Do so to me and more also;- A covenant oath

How was a covenant made in ancient Israel?

The form was probably standard over a wider cultural region, since the Israelites also made covenants with outsiders. For example Abraham with Abimelech at Beersheba (Genesis ch21 v27). There had to be an “international currency” on these things.

A few passages give clues about the ceremonial.

Jeremiah says about one covenant, committing the people of Jerusalem to free their slaves; “The princes of Judah, the princes of Jerusalem, the priests and all the people of the land passed between the parts of the calf” (Jeremiah ch34 v19).

“Passing between the parts” is explained in more detail in the account of Abram’s covenant, Genesis ch15. Abram was told to collect a heifer, a she-goat, a ram, and two birds. He then cut the animals in two “and laid each half over against the other”- in such a way, apparently, that a path could be followed between the two sets. When the night fell, “ a smoking fire-pot and a flaming torch”, representing the Lord, passed between the pieces. This was the Lord making the covenant.

When Moses made the covenant between the Lord and Israel, in Exodus ch24, he was obliged to adapt the ceremonial of “passing between the parts”, to make it more manageable for a very large assembly. A number of oxen were sacrificed.;
“And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar.
Then he took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people, and they said; All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.
And Moses took the [other half of] the blood and threw it on the people, and said; Behold the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you in accordance with these words.”
The significance of the ritual is that both sides of the covenant-partnership had touched the blood of the animals, and this was the equivalent of “passing between the parts”.

The common factor in these versions appears to be that the covenant-makers symbolically get “inside” the sacrificed animal, in order to identify themselves with it. THAT is why a sacrificial death is necessary to make a covenant valid (Hebrews ch9 v16).

(The Greek word for “covenant” also means “last will and testament”, so some modern translators and commentators blether about a testator needing to die before his will comes into effect. That concept has nothing to do with the matter. They are barking up the wrong tree.)

These reports don’t tell us anything about a standard wording for the covenant oath. The covenant of Moses was a special case, so his wording would not have been standard.

So let us consider a form of oath which seems to have been common at one period in Israelite history;

Ruth; “May the Lord do so to me and more also if even death parts me from you” (Ruth ch1 v17)
Eli; “May God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that he told you” (1 Samuel ch3 v17)
Saul; “God do so to me and more also; you shall surely die” (1 Samuel ch14 v44)
Jonathan; “The Lord do so to Jonathan and more also if I do not disclose it to you” (1 Samuel ch20 v13)
David; “God do so to David and more also, if by morning I leave so much of one male of all who belong to him” (1 Samuel ch25 v22)
Abner; “God do so to Abner and more also, if I do not accomplish for David what the Lord has sworn to him” (2 Samuel ch3 v9)
David; “God do so to me and more also, if I taste bread or anything else until the sun goes down” (2 Samuel ch3 v35)
David; “God do so to me and more also, if you are not commander of my army henceforth in place of Joab” (2 Samuel ch19 v13)
Solomon; “God do so to me and more also, if this word does not cost Adonijah his life” (1 Kings ch2 v23)
Jehoram; “May God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders today” (2 Kings ch6 v31)
(Jezebel and Ben-hadad the king of Syria make similar oaths, referring to “the gods”)

Some of these are solemn promises, and some of them are angry threats. In neither case is it clear from the context what “do so” means. Do what?

The clue to both sets of puzzles may be found in the Lord’s warning about the broken covenant of Jeremiah ch34. He says to those who have not kept their oath; “I will make them like the calf which they cut in two and passed between the parts” (v18). They are going to be made like the calf because that was one of the conditions of the oath, and he is going to take them at their word.

In other words, that oath in common conversational usage in the days of Saul and David must have been a profane version of the familiar wording of the standard covenant oath. That is, the participants passing through the parts of the sacrificial animal must have been swearing in something like this form;

“May the Lord do the same thing to me, and more also, if I do not keep the words of this covenant.”

Moses said "This is the blood of the covenant".
So when Jesus said "my blood of the covenant" or "the new covenant in my blood" he was echoing the words of Moses.
I looked at the implications of this in The Sinai Covenant and the Last Supper (q.v.)

a reply to: DISRAELI

Thanks for the reminder that with out the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin.

a reply to: PhilbertDezineck
I think it also throws light on the logic of why the shedding of blood should be necessary, but I've looked a that issue in other threads.

