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According to the
The covenant was formalized as God commanded Abraham to divide livestock and poultry into two pieces.
In a similar Covenant is mentioned
According to the Hebrew Bible
The Hebrew Bible or Tanakh (;"Tanach"
. '' Jewish History Jewish history is the history of the Jews, their Jewish peoplehood, nation, Judaism, religion, and Jewish culture, culture, as it developed and interacted with other peoples, religions and cultures. Jews originated from the Israelites and H ...
. In this central narrative . '' Jewish History Jewish history is the history of the Jews, their Jewish peoplehood, nation, Judaism, religion, and Jewish culture, culture, as it developed and interacted with other peoples, religions and cultures. Jews originated from the Israelites and H ...
God
In monotheistic belief systems, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. In polytheistic belief systems, a god is "a spirit or being believed to have created, or for controlling some part of the un ...
revealed himself to Abraham
Abraham (originally Abram) is the common Hebrews, Hebrew Patriarchs (Bible), patriarch of the Abrahamic religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In Judaism, he is the founding father who began the Covenant (biblical), covenanta ...
and made a covenant with him (in the site known nowadays as Mount Betarim), in which God announced to Abraham that his descendants would eventually inherit the Land of Israel
The Land of Israel () is the traditional Jewish name for an area of the Southern Levant. Related biblical, religious and historical English terms include the Land of Canaan, the Promised Land, the Holy Land, and Palestine. The definition ...
.
This was the first of a series of covenants made between God and the Patriarchs.
Biblical narrative
According to the biblical story, in Abram’s most important encounter is recorded when the Abrahamic God made a covenant with him. The day started with a vision where Abram expressed his concerns about being childless, thinking his estate will be inherited by Eliezer of Damascus, a servant of his. God then reminds him of his original promise to make him a father of a “great nation” and then revealed that he would have a son born to him. () Later that day, at the drawing of the evening, Abram fell into a deep sleep where he encountered God again. God then prophesied to Abram that the nation born to him would be removed to another land where they must be trialed for four hundred years and afterward, they would be greatly blessed with many possessions and occupy their own land. This prophecy was that of the Israelites in subjection to Egypt, for four hundred years, before returning back to Canaan to claim it as their own. () It was on this occasion that Abram entered into a covenant with God whopromised land
In the Abrahamic religions, the "Promised Land" ( ) refers to a swath of territory in the Levant that was bestowed upon Abraham and his descendants by God in Abrahamic religions, God. In the context of the Bible, these descendants are originally ...
his offspring would inherit:
The covenant was formalized as God commanded Abraham to divide livestock and poultry into two pieces.
In a similar Covenant is mentioned
Modern scholarship
Covenants in biblical times were often sealed by severing an animal, with the implication that the party who breaks the covenant will suffer a similar fate. In Hebrew, the verb meaning to seal a covenant translates literally as "to cut".Evolution of Covenant
In the biblical context, "to seal a covenant" signified a solemn and binding agreement between God and humanity. It represented a divine promise that was accompanied by specific rituals and obligations. For instance, the covenant between God and Abraham, as recounted in Genesis 15, involved animal sacrifices and a symbolic passage between the split pieces of the animals, symbolizing the irrevocable nature of the pact. Over time, the concept of sealing a covenant extended beyond its biblical origins to encompass various cultural and social contexts. In ancient civilizations, covenants were often invoked to solidify alliances, establish peace treaties, and regulate trade agreements. The act of sealing a covenant often involved physical gestures, such as the exchange of objects or the performance of rituals, to reinforce the commitment and strengthen the bond between the parties involved. In modern times, the term "to seal a covenant" has retained its symbolic significance, particularly in Jewish and Christian traditions. For Jews, the covenant represents the enduring relationship between God and the Jewish people, symbolized by the Torah and the observance of its laws. The concept of sealing a covenant underscores the reciprocal obligations of both parties – God's promise of protection and blessings in exchange for the Jewish people's adherence to divine commandments. In Christianity, the notion of sealing a covenant finds expression in the New Testament, particularly in the writings of Paul the Apostle. Paul uses the imagery of a sealed document to represent the believer's salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is considered the "seal of approval" on the believer's heart, guaranteeing their inheritance in the kingdom of God. The modern understanding of sealing a covenant emphasizes its spiritual and personal dimensions. It represents a commitment to a set of values, principles, and beliefs that shape one's identity and guide one's actions. The act of sealing a covenant is often associated with significant life events, such as marriage, religious conversion, or personal commitments to self-improvement.See also
* Binding of IsaacReferences
{{DEFAULTSORT:Covenant of the pieces Abraham Book of Genesis Animal sacrifice Lech-Lecha Covenants in the Hebrew Bible Theophanies in the Hebrew Bible