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YEHOVAH's "special treasure" -- Israel -- are held ACCOUNTABLE for keeping the laws and
the commandments of YEHOVAH. All the promises of YEHOVAH were given to this people.
YEHOVAH started His plan of redemption with this people through the covenant and promises
given to Abraham. YEHOVAH states, in Genesis 17:7, that this covenant was given to Abraham
AND to his seed after him (Israel):

"And I will establish MY COVENANT between Me and thee and thy seed after thee in
their generations for an EVERLASTING COVENANT, to be a God unto thee, and to thy
seed after thee (KJV)."

This was to be an everlasting covenant with YEHOVAH being the true God to Abraham
and to Abraham's physical seed after him. THIS was the covenant and the faith that the New Testa-
ment Church of YEHOVAH was established and built upon! This fact is clearly shown by many
New Testament scriptures. Notice Galatians 3:17: "Further, I say this: As to the covenant previ-
ously validated by God, the Law that has come into being four hundred and thirty years later does
not invalidate it, so as to abolish the promise" (The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the
Greek Scriptures). The covenant mentioned here in this verse was only for a people called Israel
-- starting with Abraham. Four hundred and thirty years later YEHOVAH raised up Moses and re-
vealed His plan of redemption to His people Israel by the laws of the Old Covenant. Of course, the
redemption process was dependent upon Israel obeying the laws of the covenant.

YEHOVAH deals with His people through covenants. A covenant is a pledge and an
agreement, and must be honored by BOTH parties involved! Since it is impossible for YEHOVAH
to lie, He will always keep His part in honoring a covenant! See Hebrews 6:18: "...that by two im-
mutable things, in which IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO LIE, we might have strong consola-
tion, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us."

The nation of Israel faithfully promised to honor and obey the Old Covenant as given by
Moses: "Then all the people answered together and said, 'All that YEHOVAH has spoken we will
do.' So Moses brought back the words of the people to YEHOVAH" (Exodus 19:8). Unfortunately,
the Israelites didn't keep their side of the agreement for long. The history of Israel is nothing more
than a record of them either obeying or disobeying the Old Covenant. When they obeyed the cove-
nant they were blessed; when they disobeyed the covenant they were cursed. "Behold, I set before
you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of YEHOVAH your
God which I commanded you today; and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of YE-
HOVAH your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods
which you have not known" (Deuteronomy 11:26-28).

YEHOVAH God always sent prophets to warn Israel to turn back from their evil ways if
they disobeyed the covenant given to them through Moses. This is the theme and story flow
throughout the Old Testament -- starting with Moses.

The Division of Israel

During the reign of David's son Solomon, Israel was divided into two nations. The ten
northern tribes were called the "House of Israel" and the two southern tribes the "House of Judah."

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