ma.lal marks the commanded circumcision in Joshua and also occurs in a poetic comparison of disappearance in Psalm.

The imperative in Joshua 5:2 directly commands Joshua to circumcise Israel’s sons, while Psalm 58:8 uses a Hithpael form within comparisons of a melting snail and miscarriage; the translation does not make that form’s specific contribution certain.

1. Command to circumcise · dominant

   In Joshua 5:2, the Qal imperative singular addresses Joshua in the command concerning the sons of Israel. The APB renders the clause, “circumcise the sons of Israel a second time.”

   Joshua 5:2
2. Hithpael in a poetic fading comparison · rare

   In Psalm 58:8, the Hithpael imperfect plural occurs in a verse comparing a person or people with a melting snail and a miscarriage that does not see the sun. The APB’s wording places the form in this image, but its specific English correspondence is not clear from the unaligned translation.

   Psalm 58:8

In the Anselm Project Bible: Joshua 5:2 plainly presents the command as “circumcise the sons of Israel a second time.” In Psalm 58:8, the APB gives the image “Like a melting snail,”, so the form’s precise rendering cannot be isolated.