God's Covenant with Unfaithful Israelites in the Old Testament

God's covenant with Israel, often referred to as the Mosaic or Sinaitic covenant, was a foundational agreement established at Mount Sinai (also called Horeb) ^[2]. The Hebrew term for covenant, berith, signifies a "cutting," referencing the ancient practice of cutting animals in two and passing between the parts to ratify an agreement, as seen in Genesis 15 and Jeremiah 34:18-19 ^{[1, 4, 7]}. This covenant involved blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, as outlined in Deuteronomy 29:20-21 ^{[2, 5]}.

Despite the clear terms of this covenant, the Israelites frequently demonstrated unfaithfulness. The Old Testament records numerous instances where Israel broke their covenant with God by turning to other gods and failing to uphold His commands ^[6]. For example, after Gideon's death, the Israelites worshipped Baal-berith, meaning "covenant lord," indicating their entry into a covenant with Canaanite deities, contrary to God's explicit command in Exodus 34:12 ^[9]. The prophet Jeremiah lamented that both the house of Israel and the house of Judah had broken the covenant God made with their ancestors, turning back to the iniquities of their forefathers and serving other gods ^[6].

Even in the face of such widespread unfaithfulness, God did not immediately abandon His covenant people. The covenant itself contained provisions for the consequences of disobedience, including curses ^[5]. Ezekiel 16:59 states, "I will also deal with you as you have done, who have despised the oath in breaking the covenant" ^[3]. This indicates that God's response to Israel's unfaithfulness was not a complete annulment of the covenant, but rather an enforcement of its terms, including the disciplinary measures stipulated within it ^[14]. The covenant was not a one-sided promise of favor but included conditions, and when Israel broke faith, the promised favor ceased ^[14].

The biblical narrative shows that God often called Israel to repentance and renewed the covenant with them. For instance, the covenant was renewed in the plains of Moab (Deuteronomy 28:69) and later by leaders like Jehoiada, Hezekiah, and Josiah, who led the people in constitutional agreements to reform worship and obey the law ^{[2, 10]}. These renewals demonstrate God's persistent engagement with His unfaithful people, offering opportunities for restoration within the framework of the existing covenant.

The concept of God's enduring commitment despite human failure is a recurring theme. While the Israelites were called "Israel" because they "prevail with God" ^[8], their history is marked by repeated covenant violations. Yet, God's covenant promises, such as those made to David concerning an everlasting kingdom, remained in effect, even when the people failed to uphold their end ^[10]. This highlights a tension between the conditional aspects of the Mosaic covenant, which brought curses for disobedience, and the unconditional aspects of other divine promises, such as the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants. The prophets often looked forward to a "new covenant" (Jeremiah 31:31-34), which would address the problem of Israel's unfaithfulness by writing the law on their hearts, ensuring a deeper and more internal obedience ^{[11, 12, 13]}. This future hope underscored God's ultimate plan to overcome the persistent unfaithfulness of His people.

