Берешит 17:9 Комментарий: Rashi, Ramban, Kli Yakar & Sforno

ואתה AND AS FOR THEE — This ו (of ואתה) connects this verse with the preceding matter (v. Gensis 17:4, thus setting ואתה of here in contrast with the ואני of there): “As for Me, behold My covenant is with thee” — “and as for thee, thou shalt be careful to keep it”. And what constitutes the “keeping” of it? THIS IS MY COVENANT WHICH YE SHALL KEEP… EVERY MALE AMONGST YOU [SHALL BE CIRCUMCISED].

‘VE’ATAH’ (AND AS FOR THEE), THOU SHALT KEEP MY COVENANT. Rashi commented, “The vav of ve’atah connects the verse with the preceding matter [in Verse 4]: ‘As for Me behold My covenant is with thee, and as for thee, thou shalt be careful to keep it.’ And what constitutes this ‘keeping’ of it? This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you — this applies to those who were then alive; and thy seed after thee⁴¹⁰Verse 10 here. — this applies to those who are yet to be born.” The Rabbi is correct in his interpretation of the plain meaning of the verse.
Now they⁴¹¹This reason is found in the Commentary of R’dak. See also Moreh Nebuchim (III, 49), where other reasons are given. have said concerning the reason for the commandment of circumcision that He has thereby placed a reminder in the organ of lust, which is the source of much trouble and sin, in order that it should not be used excepting where it is commandatory and permissible.
By way of truth,⁴¹²A reference to the mystic teachings of the Torah. See Seder Bereshith, Note 63. the meaning of the verse, Behold, My covenant is with thee,⁴¹³Verse 4 here. is similar in meaning to the verses: Behold, I am with thee;⁴¹⁴Further, 28:15. And He said, Certainly, I will be with thee;⁴¹⁵Exodus 3:12. The Eternal our G-d be with us.⁴¹⁶I Kings 8:57. He is thus saying that the covenant will be with him, and therefore he will be fruitful and multiply. After that He commanded that Abraham keep this covenant, and the circumcision will be as a sign of the covenant. Thus it is that this “sign” is as “the sign” of the Sabbath,⁴¹⁷Concerning the Sabbath, it is also written: It is a sign forever. (Exodus 31:17.) and therefore circumcision sets aside the Sabbath. Understand this.

“And you shall keep My covenant.” What is the meaning of and you and why does it repeat you and your offspring? Here is the explanation: The main commandment was for the sake of his offspring, as they need this external circumcision in order to reach through it the internal circumcision and purity of heart. But you [Abraham], who already have a pure heart, did not need circumcision for your own sake, but rather for the sake of the entire world as mentioned. However, your descendants afterward need circumcision for their own sake. Therefore it says and you with the inclusive vav, meaning that you too shall keep this external covenant. And it gives a second reason for the matter: that if you also keep My covenant, then your offspring will see and do likewise — this is what is meant by you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. And it says this is the covenant which you shall keep between Me and you — meaning for future generations the purpose of circumcision is only to bring them to circumcision of the foreskin of the heart, a matter that is entrusted between Me and you alone. And it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you — that this external circumcision is a revealed sign of the internal covenant that is entrusted to the heart between Me and you. And My covenant shall be in your flesh as an everlasting covenant — meaning a covenant that all who come into the world will recognize. And the Holy One, Blessed be He, repeated this matter several times to teach that the main reason for this external circumcision is to reach through it the internal purity of the heart.