The Covenant with Abraham

Question 1

Outline three features of the history of the Abrahamic Covenant. (3)

Answer 1

• One feature is that God called Abraham to leave his family in Iraq and travel to Canaan to worship one true God.
• A second feature is that God promised to give the land of Canaan to Abraham’s descendants.
• A third feature is that since Abraham’s wife Sarah couldn’t have children, their maid Hagar had a son named Ishmael.

Question 2

SOWAA for Abraham having children.

Answer 2

‘greatly increase your numbers’

Question 3

SOWAA for Abraham

Answer 3

‘father of many nations’

Question 4

Why did God change Abraham’s name? SOWAA?

Answer 4

To match how God will make him father of many.
‘Your name will be Abraham.’

Question 5

SOWAA for the covenant always being followed.

Answer 5

‘you must keep my covenant… for the generations to come.’

Question 6

SOWAA for Brit Milah?

Answer 6

‘every male among you shall be circumcised.’

Question 7

SOWAA for the importance of Brit Milah.

Answer 7

‘it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.’

Question 8

Explain two reasons why Jews perform Brit Milah? (4)

Answer 8

• One reason is because it is a bodily sign of Israel’s commitment to God. This is important as it is done on the part of the male anatomy that will create the future generations.
• A second reason is because male shouldn’t be satisfied with their imperfect condition. This is because circumcision makes a perfect male without the foreskin.

Question 9

Explain two reasons why some Jews don’t perform Brit Milah. (5)

Answer 9

• One reason is because the Torah forbids altering the human body. This means that through circumcision, the body will be altered. This is supported by ‘you shall not make any cuttings in your flesh.’
• A second reason is because the Torah doesn’t allow humans to be harmed. This means that circumcision isn’t important as any child born to a Jewish mother is already a Jew.

Question 10

Explain two reasons why Brit Milah is important for Jews? (5)

Answer 10

• One reason is because most Jewish baby boys are circumcised usually at eight days old. This is important as the father of the child promises to raise him in the Jewish faith. This is supported by ‘by which our sons enter into the covenant of Abraham our father.’
• A second reason is because some Jews choose not to circumcise their child due to medical concerns. This means that instead, they have Brit Shalom which enters uncircumcised babies into the religion.