Ancient Near Eastern treaties are important because they shed light on pacts and treaties in the OT. They are especially important because they provide some background understanding of one of the most important of all biblical terms, covenant. (See "Covenants").

Historical Discoveries

We knew almost nothing about ancient Near Eastern treaties until archaeological research began in the nineteenth century. Since then numerous examples of such pacts (covenants) have been discovered. made available to Bible scholars, and studied at length.

The most important of these were Hittite treaties from their ancient capital of Boghazkoy (in modern Turkey). These date from the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age (about 1400-1200 BC), in the early biblical period.

Treaty Forms

Hittite and other treaties took one of two forms: parity or suzerainty. A parity treaty was between equals. A suzerainty treaty was between a sovereign (suzerain) and a vassal (subject). It was drawn up by the superior power and imposed on the inferior. This latter type is the more important for biblical studies.

Both types of treaties contain certain clauses including a title identifying the chief partner, a historical prologue to show how past benefits from the chief partner should inspire the vassal to a grateful response,, and a list of stipulations (obligations, laws). They also contain provision for the preservation of the document (usually by deposit in the vassal's chief shrine), the witnesses to the covenant (usually the gods of both parties), the blessings and curses that will result from keeping or breaking it, a prescribed regular public reading of it, and an oath ratifying the covenant in a solemn ceremony.

Even in the case of a suzerainty treaty, which was in effect imposed by the sovereign on the vassal, the superior power also bound himself by certain obligations to his vassal.

Application to Biblical Studies

The biblical covenant form shows remarkable resemblance to the Hittite treaty form. Scholars have found similarity of approach and even of outline between the Hittite form and the book of the covenant (the covenant code) of Exodus 20-23, the entire Book of Deuteronomy, and Joshua 24. Deuteronomy is almost entirely covenantal in its form and content, as are other parts of the OT. (Some suggest analyzing the entire Bible according to this pattern.)

Moses seems to have been making use of the treaty format that was already in common use in the world of his day as he expressed the covenant relationship between the LORD and His people.

The slaughter of an animal at the ratification of a treaty implies that the one who violated the treaty could expect a similar fate as a consequence. There was probably also a sense of the binding together of the two contracting parties through the animal sacrifice and perhaps through the sprinkling of its blood on the participants of their representatives.

The covenants of Scripture were not isolated or unrelated to what was going on in the world of that day. The LORD chose to make use of a common, well-known covenant approach. As they did with so many other things, the biblical writers took over patterns they already found in the world around them and redeemed ("baptized") them to the glory of GOD.

The LORD chose to reveal Himself to His people not in a vacuum but in a definite cultural setting. This is why it is so important to know the world of that day, its circumstances, its customs, and its patterns of thought as we try to better understand Scripture.

EXOD 19:1-24:18) SINAI COVENANT (HBH) Again and again in the account of the plagues, Moses delivered GOD's message to Pharaoh: "Let my people go, so that they may worship [or serve] me." AT last the moment of worship and service arrived which the exodus deliverance had made possible. At Sinai Israel was to commit itself to GOD in covenant. Yahweh based His call to covenant commitment on His mighty acts of deliverance (19:4). Only through obedience to GOD's covenant could Israel fill its role as "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (19:5-6).

Unanimously they agreed to its terms, so Moses prepared to ascend Mount Sinai to solemnize the arrangement (19:7-15). As Moses was about to go up, Yahweh came down, visiting the mountain with the thunder and lightning of His glorious presence. Moses warned the people to respect the holy (and potentially dangerous) presence of GOD on the mountain (19:16-25).

As suggested already, the Sinaitic (or Mosaic) covenant is in the form of a sovereign-vassal treaty text well attested from the ancient Near East. The treaty established the relationship between the King (GOD) and His servants (Israel). (See the above article "Near Eastern Treaties.") Its first section is a preamble introducing the Covenant Maker, the LORD Himself (20:2a). Next a historical prologue outlines the past relationship of the partners and justifies the present covenant (20:2b). Then follows the division known as the general stipulations, in this case the Decalogue, or Ten Commandments (20:3-17). After a brief narrative interlude (20:18-22), the Book of the Covenant (20:23-23:23) gives the specific stipulations of the treaty.

Contracting parties often sealed their agreement with oaths and a ceremony that included a fellowship meal. The Sinaitic covenant also had its sacrifice, sealing of the oath by blood (24:1-8), and covenant meal (24:9-11). The covenant or treaty texts also had to be prepared in duplicate and preserved in a safe place for regular, periodic reading. Moses therefore brought down from the mountain the tablets of stone to be stored in the ark of the covenant (24:12-18; 25:16).

Exod. 19:5,6 GOD formulated his requirements and stipulations for those whom he had chosen as his people. This type of covenant was common in that era between a sovereign and his subjects. The sovereign blessed and protected his people, while they gave him loyalty and obedience.

Exod. 19:5 See section 2 of "TRUTH IN ACTION" at the end of Exodus.

Exod. 19:5 You shall be my special treasure: They would be so if the people accepted and welcomed the covenant that GOD offered them.