Midrash su Genesi 17:12

2) A certain disciple said before R. Akiva: ("and on the day") must be stated (for a different reason, and cannot be used for the above derivation). For if it were written "and she shall be tamei seven days and on the eighth he shall circumcise," I might think (that there is a combination here of) seven (for tumah) and eight (for circumcision), so that circumcision takes place on the fifteenth day. It must, therefore, be written "and on the day" (i.e., on the day after the seventh day). R. Akiva responded: "You have dived into mighty waters and come up with a shard!" Is it not already written (Bereshith 17:12): "And at eight days old there shall be circumcised unto you every male throughout your generations!"

“Enjoy life with a woman whom you love all the days of your life of vanity which He has given you under the sun, all the days of your vanity, as that is your portion in life, and in your toil that you toil under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 9:9).
“Enjoy life with a woman whom you love.” Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] said in the name of the holy congregation: Acquire for yourself a craft with Torah. What is the reason? “Enjoy life [with a woman]…”²⁷The midrash is interpreting the world “life” to refer to Torah, and the term “woman” to refer to a craft. One should have a craft with which to earn a livelihood, in addition to studying Torah. Why does he call them the holy congregation? It is because Rabbi Yosei ben Meshulam and Rabbi Shimon ben Menaseya, who would divide the day into three, one-third for Torah, one-third for prayer, and one-third for labor, were there. Some say: They would engage in Torah study during the days of winter, and in labor during the days of summer. Rabbi Yitzḥak ben Elazar would call Rabbi Yehoshua son of Rabbi Timi and Rabbi Burki the holy congregation, because they would divide the day into three, one-third for Torah, one-third for prayer, and one-third for labor.
It is taught: It is prohibited for a mourner to marry a woman until thirty days [pass]. Rabbi Yehuda says: Until three consecutive pilgrimage festivals pass, corresponding to the three times that it is written: Life, life, life. In what case is this said? In a case when he has sons; however, if he has no sons, or if he has minor sons, it is permitted due to diminution of procreation and to see to their needs.²⁸The mourner can marry a woman even within thirty days in order to fulfill the mitzva of procreation, or so that his new wife can take care of his young children. There was an incident and the wife of Rabbi Tarfon died, and when the grave was covered, he said to her sister amidst the mourning: ‘Enter my house²⁹Marry me. and raise your sister’s children.’ Even though he married her, he did not engage in conjugal relations until after thirty days. It is taught: It is prohibited for a mourner to go to a house of feasting until thirty days [have passed].
It was taught: The mitzvot incumbent upon a father regarding his son are to circumcise him and to redeem him, and also to teach him Torah, to teach him a trade, and to marry him to a woman. Some say: Also to teach him to swim in a river. To circumcise him, from where [is it derived]? As it is stated: “He that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male” (Genesis 17:12). To redeem him, from where [is it derived]? As it is stated: “And all the first-born of man among your sons you shall redeem” (Exodus 13:13). To teach him Torah, from where [is it derived]? As it is stated: “You shall teach them” (Deuteronomy 11:19). To marry a woman, from where [is it derived]? As it is stated: “Take women and beget sons and daughters and take women for your sons” (Jeremiah 29:6). To teach him to swim in a river, from where [is it derived]? As it is stated: “You shall choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19).
Anyone who does not have a wife is without goodness, without a helper, without joy, without blessing, without atonement. Without good, from where [is it derived]? [From the verse:] “It is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). Without help, from where [is it derived]? [From the verse:] “I will make him a helper alongside him” (Genesis 2:18). Without joy, from where [is it derived]? [From the verse:] “You shall rejoice, you and your household” (Deuteronomy 14:26). Without blessing, from where [is it derived]? [From the verse:] “To place a blessing upon your house” (Ezekiel 44:30). Without atonement, from where [is it derived]? [From the verse:] “And he shall atone for himself and for his household” (Leviticus 16:11). Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: Without life as well, as it is stated: “Enjoy life with a woman whom you love.” Without peace, as it is stated: “You are peace and your house is peace” (I Samuel 25:6). Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Gamda said: He is not even a complete person, as it is stated: “He blessed them and He called their name Adam”³⁰The word adam, which is the name of the first man, simply means “person.” (Genesis 5:2) – when the two of them are not as one they are not called Adam. Some say it diminishes the Divine Image, as it is stated: “Because He created man in the image of God” (Genesis 9:6).

