James Trimm’s Nazarene Commentary on Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 17
17:1-6
1 And when Avram was ninety years old and nine, YHWH appeared to Avram, and said unto him: I am El Shaddai, walk before Me, and be you wholehearted.
2 And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you
exceedingly.
3 And Avram fell on his face, and Elohim talked with him, saying:
4 As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations.
5 Neither shall your name any more be called Avram, but your name shall be Avraham: for the father of a multitude of nations have I made you.
6 And I will make you exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come out of you.
(Genesis 17:1-6 HRV)
My mentor Rabbi Moyal taught me:
Avram = אברם while Avraham = אברהם
At this time Sarai (שרי) also became Sarah (שרה)
י = 10 while ה = 5
The name of YHWH contains one י and two הs
YHWH took the י from His Name out of Sarai’s name, divided it into two הs placing one in each of their names. From this we learn that in order for Avram (High Father) to become Avraham (Father of a multitude), Sarah had to go from being שרי (dominant) to being שרה (lady).
17:7
7 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and your seed after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant: to be an Elohim unto you and to your seed after you.
(Gen. 17:7 HRV)
This covenant was name between Avraham and the Memra, as Targum Onklelos to this verse reads: “And I will establish my covenant between My Word [Memra] and between you…”
17:8
8 And I will give unto you and to your seed after you, the land of your sojournings–all the land of Kena’an–for an everlasting possession, and I will be their Elohim.
(Gen. 17:8 HRV)
Gen. 17:9-14
9 And Elohim said unto Avraham: And as for you, you shall 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 And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be a token of a covenant between Me and you.
12 And he that is eight days old, shall be circumcised among you–every male throughout your generations–he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any foreigner, that is not of your seed.
13 He that is born in your house and he that is bought with your money, must needs be circumcised. And My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
14 And 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.
(Gen. 17:9-14 HRV)
Circumcision is for all generations forever:
9 And Elohim said unto Avraham: And as for you, you shall 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 And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be a token of a covenant between Me and you.
12 And he that is eight days old, shall be circumcised among you–every male throughout your generations–he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any foreigner, that is not of your seed.
13 He that is born in your house and he that is bought with your money, must needs be circumcised. And My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
14 And 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.
(Gen. 17:9-14 HRV)