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Sinai Covenant and Moab Covenant: An Exegetical Study of the Covenants in Exodus 19:1-24:11 and Deuteronomy 4:45-28:69.

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Song, Tse Gun (1992) Sinai Covenant and Moab Covenant: An Exegetical Study of the Covenants in Exodus 19:1-24:11 and Deuteronomy 4:45-28:69. PhD thesis, University of Gloucestershire.

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Abstract

This thesis is basically an exegetical study of two texts in Ex 19:1-24:11 and Dt 4:45-28:69. In Chapter 1 methodological issues about this thesis are considered. Hermeneutical problems of narrative texts in the OT are handled shortly in order to prepare the exegesis of these two texts. In Chapter 2 the Sinai covenant pericope (Ex 191-24: 11) is dealt with. The present context of Ex demands that the covenant making is initiated in Ex 19. The first section (Ex 19: 3-8) concerns the preliminary proposal and acceptance of. the covenant relationship between YHWH and Israel. There is a transitional bridge (Ex 19:8b-10a) between this first section and the second one (Ex 19: 9-25). The second section should be defined, not as the theophany, but as the meeting of the two covenant parties. After God's direct law-giving (the decalogue Ex 20: 1-17), which is the first covenant stipulation, the people demand Moses' mediatorship through which the subsequent laws (Ex 20: 22-23: 33), the second covenant stipulation, are given indirectly. These sections are connected through the prediction (Ex 199a) - fulfilment (Ex 19: 20-25,2018-21) scheme. Further these sections are connected with the final section in, Ex 24 with the macroscopic (Ex 19: 24) - semi-microscopic (Ex 241) - microscopic point of view (Ex 24: 9-11). Ex 24.3-8 is about the covenant ratification ceremony performed through the mediation of Moses by the participation of the junior Israelites (`the youngmen of Israel' Ex 24: 5a), and Ex 249-11 is the audience of the senior Israelites (`the nobles of Israel' Ex 24: 11) with YHWH (`God of Israel') after that ratification of the covenant. In Chapter 3 the Moab covenant pericope (Dt 4:4 5-286: 9), marked by the heading (Dt 4:4 5) and the colophon (Dt 28:6 9), is studied. After the geographical, historical information (Dt 4: 45-49) the law itself is directly introduced (Dt 5ff.). In this section the authority of Moses demanded by the people is justified in order to prepare for the Hauptgebot pericope (Dt 6-11). Dt 26: 17-19 is about the mutual declaration of the covenant relationship 'and this section gives the framework for the following section (Dt 27-28) which is about the variable or cultic element of covenant, the ratification ceremony. Dt 27: 1-8 reports some aspects of that ceremony (offering, covenant document, meal). And here and in Dt 27: 9-10 the elders and the levitical priests, "who speak jointly with Moses, receive the authority to perform the future covenant ceremony in Shechem. Dt 2711-13 is the future pronouncement of the blessing and curse whose text is in Dt 283: -6,16-19A. nd Dt 27: 14-26 contains the oath formula which will be pronounced by the levitical priests and responded by the people., In Chapter 4 a comparative study of both texts is undertaken. In general it is asked whether the covenant is the common theme of both texts. In detail it is investigated whether there is a similarity between the two texts in their themes, theological frameworks, and structure, and also how far the detailed descriptions of each section are different. Finally the historical relationship between the two pericopes is investigated.

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Thesis (PhD)

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