Covenant Renewal in Ancient Israel
My research indicates that “covenant renewal” is not well understood, especially as it applies to Messiah Yahushua. For this reason, I am attempting to explain what I have been shown as well as I can.
There is quite a bit of “covenant renewal” taking place in Scripture, but it isn’t “spelt out” with descriptive detail, in other words, it doesn’t actually mention “covenant renewal”. In YHWH’s Word, when concepts are well known to the original audiences, they are often not described as such.
Because we are so far removed from the original audience’s understanding of “covenant renewal”, it will be necessary to “add more detail”, to what is written in the biblical text. I hope you can be patient, & open minded with me, as I attempt to do this.
Perhaps the first question we should attempt to answer is, why would someone want to “renew a covenant” ?
While I will attempt to explain this in detail with examples below, I have found that there are four main reasons why a covenant would be “renewed” from time to time.
In ancient Israel & the near East, covenants were “renewed” when :
A: a covenant is broken or
B: the previous mediator/leader was about to die. The renewal was done to ensure continued, & absolute allegiance to the covenant, or
C: there was a new generation, or
D: something in a covenant, needed to be “updated”, but not changed.
Again, I am asking you to please be patient with me as I attempt to “put flesh”, so to speak, on these perhaps not so obvious “bones”.
Above, I explained the Abrahamic “covenant of pieces”, as described in Gen 15. In Gen 15:18, we are told that “YHWH cut a covenant with Abram”, that involved his (Abram’s) seed.
Gen 15:18 In that day YAHWEH cut a covenant with Abram, saying, I have given this land to your seed, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,
In Gen 17:21, YHWH prophesies to Abraham & us, that He (YHWH), will establish His covenant with as yet unborn, Isaac.
Gen 17:21 And I will establish My covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set apart time next year.
In Gen 28:13, we have a reference to YHWH telling Jacob that, He (YHWH), will give the land Jacob is lying on, to him (Jacob), & his seed. There is no specific mention of covenant.
Gen 28:13 And, behold, YAHWEH stood above it and said, I am YAHWEH the Elohim of your father Abraham, and the Elohim of Isaac; the land on which you are lying, I will give it to you and to your seed.
In Lev 26:42, YHWH says that He will remember the covenants that He made with Jacob, Isaac & Abraham.
Lev 26:42 then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and also My covenant with Isaac, and I shall also remember My covenant with Abraham, and I shall remember the land.
Q: Which covenants are being referred to in Gen 17:21, Gen 28:13, & Lev 26:42 ?
A: Again, while we aren’t specifically told, I believe that we need to be aware that, the covenant made to Isaac & to Jacob, was the same covenant that YHWH made with Abram in Gen 15.
Q: Are we told anything about YHWH’s Gen 15 covenant being “renewed” with Isaac & Jacob ?
A: No – but we need to realise that the original audience clearly understood that the Abram Gen 15 covenant was passed on to first Isaac, & then Jacob, & that it was therefore, “renewed” with Isaac, & then with Jacob.
I hope that is clear.
While there are quite a few “covenant renewals” referred to in YHWH’s Word, I do not intend to examine all of them. I hope that I can cover the main ones, & that as my audience reads the Bible, the incidences of other “covenant renewals” will become more obvious.
Again, I believe that, as well as the Abrahamic covenant, the next most important biblical covenant mentioned in Scripture, occurs in Exodus 19:5-6, which I will copy below. As mentioned above, YHWH calls it, “MY covenant” (if necessary, please re-read it now).
Exo 19:5 And now if listening you will listen to My voice, and will keep My covenant, you shall become a special treasure to Me above all the nations, for all the earth is Mine.
Exo 19:6 And you shall become a kingdom of priests for Me, a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the sons of Israel.
I am asking my audience to again, please be patient, as this next section is a quite long. It will deal with what I believe is a most important covenant in the Bible, & I hope to explain how it is “passed on”, in several “covenant renewal” situations.
