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Treaties in Tanakh and the Ancient Near East

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Overview

Archaeological finds have revealed many treaties from the Ancient Near East which share much in common with their Biblical counterparts.  As such, these documents can shed light on specific aspects of Biblical covenants which are otherwise obscure or overlooked.  At the same time, the differences between the sources serve to highlight some of the unique features of Israelite treaties, and especially of Hashem's covenant with the nation.

Treaties in Tanakh

The term ברית,‎¹ or treaty, appears 284 times in Tanakh, suggesting that a significant number of relationships in Tanakh are covenantal in nature.  In some cases, the term refers to treaties between individual people or countries, such as the treaties between Avraham and Avimelekh, Shelomo and Chiram, or Achav and Ben Hadad.  At other times, it refers to a covenant between Hashem and man, such as Hashem's covenant with Noach, Avraham, or the Nation of Israel. 

These covenants / treaties fall into two main categories:

• Promissory treaties – In these, the more powerful party unconditionally promises something or obligates themselves to the less powerful party.  An example would be Hashem's unconditional promises to Avraham or David.² 
•  Obligatory treaties – These treaties, in contrast, are conditional on the fulfilling of certain stipulations.  These include both suzerainty treaties between unequal parties, in which a vassal is expected to fulfill  certain conditions in obedience to an overlord (who, in turn, might promise protection or the like), and parity agreements where two equal parties agree to obey the same set of conditions. Hashem's covenant with Israel exemplifies the former, while Yaakov and Lavan's treaty illustrates the latter.

Treaties in the Ancient Near East

Second and first millennium (BCE) treaties have been found involving many countries including Egypt, Assyria, Mari, and Babylonia. However, the vast majority of discoveries stem from two eras and locales: the Hittite kingdom of Anatolia (15th-13th c. BCE),³ and the Neo-Assyrian Empire (8th-7th c. BCE).

Covenantal Form: The Ancient Near Eastern treaties, and especially the Hittite suzerain treaties,⁴ tend to share the same basic format, and include the following six elements:⁵

• Preamble – The opening introduced the person who composed the treaty, giving his title and attributes.⁶
• Historical introduction – The prologue recounted the events leading up to the decision to make the covenant.  These often focused on the benefits bestowed by the suzerain on his vassal and provided the basis for the expectation of obedience.⁷
• Stipulations – These included both general and specific obligations of the vassal to his overlord. Though these vary from treaty to treaty, some common duties included the payment of tribute, provision of military aid, and extradition of fugitives.  The subordinate king was also often prohibited from entering into alliances with kings other than the sovereign.
• Deposition and Public Reading – In several treaties,⁸ provisions for depositing the treaty in the temple (of both the vassal and suzerain) and for periodic public readings thereof were laid forth.⁹ 
• Divine witnesses – Various gods and the natural elements (perhaps also perceived as deities) were called upon to witness the treaty, and sometimes to  punish those who did not keep its terms¹⁰
• Curses and Blessings – The treaties usually ended with a list of curses and benedictions.

Covenantal Ceremony – In addition to the above, treaties were often accompanied by a ratification ceremony, which included:

• An oath of acceptance in which the vassal swore to keep the conditions of the treaty.
• Sacrifices or slaughter of an animal¹¹ – In several first millennium texts, simile curses,¹² in which a potentially offending vassal is compared to a slaughtered animal, suggests that this part of the ceremony served not only to ratify the treaty but to warn the vassal of his fate were he to violate the agreement.

Covenantal Form: Relationship Between the Sources

Points of Contact – The treaty format described above has clear echoes in Tanakh.  The most striking parallel is to Hashem's covenants with the Nation of Israel.  In each of the three covenants, at Sinai (Shemot 19-24), in Moav (Sefer Devarim), and in Shekhem (Yehoshua 24), many of the above components appear:

