AQA · GCSE · Religious Studies
Course version: 8062 · Version from Sept 2018
The promised land and the Covenant with Abraham, Genesis 12:1-3.
Full specification wording
Judaism - 3.1.6.1 Beliefs and teachings: The promised land and the Covenant with Abraham, Genesis 12:1-3.
The Abrahamic Covenant marks the foundational agreement between God and the first patriarch, Abraham.
- Point 10 of 15
- 3 key terms
Study notes
From the teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
The Abrahamic Covenant marks the foundational agreement between God and the first patriarch, Abraham. In Genesis 12:1-3, God commands Abraham to leave his home and travel to Canaan, which becomes the Promised Land. God makes three key promises: to make Abraham a great nation, to bless him, and to bless all families of the earth through him. This covenant establishes the Jewish claim to the land of Israel as a divine gift. In return, Abraham demonstrates absolute faith and obedience. This narrative is crucial because it initiates the concept of the Jews as God's chosen people, bound by a specific territorial and spiritual destiny.
What earns the marks
- Identify Abraham as the first patriarch and the founder of Judaism.
- Explain the promises made by God in Genesis 12:1-3: land, descendants, and blessing.
- Explain the significance of the Promised Land (Canaan/Israel) as a central element of the Abrahamic Covenant.
- Discuss Abraham's role in the covenant, specifically his unwavering faith and obedience in leaving his homeland.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Confusing the Abrahamic Covenant with the Mosaic Covenant.
Put it right by specifying that Abraham received the promise of land and descendants, whereas Moses received the Torah and the 613 mitzvot.
Stating that Abraham was given the Ten Commandments.
Put it right by clarifying that Abraham's covenant was based on faith and the promise of land, long before the commandments were given at Sinai.
Misidentifying the location of the Promised Land.
Put it right by ensuring the Promised Land is identified as Canaan, which corresponds to the historical and modern land of Israel.
Exam tips
- Memorise the core elements of Genesis 12:1-3 (land, descendants, blessing) to use as direct evidence in your answers.
- When discussing the modern State of Israel, reference the Abrahamic Covenant to explain its religious significance to Jewish people today.
- Contrast Abraham's covenant of faith and land with Moses' covenant of law to show a deep understanding of Jewish history.
Try the lesson
The start of the Judaism - 3.1.6.1 Beliefs and teachings: The promised land and the Covenant with Abraham, Genesis 12:1-3. lesson, made from teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
According to Genesis 12:1-3, what did God promise to give Abraham as part of the Covenant?
Listen
The Abrahamic Covenant marks the foundational agreement between God and the first patriarch, Abraham. In Genesis 12:1-3, God commands Abraham to leave his home and travel to Canaan, which becomes the Promised Land. God makes three key promises: to make Abraham a great nation, to bless him, and to bless all families of the earth through him. This covenant establishes the Jewish claim to the land of Israel as a divine gift. In return, Abraham demonstrates absolute faith and obedience. This narrative is crucial because it initiates the concept of the Jews as God's chosen people, bound by a specific territorial and spiritual destiny. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Identify Abraham as the first patriarch and the founder of Judaism. Explain the promises made by God in Genesis 12:1-3: land, descendants, and blessing. Explain the significance of the Promised Land (Canaan/Israel) as a central element of the Abrahamic Covenant. Discuss Abraham's role in the covenant, specifically his unwavering faith and obedience in leaving his homeland. A common slip: Confusing the Abrahamic Covenant with the Mosaic Covenant. Instead, specifying that Abraham received the promise of land and descendants, whereas Moses received the Torah and the 613 mitzvot. Exam tip: Memorise the core elements of Genesis 12:1-3 (land, descendants, blessing) to use as direct evidence in your answers.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
The Promised Land
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Patriarchs
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Divine Promises
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See every definition
- The Promised Land
- Canaan, to which God commands Abraham to travel, becomes this and is a central element of the Abrahamic Covenant.
- Patriarchs
- Abraham is the first of these, and the Abrahamic Covenant marks the foundational agreement between God and him.
- Divine Promises
- God promises to make Abraham a great nation, to bless him, and to bless all families of the earth through him.
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