Covenant + The Promised Land

Question 1

Three parts to the Abrahamic Covenant?
(+ SOA to back them up?)

Answer 1

1. Abraham will be the father of many nations
2. All baby boys born MUST be circumcised
3. God will protect his people and give them a Promised Land

‘Go from your country…to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation’ (Genesis)
‘Any male who is not circumcised will no longer be considered one of my people’ (Genesis)

Question 2

What does monotheistic mean?

Answer 2

• only believe in one God
  -Judaism is a monotheistic religion, taught by Abraham

Question 3

Summarise Abraham’s life

Answer 3

1. God instructs Abraham to leave his town and go to Cannaan
2. God promises Abraham and his wife Sarah a child, he will have many descendants
3. Sarah has a child named Isaac, as commanded by God
4. God tests Abraham’s faith 10 times - final test is to sacrifice his son
5. God sends an angel to stop Abraham - can see Isaac is faithful enough to follow in his footsteps

Question 4

Who was Moses? Why is he significant to Jews?

Answer 4

• Considered as the FOUNDER of Judasim
  -became an organised religion with written laws
  -Abraham’s covenant ≠ rules
• ORTHODOX - Moses as author of Torah, embodies revelation of God, 613 mitzvot therefore considered commands from God

Question 5

Three parts to the Mosaic Covenant?
(+ SOA to back them up?)

Answer 5

1. God will give the Jews a Promised Land
2. The people must obey the mitzvot
3. They are God’s chosen people, should live a halakhic life, and will therefore protect them

‘If you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own people’ (Exodus)
‘Worship no God but me’ (Exodus)

Question 6

Summarise Moses’ life

Answer 6

1. Moses (Israelite) found by Pharoah’s daughter - all other Jews kept as slaves
2. Burning Bush - God orders Moses to set the Israelites free from slavery, Moses questions himself but then does it
3. Pharoah refuses his offer, God sends the 10 plagues
4. Passover - Jews had to kill a lamb, blood on door, eat matzah (unleavened bread), spirit of God killed all Egyptian first borns
5. Moses parts Red Sea, lead his people for 40 years in desert before finding Promised Land
6. God gives the 10 Commandments/613 mitzvot on Mount Sinai, beginning of the written Law

Question 7

Significance of the Covenant?

Answer 7

• Covenant shows Jews are still in a covenant relationship w/ God, have a responsibilty to show others how to live
• Descendants MUST pass on rules of the covenant
• Shows the everlasting covenant and love God has with his people

‘Teach them to your children and your children’s children, from generation to generation.’ (Deuteronomy)

Question 8

Describe the conflict surrounding the Promised Land?

Answer 8

• Conflict between the Jews (whom were promised this land) and the Palestinians who occupied the place before them
  -forced to share land

Question 9

Divergence about Jewish ideas towards Israel?

Answer 9

• Orthodox - God given land, do not think it’s right to share with the Palestinians, their right to live there
• Years of racisim and anti-Semitism, (1948, state of Israel as a safe place for Jews), must have somewhere safe to live w/ a strong army
• Reform - Jews can also stay in other countries, Palestinians also need a homeland
• God helped Israelites in battle taking back Promised Land - e.g. of God not being all loving? allowing violence