Page 20 - Biblical Theology Textbook - masters

This is also the origin of the handshake. The custom was to make a cut in the palm of hands of the
parties entering into the covenant, and then they press their palms together allowing the blood to mix.
Today, we do not do the cut anymore but still use the handshake to greet a friend or confirm an
arrangement.

By entering into a blood covenant with a person (or group) YHWH is asking him to serve and obey Him.
For keeping this covenant, there will be blessings and for not keeping it, there will be curses.

An example of the Suzerain form of a blood covenant is the covenant with the nation of Israel at Sinai.
We see that the blood of the sacrifices is sprinkled on the people and the altar.

Exodus 24:4-6 And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. He rose early in the morning and built
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an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. And he
sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of
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oxen to the LORD. And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw
against the altar.

A second way of validating a covenant was the sandal covenant or also referred to
as the covenant of inheritance. The name originates from the custom to mark your
property with worn-out sandals. These sandals were partially covered by rocks to
keep them in place against the natural elements (wind and rain) No person would
ever have dared to move these as this is forbidden in Torah (Deut. 19:14). This
covenant is thus the progression from a friend to a son or daughter who will
inherit. We all know that the covenant of inheritance can only be kept in place as long as the servant
hood and friendship remain situated properly. How often do we not hear stories of children being
threatened with an exclusion from the will if there are not obedient or respectful of their parent? Sons
and daughters always have special privileges over servants and even the best of friends.

With a sandal covenant, any party breaking the covenant had to return the sandal to the other party and
more or less broke relationships with them. This covenant is illustrated by the type of validation Boaz’s
covenant made to his relative.

Ruth 4: 7-9 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to
confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was the manner of
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attesting in Israel. So when the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he drew off his
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sandal. Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought
from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and to Mahlon.

If you wanted to make a stronger validation of a covenant, some would validate their
agreement with a salt covenant. It is a stronger validation than the blood or sandal
covenant. This covenant is also called the covenant of hospitality or friendship. The
name comes from the tradition of friends to mix their salt when breaking bread
together. Once the salt is mixed and the meal completed, the only way to get back
your salt would have been to separate each grain. This would be a near impossibility.
Thus, once you enter this covenant you willingly share what is precious to you with a
friend without the option to take it back.

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