The Covenant of Circumcision

17 When Abram was ninety-nine years old,^(A) the Lord appeared to him^(B) and said, “I am God Almighty^[a];^(C) walk before me faithfully and be blameless.^{(D) 2} Then I will make my covenant between me and you^(E) and will greatly increase your numbers.”^(F)

³ Abram fell facedown,^(G) and God said to him, ⁴ “As for me, this is my covenant with you:^(H) You will be the father of many nations.^(I)

²⁴ God heard their groaning and he remembered^(A) his covenant^(B) with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob.

³ When Moses went and told the people all the Lord’s words and laws,^(A) they responded with one voice, “Everything the Lord has said we will do.”^{(B) 4} Moses then wrote^(C) down everything the Lord had said.

He got up early the next morning and built an altar^(D) at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars^(E) representing the twelve tribes of Israel. ⁵ Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings^(F) and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings^(G) to the Lord. ⁶ Moses^(H) took half of the blood^(I) and put it in bowls, and the other half he splashed^(J) against the altar. ⁷ Then he took the Book of the Covenant^(K) and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.”^(L)

⁸ Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people^(M) and said, “This is the blood of the covenant^(N) that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”