Covenants were central to OT life, with the result that those who broke covenants, and especially those who violated the covenant between God and Israel, were regarded as a serious threat to social stability.
The importance of covenants
The covenant between God and his people
Genesis 9:16 See also 2 Samuel 23:5; Isaiah 24:5, Isaiah 55:3
And whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of every kind that is on the earth.”
God will remain faithful to his covenant
Judges 2:1 See also Psalm 105:8; Isaiah 54:10
Now the angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land that I had promised to your fathers, and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you,
Covenants between people
Covenants made in the sight of God were permanently binding
Numbers 30:2; 1 Samuel 23:16–18 See also Deuteronomy 23:21; Ecclesiastes 5:4
If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised.
And Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and strengthened his hand in God, saying, “Do not be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. And you will be king over Israel, and I will be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows this is true.” So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.
Condemnation of those who break covenants
Hosea 6:7 See also Proverbs 2:17
But they, like Adam, have transgressed the covenant; there they were unfaithful to Me.
Examples of covenants between people
Genesis 21:27; Joshua 24:24; 2 Samuel 5:3; 1 Kings 5:12, 1 Kings 20:34; Jeremiah 34:8
Examples of breaking the covenant with God
Coveting the possessions of others
Ecclesiastes 4:4 See also Exodus 20:17
I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
Stealing
Exodus 20:15 parallel Deuteronomy 5:19 See also Deuteronomy 23:24
You shall not steal.
Using dishonest weights or scales
Leviticus 19:35–36; Proverbs 20:23 See also Deuteronomy 25:13–16; Hosea 12:7–8; Amos 8:5
You must not use dishonest measures of length, weight, or volume. You shall maintain honest scales and weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are no good.
Moving boundary stones
Proverbs 23:10 See also Deuteronomy 19:14, Deuteronomy 27:17
Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
Extortion
Habakkuk 2:6 See also Isaiah 10:1–2; Ezekiel 22:12; Amos 5:11
Will not all of these take up a taunt against him, speaking with mockery and derision: ‘Woe to him who amasses what is not his and makes himself rich with many loans! How long will this go on?’
Breach of trust
Not repaying loans
The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous are gracious and giving.
Not paying fair wages
See also Genesis 31:6–9
Failing to care for aliens
Aliens living in Israel were regarded as having privileged status amongst Gentiles, and were treated as covenant people in some respects: Exodus 23:9; Deuteronomy 29:9–15, Deuteronomy 31:12; Joshua 8:33–35
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.