שמות, פרק כ״ד, פסוק ו׳

The formalization of the covenant between God and the Israelites takes on a deeply physical and symbolic form. By dividing the sacrificial blood into two equal portions, a profound partnership and mutual bond is established between the two parties entering the agreement. One half is strictly dedicated to God, while the other half is reserved for the people [ספורנו, קאסוטו].

Achieving this perfect division presents a practical challenge. A human being cannot accurately measure and separate exactly half of a flowing liquid as it drains from an animal. The primary approach among commentators is that this exact separation was not accomplished through human skill, but rather through divine intervention. An angel descended to perfectly divide the blood into two equal halves [רש״י, רא״ש, גור אריה, חנוכת התורה, דברי דוד].

The portion designated for the people was collected in large, round vessels similar to bowls [אבן עזרא, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Some note that these vessels were specifically designed without flat bottoms. Because they could not be set down securely, they had to be constantly held or moved, which prevented the blood inside from coagulating [רש״ר הירש]. There are different views regarding how these vessels were used. Some maintain that both halves—the portion for God's altar and the portion for the people—were placed in these large bowls [אבן עזרא, אונקלוס]. Others argue that these specific bowls were intended solely for the people's portion and were simple items, distinct from the sacred vessels typically used for the altar. According to this view, the half meant for the altar was collected in standard sacrificial vessels, just like any other offering [רמב״ן, הטור הארוך]. Another perspective suggests that two separate bowls were used exclusively for the people's portion: one to hold the blood from the burnt offerings and another for the peace offerings [רש״י].

The ceremony unfolded in a specific sequence. Moses first threw the designated portion of blood onto the altar. Only after this action did he read the words of the covenant to the Israelites, and only following that reading did he sprinkle the remaining half upon the people [בכור שור, חזקוני].

This momentous event serves as the eternal blueprint for entering the covenant of Israel and the conversion process. Just as the generation that left Egypt entered the covenant through three required steps—circumcision, immersion in water, and the throwing of sacrificial blood upon the altar—the same process is required for anyone converting in future generations. The requirement for immersion is directly derived from this ceremony, as a core legal principle dictates that blood could not have been sprinkled upon the people unless they had first immersed themselves in water [רש״י, מזרחי, תורה תמימה, ריב״א, חזקוני].