Zero indication that a rabbi "went down" on baby Jesus. You know what they say about "assuming."
So tell us was Jesus who was born and raised a Jew in ancient Israel circumcised, and by what method do you think he was:
“In ancient Israel, the primary method for cleansing the circumcision wound, particularly in the rabbinic period, was the practice of
oral suction (
metzitzah b'peh). Other materials used for general wound care in antiquity, which may have also been applied, included natural substances like
oil, wine, and honey.
Primary Method: Oral Suction (
Metzitzah b'peh)
The rabbinic tradition incorporated
metzitzah (suction of the surgical site) as an essential third step of the
brit milah ritual, following the excision of the foreskin (
milah) and the stripping of the underlying membrane (
peri'ah)
- Rationale: This was considered the recognized hygienic method at the time, predicated on Hellenistic theories of pathophysiology, which suggested that drawing blood from the wound would prevent infection. The Talmud states that a circumciser who did not perform this step was a danger to the child and should be removed from his position.
- Process: Traditionally, the mohel (ritual circumciser) used his mouth to suck the blood directly from the wound and then spit it out.
Other Potential Wound Treatments
While
metzitzah was specific to the ritual, general medical knowledge of the time suggests other substances with antiseptic or healing properties were likely used for wound care in the broader ancient Israelite culture:
- Oil and Wine: The parable of the Good Samaritan mentions pouring oil and wine into wounds. Wine and vinegar were known for their antiseptic qualities, capable of killing a range of bacteria, while oil served as a soothing and protective agent.
- Honey: Ancient Egyptians, with whom the Israelites had contact, used honey as a standard topical treatment for wounds due to its natural antibiotic properties.
- Herbal Balms: The use of cumin as a balm is mentioned in rabbinic sources, and biblical texts refer to various aromatic plants and oils like myrrh, cinnamon, and frankincense, some of which possess antiseptic qualities.
In modern times, due to the risks of infection associated with direct oral suction most Jewish communities have replaced
metzitzah b'pehwith the use of a sterile pipette or gauze to draw the blood, adhering to the traditional principle of safety with modern hygiene standards.