At that time] To wit, after they were passed Jordan, and were now entred into the land of promise. sharp knives] The Chaldee paraphrase hath it, sharp rasours. circumcise] Hebr. turn again, circumcise; that is, circumcise again: an Hebrew manner of speaking. The like used, Numbers 11:4. Psalms 85:7. Ezekiel 8:6. It was first commanded unto Abraham and his seed, and by him observed; but omitted in the wildernesse, at least from the Spies returning from searching the land, which was the second yeer after their coming out of Egypt, either out of their neglect of Gods holy Sacrament, or because they were to remove from place to place at Gods appointment; which they could not do without great danger and hurt to those who were newly, circumcised. See 5: 8. for though sometime they encamped long in a place, yet all that while they had no assurance of their abode there, but were still at an hours warning to remove: And now the LORD requireth that circumcision should be restored to its primitive use.