Yaakov, from the village of Nevurya, issued a ruling in Tyre, that the son of a gentile woman is circumcised on Shabbat. Rabbi Ḥagai heard and he sent to bring him. [Rabbi Ḥagai] said to him: ‘From where did you [derive] your ruling?’ He said to [Rabbi Ḥagai]: ‘From here, as it is written: “They declared their lineage [vayityaldu] after their families” (Numbers 1:18), and it is written: “[He that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you…] he that is born [yelid] in the house and purchased with money [from any foreigner” (Genesis 17:12).’ [Rabbi Ḥagai] said: ‘Let him be flogged forty times.’ He said to [Rabbi Ḥagai]: ‘Shall a person who states a matter from the Torah be flogged?’ [Rabbi Ḥagai] said: ‘You did not issue a correct ruling.’ He said to [Rabbi Ḥagai]: ‘From where [do you derive this]?’ [Rabbi Ḥagai said:] ‘Bend over¹³⁵Bend over the flogging pole. and listen.’ He [continued and] said to him: ‘If a son of gentiles comes to you and says: ‘I wish to become a Jew,’ provided that he will be circumcised on the day of Shabbat or on the day of Yom Kippur, does one desecrate Shabbat on his behalf or not? You must say: One does not desecrate, because one desecrates Shabbat and Yom Kippur only on behalf of the son of an Israelite man and an Israelite woman.’ He said to [Rabbi Ḥagai]: ‘From where [is this derived]?’ [Rabbi Ḥagai] said to him: ‘Bend over, [it is derived from the following verse:] “To send away all the wives and those born from them”’ (Ezra 10:3). He said to [Rabbi Ḥagai]: ‘Are you flogging me based on a verse in Writings?’ [Rabbi Ḥagai] said to him: ‘It is as it is written: “And let it be done in accordance with the Torah”’ (Ezra 10:3). He said to [Rabbi Ḥagai]: ‘From what [source in the] Torah?’ [Rabbi Ḥagai said:] ‘It is as it says: “You shall not marry them” (Deuteronomy 7:3). Why? “For they will cause your child to turn away” (Deuteronomy 7:4) – a son who emerges from an Israelite woman is called your son, but a son who emerges from a gentile woman or from a maidservant is not called your son, but rather, her son.’ He said to him:¹³⁶Yaakov of Nevurya said this to Rabbi Ḥagai. Alternatively, Rabbi Ḥagai said this to the individual whose job it was to administer the flogging. ‘Flog your floggings, as it is good for internalization.’
Solomon said: On all these I stood and examined, but the portion of the red heifer I analyzed. When I was toiling in it and expounding and investigating it: “I said: I will become wise, but it is far from me” (Ecclesiastes 7:23).

Rabbi said: Abraham did not delay aught with reference to all (things) which He commanded him, as it is said, "And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised" (Gen. 17:12); and when Isaac was born, (and when) he was eight days old (Abraham) brought him to be circumcised, as it is said, "And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old" (Gen. 21:4). Hence thou mayest learn that everyone who brings his son for circumcision is as though (he were) a high priest bringing his meal offering and his drink offering upon the top of the altar. Hence the sages said: A man is bound to make festivities and a banquet on that day when he has the merit of having his son circumcised, like Abraham our father, who circumcised his son, as it is said, "And Abraham circumcised || his son Isaac" (ibid.).

(5) R' Yishmael and R' Akiva: R' Yishmael says, Avraham was a High Priest, as it says (Ps. 110:4), "The LORD has sworn and will not relent, 'You are a priest forever, etc.'" and it says elsewhere (Gen. 17:11), "You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin." From where should he be circumcised? If he is circumcised from the ear, he is not fit to offer sacrifices. From the mouth, he is not fit to offer sacrifices. From the heart, he is not fit to offer sacrifices. Where should he be circumcised so that he will be fit to offer sacrifices? You must say it is the foreskin of the body. R' Akiva says, there are four foreskins. Foreskin is said with regard to the ear (Jer. 6:10): "Their ears are blocked." Foreskin is said with regard to the mouth (Exod. 6:12): "me, a man of impeded lips." Foreskin is said with regard to the heart (Jer. 9:25): "but all the House of Israel are uncircumcised of heart." Foreskin is said with regard to the body (Gen. 17:14): "male who is uncircumcised [one who is uncircumcised in his maleness]." It was said to him, (Gen. 17:1): "Walk in My ways and be blameless/whole." If he is circumcised from the ear, he is not whole; from the mouth, he is not whole; from the heart, he is not whole. From where should he be circumcised so that he will be whole? You must say it is the foreskin of the body. Scripture says (Gen. 17:11-12), "[You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and that shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you.] And throughout the generations, every male among you shall be circumcised at the age of eight days." If he is circumcised from the ear, he cannot hear; from the mouth, he cannot speak; from the heart, he cannot think. From where should he be circumcised so that he can think? This is the foreskin of the body. R' Tanhuma said, tis Scripture makes sense (Gen. 17:14): "male who is uncircumcised [one who is uncircumcised in his maleness]." And does there exist one who is uncircumcised in femaleness? Rather, from the place where it is recognized whether male or female -- from there we circumcise him.