Judaism: Covenant

Stage 1 Studies in Religion 2013

What does ‘Covenant’ mean?

• It is a Hebrew word meaning an arrangement between two parties.

• In a Religious sense, it is a sacred promise between God and another.

• In Hebrew ‘Brit’ means covenant, pact or treaty.

Who shared a Covenant with God?

• In Judaism there are three particular individuals who shared a special covenant with God: Abraham, Moses & Noah.

What was promised?• From the special bond Abraham, Moses and

Noah shared with God three signs signify and act as a physical reminder of the covenant between God and the Jewish People:

Brit Milah, Keshet, Shabbat.

Abraham’s Covenant• Abraham was called into a profound,

personal and loving relationship with God. Their special bond was the beginning of Judaism.

• Abraham was promised a Holy Land for his people, he was called to go to Canaan and this land was promised to his offspring.

• This is why ownership of land is such a significant factor in the covenant and for Jewish People.

Abraham’s Covenant• He is the Father of Judaism, in

Gen.12; and in Gen.22, after Abraham tried to offer his beloved son in sacrifice:"I swear by my own self, Yahweh declares, because you have done this, because you have not refused me your own beloved son, I will shower blessings on you, and make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven and the grains of sand on the seashore".

Abraham & Brit Milah• Abraham promised that this covenant would be

sealed with the promise of regular circumcision called ‘Brit Milah’ which is the Covenant of Circumcision.

• God said to Abraham, "Such shall be the covenant between Me and you and your offspring to follow which you shall keep: every male among you shall be circumcised. you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and that shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you" (Genesis 17:10-11).

Abraham & Brit Milah• It is performed on every Jewish boy when he

is eight days old and is performed by a Mohel who is an observant Jew educated in the relevant Jewish Law.

Moses’ Covenant•Moses led the Children of Israel out of Egyptian slavery to the Promised land (Canaan, Palestine).•The covenant at Mt Sinai with Moses was about mutual responsibilities between God and the People of Israel.•Moses received the Ten Sayings/ Ten commandments on Mt Sinai which are the central teachings of the Torah.

Moses & Shabbat

• Shabbat is the most important ritual observance in Judaism. It is the only ritual observance instituted in the Ten Commandments which Moses received on Mt Sinai.

• "The Israelite people shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout the ages as a covenant for all time: it shall be a sign for all time between Me and the people of Israel" (Exodus 31:16-17).

Moses & Shabbat

• Shabbat (Sabbath) is primarily a day of rest and spiritual enrichment. The word "Shabbat" comes from the Shin-Beit-Tav, meaning to cease, to end, or to rest.

Noah’s Covenant• Before the time of Abraham, God’s

covenant with Noah was an assurance that the world would never again be destroyed by a flood.

• Noah lived at a time when the whole earth was filled with violence and corruption -- yet Noah did not allow the evil standards of his day to rob him of fellowship with God. He stood out as the only one who "walked with God" (Gen. 6:9),

• People continued in their evil ways and ignored his pleadings and warnings until the flood overtook them.

Noah & Keshet• After Noah's flood ended and mankind

was renewed, God said "This is the sign that I set for the covenant between Me and you, and every living creature with you, for all ages to come. I have set My bow in the clouds, and it shall serve over the earth, and the bow appears in the clouds, I will remember My covenant between Me and you and every living creature among all flesh, so that the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh" (Genesis 9:12-15).

• The physical sign of this promise it the Keshet (Rainbow).

Sources Used:

• http://www.jewfaq.org/index.htm• http://www.padfield.com/2004/covenants.ht

ml• http://www.ijs.org.au/Abraham-and-the-Cov

enant/default.aspx• http://z.about.com/d/atheism/1/0/d/e/Noah

Rainbow.jpg• http://www.godsplanforall.org/images/other

/Moses%20with%20Law%20Cov.JPG• http://prepareformass.files.wordpress.com/2

009/02/noahs_ark_rainbow_covenant_birds.jpg

• http://www.ninevehpresbyterianchurch.org/npc_FP/M/Youth_Group/boat_wp_1024x768.jpg

• http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Glossary/Word_of_the_Week/Archived/Brit/brit.html