Deuteronomy 29:12

Enter (literally “pass “) into covenant with the Lord. — Comp. Ezekiel 20:37 : “I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant” Rashi illustrates by Jeremiah 34:18, the passing between the parts of the divided victim, in order to enter into the covenant. (Comp. Genesis 15:17.) But no such ceremony is mentioned here, and therefore we can only say that possibly the practice may have given occasion for this use of the word “pass.”

His oath. — A word here used for the first time in Deuteronomy. It is rendered “curse” in Deuteronomy 29:19. It seems to mean an imprecation in the name of God (comp. Leviticus 5:4; Genesis 24:41), which may bring a curse if the thing sworn to is not fulfilled.

Which the Lord thy God maketh with thee. — Maketh; literally, cutteth. The word refers to the “covenant.”