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COVENANT

COVENANT. Covenant- Definition. Treaty Formal agreement between two (or more) parties Mutual benefit Mutual responsibility. “Hittite Treaties”. Usual title. Between Hittites (Asia Minor/Turkey) and Egypt Written in Akkadian (language of Mesopotamia)- the lingua franca of the period.

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COVENANT

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  1. COVENANT

  2. Covenant- Definition • Treaty • Formal agreement between two (or more) parties • Mutual benefit • Mutual responsibility

  3. “Hittite Treaties” • Usual title. • Between Hittites (Asia Minor/Turkey) and Egypt • Written in Akkadian (language of Mesopotamia)- the lingua franca of the period

  4. 2 Ancient Near Eastern Types • Parity treaty- on a par; between equals (NATO) • Vassal/suzerainty treaty- between two unequal parties

  5. Vassal/suzerainty Treaty • Inferior (vassal) bound by oath to superior (suzerain- called the “Great King”) • Mutual obligation- but obedience of vassal is given greater weight than the opposite. • Stipulations are laid on the vassal • Promises to help vassal are promises, not legal: based on trust/ good-will

  6. Theological Significance • Israel is related to Yahweh in legal, covenant terms • God is Great King • Israel is vassal • Important at start of Israelite monarchy- Judges 8:23

  7. 6 Elements of an ANE Covenant

  8. I. Preamble • Parties are identified: These are the words of the Sun, Suppiluliumas, the great king, the king of the land of the Hittites, the valiant, the favorite of the Storm-god. • Exod 20:2a; Deut 1:1-5; Josh 24:2

  9. II. Historical Prologue • Previous relationships between the parties • Why should we enter into covenant? • Previously the king of Egypt and his cronies were hostile to the Sun…but you parted from them and joined with me. • Ex 20:2b; Deut 1:6-4:49; Josh 24:2b-13

  10. III. Stipulations: general and specific • He who lives in peace with the Sun lives at peace with you, but he who is an enemy to the Sun is an enemy to you. • No foreign relationships allowed (only 1 covenant) No enemies among vassals • Respond to call to arms • Lasting loyalty to the king

  11. Stipulations (continued) • Ex 20:3ff; Deut 5-26; Josh 24:14-21

  12. IV. Curses and Blessings • May Ashur, king of the gods, decree for you an evil, unpropitious fate, and not grant you fatherhood and old age. • May Ninurta fell you with his fierce arrow, and fill the plain with your corpses, give your flesh to eagles and vultures to feed on. • May all you teeth fall out except one, and may it be abscessed.

  13. Curses and Blessings (Continued) • Exod 23:20-33; Deut 27-30 • Basis for the message of the prophets (Deut 27-30 and Amos 4)

  14. V. Deposit or Tablet Clause • What to do with the finished covenant document • Often omitted in ANE • Deut 31:9-13; Josh 24:26

  15. VI. Witnesses • Deities who are to bring about the blessings or curses • The treaty which he has made binding with you before Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Mercury, Mars, and Sirius; before Ashur, Enlil, Ea and Marduk…

  16. Witnesses (Continued) • Problem for Israel’s covenant with god? • Deut 30:19; 31:26; Josh 24:22 • Henotheism- each people has own gods who is responsible for them.

  17. Formal Oath Ceremony • Covenant not self-standing: has ritual context in real life • Not part of Hittite treaty documents (history as writing more important than history as event) • OT- both audio (legal text) and video (ceremony described)- Exod 24:4--11; Josh 24:25

  18. Abrahamic Covenant- Genesis 15, 17 • Different form from others • God obligates himself, Abraham not • Rituals (Gen 15) done by God • No future acts for Abraham (circumcision = sign of, not obligation of covenant) • Parallels ANE royal grant: an unconditional gift

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