I’d like to begin by copying, & examining the significant verses of Exod 24:3-11. As you read through it, please notice that I have written in red, some important, & significant phrases. Please consider them carefully.
Exo 24:3 And Moses came and told all the words of YAHWEH to the people, and all the judgments. And all the people answered with one voice and said, We will do all the Words which YAHWEH has spoken. This is the OATH declaration
Exo 24:4 And Moses wrote all the Words of YAHWEH. And he rose early in the morning and built an altar below the mountain and twelve memorial pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.
The requirements of the covenant, in v7, are written in the “book of the Covenant”
Exo 24:5 And he sent young men of the sons of Israel. And they offered up burnt offerings, and offered sacrifices of bulls, peace offerings to YAHWEH. A sacrifice was offered
Exo 24:6 And Moses took half of the blood, and he put it in basins. And he sprinkled half of the blood on the altar. This is the blood element
Exo 24:7 And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the ears of the people. And they said, We will do all that YAHWEH has spoken, and we will hear. This is the OATH declaration, repeated
Exo 24:8 And Moses took the blood and sprinkled on the people, and said, Behold, the blood of the covenant which YAHWEH has cut with you concerning these words. This is also the blood element
Exo 24:9 And Moses and Aaron went up with Nadab and Abihu, and seventy from the elders of Israel.
Exo 24:10 And they saw the Elohim of Israel. And under His feet was as the work of a pavement of sapphire, and as the heavens for clearness.
Exo 24:11 And He did not stretch out His hand to the nobles of the sons of Israel. And they saw Elohim, and they ate and drank. (HRB) This is the covenant confirming meal.
While this section of verses refers specifically to Exodus, chapters 19 to 23, & the Mt Sinai covenant, that YHWH calls, “My covenant”, it could also be seen as a detailed example of a “covenant renewal” of the Abrahamic covenant, since this covenant is being made with the seed of Abraham, namely, Jacob’s 12 tribes.
But for now, I’d like to look at the Mt Sinai covenant as an original covenant. Please notice that it has all these parts :
A: a proposal (Exod 19:5-6),
Exo 19:5 And now if listening you will listen to My voice, and will keep My covenant, you shall become a special treasure to Me above all the nations, for all the earth is Mine.
Exo 19:6 And you shall become a kingdom of priests for Me, a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the sons of Israel.
B: an acceptance, which I believe would have been declared with an Oath (Exod 19:8, Exod 24:3 & 7)
Exo 19:8 And all the people answered together and said, All which YAHWEH has spoken we will do. And Moses brought back the words of the people to YAHWEH.
Exo 24:3 And Moses came and told all the words of YAHWEH to the people, and all the judgments. And all the people answered with one voice and said, We will do all the Words which YAHWEH has spoken.
Exo 24:7 And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the ears of the people. And they said, We will do all that YAHWEH has spoken, and we will hear.
C: the conditions for being the YHWH’s covenant (Exod 19:5-6 & Exod chapters 19 to 23)
D: a list of blessings for keeping it (Exod 19:5-6)
Exo 19:5 And now if listening you will listen to My voice, and will keep My covenant, you shall become a special treasure to Me above all the nations, for all the earth is Mine.
Exo 19:6 And you shall become a kingdom of priests for Me, a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the sons of Israel.
E: the specific requirements were written in a book (Exod 24:4)
Exo 24:4 And Moses wrote all the Words of YAHWEH. And he rose early in the morning and built an altar below the mountain and twelve memorial pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.
F: the conditions of the covenant were read to those who accepted the covenant (Exod 24:7)
Exo 24:7 And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the ears of the people. And they said, We will do all that YAHWEH has spoken, and we will hear.
G: consequences for breaking it (see Exod 32 & Deut 28 for the curses when this covenant was, & is broken)
H: blood ratification (Exod 24:6 & 8)
Exo 24:6 And Moses took half of the blood, and he put it in basins. And he sprinkled half of the blood on the altar.
