Deut 29:12

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thou shouldest.

Deut 5:2; Deut 5:3; Exod 19:5; Exod 19:6; Josh 24:25; 2Kgs 11:17; 2Chr 15:12-15

enter. Heb. pass.

This is an allusion to the solemn ceremony used by several ancient nations, when they entered into a covenant with each other.

The victims, slain as a sacrifice on this occasion, were divided, and and parts laid asunder: the contracting parties then passed between them, imprecating, as a curse on those who violated the sacred compact, that they might in like manner be cut asunder. (Ge 15:10.)

St. Cyril, in his work against Julian, shows that passing between the divided parts of a victim was used also among the Chaldeans and other people.

into his oath.

Deut 29:14; 2Chr 15:12-15; Neh 10:28; Neh 10:29