Radcliffe Emerson

And even the messianic expectations at Qumran I don't think indicate the expected messiah would be divine. As I recall, the Essenes believed two messiahs were coming.

mibby529

Tribal deities usually focus on a particular ethnic group. That's why they're called tribal deities. In fact, even today, most religions require an empirical knowledge of the cultural milieu. (In short, requiring that you be a member of a particular ethnic group.) But Xians seem to think that ANY knowledge of 1st-century Palestine is a sin.

Now, having a chosen people while simultaneously claiming to be universal is simply racist. Examples include the Nation of Islam and the Identist cult.

@FunkyRes:
From what I've read, you're right. The Egyptians circumcised their priests, and the ritual circumcision of Jews could easily be symbolic of priesthood.