05_Biblica_1_A_Ferda_Layout 1 30/01/13 13:17 Pagina 571 05_B “SEALED” WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT (EPH 1,13-14) AND CIRCUMCISION 571 (Israelites) [bears] the seal of circumcision upon his flesh, just as it was sealed upon the flesh of Abraham their Father” 47. Again, the seal is connected with Abraham as in Romans 4 and functions to mark out his descendants in the covenant. The Targum probably contains traditions that date to Second Temple times, but it is impossible to know for sure 48. One finds a similar idea in liturgical prayers and benedictions in the rabbinic literature. In the Passover Haggadah one thanks God “for thy covenant which thou hast sealed in our flesh”, referring to circumcision 49. So too, in the benedictions recited during the cir- cumcision ceremony, the Jerusalem and Babylonian Talmuds record: Praised (be the One) Who sanctified the beloved from the womb, Who put a statute in his flesh, and sealed his descendants with a holy sign of the covenant; therefore, as a reward for this, O living God, our part, our rock, command to save the beloved of our flesh from destruction. Praised are You, O Eternal, Who seals the covenant (y. Ber. 9.3) 50. He who circumcises must recite, ‘Who hast sanctified the beloved one from the womb; He set a statute in his flesh, and his offspring he sealed with the sign of the holy covenant. Therefore as a reward for this, O living God Who art our portion, give command to save the beloved of our flesh from the pit, for the sake of Thy covenant which Thou hast set in our flesh. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, Who makest the covenant (b. Šabb. 137b) 51. These benedictions refer to Abraham, his offspring, the covenant, and call circumcision a “sign” which echoes Gen 17,11 like Paul in Romans 4. As liturgical compositions – e.g., intended for repeated use in community gatherings – the nature of the genre Translated by P.S. ALEXANDER, The Targum of Canticles (The Aramaic 47 Bible 17a; Collegeville, MN 1987) 125-126. Alexander believes that the ref- erence to baptism as “seal” is an old tradition. ALEXANDER, The Targum of Canticles, 55, believes that some traditions 48 found in the Targum are from the Second Temple period. Cited in MCKNIGHT, “Covenant and Spirit: The Origins of the New 49 Covenant Hermeneutic”, The Holy Spirit and Christian Origins, 47. Translated by H.W. GUGGENHEIMER, Jerusalem Talmud, First Order. 50 Zeraïm Tractate Berakhot (Berlin – New York, NY 2000) 657. Translated by I. EPSTEIN, The Babylonian Talmud (London 1938) 692. 51 © Gregorian Biblical Press 2012 - Tutti i diritti riservati