God's covenant with Abraham, according to Israelite belief, was to make
Abraham a truly great nation, bless Abraham and his name, and bring hell
upon anyone who curses him. He blessed anyone who is linked to Abraham.
Any of Abraham's descendants were to be given the land from the River
Nile to Euphrates, and this land was to be referred to as the Promised
land, or the Land of Israel. Abraham was also to be made the father of
nations, and the whole land of Canaan was to be given to them. The sign
of this promise to Abraham and his male descendants is known as the brit
milah, and refers to the practice of male circumcision in the Jewish
religion. <span />