Exo 24:8 And Moses took the blood and sprinkled on the people, and said, Behold, the blood of the covenant which YAHWEH has cut with you concerning these words
I: a covenant confirming meal (Exod 24:11)
Exo 24:11 And He did not stretch out His hand to the nobles of the sons of Israel. And they saw Elohim, and they ate and drank.
If we look at the story of what happened after YHWH’s covenant with Israel had been proposed & accepted, we notice that :
A: Moses is instructed to go up the mountain to be with YHWH, where He (YHWH), will give Moses, tablets of stone, the Torah, and the commandments which YHWH has written (Exod 24:12). Moses is gone for 40 days & 40 nights (Exod 34:28)
Exo 24:12 And YAHWEH said to Moses, Come up to Me to the mountain, and be there. And I will give to you the tablets of stone, and the Torah, and the commandments which I have written, to teach them.
Exo 34:28 And he was there with YAHWEH forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread and he did not drink water. And He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Words.
B: Previously, Moses had gone up & down the mountain four times – whenever YHWH spoke to Moses, it was on the mountain. These are the trips up & down the mountain
UP - Exod 19:3, DOWN – Exod 19:7;
UP – Exod 19:8, DOWN – Exod 19:14
UP – Exod 19:20, DOWN – Exod 19:25
UP – Exod 24:1, DOWN – Exod 24:3
Please notice that they were short trips, probably less than one day each.
Exo 19:3 And Moses went up to Elohim. And YAHWEH called to him from the mountain, saying, You shall say this to the house of Jacob, and tell it to the sons of Israel.
Exo 19:7 And Moses came (down) and called the elders of the people. And he put all these words before them which YAHWEH commanded him.
Exo 19:8 And all the people answered together and said, All which YAHWEH has spoken we will do. And Moses brought back the words of the people to YAHWEH.
Exo 19:14 And Moses went from the mountain to the people. And he sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes.
Exo 19:20 And YAHWEH came down on the mountain of Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and YAHWEH called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
Exo 19:25 And Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.
Exo 24:1 And He said to Moses, Come up to YAHWEH, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy from the elders of Israel. And bow yourselves from a distance.
Exo 24:3 And Moses came (down) and told all the words of YAHWEH to the people, and all the judgments. And all the people answered with one voice and said, We will do all the Words which YAHWEH has spoken.
C: When the people hadn’t seen Moses for about 40 days, Exod 32:1 tells us the Israelites concluded that perhaps something must have happened to him, after all, his previous trips, up & down the mountain, were short ones.
Exo 32:1 And the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain. And the people gathered to Aaron. And they said to him, Rise up, make for us gods who may go before our face. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.
D: After coming to this conclusion, they came to Aaron, Moses’ second-in-command, with this problem (Exod 32:1). Aaron decided, probably based on his experience of how to worship the gods of Egypt, to ask the people for their rings of gold (Exod 32:2). From this gold, Aaron formed it into a casted calf, & he also built an altar before it (Exod 32:4-5).
Please note, that Aaron said in Exod 32:5, they would have “a feast to YHWH tomorrow”. I believe that they were sincerely going to have a “feast to YHWH tomorrow”, but it would be based on the way that the Egyptians worshipped their gods.
Exo 32:2 And Aaron said to them, Break off the rings of gold which are in the ears of your wives, your sons and your daughters; and bring them to me.
Exo 32:3 And all the people broke off the rings of gold in their ears, and they brought to Aaron.
Exo 32:4 And he took them from their hand and formed it with an engraving tool. And he made it a casted calf. And they said, These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.
Exo 32:5 And Aaron saw, and he built an altar before it. And Aaron called and said, A feast to YAHWEH tomorrow.
E: When YHWH saw this, He (YHWH), commanded Moses to go down & “deal” with the idolatrous Israelites (Exod 32:7-8).
Exo 32:7 And YAHWEH spoke to Moses, Come, go down, for your people whom you caused to go up from Egypt are corrupted;
Exo 32:8 they have quickly turned off from the way which I commanded them; they have made for themselves a casted calf and have bowed to it, and have sacrificed to it. And they have said, These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.
