‘An agreement between two contracting parties, originally sealed with blood; a bond, or a law; a permanent religious dispensation. The old, primitive way of concluding a covenant was for the covenanters to cut into each other’s arm and suck the blood, the mixing of the blood rendering them ‘brothers of the covenant’. (Jewish Encyclopaedia online)

B’RIT (COVENANT)

B’rit, the Hebrew word for Covenant appears 270 times in the Hebrew Bible.

It means covenant, pact or treaty

Ancient covenants were made by animal sacrifice hence the phrase ‘to cut a covenant’

B’rit implies the shedding of blood in the process of making an agreement.

SUZERAINTY-VASSAL TREATY

Agreement between two unequal parties, one of higher status, one of lower status

Alliance between a great monarch and subject king

Monarch has no duties

Subject king pledges allegiance to monarch

Monarch keeps own borders secure

Serves interests of suzerain, monarch

PARITY TREATY Between two parties of

equal power and social status

Two monarchs forming an alliance for mutual aid

Two merchants forming a trade agreement

Marriage contract between the father of the bride and the groom

LAND GRANT

Free gift of land to faithful subject of a great monarch or servant of a wealthy landowner

Greater party binds self to the treaty

Lesser party benefits from the gift, but may not be bound to any specific stipulations, either before or after reception of the land grant

CALL TO PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP

G-D

DAVID

MOSES

JACOB ISAAC

ABRAHAM

NOAH

NOAH (Genesis 9:1-17)

Rainbow is the sign of the covenant G-d made with Noah.

Never again would the earth be destroyed by a flood.

Stresses sanctity of life, refers to all of humanity

NOAHIDE LAWS

to establish courts of justice;

not to commit blasphemy;

not to commit idolatry;

not to commit incest and adultery;

not to commit bloodshed;

not to commit robbery; and

not to eat flesh cut from a living animal.

ABRAHAM Abraham: with single individual like suzerainty

making land grant, ratification of oath, parties would pass between split carcass of an animal (Genesis 15). Abraham cuts sacrificial animals in two and G-d passes between two halves.

Only G-d is obligated to fulfill promise. Abraham has no obligation in return. Subject (Abraham) benefits not suzerain (G-D).

G-d owner of land and is empowered to set conditions like a landlord. Current owners polluting it with bloodshed and idolatry and when it’s completely polluted it will throw out its inhabitants. Israelites have to wait.

Covenant not due to favoritism or merit. G-d is seeking replacement tenants who will follow moral rules of residence which he has established for his land.

Genesis 17 is a second version of the same covenant. G-d adds that a line of kings will come forth from Abraham and that circumcision is perpetual sign of G-d eternal covenant. Rite would normally have been performed in puberty. Ritual has been suffused with new meaning a sign of covenant.

MOSES Road from Egypt led to Sinai. G-d’s redemption is

for a purpose. There in the third month after Exodus and here the covenant is concluded.

Receiving the Torah (Instruction)

Mosaic covenant different to covenant between G-d and Noah or G-d and Abraham

G-d makes no promises beyond being protector of Israel and he sets terms that require obedience to a series of laws and commandments.

Mosaic Covenant is mutual, reciprocal, bilateral and conditional. If Israel doesn’t fulfill their obligations by obeying the Torah or living according to his will as expressed in those laws and instructions, then G-d will not fulfill his obligations of protection towards Israel.

Suzerainty Treaty Parts … Preamble

Historical prologue

Stipulations

Provisions for treaty deposit & public reading

List of Divine witnesses to the treaty

Blessings & curses (for fidelity or infidelity to the treaty)

MOSAIC COVENANT has the same elements…

‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians…’ – G-d’s claim to sovereignty Historical prologue

‘If you obey me faithfully’ …. Stipulations articulated in later (Exodus 20-23)

Moses reads publicly (Exodus 24:7)

Deposited in safe keeping in Ark (Deuteronomy)

The people vow to obey (Exodus 24:3; 7b)

Sacrifice seals oath (Exodus 24:8)

Because it is monotheistic gods cannot be invoked so that heaven and earth are invoked as witnesses (Deuteronomy 4:26; 30:19; 31:28)

Lists of blessings and curses (Leviticus 26 and Deut 28)

Model of Suzerainty Treaty for Mosaic Covenant

Historical prologue grounds obligations of Israel in the history of his acts on Israel’s behalf i.e. historical moment

Historical prologue bridges gap between generations: Israel’s past, present and future generations form a collective entity ‘Israel’ e.g. passover ceremonies today Jews are reminded to see themselves as coming out of Egypt and personally covenanted with G-d.

Israel’s relationship with G-d is told through story. Israel can rely on G-d. The road from Egypt leads to Sinai. Exodus is the story of a relationship expressed in the observance of the commandments and instructions, not just about a miraculous delivery.

Israelites are to treat one another well. Covenant is the basis for social ethics.

Covenant entails exclusive service of G-d.

Covenant precludes alliances with other human competitors. If Israel serves a divine king, Israel cannot serve a human king.

Vassals love for the Suzerain: Covenant bond, they promise to love.

DAVID This covenant is recounted

in 2 Samuel 7

David’s name will be made great

Establishment of a Davidic empire

Allusion to greater permanence and security of place.