I am interested in the history of the dvar halacha — did rabbis used to give a dvar halacha or was it always a dvar Torah on the parsha?
Answer:
I’m not sure which “dvar halacha” you are referring to.
Rabbis always gave shiurim on halachic matters. However, the derasha on Shabbos was often a dvar Torah on the parasha (see Tur, Orach Chaim 290).
Best wishes.