F: When YHWH tells Moses that He (YHWH), is going to “consume” them (Israel), (Exod 32:10), Moses prays before the face of YHWH saying :
Exo 32:10 And now leave Me alone that My anger may glow against them, that I may consume them. And I will make you a great nation.
Moses then says :
1: “why O YHWH does You anger glow against Your people whom You caused to go up from the land of Egypt with great power, & with a mighty hand” (Exod 32:11). Clearly, YHWH does not want to be worshipped in ways that other gods are worshipped.
2: “that the Egyptians would then say that, YHWH caused them (Israel) to go up, to kill them in the mountains” (Exod 32:12)
3: “Remember what You (YHWH) swore by Himself to Abraham, Isaac & Israel” (Exod 32:13).
YHWH was moved to pity Israel (Exod 32:14).
G: Moses goes down with the stone tablets written on both sides, the work of Elohim, & throws them (the tablets) from his (Moses’) hands & breaks them (Exod 32:19). Moses takes the golden calf, burned it with fire, & grounds it until it is fine, & scatters it on the water, & makes the Israelites drink it (Exod 32:20).
Exo 32:19 And it happened, as he came near to the camp and saw the calf and dances, the anger of Moses glowed. And he threw the tablets from his hands, and he broke them below the mountain.
Exo 32:20 And he took the calf which they had made and burned it with fire and ground it until it was fine, then he scattered it on the face of the water. And he made the sons of Israel to drink it.
H: Aaron makes excuses for his part (Exod 32:22-24)
Exo 32:22 And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord glow. You know the people that it is in evil.
Exo 32:23 And they said to me, Make for us gods who may go before us; as for Moses, the man who caused us to go up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.
Exo 32:24 And I said to them, Whoever has gold, let them break off. And they gave to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out.
I: Moses asks who was for YHWH, & the Levites join him. Moses tells them to kill the offenders, & about 3000 are killed (Exod 32:26-28).
Exo 32:26 And Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, Who is for YAHWEH? Come to me! And all the sons of Levi assembled to him.
Exo 32:27 And he said to them, So says YAHWEH, Elohim of Israel, each one put his sword on his thigh; pass to and fro from gate to gate in the camp, and each one kill his brother, and each one his neighbor, and each one his kindred.
Exo 32:28 And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And about three thousand men of the people fell on that day.
J: YHWH punishes the Israelites for their rebellion with a plague (Exod 32:35).
Clearly, the golden calf rebellion was a breach of YHWH’s covenant – the Israelites had “broken” the covenant within about 40 days, after agreeing to it, three times, (Exod 34:28)
Exo 32:35 And YAHWEH plagued the people because they made the calf, which Aaron made.
If a covenant is broken, it can be “renewed”, provided the Suzerain agrees.
I believe that this is what happened in Exod 34, where YHWH instructs Moses to :
1: cut two tablets of stone (Exod 34:1)
Exo 34:1 And YAHWEH said to Moses, Cut out for yourself two tablets of stone, like the former. And I will write on the tablets the words which were on the former tablet, which you broke.
YHWH also says :
2: He (YHWH) will write on the two tablets, the words of the former tablets which Moses broke (Exod 34:1)
3: for Moses to come up to the mountain on his own (Exod 34:3)
At their meeting, we are told several very important characteristics of YHWH :
4: “YAHWEH! YAHWEH Elohim! Merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and great in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and not leaving entirely unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on sons, and on sons of sons, to the third and to the fourth generation” (Exod 34:6-7)
Moses asks YHWH to forgive Israel’s iniquity & sin, & take them again, (us) as a possession (Exod 34:9)
Exo 34:9 And he said, If now I have found favor in Your eyes, O YAHWEH, please let my Adonai go in our midst, for it is a stiffnecked people; and You forgive our iniquity and our sin, and take us as a possession.
