The Threshold Covenant

This classic includes the following chapters: I. Primitive Family Altar 1. A Blood Welcome at the Door 2. Reverence for the Threshold Altar 3. Threshold Covenanting in the Marriage Ceremony 4. Stepping or Being Lifted Across the Threshold 5. Laying Foundations in Blood 6. Appeals at the Altar 7. Covenant Tokens on the Doorway 8. Symbol of the Red Hand 9. Deities of the Doorway II. Earliest Temple Altar 1. From House to Temple 2. Sacredness of the Door 3. Temple Thresholds in Asia 4. Temple Thresholds in Africa 5. Temple Thresholds in Europe 6. Temple Thresholds in America 7. Temple Thresholds in Islands of the Sea 8. Only One Foundation III. Sacred Boundary Line 1. From Temple to Domain 2. Local Landmarks 3. National Borders 4. Border Sacrifices IV. Origin of the Rite 1. A Natural Question 2. An Answer by Induction 3. No Covenant Without Blood 4. Confirmation of This View V. Hebrew Pass-Over, or Cross-Over, Sacrifice 1. New Meaning in an Old Rite 2. A Welcome With Blood 3. Bason, or Threshold 4. Pass-Over or Pass-By 5. Marriage of Jehovah With Israel VI. Christian Passover 1. Old Covenant and New 2. Proffered Welcome by the Father 3. Bridegroom and Bride 4. Survivals of the Rite VII. Outgrowths and Perversions of This Rite 1. Elemental Beginnings 2. Main Outgrowths 3. Chief Perversions

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

The Threshold Covenant contains H. Clay Trumbull's intensive research into the religious customs, rituals and sacred rites related to the threshold or entrance of homes and temples during the Biblical era. A fascinating history of how religious life was carried out in the ancient era of the Bible, this book reveals the deep and abiding role that spiritual observance played in everyday life. For instance, we learn of concepts such as the 'Threshold altar', where a family would make an animal sacrifice for a visitor, are traced to Ancient Egypt. Later societies would change this practice to offering bread and salt - symbolic of the flesh and the blood - or a bottle of red wine. The importance of the threshold, or entryway, to both believing households and a holy temple is much detailed by Trumbull. We discover the sophistication of these beliefs, and how they would vary between ancient communities. As well as being a religious history, this book can be considered a sociological manual surrounding human customs of hospitality and worship in the distant past. The author does not confine his investigation to Egypt and the Middle East, but broadens his inquiries to India and the Hindu religion. Comparisons between Hindu custom relating to the threshold of homes and temples are made, be they related to festival celebration, administration of justice, or regular worship. Crossing the threshold and entering a place of holy observance has long been symbolized and heralded by man. In all, the author offers readers an insightful and deep investigation into a topic seldom examined in great detail by religious scholars or historians.