![]() ![]() The pattern with its parallel sections in Exodus can be outlined as follows: The Sinai covenant reflects the pattern of the ancient Near Eastern suzerain-vassal treaty. These treaties are preserved in the Mari Tablets and in the Amarna texts and you will find this treaty referred to often as Hittite in origin since the tablets found were Hittite. We can find archaeological evidence for these treaties in modern-day Turkey, which was once the home to the Hittite Empire. If the vassal fails to meet the stipulations, he will receive the Suzerain's curses, which are also listed. ![]() If the stipulations are met by the vassal, he will receive the Suzerain's blessings, which are listed. The last section of the Suzerain/Vassal covenant contains the blessings and curses of the Suzerain. ![]() This section is often concluded with the requirement that the vassal deposit his copy of the treaty in his temple, where he is to occasionally read and study it to refresh his memory concerning his duties. ![]() These two sections are referred to as the ‘preamble’ and the next section as the 'stipulations.' What the vassal is required to do is spelled out in principle and detail. The treaty would have divine and earthly witnesses purporting the treaty's validity, trustworthiness, and efficacy. According to the Hittite form, after the stipulations were offered to the vassal, it was necessary to include a request to have copies of the treaty that would be read throughout the kingdom periodically. This included tributes, obligations and other forms of subordination that would be imposed on the vassal. The historical survey of the Suzerain's dealings with the vassal, with the purpose of illustrating to the vassal how much the Suzerain has done to protect and establish the vassal, who therefore owes submission and allegiance to the Suzerain.įollowing the historical prologue came the stipulation. The identification of the Suzerain by his name and titles. Kline, in his lecture notes on the "Suzerain Treaties & The Covenant Documents the Bible", mentions that these Suzerain/Vassal covenants open with these two sections: If the vassal had issue with another vassal, they would bring it before the suzerain.ĭr. In these agreements, autonomy within their own borders is retained, and there was an alliance in wars. The treaty mostly outlined agreements to honor each other's boundaries, to maintain trade relations, return run-away slaves, etc. The Suzerain ruler would adopt the vassal as his own son, adding him as a member of the royal family. Many times, in the Suzerain-Vassal treaty, the vassal would receive a new name as a reward, in addition to a grant of land and blessing. In these treaties, the “suzerain,” or superior ruler, promised blessings for loyalty and obedience, and curses for rebellion. This latter approach finds analogues in the Bible that tends to temper any coercive aspects of the covenant by emphasizing the positive aspects of the relationship with God. The Hittite treaties are based on the principle of reciprocity, which emphasizes the mutual benefits offered to both sides. The Neo-Assyrian treaties employ fear as the singular basis for compelling the loyalty of the vassal. The structure of Jewish covenant law was like the Hittite form of suzerain. The Hittites, Egyptians, and Assyrians had been suzerains to the Israelites and other tribal kingdoms of the area from 1200 to 600 BC. Suzerainty treaties and similar covenants and agreements between Middle Eastern states were quite prevalent during the pre-monarchic and monarchy periods in Ancient Israel. While the subordinate party is called a vassal, vassal state or tributary state, the dominant party is called a suzerain. Suzerainty is the rights and obligations of a person, state or other polity who controls the foreign policy and relations of a tributary state, while allowing the tributary state to have internal autonomy. ![]()
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