4.2 The Hebrew ritual for cutting a covenant

Two Hebrews can enter into a covenant by going through a very specific ceremony.

1. Give your robe to the other person. A person’s robe signifies the person. You are symbolically saying, “All that I am I give to you.” (1 Sam 18:4)

2. Give your belt to the other person. The belt holds the person’s weapons and armor. You are symbolically saying, “I will protect you and fight for you.” (1 Sam 18:4)

3. Cut the covenant. This is the most important step for a covenant requires the shedding of blood. An animal is split into two and the covenant partners walk between the two halves. They are symbolically saying, “We are dying to ourselves in order to be in union with the other.” (Genesis 15:9-17)

4. Make a scar. They would cut their arm to make a scar. The scar will bear witness that the testimony had been made. It is a sign and a guarantee of the covenant. When God entered into covenant with Abraham, the seal of the covenant was circumcision. (Genesis 17:10-11)

5. Exchange names. When God entered into covenant with Abraham, his name was changed to Abraham. The “h” sound comes from God’s name Yahweh. (Genesis 17:5)

6. Give the covenant terms. God’s covenant terms to Abraham include the promise of descendants and the promised land of Canaan (Genesis 17:6-8). God’s requirement from Abraham was circumcision (Genesis 17:9-11).

7. Eat a memorial meal (Genesis 26:28-31). In place of the animal and blood, we have the bread and wine. The bread represents our flesh and the blood represents our life. You are symbolically saying, “My body and my life are yours.”

8. Plant a memorial. A tree is planted to remind them of their covenant (Genesis 21:32).

(Reference: The Miracle of the Scarlet Thread by Richard Booker, Destiny Image)

During the tribal days in Africa, it would be advantageous for a weaker tribe to enter into covenant relationship with a stronger tribe. That would raise their status, ensure they are protected and guarantee their survival.

A weakly sinner is a slave to Satan and he lives under the curse of sin. If the sinner can be in covenant relationship with God, then everything would change for the better, wouldn’t it? It would be like a dream come true. But how could a sinner enter into relationship with a holy God? This is the barrier that separates man from God.

In the next lesson, we will show you the two approaches to dealing with this sin problem under the Old and New Covenants.