Texts in Conversation
Deuteronomy invokes heaven and earth as witnesses to a covenant, following established ancient Near Eastern treaty practices where agreements were overseen by gods, cosmic forces, and the natural world.
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The Treaty between Suppiluliumas and Kurtiwaza
Ancient Near East
The gods of the contracting parties are summoned to be present, to listen, and to serve as witnesses. These are the gods: the Sun-goddess of Arinna, who regulates kingship and queenship; the Sun-god, lord of heaven; the Storm-god, lord of the Hatti land; the Storm-god of Kizzuwatna; the Storm-god of Nerik; the Storm-god of Halab; the Storm-god of Lihzina; the Storm-god of Samuha; the Storm-god of Hurma; the Storm-god of Sarissa; the Storm-god of Sapinuwa; the Storm-god of Hissashapa; the Storm-god of Tahaya; the Storm-god of Kizzuwatna; the Storm-god of Uda; the Hattian patron-god of Karahna; Zithariyas; Karzis; Hapantalliyas; the patron-god of the field; the patron-god of the shield; Lelwani; Ea; Damkina; Telepinu of Tawiniya; Telepinu of Durmitta; Telepinu of Hanhana; Ištar the warlike; Aškapas; Halikis. The Moon-god, lord of the oath; Išhara, queen of the oath; Hebat, queen of heaven; Hebat of Halab; Hebat of Uda; Hebat of Kizzuwatna; the Warrior-god; the Hattian Warrior-god; the Warrior-god of Ellaya; the Warrior-god of Arziya; Yarris; Zapparas; Hasammelis; Hantidas of Hurma; Abaras of Samuha; Katahhas of Ankuwa; Katahhas of Katapa; Mammas of Tahurpa; Hallaras of Dunna; Huwassanas of Hupisna; the Lady of Landa; Kunziwannanis of Landa; the gods of the Hatti land; the gods of the land of Kizzuwatna; Ereskigal; Nara; Namsara; Minku; Amminku; Tussi; Ammizadu; Alalu; Anu; Antu; Ellil; Ninlil; Belet-Ekalli; the mountains; the rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates; heaven and earth; the winds and the clouds.
Date: 1300 B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Deuteronomy 30:19
Hebrew Bible
18 I declare to you this very day that you will certainly perish! You will not extend your time in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess. 19 Today I invoke heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set life and death, blessing and curse, before you. Therefore choose life so that you and your descendants may live! 20 I also call on you to love the Lord your God, to obey him and be loyal to him, for he gives you life and enables you to live continually in the land the Lord promised to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
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Notes and References
"... The embarrassing wealth of comparative material from the ancient Near East has made the task of selecting texts for the present volume a difficult one . Two criteria have been used in choosing the material. First, an attempt has been made to include those texts which have, from time to time, been cited in recognized commentaries as parallel to, or illustrative of, certain passages in the Old Testament. Frequently the appearance of a biblical name has been the criterion for inclusion . In other cases a treatment of a biblical theme by the writer of a text has occasioned the selection. In yet other instances a text has been included because it is representative of a type of literature-such as prayer, lamentation, ritual-which figures prominently in the Old Testament ... With the recent emergence of interest in the concept of covenant in Old Testament studies, it has seemed appropriate to include an entirely new genre of texts, Akkadian Treaties from Syria and Assyria ..."
Pritchard, James B.
Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament
(p. xx) Princeton University Press, 2016
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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