VBM The Covenant Between the Parts and the Covenant of Circumcision By Rav Yoel Bin-Nun

God makes three promises to Avraham: the first along with the command, “Go forth…” (lekh-lekha – Bereishit 12:1), the second at Elon Moreh, and the third “to the east of Beit El.” He forges two covenants with him and swears one oath (at the akeida). The oath at the akeida is itself connected to the first promise, through the use of the same command – “lekh lekha” (22:2), which occurs only in these two instances in all of the Tanakh. Thus, the journey to the promised land (the first “lekh lekha”) is bound up with the journey to the place of the Divine Presence, the site of the Temple (the second “lekh lekha”). The structure of this entire system of promises, covenants, and oath can be presented as follows: