The Blood Covenant

First: What is a Covenant?

A covenant is an agreement established between: individuals, two or more groups of people - or a ruler/leader and their potential subjects. In entering into a covenant, each party agrees to meet certain obligations as established in the agreement. 

There were many types of covenant practiced in the ancient world -- and in the Bible. It is the "blood covenant", however, that is the most prominent in scripture, so it is the blood covenant that we will study for now.

Significance of the Blood Covenant

A "blood covenant" is a binding contractual agreement, a promise of friendship/brotherhood; i.e. an oath to defend and provide for one another with all the resources available to each party. In the ancient world, entering into any kind of covenant was a serious venture. The blood covenant, however, held ominous significance and consequence. Historically, the "blood" shed as part of making a blood covenant conveyed the understanding that if either partner failed to uphold any of the oaths promised, the other covenant partner actually had the legal right to put the offending partner to death. 

Common Rituals for Establishing a Blood Covenant

The following is a list of some of the most common rituals used in establishing a blood covenant. Although it was not mandatory to observe all these rituals when establishing a blood covenant [as some of the rites actually serve the same (or a similar) purpose, and not all rites would apply in every situation]; the parties would typically implement some portion of the following rites (other rites were also used) to seal their vows; this was even the case in the Bible.

Part A) Establishment
1) Laying out and agreeing to the terms of the treaty= instituting and certifying the oaths made, usually in the presence of witnesses.

Part B) Symbolic Exchanges
2) Exchanging a garment, gifts or provision = signifies one's commitment to willingly share resources --- even at the cost of one’s own material security.
3) Offering one's weapon or weapon belt= demonstrates the readiness to defend should one's covenant partner go to war.
4) Giving/taking part of one’s name= symbolizes the familial connection between the covenant partners. This would elevate one's covenant partner[s] if they were of a lower socioeconomic status.

Part C) The Blood Initiation
5) Cutting apart an animal[s] = connotes permission to “do the same to me if I should break this covenant”.  
6) Blood brothers = confirms oneness, family/blood ties, means "I will give my very life for you".

Part D) Celebrating the union

7) Eating a symbolic Meal = joyous affirmation of the family status of the covenant partners.

Part E) Creating Memorials (reminders of the covenant)
8) Creating a Memorial Scar= physical reminder of the bond to one's covenant partner and the sacredness of the blood covenant oaths.   
9) Placing a Memorial - Often a tree= a physical reminder, celebration of new life together.

The order in which these acts were observed was not necessarily important, and it was typically acceptable for some portion of the ritual to be accomplished/added or repeated later. As we noted above, the rite did not necessarily include every element.   

Once we understand what a covenant is -- and the rituals involved in making a blood covenant, we can begin to identify the practice in scripture. We can also clarify the message of many Biblical passages.