• Covenant at Sinai – The Decalogue opens with a short preamble and historical prologue as Hashem introduces Himself: "‎‎אָנֹכִי י"י אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִיךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים."‎¹³ The next 11 verses list various stipulations, including the prohibition against other gods,¹⁴ the imperative to keep the Sabbath, and interpersonal directives.¹⁵ In contrast to Hittite treaties, the Sinai covenant does not conclude with the calling of Divine witnesses.  These are replaced by the tablets (לֻחֹת הָעֵדֻת) and the ark (אֲרוֹן הָעֵדוּת) which themselves serve as testimony to the covenant. Similarly there is no distinct unit of blessings and curses; these are instead interspersed into the stipulations. Shemot 24 describes the nation's ratifying of the covenant with an oath of obedience ("נַעֲשֶׂה וְנִשְׁמָע"), sprinkling of blood, and sacrificial meal. Finally, Hashem commands that the tablets be housed in the Mishkan (Shemot 25).
• Covenant in Moav – Sefer Devarim as a whole can also be seen to follow the treaty pattern. Chapters 1-3 constitute the historical prologue, Chapters 4-26 include the various stipulations, while Chapters 27-28 list the various blessings and curses (cf. Vayikra 26). The following chapters discuss the covenantal oath (29:8-14), directive to read the covenant every seven years (31:10-13),¹⁶ deposition of the ברית near the Ark of the Covenant (31:24-26) and witnesses in the form of the heavens and earth (30:19, 31:28ff).
• Covenant in Shekhem – Yehoshua's renewal of the covenant in Yehoshua 24 follows the same general format.  After introducing the speaker (2a), verses 2b-13 review various benevolent deeds done by Hashem for the nation throughout their history.  Verses 14-15 stipulate exclusive worship of Hashem, while verses 19-20 warn that disobedience will result in calamity (curses).  The nation promises obedience (24:16-18, 21) and are themselves set up at witnesses to the covenant (24:20), alongside a monumental stone erected as testimony (24:26-27).

Unique Features – Despite the overall similarity in form, certain features stand out as unique in the Biblical covenants:

• Stipulations – In all Ancient Near Eastern treaties the conditions laid forth are aimed solely at the benefit of the overlord and never deal with the interpersonal behavior of the members of the vassal state. Hashem's covenant is thus unique in that He expects His vassals to observe laws not only aimed at Him but also their fellow man.
• Witnesses – Since monotheistic belief in Hashem precludes the existence of other gods, no individual deities are called as witnesses, and substitutes in the form of natural elements, the people themselves, or tablets of the covenant are found.
• Deposition in Mishkan – Ancient Near Eastern treaties were written in duplicate, with a copy to be placed in the temple of the gods of both the sovereign and vassal. In Tanakh, as well, there were two tablets made, but since the sovereign and Deity are one and the same, both copies were deposited in the same place, the Mishkan. According to this, each tablet constituted an entire copy of the covenant and contained all ten utterances,¹⁷ and not five as is commonly suggested.¹⁸
• Blessings and Curses – In the Hittite treaties, the list of curses tend to precede the blessings,¹⁹ and normally call for total destruction of the disobedient party.²⁰ In contrast, in both Vayikra 26 and Devarim 28, the blessings precede the curses. In addition, in Vayikra 26:44-45 Hashem explicitly states that he will not totally destroy the nation.  Though no such promise is made in Devarim, there, too, Hashem allows for the people's repentance and restoration of the relationship.
• Focus on individual layman – Ancient Near Eastern treaties are made between two kings, each representative of their state. In contrast, Hashem makes His covenant with the nation as a whole. This both symbolically raises the stature of every individual to that of king, and highlights the personal nature of the covenant.

Covenental Form: Unique Features

Despite the overall similarity in form, certain features stand out as unique in the Biblical covenants:

• Stipulations – In all Ancient Near Eastern treaties the conditions laid forth are aimed solely at the benefit of the overlord and never deal with the interpersonal behavior of the members of the vassal state. Hashem's covenant is thus unique in that He expects His vassals to observe laws not only aimed at Him but also their fellow man.
• Witnesses – Since monotheistic belief in Hashem precludes the existence of other gods, no individual deities are called as witnesses, and substitutes in the form of natural elements, the people themselves, or tablets of the covenant are found.
• Deposition in Mishkan – Ancient Near Eastern treaties were written in duplicate, with a copy to be placed in the temple of the gods of both the sovereign and vassal. In Tanakh, as well, there were two tablets made, but since the sovereign and Deity are one and the same, both copies were deposited in the same place, the Mishkan. According to this, each tablet constituted an entire copy of the covenant and contained all ten utterances,²¹ and not five as is commonly suggested.²²
• Blessings and Curses – In the Hittite treaties, the list of curses tend to precede the blessings,²³ and normally call for total destruction of the disobedient party.²⁴ In contrast, in both Vayikra 26 and Devarim 28, the blessings precede the curses. In addition, in Vayikra 26:44-45 Hashem explicitly states that he will not totally destroy the nation.  Though no such promise is made in Devarim, there, too, Hashem allows for the people's repentance and restoration of the relationship.
• Focus on individual layman – Ancient Near Eastern treaties are made between two kings, each representative of their state. In contrast, Hashem makes His covenant with the nation as a whole. This both symbolically raises the stature of every individual to that of king, and highlights the personal nature of the covenant.

