be Sarah.
16
I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will be a mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her."
17
Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, "Will a child be born to him who is one hundred years old? Will Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth?"
18
Abraham said to God, "Oh that Ishmael might live before you!"
19
God said, "No, but Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his seed after him.
20
As for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.
21
But my covenant I establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year."
22
When he finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham.
23
Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house, and all who were bought with his money; every male among the men of Abraham's house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the same day, as God had said to him.
24
Abraham was ninety-nine years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
25
Ishmael, his son, was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
26
In the same day both Abraham and Ishmael, his son, were circumcised.
27
All the men of his house, those born in the house, and those bought with money of a foreigner, were circumcised with him.