Flagg old buddy.....i needed some reading and redearch to go look up on the internet

Dude....that subject...I want knowledge, thanks for this thread...

Well I see now after reading that post I have a lot to learn.

Man...

The Jesus quote i didn't know.....

originally posted by: PhilbertDezineck
a reply to: DISRAELI

Thanks for the reminder that with out the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin.

Except Jesus forgave many their sin before He was crucified

What’s amazing about Abrams covenant is God walked between the sacrifices, meaning God was undertaking the covenant not Abram. The weaker party always walks between the sacrifice

On the sacrifice itself, God was never big on them, though it was human culture of the day to offer
the sacrifice. It was instigated y God because people believed that’s how God was worshiped. In Isaiah God said he doesn’t like sacrifice

originally posted by: Raggedyman

originally posted by: PhilbertDezineck
a reply to: DISRAELI

Thanks for the reminder that with out the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin.

Except Jesus forgave many their sin before He was crucified

What’s amazing about Abrams covenant is God walked between the sacrifices, meaning God was undertaking the covenant not Abram. The weaker party always walks between the sacrifice

On the sacrifice itself, God was never big on them, though it was human culture of the day to offer
the sacrifice. It was instigated y God because people believed that’s how God was worshiped. In Isaiah God said he doesn’t like sacrifice

I believe God said he was tired of the blood of bulls and goats where their is no repentance.

originally posted by: Raggedyman
What’s amazing about Abrams covenant is God walked between the sacrifices, meaning God was undertaking the covenant not Abram. The weaker party always walks between the sacrifice

I've seen one commentator interpret this event in terms of "God's free grace".

I agree with what you say about sacrifice, and will add that the death of Jesus was not a sacrifice (in that sense). It was a self-offering.

a reply to: PhilbertDezineck

Isaiah 1/11 Not just repentance but justice and kindness to people over animal sacrifice
Calling for love over religion

originally posted by: DISRAELI
Moses said "This is the blood of the covenant".
So when Jesus said "my blood of the covenant" or "the new covenant in my blood" he was echoing the words of Moses.
I looked at the implications of this in The Sinai Covenant and the Last Supper (q.v.)

Words you twist. Moses (a man child) is recorded as saying Gods principle message comes in the form of 10 statements called 'commandments' not the true 'covenants' meant; (we know this because God is not a totalitarian dictator). Someone somewhere lied. You came too late to the 'covenant' party/reveal.

originally posted by: Raggedyman
a reply to: PhilbertDezineck

Isaiah 1/11 Not just repentance but justice and kindness to people over animal sacrifice
Calling for love over religion

Sacrificial animal rites within the Temple Judaism was a big money maker for the Sadduce/Pharasee; why rock that boat?

originally posted by: DISRAELI
a reply to: PhilbertDezineck
I think it also throws light on the logic of why the shedding of blood should be necessary, but I've looked a that issue in other threads.

You have actually groked the *logic* of wholesale ceremonial blood shedding, even though you have looked at that (in other threads) I would like to hear your reasoning as to WHY this practice seemed necessary to poor 0 AD humans living within Herod's protection/influence.

a reply to: vethumanbeing
The key point is identifying with the one who died.
cf If anyone is in Christ and the following threads in the NTS series.

Only one dies, as the ultimate result of offering his whole life in obedience, which is the important thing.
If we are "in Christ", then we were obedient "in Christ", were crucified "in Christ" and have been raised from the dead "in Christ".

originally posted by: DISRAELI
a reply to: vethumanbeing
The key point is identifying with the one who died.
cf If anyone is in Christ and the following threads in the NTS series.
Only one dies, as the ultimate result of offering his whole life in obedience, which is the important thing.
If we are "in Christ", then we were obedient "in Christ", were crucified "in Christ" and have been raised from the dead "in Christ".

We are 2000 years beyond this desperate attempt (it succeeded) to change the middle east paradigm of poverty tyranny and hopelessness. Obedience is no longer necessary (we are forgiven). *Christ Consciousness* popped into being. It is a tangible thing.

a reply to: vethumanbeing
Obedience to God is always necessary. Independence is an illusion.