Significance and Impact of Parallels

Casting Hashem's relationship with Israel in the form of a treaty

Breaking the tablets – Many question what led Moshe to break the tablets when seeing the people sin with the golden calf, and how he would dare to do so, given their holy status. In light of the above, it would seem that once the nation broke the terms of Hashem's covenant, the document of that covenant (the tablets) became null and void.  Breaking the tablets was the equivalent of tearing up a contract. For this and other approaches to the breaking of the tablets, see Sin of the Golden Calf.

Aliyah LaRegel (Shemot 23) – The command to make a pilgrimage to the Mikdash three times a year ("שָׁלֹשׁ פְּעָמִים בַּשָּׁנָה יֵרָאֶה כׇּל זְכוּרְךָ אֶל פְּנֵי הָאָדֹן י"י") might relate to similar stipulations in secular treaties,²⁵ where the subordinate king is required to visit the court of his sovereign, to “look upon the face of his majesty."  Though the demand is similar, where the Hittite treaty speaks of the vassal seeing the face of the Lord, Tanakh demands that males be seen before the face of the Lord, Hashem. As Hashem cannot be seen, the object of the verb is reversed. This difference turns the pilgrimage into not simply an act of homage to a superior, but an opportunity for the superior to look after the subordinate.

The Mitzvah to "love God" – The nature of the command to love God is disputed, with some suggesting that it is emotional or cognitive in nature, and others that the command is action-focused.  Looking to parallel language in ancient near eastern treaties, where "to love" means to demonstrate loyalty and obey a master,²⁶ it is possible that in Tanakh, too, Hashem is not commanding man to feel an emotion but to obey His commands.²⁷ See Ahavat Hashem for further discussion.

Covenantal Ceremony

The Ancient Near Eastern practice of ratifying a treaty with animal slaughter or sacrifice and accompanying simile curses,²⁸ might shed light on several passages in Tanakh, where the practices might be paralleled or hinted to:

Allusions to Simile Curses:

• Language of "לִכְרוֹת בְּרִית" – The etymology of the word "בְּרִית" is debated. Some²⁹ have suggested that it comes from the root ברה and related to the shared meal that would have accompanied the treaty, while others posit that it might relate to the verb ברא/ה used in Yehoshua 17:16 and Yechezkel 23:47 to mean cut.³⁰  This together with the fact that the verb "כרת" also means to cut, suggests that the term might have stemmed from the fact that slaughtering of animals was a key feature of covenants.³¹
  
• Passing through animal pieces – Two covenants in Tanakh mention the cutting of an animal and passing through the split pieces:
• In the Covenant Between the Pieces (Bereshit 15), Avraham split several animals and a pillar of smoke and fire passed through the pieces. At first glance, the ceremony seems bizarre and unrelated to the promises being discussed, but in light of the Ancient Near Eastern parallels, it seems that this was simply the conventional method by which to seal a promise. This covenant, however, is unique for in it, it is Hashem, the superior king, rather than the vassal, who passes through the pieces, taking upon Himself the potential curse for non-compliance.
• The covenant in the time of Tzidkiyahu (Yirmeyahu 34) involved a similar ceremony of cutting a calf and passing through its pieces. Here it is explicit that breaking the terms of the covenant was to result in punishment, supporting the idea that the slaughter and passing through the pieces was symbolic in nature, acting as a warning against transgression.
• Blood at the Covenant at Sinai – The Covenant at Sinai (Shemot 24) is accompanied by sacrifices, the sprinkling of blood, and eating of a meal. The fact that the blood is sprinkled on the people and not just the altar, might also be understood in light of simile curses, cautioning the nation that breaking the covenant might lead to bloodshed.
• Circumcision – Hashem's setting of circumcision as the sign of His covenant might relate to the above ratification ceremonies as well. Circumcision might be seen as an oath of allegiance, with the cutting symbolizing the repercussions of disloyalty.³² The text itself shares that one who does not circumcise themself has broken the covenant and will be cut off.  The language of "וְנִכְרְתָה הַנֶּפֶשׁ" is the same as that used to "לִכְרוֹת בְּרִית", strengthening the message.
• Cutting up body parts outside of treaties – There are two cases in Tanakh, outside the ritual of a treaty, in which body parts are similarly cut up as a warning.  To encourage the nation to join the war against Amon, Shaul cuts his cattle, telling the nation that so will be done to their animals if they do not fight. Similarly, after the concubine of Givah is raped and left to die, her husband cuts the body into twelve pieces, sending them throughout the country raising outrage at the despicable act.

