User:Sctimmons/sandbox

For Battle of Gibeah
According to Trible, the choice of words in this story hold a great deal of significance. This is especially seen in the differentiation between singular and plural verbs: "And his father-in-law, the father of the young woman, made him stay; and he remained with him three days; so they ate and drank and spent the night. On the fourth day they got up early in the morning, and he arose to go." Trible suggests that the change from they to he excludes the woman from the action.

Abrahamic and Davidic covenants as grants (Weinfeld)
The Abrahamic and Davidic covenants closely resemble grants, a type of treaty used in Hittite and other ancient cultures. These covenants follow the pattern seen in grants: because Abraham and David were loyal, faithful servants of God, God has given them gifts. Abraham is given land, and God promises David a dynasty. Further underlying the idea that these covenants were grant-like in nature is the similar language used in both. In the grant of Ashurbanipal, an Assyrian, to his servant Bulta, he describes Bulta's loyalty with the phrase "kept the charge of my kinship." Abraham similarly kept God's charge in Genesis 26: 4-5: "I will give to your descendants all these lands...inasmuch as Abraham obeyed me and kept my charge, my commandments, my rules and my teachings."

User:Sctimmons, I would suggest separating your second sentence connecting "grants" and the events being described as "grant-like." Though I believe this sentence is grammatically correct, It seems that this sentence can be a bit convoluted when read. I also would suggest adding a conclusion sentence just to give a bit more lucidity to your paragraph. ZarathustraSay20 (talk) 19:45, 11 March 2015 (UTC)

Suzerain/vassal relationships in the Mosaic covenant (Mendenhall)
Hittite suzerainty treaties, established between an emperor (suzerain) and inferior king (vassal), were defined by several important elements. The treaties were based on past aid or good fortune that the suzerain had previously delivered unto the vassal and the obligations that the vassal, therefore, had to the suzerain. This foundation for a treaty relationship is similar to the foundation for the Mosaic covenant and the Decalogue. God had delivered the Israelites from Egypt in the Exodus, and they therefore are obligated to follow the commandments in the Decalogue. As the vassal, God has no further obligations towards the Israelites—but it’s implied that God will continue to protect them as a result of the covenant.

User:Sctimmons I suggest supporting the claim connecting the the vassal/suzerain relationships and the Covenants. Adding mutual, textual evidence found within the Bible and the ancient near east treaties, connecting the two, may tie the argument together neatly. ZarathustraSay20 (talk) 19:50, 11 March 2015 (UTC)

For Genealogies of Genesis: The Priestly source illustrates history in Genesis by compiling the genealogy beginning with the "generations of the heavens and the earth" and continuing through Abraham, Ishmael, and Isaac to the descendants of Jacob's son Esau. Jacob's descendants are listed in Genesis 46:8-27, beginning with the phrase "these are the names."

For Wife–sister narratives in the Book of Genesis:

Political marriages were common occurrences in the Near East during the second and first millennia B.C.E., which typically meant that a resident alien would offer one of his daughters to the monarch as a diplomatic action and to protect himself and his family. In every wife-sister narrative found in the Book of Genesis, Abraham and Isaac are traveling in foreign territory without any daughters to offer the local ruler. Therefore, in declaring that their wives were actually sisters, they attempted to create similar diplomatic relationships.

Weinfeld outline
Intro


 * Two types of covenants in the Old Testament: obligatory (Sinai covenant), promissory (Abrahamic/Davidic covenants)
 * Obligatory type of covenant similar to other treaties from that era, but promissory unlike other treaties

Treaties and grants
 * Treaty: vassal has obligations to superior
 * Grant: superior has obligations to vassal
 * Covenants with Abraham and David were grants


 * In Hittite treaties, superiors would reward vassals with land, which could not be given away to "strangers"
 * Adoption was key to continuity of power, "forensic metaphor"

Covenant with Abraham
 * God as suzerain who was obligated to keep his promise to Abraham
 * Animal sacrifice was part of the oath, practice started in 3rd millennium
 * the land gifted in Genesis 15 was part of a legal pattern (like in Hittite treaties?)
 * Abraham is promised a dynasty before he is promised land
 * Both Abraham and David were promised legacy in future generations

Grant to Caleb
 * Because of Caleb's loyalty to God, he was granted Hebron
 * Hebron was the origin of the Abrahamic/Davidic covenants

Grants to Priests/Revenues
 * status could be granted (priesthood)
 * Levites received tithes from all of Israel; inheritance given to all sons of Levi
 * Aaronite and Levite grants also came from Hebron