There is no firmer guarantee of legal security peace or personal loyalty than the covenant (e.g., Amos 1:9). (2) Accompanied by (a) signs (also witnesses, memorials, shared meals) (b) sacrifices, (c) solemn, binding oaths - sealing the relationship with promises of blessing for keeping the covenant and curses for breaking the covenant (d) Sometimes with written document on which the words of the covenant, its terms in the form of promises and stipulations were spelled out, witnessed to, signed and sealed. It is spoken of as “a covenant of the Lord” because the Lord witnessed the transaction and protected the legal order.

TWOT adds that…Īpart from blood ties the covenant was the way people of the ancient world formed wider relationships with each other The accounts of the relationship between David and Jonathan are the only unequivocal mention of a compact between two individuals in the Old Testament (1Sa 18:3 20:8 23:18). (1) Between two parties (sometimes equal, other times superior to inferior) - (a) nations - (peace) treaty, alliance of friendship (b) individuals - a pledge or agreement with mutual obligations to each other (c) monarch and subjects (2Sa 3:21, 5:3, 1Chr 11:3) - a constitution (d) God and man - Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, New Covenants. OT covenants were made between God and man (eg, God with Noah - Ge 6:18, with Abram - Ge 15:18) or between men (Abraham and Abimelech - Ge 21:27, Isaac and Abimelech - Ge 26:28, Jacob and Laban - Ge 31:44) ( For summary of covenants see - Covenant in the Bible). Covenant is a solemn, binding arrangement between two parties and entails a variety of responsibilities, benefits and penalties depending on the specific covenant which is being studied. As discussed more below beriyth describes a compact made by passing between pieces of flesh.

Covenant (01285)( berit/berith/beriyth) means covenant, treaty, compact, agreement between two parties (first use in God's covenant with Noah - Ge 6:18, 9:9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17).

Suzerain treaty genesis 15