YHWH says “And He said, Behold, I am cutting a covenant; I will do wonderful things before all your people which not have been done in all the earth, and among all nations. And all the people in whose midst you are shall see the work of YAHWEH, for that which I am about to do is awesome” (Exod 34:10)
Exo 34:10 And He said, Behold, I am cutting a covenant; I will do wonderful things before all your people which not have been done in all the earth, and among all nations. And all the people in whose midst you are shall see the work of YAHWEH, for that which I am about to do is awesome.
YHWH gives details of the commands He requires for being in this “renewed” covenant (Exod 34:11-26)
YHWH instructs Moses to write the words YHWH spoke because on those words, YHWH cut this “renewed” covenant with Moses & Israel (Exod 34:27)
Exo 34:27 And YAHWEH said to Moses, Write these words for yourself, for on the mouth of these words I will cut a covenant with you and with Israel.
YHWH wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten words (Exod 34:28)
Exo 34:28 And he was there with YAHWEH forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread and he did not drink ater. And He (YHWH) wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Words.
A covenant can be “renewed” just before a leader, with whom the covenant was made, is about to die.
Here are three examples in Scripture where we are shown that, just before a leader dies, he holds a “covenant renewal” type ceremony.
Moses appoints Joshua as his replacement
There are two passages in Scripture where we are told about Moses appointing Joshua as his successor. They occur in Num 27:18-23 & Deut 31:7-13.
We read in Num 27:18-23 that Moses is appointing Joshua as his replacement, but we are not told that it is related to the “renewal” of any covenant – I believe that this is not written down in the biblical text, because the original audience, the Israelites who left Egypt, knew exactly what was going on. I personally, have confidence that this series of verses, is describing details of this “covenant renewal” process.
If we examine the whole book of Deuteronomy, I believe it is a “covenant renewal” of the Mt Sinai covenant document. The title Deuteronomy, derived from Greek, means a “copy,” or a “repetition,” of the law, which is further evidence that it being a “covenant renewal”.
It can be shown that the Book of Deuteronomy can be outlined as follows :
1. Preamble (1:1-5).
2. Historical prologue (1:6-4:49).
3. Stipulations (5-26).
4. Curses and Blessings or Covenant Ratification (27-30).
5. Succession Arrangements or Covenant Continuity, in which are included the invocation of witnesses and directions for the disposition and public reading of the treaty (31-34).
In Deut 31:7-13, Moses is encouraging Joshua (Vs7-8), & in verse 9, we are told that Moses wrote “this Torah”, the conditions for YHWH’s Mt Sinai covenant with Israel. In verses 10-11, Moses commands Israel to proclaim this Torah before all Israel – in the ancient “covenant renewal” process, the original conditions were revisited periodically, as we see in these verses.
In Joshua 8:30-35, we see a ceremony conducted by the new leader of Israel, Joshua, where Joshua builds an altar to YHWH, the Elohim of Israel, referencing the Torah given to Moses, & it being read to Israel.
If we look at what is called “the Shema”, in Deut 6:4-9, I believe that this is giving an oath, a declaration of absolute loyalty, & obedience to YHWH.
Deu 6:4 Hear, O Israel, YAHWEH our Elohim is YAHWEH echad. (the oath)
Deu 6:5 And you shall love YAHWEH your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.
Deu 6:6 And these Words which I am commanding you today shall be on your heart.
Deu 6:7 And you shall diligently teach them to your sons, and shall speak of them as you sit in your house, and as you walk in the way, and as you are lying down, and as you are rising up.
Deu 6:8 And you shall bind them for a sign on your hand; and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes.
Deu 6:9 And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house, and on your gates.
If we carefully consider Deut 10:12-13, I believe that this tells us clearly, in two verses, what YHWH clearly expects of all those who are in His covenant. I strongly encourage you to read it very carefully.
Deu 10:12 And now, Israel, what has YAHWEH your Elohim requiring of you, except to fear YAHWEH your Elohim, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve YAHWEH your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your soul;
Deu 10:13 to keep the commandments of YAHWEH, and His statutes which I am commanding you today, for your good. (HRB)
Joshua appoints Israel’s elders, its heads, judges & officers, as his replacement
In Joshua chapter 24, we have another “covenant renewal” ceremony, where Joshua who is about to die, passes the responsibility for keeping YHWH’s Mt Sinai covenant, on to Israel’s elders, its heads, judges & officers.
