or CINNERETH, a city on the north-western side of the sea of
Galilee; which, from it, is frequently called in the Old Testament the
sea of Cinneroth: from which word, that of Genesaret, in the New
Testament, is conjectured by Dr. Wells to have been framed.
CIRCUMCISION is from the Latin, _circumcidere_, “to cut all round,”
because the Jews, in circumcising their children, cut off after this
manner the skin which covers the prepuce. God enjoined Abraham to use
circumcision, as a sign of his covenant. In obedience to this order,
Abraham, at ninety-nine years of age, was circumcised: also his son
Ishmael, and all the males of his property, Gen. xvii, 10. God repeated
the precept of circumcision to Moses: he ordered that all who were to
partake of the paschal sacrifice should receive circumcision; and that
this rite should be performed on children, on the eighth day after their
birth. The Jews have always been very exact in observing this ceremony,
and it appears that they did not neglect it when in Egypt. But Moses,
while in Midian with Jethro his father-in-law, did not circumcise his
two sons born in that country; and during the journey of the Israelites
in the wilderness, their children were not circumcised. Circumcision was
practised among the Arabians, Saracens, and Ishmaelites. These people,
as well as the Israelites, sprung from Abraham. Circumcision was
introduced with the law of Moses among the Samaritans and Cutheans. The
Idumeans, though descended from Abraham and Isaac, were not circumcised
till subdued by John Hircanus. Those who assert that the Phenicians were
circumcised, mean, probably, the Samaritans; for we know, from other
authority, that the Phenicians did not observe this ceremony. As to the
Egyptians, circumcision never was of general and indispensable
obligation on the whole nation; certain priests only, and particular
professions, were obliged to it. Circumcision is likewise the ceremony
of initiation into the Mohammedan religion. There is, indeed, no law in
the Koran which enjoins it, and they have the precept only in tradition.
They say that Mohammed commanded it out of respect to Abraham, the head
of his race. They have no fixed day for the performance of this rite,
and generally wait till the child is five or six years of age.
Galilee; which, from it, is frequently called in the Old Testament the
sea of Cinneroth: from which word, that of Genesaret, in the New
Testament, is conjectured by Dr. Wells to have been framed.
CIRCUMCISION is from the Latin, _circumcidere_, “to cut all round,”
because the Jews, in circumcising their children, cut off after this
manner the skin which covers the prepuce. God enjoined Abraham to use
circumcision, as a sign of his covenant. In obedience to this order,
Abraham, at ninety-nine years of age, was circumcised: also his son
Ishmael, and all the males of his property, Gen. xvii, 10. God repeated
the precept of circumcision to Moses: he ordered that all who were to
partake of the paschal sacrifice should receive circumcision; and that
this rite should be performed on children, on the eighth day after their
birth. The Jews have always been very exact in observing this ceremony,
and it appears that they did not neglect it when in Egypt. But Moses,
while in Midian with Jethro his father-in-law, did not circumcise his
two sons born in that country; and during the journey of the Israelites
in the wilderness, their children were not circumcised. Circumcision was
practised among the Arabians, Saracens, and Ishmaelites. These people,
as well as the Israelites, sprung from Abraham. Circumcision was
introduced with the law of Moses among the Samaritans and Cutheans. The
Idumeans, though descended from Abraham and Isaac, were not circumcised
till subdued by John Hircanus. Those who assert that the Phenicians were
circumcised, mean, probably, the Samaritans; for we know, from other
authority, that the Phenicians did not observe this ceremony. As to the
Egyptians, circumcision never was of general and indispensable
obligation on the whole nation; certain priests only, and particular
professions, were obliged to it. Circumcision is likewise the ceremony
of initiation into the Mohammedan religion. There is, indeed, no law in
the Koran which enjoins it, and they have the precept only in tradition.
They say that Mohammed commanded it out of respect to Abraham, the head
of his race. They have no fixed day for the performance of this rite,
and generally wait till the child is five or six years of age.