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Commentary 1: The Concept of the Covenant
Genesis 12: 1-3
The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your
country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will
show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I
will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless
those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all
peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Genesis 17: 1-11
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and
said, “I am God Almighty;
walk before me faithfully and be blameless.Then I will make my covenant
between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.”
Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, “As for me, this is my
covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer
will you be called Abram;
your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations
I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings
will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting
covenant between me and
you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be
your God and the God of your descendants after you.
The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will
give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after
you; and I will be their God.”
Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you
and your descendants after you for the generations to come.
This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the
covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised.
You are to undergo
circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and
you.
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