The Bible often speaks of agreements, pacts, alliances, or treaties between individuals or groups of equal or unequal standing. Often these agreements were designed to make clear the relationship that existed between them. In Hebrew, people were said to “cut a covenant” with each other. This may refer to the practice of cutting a sacrificial animal in half and then walking between the two parts as a way to pledge loyalty to the agreement (Gen 15:7-21; Jer 34:18). In Genesis 21:22-34 Abraham and Abimelech agreed that the well at Beersheba belonged to Abraham; Solomon and Hiram made a peace treaty that included trade agreements (1 Kgs 5:1-12); marriage was an agreement made between husband and wife that included obligations with God serving as a witness (Mal 2:14).

Agreements were usually completed with some act, such as eating a meal together (Gen 26:26-31), giving gifts (1 Sam 18:3,4), setting up a stone or a pile of rocks as a reminder (Gen 31:43-55), giving someone a sandal (Ruth 4:7,8), or even a simple handshake (2 Kgs 10:15). Agreements were designed to establish loyalty and faithfulness, and breaking an agreement was thought to be a very serious matter.

This way of thinking about relationships guided Israel’s faith from the beginning. The most important agreements were those that God made with his people. Some of these include God’s agreements with Noah (Gen 6:18), Abraham (Gen 12:1-7; 15:4-21; 17:1-16), Phinheas (Num 25:10-15), and the tribes of Israel under Joshua (Josh 24:25). God promised to establish David’s family as kings forever (2 Sam 7:12-16; 2 Chr 13:5; see also 1 Kgs 8:22-26; 2 Chr 6:12-15). This promise became the basis of Israel’s hope for the Messiah that Christians see fulfilled in Jesus.

The most significant agreement took place on Mount Sinai. There God reminded the people of Israel that he had chosen them and was giving them commandments and laws that would guide their worship and life together. For their part, Israel promised to obey the Lord’s laws and worship only the Lord. This agreement was sealed when Moses sprinkled blood on the people and on an altar he had set up for that purpose (Exod 24). The history of Israel was closely connected with this agreement. If the people obeyed this agreement and continued to be faithful to God, they would receive the blessings God had promised in earlier agreements. But if they disobeyed God’s Law and worshiped other gods, they would be punished (Deut 4:1,2,39,40; 7:12-15; 8:19-20).

The prophet Jeremiah spoke of a “new agreement,” one the Lord would write on the hearts and minds of the people (Jer 31:31-37). Christians see Jesus’ words at the Last Supper (Matt 26:28) as the fulfillment of this prophecy. See also Hebrews 10:16.