דברי הימים ב, פרק ט״ו, פסוק י״ב

A national commitment to follow God requires more than just spoken promises. The people did not merely state their loyalty; they took part in a highly serious ceremony to create a real, binding covenant [מלבי״ם]. This process involved cutting a calf in half and walking directly between the two pieces.

This physical action served as a strong, clear warning. By walking through the divided animal, the people accepted a harsh condition: anyone who broke the agreement and failed to seek God would suffer the exact same fate as the calf. The serious nature of this physical warning explains the strict rule that followed. Because the agreement was sealed with such a heavy threat, a death penalty was immediately set for anyone who refused to join the covenant and stay loyal to God.