In the context of Sabbath law, a number of issues pertaining to children, birth, and circumcision are discussed. Circumcision was a central rite connected with Jewish identity in the ancient world. Its status as a positive commandment meant that it overrode the Sabbath prohibitions.

18-2 …Calves and young donkeys may be pulled along in the public domain on the Sabbath. A woman may pull her child along. Rabbi Judah said, “When is this the case? When the child lifts up one leg and puts down the other; if he only drags his legs, it is forbidden.”

18-3 It is forbidden to deliver cattle of their offspring on the festival day, but it is permitted to assist the newborn animal. But it is permitted to deliver a woman of her baby on the Sabbath and to summon a midwife from one place to another, and to violate the Sabbath for the mother’s sake and to tie up the umbilical cord. Rabbi Yose says, “It is also permitted to cut it. And all that is necessary for circumcision is permitted on the Sabbath.”

19-5 A baby boy is circumcised on the eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, or twelfth day after his birth, but never earlier or later. How is this? According to the usual way, it is done on the eighth day. If he was born at twilight,¹⁹² he is circumcised on the ninth day.¹⁹³ If he was born at twilight on the eve of the Sabbath, he is circumcised on the tenth day. If a festival day falls after that Sabbath, he is circumcised on the eleventh day. If the two festival days of the New Year fall after that Sabbath, he is circumcised on the twelfth day. A sick baby is not circumcised until he becomes well.

191. Trans. S. Berrin.

192. When there is a doubt over whether it is part of the previous day or the next.

193. It is permitted to set aside the Sabbath regulations only to circumcise a boy on what is definitely his eighth day.