As I am reading through the next Torah Portion, Vayikra, Leviticus 1:1 to 5:26, my attention focused on the following verse:

Vayikra / Leviticus 2:13 And every meal-offering of thine shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meal-offering; with all thy offerings thou shalt offer salt. 

Just previous to these verses, YHVH tells His people that they may bring unblemished sacrifices from the herd, such as cattle; or from the flock, such as unblemished lambs and goats. He also cautions the new nation that although honey and fruits are suitable as donations to the Levite priesthood, these items are not fit to be placed on the altar. Only the designated parts of the specified animals or finely ground wheat can be burnt on the altar. Then – we come to the salt.

To understand this strange command, I believe we need to understand the complex nature of salt and its uses in the ancient Middle East.

• Salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride  (NaCl)
• Salt comes from the sea and from underground
• Table salt is heated to 1200 degrees F
• Table salt = 97.5% NaCl (sodium chloride) and 2.5% aluminum
• Sea salt = 85% NaCl + Ca (calcium) Mg (magnesium) K (potassium), S (sulfur)
• Sea salt has 84 trace minerals, 0 in table salt
• Salt is antibacterial and preserves from decay
• Worldwide, salt intake averages 10 grams daily
• In USA, 2.4 grams daily is recommended. (A level teaspoon is 6 grams.)
• Salt stabilizes heartbeats
• With water, salt regulates blood pressure
• Proper salt intake removes excess acidity from cells, especially brain cells
• Salt regulates blood sugar in diabetics
• Salt is needed to generate energy between cells
• Salt is vital to nerve cell communication and information processing
• Vital to the absorption of food in the digestive tract
• Clears sinus congestion
• Salt clears lungs of mucus and phlegm especially in asthma and cystic fibrosis
• There are clinics in salt mines to relieve asthma and allergies in Poland, the UK and Israel.

Salt, Medically Speaking:

• Salt is a natural antihistamine
• Salt prevents muscle cramps
• Salt is vital to make bones firm (Theoretically, salt shortage contributes to osteoporosis)
• Salt is necessary for good, sound sleep
• Salt on the tongue will stop a cough instantly
• Salt is necessary to prevent gout and gouty arthritis
• Salt maintains healthy libido
• Salt prevents varicose veins
• Amniotic fluid is virtually identical to sea water

Salt Uses Throughout the Scriptures 

• Health: Ezekiel 16:4, rub salt on newborn (kills germs;stimulates them to breathe; and promotes circulation)
• Healing: 2 Kings 2:21, healed water which in turn healed the people
• Destruction: Deuteronomy 29: 22(23) plants cannot grow salted land (it is a herbicide); Judges 9:45; Psalm 107:34; Zephaniah 2:9
• Grace and prudence encouraged: Colossians 4:6 (Let your speech be seasoned with salt.)
• Have a beneficial influence: Matthew 5:13 (We are salt of the earth)

Salt in Middle East Tradition

• Arabic saying:  There is salt between us. It is a way of saying we have a covenantal relationship.
• Covenants were sealed with salt (salt exchanged)
• Both ancient and modern wedding ceremonies included a salt covenant ceremony.
• The word “salary” comes from the word salt, because that is what some cultures used as money.
• A bad worker was ‘not worth his salt’ for the same reason
• In Leonardo DaVinci’s ‘Last Supper’, the salt cellar is overturned in front of Judas Iscariot, showing that the covenant had been broken between him and Y’shua

Salt in Covenant

When engaging in a Salt Covenant, both parties pour salt into a single vial. The concept being that the covenant can be broken ONLY when the individual parties can identify and separate their own salt. (It’s not fair to use black salt from Hawaii and pink Himalayan salt!!) Entering into a Covenant of Salt means binding oneself to another in utmost loyalty and truthfulness, even suffering death, rather than breaking the covenant.  For this very reason a Covenant of Salt was never done lightly or haphazardly – it deserves serious respect.

Prime Example

2Chronicles 13:5 ought ye not to know that the LORD, the God of Israel, gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?

My Conclusion

• Salt, like Torah, is necessary for life.
• Salt preserves; Salt cleanses.
• Salt is necessary for every thought, every heartbeat.
• A Covenant of Salt, then, is not only eternal, it fully sustains us – heart, mind, body and soul.
• When YHVH made the Salt Covenant with us, He was saying that He will purify, sustain and preserve us — FOREVER.

How Does This Apply to Us Today?

The Temple lies in ruins and in the control of those who will not let Jews or Christians pray or worship there. Our only worship is offering our selves, our lives, as a living sacrifice. We can bring sacrifices of praise, worship, and service to our fellowman, as a sacrifice to our Father in Heaven.

We were given a covenant of salt — a forever covenant of sustenance, protection and preservation.  We are to not only declare YHVH as the Maker of the covenant with our words, but with our actions.  As His covenant people, we are to season this world with His essence, His Torah, His Teaching and Instruction and with the Good News of His once-and-for-all sacrifice of reconciliation, Y’shua, who said, “Matthew 5:13 (CEBA) “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how will it become salty again? It’s good for nothing except to be thrown away and trampled under people’s feet.”

So, ultimately, nowadays,our lives are the sacrifice and the salt on us is the the seasoning we bring to this world.

May it be for a blessing.