An understanding of the grants may be helpful here, as well. Unfaithfulness on the part of a vassal did not nullify the covenant relationship in a suzerainty-vassal covenant. The suzerain sovereignly initiated the relationship and he maintained it as well. This is the argument of God throughout Hosea as well as Romans 9–11 and many other passages. The fidelity of the vassal did not determine the duration of the covenant. What, then, did a suzerain do with an unfaithful vassal? Customarily, he chose