Covenants, part 2

In 1885 a theologian by the name of H. Clay Trumbull gave a series of lectures presenting his research into primitive rites of covenanting by biblical and non-biblical peoples.  Of particular interest to him was the practice of blood-covenanting.  (His work was eventually published in a book, The Blood Covenant: A Primitive Rite and its Bearings on Scripture by H. Clay Trumbull, Impact Books Inc.  A seventh printing occurred in 2003.)

Blood represents life (Leviticus 17:11-14).   Among ancient peoples, a blood covenant created the most sacred, binding relationship possible.  It literally fused the lives of two separate individuals into one entity.  Despite variations “in all cases, the idea seems to be, that the life of the one covenanting is, by this covenant, devoted—surrendered as it were—to the one with whom he covenants” (Trumbull 9, emphasis added).  By commingling blood, the two commingled their very lives—forming thereafter one blood, one life, one nature—in two different organisms.  The transfer of blood represented the transfer of life itself. (Trumbull 203)

This covenant was accomplished in different ways, but a common element of the rite was an incision made in the wrist or arm of each person.  The cuts were then held together allowing the blood to mingle between the two friends.  Sometimes a quill was inserted and each drank the others blood.  Once completed such a covenant was considered to be such an unbreakable bond that neither party could be released from it.

Our saying that “blood is thicker than water” references this concept, that the “blood of the covenant” creates a stronger bond than “the waters of birth”.  In other words, the bond between blood brothers is closer than that of siblings from the same mother.  The Arabic culture has the same idea but state that blood is thicker than milk.  Children nourished by the same mother are referred to as “milk brothers” or “suckling brothers”.  Arabs hold that blood brothers are bound closer even than milk brothers. (Trumbull 10-11)

After tracing this rite through Egypt, Canaan and other ancient Semitic races, Dr. Trumbull points out that it is also found throughout Africa, Europe, China, India, among Polynesian races, in native races in North and South America, and in places as diverse as Mexico, Brazil, Turkey, and Russia.  He concludes, “proofs of the existence of this rite of blood-covenanting have been found among primitive peoples of all quarters of the globe; and its antiquity is carried back to a date long prior to the days of Abraham.  All of this outside of any indications of the rite in the text of the Bible itself.” (Trumbull 206)

The basic elements of blood-covenanting were so widespread throughout the world and through various religious traditions, that Dr. Trumbull concludes the practice likely originated from an earlier revelation given from God to man which was subsequently passed down, and altered into the various forms and religious traditions found around the world. (Trumbull 205)

Satan, never a creator but always the imitator, also covenanted with men beginning with Cain and extending through history down to the present.  It is also possible that these variations of blood-covenanting in many cultures were derivations of covenants made by secret combinations.  In some instances, the traditions may have had elements of both. 

Regardless of how this practice originated and why it became so widespread, the point is this:  anciently covenants were not entered into lightly.  In some cases, one surrendered ones life to the other party.  The profound seriousness these pacts held for the ancients has largely been lost to us.