The covenant with Abraham involves circumcision, but the practice long predates that covenant
Right. By 'beginnings' I'm meaning with the jews.
I'm not convinced the god that the Jews worship(ped) is the one true God. For their name "Elohim" means many gods. With a masculine prefix and a feminine suffix. Their symbol of worship is a star. Which there are indeed many of.
That's what I mean about differing sources.
Acts 7 41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. 42 Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? 43 Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
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