Introduction to Kingdom Covenants Ancient Near Eastern Context of Scripture
References Our Misunderstood Bible bygeorge E. Mendenhall Treaty of the Great King by Meredith Kline Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament by John Walton The Covenant of Grant in the Old Testament and in the Ancient Near East by Moshe Weinfeld And many, many more. Just do a JSTOR search for Ancient Near East
Do we need cultural context?
Zephaniah 3:9 For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, that they may argue, bicker, and divide about how to say My name and the name of My son. (Messianic Sacred Name Version)
Zephaniah 3:9 For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, that they all may call on the name of YHVH, to serve Him with one accord. (NKJV)
1 Corinthians 15:21-28 For since death is through a man, resurrection of the dead is also through a Man. For as all die in Adam, so also all shall be made alive in Messiah. And each in his own order: Messiah the first-fruits, then those who are of Messiah at His coming, then the end, when He delivers up the Kingdom to Elohim the Father, when He has brought to naught all rule and all authority and power. For He has to reign until He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be brought to naught is death. For He has put all under His feet. But when He says all are put under Him, it is clear that He who put all under Him is excepted. And when all are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself shall also be subject to Him who put all under Him, in order that Elohim be all in all.
The Historical and Biblical look into the Ancient Near Eastern World
Archeological Evidence
Why Study Kingdom Covenants? Understand Biblical Language in its original ancient context Gain a better understanding of our obligations as servants of the Great King of the Universe Learn how to truly live in unity according to the word of YHVH in its covenant context Learn to submit to our creator by understanding His authority. Teach Hebrew Roots Communities to begin the process of living according to what covenant really means Equip our Brothers and Sisters to understand their roles in YHVH s Kingdom Empower our prayers through Kingdom language Finally, understand the language of Covenant used by Yeshua, the Apostles, and Paul in their writings.
Difference between a covenant and a contract (Ref: Hugenberger s Marriage as a Covenant) Covenant is an elected, as opposed to natural, relationship of obligation established under divine sanction Contract is private legal and commercial agreements of which the principle guarantors are the courts and community rather than God or the gods
1. Exchange of coat/robe 2. Exchange of weapon/armor 3. Cutting of the covenant 4. Exchanging names 5. Making a scar 6. Swearing an oath in presence of witnesses 7. Memorial meal 8. Setting up a memorial
Suzerainty Occurs where a region or people is a tributary to a more powerful entity which controls its foreign affairs while allowing the tributary vassal state some limited domestic autonomy. The dominant entity in the suzerainty relationship, or the more powerful entity itself, is called a suzerain. The term suzerainty was originally used to describe the relationship between the Ottoman Empire and its surrounding regions. It differs from sovereignty in that the tributary enjoys some (often limited) self-rule. A suzerain can also refer to a feudal lord, to whom vassals must pay tribute.
When used in political and covenantal language it means: To abide by one s covenantal oath, an act of absolute fealty to another It is used to describe loyalty and friendship between political entities and their vassals.
The Armana letters of the 14 th century BCE: Pharaoh loved his vassal and the vassal loved Pharaoh. Vassal treaty of Esarhaddon: You shall love Assurbanipal as yourselves
To Know yada Treaty between the Hittite king Suppiluliumas and the vassal Huqqanas: And you, Huqqanas, know only the Sun regarding lordship; also my son (of) whom I, the Sun, say This one everyone should know...you, Huqqanas, know him. Moreover (those) who are my sons, his brothers, (or) my brothers...know as a brother and associate. Moreover, another lord...do not...know! The Sun [alone] know!...moreover, any other do not know!
To Know yada Treaty between the Hittite king Muwattalis and the vassal Alaksandus: As he [the rebel] is an enemy to you, even so he is an enemy to the Sun; [and] I, the Sun, will know only you.
Translateas: Mercy, Kindness, Loving-Kindness, Favor Actually means: YHVH s steadfast loyalty to the covenant despite disloyalty on the vassal s part.
Hebrew does not have an equivalent term for the generic English word worship, the two most closely related terms are ebed (serve/servant) and shachah (do obeisance/bow down)
In its root, it literally means to cause one s self to live. King Jehu bowing to Shalmaneser III
This is what worship originally meant: The dedication of devotion to that power that is the source of our security and well-being. See Isaiah 32:17 Our Misunderstood Bible by G. E. Mendenhall
Parts of a Suzerainty Preamble Historical Prologue Stipulations Ancillary Commandments Sanctions Dynastic Disposition Covenant Renewal
And Elohim spoke all these words
who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, out of the house of slavery
You shall not. Traditionally forbid the vassal from paying tribute to anyone other than the covenant suzerain
Visiting the crookedness of the fathers on the children.but showing kindness to thousands, to those who love Me
make two tablets of stone Your males shall appear before Me. You shall read it in the hearing of the people
Deuteronomy & the Death of Moses The Gospels
Covenant Lawsuit Literary format: Introduction Address by the plaintiff Accusations in question format Indictment of the accused Witnesses
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