Covenant
COVENANT. The translation of the Hebrew notion of bʿrît by covenant originates from its Latin rendering as foedus/pactum in Hieronymus's Vulgata. Although there is a controversy about the etymology of bʿrît, the linguistic link with the Accadian birītu(m) (string, tie) seems to be the most acceptable solution. The literary contexts of bʿrît confirm that the rendering in the Vulgata and thus the translation as covenant fits well. It depends on the particular context what is meant by this notion: Either two partners with equal rights mutually bind themselves (1 Kings 5:26; 15:19) or a stronger partner imposes unilateral claims upon a weaker one or the stronger partner voluntarily binds himself without any claims towards someone else (1 Kings 20:34; Hos. 12:2; Ezek. 17:13).
Contract, Treaty and Loyality Oath in the Ancient near East
The legal order of the Middle East is based on laws of contract. As transfers of ownership (such as the sale of estates) and changes of marital status (marriage, adoption) are laid down in a written contract (Accadian riksātu[m]), mutual obligations are suable at a law court. Furthermore, in late Assyrian contracts breach of contract is identified with oath-breaking, for which divine sanction is effected by means of curse and penalty for the benefit of the temple.
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