THE COVENANT OF SALT - In the Beginning.

The sealing of an agreement (or a relationship) through a meal which involved the sharing of salt as the symbolic focus became established among the Israelite people in Old Testament times. It had a religious significance as inviolable, for it originated in the 'salt covenants' established between God and his chosen people.

In LEVITICUS 2,13, the specific commandment was given for offerings at the sanctuary -- "You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt." 

In NUMBERS 18,19, the covenant of salt was to confirm that specified parts of the food offerings were to be given to the Levites and priests of the children of Aaron in lieu of land inheritance: -- "All the holy contributions that the people of Israel present to the Lord I give to you, and to your sons and daughters with you, as a perpetual due. It is a covenant of salt forever before the Lord for you and for your offspring with you.” 

In 2 CHRONICLES 13, 5, the covenant of salt was to confirm God's promise of the kingdom of Israel to the line of David. -- "Ought ye not to know that the Lord God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?"

The biblical symbolism of SALT is defined in contrast to YEAST.

In the first reference by Moses to the covenant of salt in Leviticus, it is made clear that SALT stands in contrast to YEAST in these commandments for worship. YEAST is of course a figure for sin and corruption, and remains so throughout the Bible. Unleavened (that is, without yeast) bread is the only sort that is permitted. In contrast, SALT is a figure throughout the Bible for blessing, purification and preservation.

LEVITICUS 2, 4-13.

4. And if thou bring an oblation of a meat offering baken in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil.5 And if thy oblation be a meat offering baken in a pan, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mingled with oil.6 Thou shalt part it in pieces, and pour oil thereon: it is a meat offering. ...10 And that which is left of the meat offering shall be Aaron's and his sons': it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the Lord made by fire.11 No meat offering, which ye shall bring unto the Lord, shall be made with leaven: for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the Lord made by fire.12 As for the oblation of the firstfruits, ye shall offer them unto the Lord: but they shall not be burnt on the altar for a sweet savour.13 And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the SALT OF THE COVENANT of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.