Covenants : Suzerain Vassal Land Grants

Throughout the Near East there are many secular documents that follow the same form as the covenant-making between God and man. 


 In Biblical scholarship, these are called Suzerain-Vassal treaties. A suzerain is a lord or king; a vassal is someone inferior who pays tribute to him or fights in his army. These treaties (or covenants) follow a standard form.

 1) The identification of the Suzerain by his name and titles (Genesis 15:1, 17:1).

2) The historical survey of the Suzerain's dealings with the vassal.  The purpose is to illustrate to the vassal how much the Suzerain has done to protect and establish the vassal who therefore owes submission and allegiance to the Suzerain (['what great things the LORD has done for His people' : I Nephi 17:23-42).

3) The next section of these treaties list the "stipulations," what the vassal is required to do and what the lord offers in return (Genesis 17:1-14).

4) There may be a 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 (Deuteronomy 17:17-20)

5)  Witnesses to the treaty (Isaiah 1:2) 

6) The last section of these treaties contains the blessings (if the vassal obeys) and curses (if the vassal is unfaithful) of the Suzerain (Leviticus 26).

 The treaties are written on a variety of surfaces : embossed on clay tablets, carved in stone, or engraven on metal (see above).  

The British Museum has many examples of these treaties carved on stones, which were then placed at the boundaries of the land given to the vassal by the lord.   Often, the sun, moon or stars are called as witnesses to the treaty and are carved over the heads of the parties involved.

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You can read more about these by Googling 'Suzerain-Vassal treaties.' There are interesting discussions here, here and here.

The Ten Famines

According to the rabbis, there are 10 famines named in the Hebrew Bible:

1.    Genesis 3:17 - Adam

2.    Genesis 5:29 - Lamech

3.    Genesis 12:10 - Abraham

4.    Genesis 26:1 - Isaac

5.    Genesis 41:54-57 -Jacob

6.    Ruth 1:1 - Naomi goes to Moab in the days of the Judges

7.    2 Samuel 21:1 - David (see also 2 Samuel 24:13)

8.    1 Kings 18:2- Elijah

9.    2 Kings 4:25, 6:25 - Elisha

10.   Amos 8:11 - a spiritual famine which will occur in the Messianic Age

The Ten Trials of Abraham

1.  King tries to kill Abraham at his birth.
2.  Abraham is locked in a prison for 10 years, then thrown into a fire.
3.  Abraham is commanded to leave his home.
4.  Famine in the land.
5.  Sarah is taken by Pharaoh.
6.  The battle of the kings.
7.  The vision between the pieces.
8.  Circumcision.
9.  Ishmael and Hagar sent away.
10. Abraham is commanded to sacrifice Isaac.

This list of the ten trials of Abraham comes from a really old book called, "Pirke de Rabbi Eliezer."
To read the full text of this book, go here.
"We should learn from this story that receiving the promises does not entail being protected from moments when those promises seem to be called into question."
                             -Terence Fretheim (in the New Interpreter's Bible, 1994).

Seven Terms of the Covenant : Genesis 12

There are seven statements in the covenant God offers Abraham
 in Genesis 12: 2-3 :

1.  And I will make of thee a great nation,

2.  and I will bless thee,

3.   and make thy name great;

4.  and thou shalt be a blessing:

5.  And I will bless them that bless thee, 

6.  and curse him that curseth thee:

7.  and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

This is the first occurence in Torah of the Hebrew word barak, to bless and it is used five times in these two verses.

12 Days of Christmas

Last year, with the help of my daughter, Karen, I wrote 12 posts on my other blog, one for each of the 12 Days of Christmas.  Some of what I teach in my annual "Christmas in the Old Testament" lesson is summarized there.  There are also some great pictures, YouTube videos and cut and color activities for children for each day.

Personal Power vs Position Power

In reading about Melchizedek in Alma 13 this last week in class, we read:
" 18 But Melchizedek having exercised mighty faith, and received the office of the high priesthood according to theaholy order of God, did preach repentance unto his people. And behold, they did repent;. . ."
I suggested (quoting from Bro. Robert Norman) that Melchizedek influenced his people through the power of his personal righteousness rather than by virtue of his position.

I found the same story on a Jewish website :
There was once a boy who wanted to be king. At first he bullied and yelled. He instilled fear into the hearts of all those around him, and got everyone to do what he wanted. But the moment that the king went away, no one followed his orders or obeyed his rules. The boy, now king, realized that obtaining power through fear doesn’t work in the long run. He decided to try a different way. He treated everyone with respect and kindness. He was sincere, giving, caring and kindhearted. They honored him and performed his will. Even away from his presence, they continued to follow his orders and obeyed his laws.

This same article also said that "one must first approach each situation from the right side, the side of chesed [HB for mercy], and then it can be approached with the left [the side of din, or judgment]. We start with chesed and end with chesed."

This is saying the same thing as D&C 121


39 We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.

 40 Hence many are called, but few are chosen.

 41 No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;

 42 By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—

 43 Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;

You can read the rest of the article here.

[The mosaic of Melchizedek meeting Abraham with bread and wine is from Santa Maria Maggiadore.]

Christmas in the Book of Isaiah: Prophecy Fulfilled

For the South Jordan Stake class only (11 AM Thursday, Dec 15): your Christmas lesson will look at imagery in Isaiah which is used in the traditional telling of the Christmas story.  Below is a list of verses I will refer to.  You might want to print out this list to make note taking easier.  (the painting is by J Kirk Richards)

Here is a list of the verses without my comments. They are written the way you  do it in research papers, with a . instead of a : [that saves having to shift :) ]

1.3

6.1-3

7.14

9.6-7

10.27

11.1-2

12.4-6

13.14

13.15-18

14.7-8

41.19-20

55.12-13

40.1-3

26.3-5

61.1,2,5

19.1

43.10-11

44.8

35.4

41.27

42.10-13

44.23

49.13

18.1-2,7

41.1-6

45.14-15

49.6-7

54.4-8

62.5

49.1-3,5

66.7-13

48.10

44.1-2,5-6

46.3-5

49.21

54.5

63.16

64.8

65.9

60.1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,10,11,14,13,22

(you need to know Hebrew for verse 22)

54.13 (age 12)