Messiah Yahushua conducts a “covenant renewal” ceremony
Have you considered that the “Last Supper” was a “covenant renewal” ceremony that Yahushua makes reference to in Matt 26:28, Mark 14:24, & Luke 22:20 ?
Mat 26:28 For this represents My blood of the New Covenant which concerning many is being poured out for remission of sins.
Mar 14:24 And He said to them, This is My blood, that of the New Covenant, which is poured out concerning many.
Luk 22:20 And in like manner the cup, after having supped, saying, This cup is the New Covenant in My blood, which is being shed for your sakes.
Doesn’t YHWH’s covenant need to “renewed”, because Yahushua His covenant mediator, is about to die ?
Let’s look at the “covenant renewal” activities, & notice the “covenant renewal” language.
In Matt 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25 & Luke 22:14-20, we read :
1: that Yahushua was having a “covenant renewal” meal with His 12 apostles, as part of their Passover memorial meal, in accordance with YHWH's Exod 12:14 command
2: what Yahushua did during this meal
~ that He proposed the “new” covenant, when He offered His apostles, who would be the “covenant renewal” replacements, wine & bread
3: that they each part-took of the wine, & the bread, as an acceptance of this new responsibility
NB – As an aside issue, have you ever noticed that in Gen 14:18, Melchizedek brought “bread & wine”, to share with Abraham. I strongly believe that this was ancient custom, obviously even before this Gen 14:18 event, that Messiah Yahushua performed with His disciples at His last Passover meal. It wasn’t anything new – its just that it hadn’t been written about before, because it was such a common event for this first century audience.
Gen 14:18 And Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine; and he was the priest of the most High El (El Elyone).
After the apostles had accepted this new responsibility, in John 14:15, Yahushua says, “if you love Me, keep My commandments”, a clear reference to the conditions for being in this “new” covenant. Isn’t “loving”, the expression for being faithful & loyal, & by being absolutely obedient to the covenant requirements ?
Joh 14:15 If you love Me, keep My commandments.
If this is a “covenant renewal” ceremony, then surely, the original covenant conditions would apply, & not be something “new” & “different” !
I have more to tell about this “new” covenant below in the section, What is the “new” covenant.
What happens when there is a new generation ?
After the original generation of Israelites, namely, those who had lived in Egypt, had all died (Num 26:65 & Num 32:11-12), the Mt Sinai covenant needed to be “renewed”. Again, please recall that the word, “Deuteronomy”, means “copy” or “repetition”, of the (Torah) law. As stated earlier, it can be shown that the whole book of Deuteronomy is a “covenant renewal” document.
Num 26:65 For YAHWEH had said to them, they shall surely die in the wilderness, and not a man of them should be left except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.
Num 32:11 Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob because they have not wholly followed Me;
Num 32:12 except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have fully followed YAHWEH.
If we examine Deuteronomy chapter 5, we read that Moses reminds the next generation of Israelites of the covenant that was made at Mt Sinai, (Horeb) (Deut 5:2). Moses explains that YHWH cut this covenant with them, as well as their fathers (Deut 5:3). He goes on to explain many of the original details, & in verse 33, Moses commands “You shall walk in all the ways which YAHWEH your Elohim has commanded you, so that you may live, and that good may be to you, and you may prolong your days in the land which you will possess”. Isn’t walking in all YHWH’s ways, truly a matter of life & death ?
Deu 5:2 YAHWEH your Elohim cut a covenant with us in Horeb.
Deu 5:3 YAHWEH did not cut this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, these here today, all of us alive.
In the remaining chapters of Deuteronomy, they & we are given many details about YHWH, & of His covenant with Israel, but the point we need to understand is that, even though it is not spelt out clearly, this whole book is really a “covenant renewal” document, for this new generation of Israelites.