The Role of Sacrifices:

• Yitro's sacrifices in Shemot 18 – In light of the role played byu sacrifices in covenant making, R. D"Z Hoffmann suggests that Yitro's sacrifice and festive meal with Israel's elders were not religious in nature, but part of a  diplomatic ceremony which accompanied the signing of a covenant between the nations of Israel and Midyan.³³ See Yitro's Visit – Purpose and Significance, and Eating Bread Before God for elaboration.
• Sacrifices vs. Meal – Several treaties in Tanakh appear to be sealed with both a sacrifice and the sharing of a meal (see the treaty of Yaakov and Lavan,³⁴ or the covenant at Sinai) while elsewhere just a meal is mentioned (see the treaties of Yitzchak and Avimelekh or David and Avner). This alternative method of ratifying treaties, which involved only eating, might further shed light on several other passages in Tanakh:
• Rashbam suggests that the lentil stew and bread given by Yaakov to Esav did not constitute payment for the birthright but the sealing of their deal. See his opinion in Sale of the Birthright – A Fair Deal?
• R. Hovav Yechieli suggests that the Lechem HaPanim might constitute a covenant sealing meal which renews the eternal covenant between the nation and Hashem.  For elaboration, see Purpose of the Shulchan and Lechem HaPanim.

¹ See below for a discussion regarding the etymology of the word.

² For a  full discussion of such covenants and their relationship to similar "royal grants" found in the Ancient Near East, see M. Weinfield, "The Covenant of Grant in the Old Testament and in the Ancient Near East,"  Journal of the American Oriental Society 90:2 (1970): 184-203. 

³ These treaties were found in two main archives, at the ancient capital of the Hittites, Hattusas, and at Ugarit, modern day Ras Shamra.

⁴ All examples of the format discussed below are from such Hittite treaties. For a collection of Hittite diplomatic texts, see G. Beckman, Hittite Diplomatic Texts, ed. H. A. Hoffner Jr. (Atlanta, 1999).

⁵ Not every treaty contains all the elements listed, nor do they always preserve the order presented below, but as a whole they appear to share this pattern. The basic sections were first noted by Viktor Korosec, in his article, Hethitische Staatsverträge, ein Beitrag zu ihrer juristischen Wertung, Leipziger rechtswissenschaftliche Studien, vol. 60 (1931): 12–14. G. Mendenhall built off his work in his article, "Covenant Forms in Israelite Tradition," Biblical Archaeologist 17 (1954): 50-76, where he highlighted the importance of the Hittite treaties for Biblical study.  Many scholars have since discussed the common form of the treaties, though they differ regarding some of the specifics.

⁶ Thus, for example in a Hittite treaty between Muršilis and Duppi-Tešub, we read, "These are the words of the Sun Muršilis, the great king, the king of the Hatti land, the valiant, the favorite of the Storm-god, the son of Šuppiluliumas, the great king, the king of the Hatti land, the valiant."

⁷ For example, see the prologue in the Treaty Between Mursilis and Duppi-Tessub of Amurru.

⁸ This element is not as widespread as some of the others.  Examples can be found in the Treaty Between Suppiluliumas and Kuriwaza, the Treaty between Tudhaliya of Hatti and Kurunta of Tarhuntassa, and the Treaty between Muwattalli II of Hatti and Alaksandu of Wilusa.

⁹ The deposition in a shrine might have served to simultaneously sanctify the treaty and invite Divine vengeance on disloyal vassals.

¹⁰ For instance, see the invocation of the gods in theTreaty Between Mursilis and Duppi-Tessub of Amurru and the Treaty Between Suppiluliumas and Kuriwaza.

¹¹ Charles F. Fensham, "Did a Treaty between the Israelites and the Kenites Exist?", BASOR 175 (1964): 51-54, cites examples from a letter from Mari and two treaties from Alalakh as evidence:

• The Letter from Mari mentions slaughtering an ass in connection to a treaty between the Ḫanaeans and Idamaras.
• In a treaty from Alalakh, we read that Abban “placed himself under oath” and "had cut the neck of a sheep,” saying, “If I take back that which I gave thee!”(Donald J. Wiseman, Abban and Alalah, Journal of Cuneiform Studies, 12:4 (1958): 126-129)
• In another treaty from Alalakh (Sidney Smith, The Statute of Idrimi, (London, 1949):16ff.), it mentions that after a covenant was cut between Idrimi and Sutarna, an oath was made and accompanied by a covenant.

¹² See, for instance, the treaty between King Barga’yah and Matti'el in the Sefire Inscription, the Treaty Between Ashurnirari V of Assyria and Mati'ilu of Arpad, and the Vassal-Treaty of Esarhaddon.