Sources

Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Covenant — The Heb. berith means primarily "a cutting," with reference to the custom of cutting or dividing animals in two and passing between the parts in ratifying a covenant. (Genesis 15; Jeremiah 34:18,19) In the New Testament the corresponding word is diathece (diatheke), which is frequently translated testament in the Authorized Version. In its biblical meaning two parties the word is used-- + Of a covenant between God and man; e.g. God covenanted with Noah, after the flood, that a like judgment should not be repeated. It is not precisely like a covenant between”
Brown-Driver-Briggs “[BDB H1285] berith (part 3/6) — with Israel at Sinai = Horeb, with a covenant sacrifice Exod 19:5; 24:7-8, (E) 34:10, 27, 28 (J) 31:16; Lev 2:13 (P) 24:8; 26:9, 15, 25, 44, 45 (H) Deut 4:13; renewed in plains of Moab Deuteronomy 28:69; with blessings and curses 29:20; frequently referred to in other books 2Chr 34:32; Psa 25:10; 44:18; 50:5; 50:16; 74:20; 78:10; 78:37; 103:18; 106:45; 111:5; 111:9; Isa 56:4, 6; Jer 1:2-3, 6, 8, 10; 14:21; 22:9; 31:32; Ezek 16:8, 59, 60; 44:7; Dan 9:4; 11:28, 30, 32; Hosea 6:7; 8:1; Zech 9:11; 11:10; a divine constitution given to Israel with promises on conditi”
Ezekiel “For thus says the Lord Yahweh: I will also deal with you as you have done, who have despised the oath in breaking the covenant. -- Ezekiel 16:59”
Jeremiah “I will give the men who have transgressed my covenant, who have not performed the words of the covenant which they made before me, when they cut the calf in two and passed between its parts; -- Jeremiah 34:18”
Deuteronomy “Deuteronomy 29:21 (KJV) — And the Lord shall separate him unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this book of the law:”
Jeremiah “They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words; and they are gone after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers. -- Jeremiah 11:10”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Covenant — A contract or agreement between two parties. In the Old Testament the Hebrew word berith is always thus translated. Berith is derived from a root which means "to cut," and hence a covenant is a "cutting," with reference to the cutting or dividing of animals into two parts, and the contracting parties passing between them, in making a covenant (Gen. 15; Jer. 34:18, 19). The corresponding word in the New Testament Greek is diatheke, which is, however, rendered "testament" generally in the Authorized Version. It ought to be rendered, just as the word berith o”
Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Israel — who prevails with God”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Baal-berith — Covenant lord, the name of the god worshipped in Shechem after the death of Gideon (Judg. 8:33; 9:4). In 9:46 he is called simply "the god Berith." The name denotes the god of the covenant into which the Israelites entered with the Canaanites, contrary to the command of Jehovah (Ex. 34:12), when they began to fall away to the worship of idols.”
Brown-Driver-Briggs “[BDB H1285] berith (part 4/6) — with David Psa 89:4; 89:29; 89:34; 89:39; 132:12; Jer 33:21 (compare 2 Samuel 7 = 1 Chronicles 17); a divine promise to the seed of David of an everlasting kingdom, the relation of sonship, and the superintendence of the temple (compare Psalms 2..) g. Jehoiada and the people 2Kin 11:17 2Chr 23:3, a constitutional agreement to be the people of Yahweh. h. Hezekiah and the people2Chr 29:10, a constitutional agreement to reform the worship. i. Josiah and the people 2Kin 23:3, a constitutional agreement to obey the book of the covenant. j. Ezra and the people Ezra 10”
CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 1, section 23.2: 62:10 65:20 65:24 Jeremiah 1:6 1:17 2:21 2:21 7:4 7:4 7:21 7:22 9:23-24 9:26 10:14 17:5 17:5 22:7 23:5 23:19 23:36 25:11-12 29:10 30:9 30:9 31:34 32:18 33:15 41:5 48:7 48:13 48:29 48:30 48:32 48:32 48:32 48:34 Lamentations 2:22 3:22 Ezekiel 4:16 13:9 18:20 20:22 34:23 34:23 36:25 37:11-12 37:16 37:24 37:24 47:1 47:1 Daniel 2:44 7:10 7:14 7:27 9:24 9:27 Hosea 2:5 2:13 2:18 2:19-20 2:23 3:4 3:5 6:6 13:11 14:2 14:9 Joel 2:31 2:32 2:32 Amos 2:4-5 3:11 5:11 5:18 5:20 5:21 6:11 9:11 9:11 Jonah 1:2 3:10 Micah 1:16 5:10 6:7-8 7:8 Habakkuk 1:16 2:2 2:”
CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 1, section 29.2: 62:10 65:20 65:24 Jeremiah 1:6 1:17 2:21 2:21 7:4 7:4 7:21 7:22 9:23-24 9:26 10:14 17:5 17:5 22:7 23:5 23:19 23:36 25:11-12 29:10 30:9 30:9 31:34 32:18 33:15 41:5 48:7 48:13 48:29 48:30 48:32 48:32 48:32 48:34 Lamentations 2:22 3:22 Ezekiel 4:16 13:9 18:20 20:22 34:23 34:23 36:25 37:11-12 37:16 37:24 37:24 47:1 47:1 Daniel 2:44 7:10 7:14 7:27 9:24 9:27 Hosea 2:5 2:13 2:18 2:19-20 2:23 3:4 3:5 6:6 13:11 14:2 14:9 Joel 2:31 2:32 2:32 Amos 2:4-5 3:11 5:11 5:18 5:20 5:21 6:11 9:11 9:11 Jonah 1:2 3:10 Micah 1:16 5:10 6:7-8 7:8 Habakkuk 1:16 2:2 2:”
CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 1, section 23.4: 29:10 30:9 30:9 31:34 32:18 33:15 41:5 48:7 48:13 48:29 48:30 48:32 48:32 48:32 48:34 Lamentations 2:22 3:22 Ezekiel 4:16 13:9 18:20 20:22 34:23 34:23 36:25 37:11 37:12 37:16 37:24 37:24 47:1 47:1 Daniel 2:44 7:10 7:14 7:27 9:24 9:27 Hosea 2:5 2:13 2:18 2:19 2:20 2:23 3:4 3:5 6:6 13:11 14:2 14:9 Joel 2:31 2:32 2:32 Amos 2:4 2:5 3:11 5:11 5:18 5:20 5:21 6:11 9:11 9:11 Jonah 1:2 3:10 Micah 1:16 5:10 6:7 6:8 7:8 Habakkuk 1:16 2:2 2:2 Zephaniah 1:5 1:7 Haggai 2:9 Zechariah 2:8 2:8 3:2 6:12 Malachi 2:10 4:3 4:4 Matthew 1:5 3:2 4:15 4:16 5:10 5:11 ”
Ezekiel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ezekiel 16:59: the oath--the covenant between God and Israel (Deu 29:12, Deu 29:14). As thou hast despised it, so will I despise thee. No covenant is one-sided; where Israel broke faith, God's promise of favor ceased.”

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