Passing Between the Halves

There are no adequate modern parallels to the broad-ranging meanings of the term “covenant” as used in the Bible. The closest parallel probably resides in marriage, where a public gathering solemnizes an agreement between two people.

The type of covenant presented in the Bible is most often between two parties. The superior party was known as the suzerain; the inferior party as the vassal. Both the suzerain and vassal had specific responsibilities. Primarily, in ancient societies, the suzerain provided protection for the vassal, while the vassal supported the suzerain with taxes and was loyal in time of war.

The Lord and Abram joined themselves in a suzerain and vassal covenant (Gen. 15:18). Like similar ancient Near Eastern covenants they held a public ceremony to ratify their relationship. The sacrifice of animals and a meal (15:9, 10) were typical components of covenant ceremonies, as were the promises of both parties. Abram’s part of this agreement was to “believe” in the Lord (15:6), which meant to worship no other gods. The Lord promised Abram to make his descendants as numerous as the stars (15:5) and provide a homeland for them (15:18).

Two differences between ancient Near Eastern covenants and the Gen. 15 covenant are striking. Usually, the list of the vassal’s duties and responsibilities was much larger than that of the suzerain’s. In fact, a covenant, including the duties of the vassal, was imposed on the vassal by the suzerain. In the Gen. 15 covenant almost nothing is said about Abram’s responsibilities. The focus is on what the Lord promised to Abram, not what Abram promised the Lord.

In the second difference, it was usually the vassal who cut the animals into two parts and walked between them (15:10, 17). The ritual symbolically demonstrated what would happen to the vassal if the covenant was broken. The “burning torch” passing between the pieces of flesh in the Gen. 15 covenant (15:17) was obviously a representation of the Lord. The symbolism of Him passing between the cut sacrifices implies that He would die before He would allow His covenant with Abram to fail.

Taken from Chronological Study Bible