Old Testiment Covenants

God was seeking to have a bridge set up for communication and fellowship between His chosen people and Him. The significance of covenants is shown throughout the Pentateuch in relationship between man and God. A covenant has three distinctive parts the offer, the terms, and the acceptance. The religious use of the term covenant always referred to a relationship between greater and a lesser partner. The covenant between God and Israel in Exodus and Deuteronomy can be compared to the Hittite suzerainty-treaties. This treaty was made between the king and his vassal. The two major covenants mentioned in the Pentateuch are the Abrahamic covenant in Genesis and the Sinai covenant in Exodus, later refreshed in Deuteronomy. These covenants affected the relationship between Israel and God.

Wolf states, “A covenant is a sworn agreement between two parties, where no blood relation exists.” The anatomy of a covenant is broken into three parts. First there is the offer, which the communication of a promise, the terms of which are definite and certain, given with the intent to incur legal obligation, together with that which is excepted in return. Second, the

With the Abrahamic covenant we see that all the men that were descendents of Abraham had to be circumcised. The sign for the covenant that was made at Sinai was the observance of the Sabbath. These signs were practiced showing submission to God, giving to Him all the authority in their lives. Covenants gave God the capability to enter in a relationship with man.

And in the Sinai Covenant we see that the king is God. The most striking similarity between treaties and Old Testament covenants is in their form, in their basic outline. “In both treaties and covenants, the basis of the stipulations is the undeserved favour of the overlord.”( Wenham) Stipulations or laws come after the vassal has been reminded of what the treaty-lord has done for him.(Wenham) He is expected to obey the stipulations out of gratitude. Similarity in the Old Testament, law follows grace.

covenant brought man into fellowship with God and shows the total consecration to the Lord, which was symbolized by circumcision. Abraham and the male descendents were required to be circumcised as a sign of the covenant. After the passing of several centuries we see the Israelites God’s chosen people enslaved in Egypt. God raised up a man named Moses that was used by God to lead the

Some topics in this essay:
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