Updating a covenant, not changing it, when the circumstances change
Perhaps the most difficult to understand & accept, reason, to “renew a covenant”, is to “update”, but not change, a covenant, when the original circumstances change. Please read what I am writing very carefully, & try to avoid jumping to any conclusion, until you have read my explanation. I’ll do my best to explain this as well as I can.
I’ll be using just one example to hopefully explain this principle.
If we compare one thing in the Book of Leviticus with a similar thing in the Book of Deuteronomy, we notice that one detail has been “updated”.
Remember that, when we read Leviticus, we need to recall that the Israelites were in the wilderness, & their tribal camps surrounded the Tabernacle (details are in Num chapter 2)– they lived in close proximity to the Tabernacle Altar.
Lev 17:3-6 tell us that while in the wilderness, if a man wanted to slaughter an animal, he was to take it to the Altar – in other words, YHWH was “invited” to such a celebration.
Lev 17:3 Any man of the house of Israel who kills an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or who kills at the outside of the camp,
Lev 17:4 and has not brought it in to the door of the tent of meeting as an offering to YAHWEH, before the tabernacle of YAHWEH, blood shall be imputed to that man; he has shed blood. And that man shall be cut off from the midst of his people;
Lev 17:5 so that the sons of Israel shall bring in their sacrifices which they are sacrificing in the open field to the door of the tent of meeting, to the priest, and sacrifice them for sacrifices of peace offerings to YAHWEH.
Lev 17:6 And the priest shall sprinkle the blood on the altar of YAHWEH, at the door of the tent of meeting, and shall burn the fat as incense for a soothing fragrance to YAHWEH.
Based on these verses, the Israelites were to :
1: bring their sacrifices (ox, lamb or goat) to the door of the tent of meeting,
2: sacrifice them as peace offerings to YHWH, &
3: the priest shall sprinkle the blood on the altar of YHWH.
Q: Why would YHWH command this ?
A: I’m sure there are other reasons, but in the wilderness, we know that the Israelites had very recently left Egypt & its pagan influences, such as offering sacrifices to idols, & so perhaps, YHWH decreed that they needed to bring their sacrifices to Him in the Tabernacle, to avoid any temptation to revert back to their previous pagan practices, after all, YHWH is a jealous El (Exod 20:5).
Exo 20:5 you shall not bow to them, and you shall not serve them; for I am YAHWEH your Elohim, a jealous El, visiting the iniquity of fathers on sons, on the third and on the fourth generation, to those that hate Me;
In Deut 12:13-16, we read :
Deu 12:13 Take heed to yourself that you not offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see;
Deu 12:14 but in the place which YAHWEH shall choose in one of your tribes (Jerusalem), there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I command.
Deu 12:15 Only with all the desire of your soul you shall sacrifice and shall eat meat within all your gates according to the blessing of YAHWEH your Elohim which He has given you; the unclean one and the clean one may eat of it, as of the gazelle and as of the hart.
Deu 12:16 Only, you shall not eat the blood; you shall pour it (the blood) as water on the earth.
Here, the Israelites were to :
1: bring their burnt offerings to the place where YHWH shall choose
2: eat the meat within all their gates, &
3: pour the blood onto the earth.
Notice that their situation was different when they were in the land – while in the wilderness, they had practiced bringing their slaughtered animals to the Tabernacle Altar for 40 years. Now that they are in the promised land, their circumstances were different, but we still have the same principle operating there.
YHWH now instructs them, since their situation is different, that they do not have to make the journey to the Tabernacle Altar as He did while they were in the wilderness - now He requires them to pour the blood out on the ground like water.
Please note that the only one with authority to “update” a covenant is the Suzerain, in this case, YHWH !
Q: Why was that ?
A: Because the blood was actually what makes it a sacrifice – sprinkling it on the Altar was the main sacrificial act. So now, this was replaced by pouring the blood out on the ground.
This “updating” isn’t something like, you don’t have to keep the Sabbath - it is applying the principle of a command, to the “updated” condition. I hope that is clear.