What is a covenant in The Bible?

Answer 1

The covenant from Abraham to Moses was that God will take his people to the promised land and all of Abraham's children and descendants will live in the promised land.

Abraham's covenant is found in Genesis 12-17 and Mosaic covenant begins in Exodus 19-24.

Answer:

There are two separate covenants which God made with Abraham; Genesis ch.15 and Genesis ch.17. They took place at different times.

In Genesis ch.15, the Covenant Between the Parts:

a) God informs Abraham of future events (the Egyptian exile)

b) God promises the land of Canaan (Israel) to Abraham's descendants

c) the covenant is finalized through a demonstration of God's presence (see Genesis 15:7-9 and 15:17).

In Genesis ch.17, the covenant of circumcision:

a) although the promises of many descendants (17:2,3) and of inheriting the land of Canaan are repeated (17:8), the main thing in this covenant is the promise that God will be the God of Abraham (17:7, 17:8).

b) God promises that Abraham and Sarah will have a son (17:15-16), whom they will name Isaac (17:19) and who will be the continuation of God's covenant (17:21).

c) the covenant itself is manifested through circumcision, for Abraham and his descendants (17:10).

The covenant with Moses (see Exodus ch.19 and ch.24) is nowhere stated as being between God and Moses. Rather, it's between God and the Israelite nation, with Moses merely serving as the messenger.

This covenant is one of obedience, to listen to God's voice (Exodus 19:5), which will include the entire Torah (24:12). God, for His part, promised to treasure the Israelites (Exodus 19:5; and see also Deuteronomy 26:16-19). The covenant was manifested through God's giving the Ten Commandments (Exodus ch.19-20), and was finalized (on our part) through the sacrifices described in Exodus ch.24.

Answer 2

It's an agreement between God and the descendants of Abraham. It was modified when Jesus Christ lived on Earth and rose from the dead on Easter Sunday.