God's covenant with Israel has been a central theme in the study of the Old Testament since ancient times and has been a particularly prominent issue in biblical study during the last hundred years. This book shows that the debate over the covenant held during the last century has made it possible for us to see far more clearly than before how crucial the covenant idea was in the development of the faith of Israel. Far from being merely one among a wide range of terms and ideas that emerged and flourished, "covenant" is a central theme that provided a unique way of looking at the relationship between God and his chosen people.