¹³ As in the Hittite treaties, Hashem speaks of an act of benevolence which invites obedience.  J. Berman, "God's Alliance with Man," AzureOnline 25 (2006), points out that Hashem could easily have chosen to introduce Himself instead as Creator.  The fact that He instead speaks of Himself as redeemer (a fact well known to the nation) might be the intentional desire to model the Decalogue after treaties of the time.

¹⁴ Though this prohibition against false gods has an obvious place in a monotheistic religion, in light of the Hittite treaties it could also be seen as parallel to the stipulation that the subordinate power not ally themselves with other kingdoms, an act which would be viewed as not only disloyal but ungrateful.

¹⁵ Parashat Mishpatim continues with more specific rulings guiding behavior in both the realm of man to God and man to man.  The casuistic form of these laws (comprising "if... then..." statements), however, make them more similar to other legal codes which are also couched as case law.  The apodictic form of the Decalogue (Do / Do not...) finds parallels only in the treaties.

¹⁶ This constitutes the mitzvah of "הקהל".  See Purpose of Hakhel and the position there that the point of the command was to reenact the covenants at Sinai and Moav.

¹⁷ See M. Kline,"The Two Tables of the Covenant," Westminster Theological Journal 22 (1960): 133-46, who develops this point.

¹⁸ See the disagreement between R. Chanina and the Sages in Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael.

¹⁹ In the Neo-Assyrian treaties of the first millenium, the blessings are missing altogther and only curses are listed.

²⁰ For example, Mursilli II tells his vassal that if he does not fulfill the treaty's stipulations, the "gods shall destroy Tuppi-Teshshup, [together with his person], his [wife], his son, his grandsons, his household, his city, his land, and together with his possessions."

²¹ See M. Kline,"The Two Tables of the Covenant," Westminster Theological Journal 22 (1960): 133-46, who develops this point.

²² See the disagreement between R. Chanina and the Sages in Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael.

²³ In the Neo-Assyrian treaties of the first millenium, the blessings are missing altogther and only curses are listed.

²⁴ For example, Mursilli II tells his vassal that if he does not fulfill the treaty's stipulations, the "gods shall destroy Tuppi-Teshshup, [together with his person], his [wife], his son, his grandsons, his household, his city, his land, and together with his possessions."

²⁵ See J. Berman in the article cited above who makes this point.

²⁶ See William L. Moran, “The Ancient Near Eastern Background of the Love of God in Deuteronomy,” Catholic Biblical Quarterly 25 (1963): 77-87. As one example, he brings a letter from El Amarna in which the king of Byblos writes to Paroh of a rebellion, in which some members of the city are loyal to Paroh and half are not:  “Behold the city! Half of it loves the sons of ‘Abd-Asir-ta ; half of it loves my lord.”   See also: M. Weinfeld, "The Loyalty Oath in the Ancient Near East," UF 8 (1976): 379-414, and S. Ackerman, "The Personal is Political: Covenantal and Affectionate Love (ʾāhēb, ʾahăbâ) in the Hebrew Bible," VT 52 (2002): 437-58.

²⁷ Elsewhere in Tanakh , too, the term "אהב" or "שונא" might similarly refer to loyal followers or treasonous rebels.  See, for example, See, for instance, Shemuel II 19:7, Melakhim I 5:15, Yirmeyahu 20:4 and 22:20.

²⁸ See above that this refers to comparing a party that breaks the treaty to a slaughtered animal.

²⁹ See H. Tadmor, "ברית ושבועת אמונים במזרח הקדום: גישתו של היסטוריון," in Shenaton: An Annual for Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies 5-6 (1942-1943): 160-161, and literature cited there.  He also brings the opinion that the word relates to the Akkadian "biritu" which means bond or tie, or, alternatively to the Akkadian "birit" which means "between" (and would refer to the ceremony of passing between pieces of a slaughtered animal).

³⁰ See Ibn Ezra Bereshit 6:18.

³¹ Oaths in Tanakh often begin with the formulation, "כֹּה יַעֲשֶׂה לִּי אֱלֹהִים וְכֹה יֹסִיף, " and presumably also allude tot he potential fate of a person who does not keep his word.

³² See M. Kline, "Oath and Ordeal Signs" who refers to this as an example of an oath-curse.  He further points out that the narrative of the chapter, speaking of a covenant, not surprisingly contains all the various elements of Hittite treaties.

³³ He thereby explains why the generic name Elohim is used, rather than Hashem (the name usually found with regard to sacrifices).

³⁴ We are told, "וַיִּזְבַּח יַעֲקֹב זֶבַח בָּהָר וַיִּקְרָא לְאֶחָיו לֶאֱכָל לָחֶם".