The Covenantal Framework of the Seven Messages

This chapter will explore the extensive history behind the structure of Ancient Near Eastern Vassal Treaties (ANEVT). Since Mendenhall and Bickerman first identified similarities between ANEVT and other documents such as the biblical testaments, Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, and the Hippocratic Oath, scholars have spent the past eighty years researching and documenting the uniform treaty formulary used throughout the Ancient Near East. Through this research, a consensus has been reached that ANEVT follow a basic, six-element structure consisting of a preamble, historical prologue, stipulations, blessing and cursing, witness, and deposit/public reading. The components of this structure may vary in number and order among various ANEVTs, such as the Hittite, Assyrian, and Aramean treaties, but the essential structure remains the same.

•     Fig. 12. The Treaty of Kadesh discovered at Boğazköy, Turkey.

RESPONSE TO THE CRITICS ....p. 69

THE MESSENGER’S COMMISSION ....p. 71

•     Angels defined as messengers ....p. 71
•     Fig. 13. Stone carving of the winged angel Nike, Ephesus.
•     Three categories of interpretation ....p. 72
•     The angels’ function ....p. 75
•     Messengers from an ANE perspective ....p. 76

MESSENGER PREAMBLE FORMULA ....p. 79

HISTORICAL PROLOGUE ....p. 82

•     Fig. 14. Fragment of a Hittite tablet.

FORMAL ETHICAL STIPULATIONS ....p. 84

• SANCTIONS ....p. 85

•     Benediction ....p. 88
•     Malediction ....p. 88

PROCLAMATION WITNESSES FORMULA ....p. 91

•     Fig. 15. The Nash Papyrus.

DEPOSIT AND PUBLIC READING ....p. 94

•     Fig. 16. Replica of the Ark of the Covenant.
•     Fig. 17. Woman holding wax tablets in the form of the codex and stylus.

METHODOLOGY ....p. 97

•     The influence of the OT ....p. 97
•     Historical churches ....p. 97
•     Unity ....p. 98
•     Hebraic-Semitic and Graeco-Roman presence ....p. 99
•     John, in the OT prophetic tradition ....p. 99

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Updated Dec. 6, 2023