GC

Abrahamic Covenant 🍤⛰️

  1. The first covenant was between God and Abraham. Abraham was the first of the founders of Judaism. Jews call him Avraham Avinu (our Father Abraham)

  2. God told Abraham to leave his home and go to Canaan

    • “The whole land of Canaan… I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants … and I will be their God” (Genesis 17:8)

  3. God promised to give Abraham and his wife Sarah a child, and to protect them and their descendants as his chosen people. In return, God asked Abraham and his descendants (Israelites) to obey God and lead by example

  4. He asked for all of their male descendants to be circumcised as a sign of this covenant

    • Israel, in the Middle East, is a state that was founded in 1948 in roughly the same area as Canaan had been. Many Jews see the state of Israel as the fulfilment of the promise of the Promised Land. However, some Orthodox Jews believe that Jews shouldn’t have created the state themselves - they should have waited for God’s action. Many Reformed Jews only became supportive of the formation of a Jewish state after the Holocaust, in which 6 million Jews were killed by the Nazis

Mark Scheme Evaluation - ‘the most important covenant is the one with Abraham’

Arguments in support

  • This covenant meant the Jews would believe in One God / basis for whole faith / including all practices (which are based on beliefs).

  • Abraham seen as father of faith / suggests this covenant came as original form of Judaism / I am going to bless you, and through you bring a blessing to the world - Genesis 12:1-3.

  • Mark of the covenant - circumcision / still practised in Judaism today / all converted males have to be circumcised

  • This was the beginning of the idea of a Promised Land / still relevant as Israel is the only Jewish state in the world / desire from all Jews to 'return to Israel' - whether temporary or permanently / shows the importance of the Promised Land even today etc.

Arguments in support of other views

  • There are many other covenants / eg covenant with Noah / so how can we say one is the most important?

  • Covenant with Moses at Sinai / gave laws to Jews / allows them to show obedience to God / Many Orthodox (especially strictly Orthodox) have the attitude that the law is all.

  • Covenant with Moses followed release of whole Israelite nation and was with whole nation /
    Abrahamic covenant was with Abraham and family and descendants / binding on fewer people.

  • Symbol of covenant with Moses - Ten Commandments / displayed prominently in every synagogue / shows importance of law and that covenant.

  • Covenant may be understood in personal terms / eg the covenant with one's spouse at marriage, etc.