In most hospitals in the U.S., infants are circumcised the same day they are born, but this is not the case in most other countries around the world. Prior to his birthday, I tried to find a hospital to perform his circumcision, but I could not find one. Several days after his brith, I continued to call doctors and visit international clinics, but I was losing hope. Columbia Asia International Hospital had an American doctor on staff, so on Friday, March 31, I went there in person to request his services. His staff said he was out of the country on vacation. I gave up and started home.
While I was on the way home, the doctor called me, stating he was leaving the country that day, but he could perform the circumcision at the clinic before heading to the airport. On the eighth day from his birth, Gabriel was circumcised by Doctor Jeremy Ostrander at Columbia Asia International Hospital.
Yeshua was also circumcised on the eighth day from his birth:
And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Yeshua, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb (Luke 2:21).
This was to follow the instruction given to Abraham:
And God said to Abraham: “As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised (Genesis 17:9-12a).
The eighth day from Yeshua's birth - the day Yeshua was circumcised - was likely also the Eighth Day (Shemini Atzeret) after the seven holy days of Tabernacles (Sukkot). Yeshua was likely born on the first day of Tabernacles.
The Eighth Day (Shemini Atzeret) is a holy day and sabbath distinct from Tabernacles (Sukkot) yet connected to it. Additional sacrifices were offered on Shemini Atzeret, including one bull (compared to the decreasing number over Tabernacles week), symbolizing a more intimate relationship between God and Israel. A special liturgical prayer is recited in synagogues to request rain for the coming season. This marks the start of the rainy season in Israel, which is why Yeshua referred to the Holy Spirit as living water. At the end of time at Judgment Day, God makes all things new and gives eternal life to His people by giving them living water.
Exodus 22:29-30
You shall not delay to offer the first of your ripe produce and your juices. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me. 30 Likewise you shall do with your oxen and your sheep. It shall be with its mother seven days; on the eighth day you shall give it to Me.
Leviticus 23:36
For seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yehovah. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation, and you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yehovah. It is a sacred assembly, and you shall do no customary work on it.
Numbers 29:35-38
35 On the eighth day you shall have a sacred assembly. You shall do no customary work. 36 You shall present a burnt offering, an offering made by fire as a sweet aroma to Yehovah: one bull, one ram, seven lambs in their first year without blemish, 37 and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs, by their number, according to the ordinance; 38 also one goat as a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.
John 7:37-39
37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Yeshua stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Yeshua was not yet glorified.
Revelation 21:6-8
6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”