The Study on the Covenants of the Bible

A covenant is the binding together of two parties. Called a Treaty today, a covenant is prepared between two warring parties. However, the covenants in Bible between G-d and man were not because of a war, they were initiated by G-d to help man and to bring about the Salvation of all mankind.
Covenant comes from the Hebrew word "Brit" meaning to "Cut". When a covenant was going to take a place there were animals collected and these animals were sacrificed for 2 reasons. One was for food that both parties would eat. The second reason was it was a form of reminder. To break the covenant meant that they (the one that broke the covenant) would be like the animal that they sacrificed.
God made a covenant with Abram, God promised that if He broke the covenant He would be like the animals that Abram sacrificed. Abram cut the heifer, female goat, and ram. As stated above, both parties usually walked through the midst of the animals, but in this case, only G-d did. This way G-d was making a promise not Abram.
The other common feature in a covenant was the "sign" of the covenant. This would be an outward, visible reminded for both parties of the covenant they made, and it is terms.

What defines a Covenant in the Bible. Six things were most common in these five Covenants, in no particular order.
1. Both parties sacrifice an animal.
2. Both Parties make an agreement.
3. One or both parties make promises.
4. The stronger party makes commands.
5. How long is the Covenant?
6. Sign of the Covenant


The Covenants are as follows:
1. Noah
2. Abraham
3. Moses
4. David
5. New Covenant

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