52. What is a Covenant?
The Old Testament Hebrew Scriptures in Five Minutes - Philippe Guillaume
Diana V. Edelman [+ ]
University of Oslo
Diana V. Edelman is Professor Emerita of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in the Faculty of Theology at the University of Oslo. Her own research focuses on the history, archaeology, and literature of the southern Levant, the development of early forms of Judaisms, and ancient Near Eastern literature viewed from the perspective of social memory. She has thirteen seasons of excavation experience in Israel. While her research tends to focus on the Iron Age and Persian period, she is interested in earlier and later periods and a wide range of topics. Current interests include local responses to imperialism, royal ideology, the development of technology and agriculture, everyday life, issues involving religion and ritual, burial and afterlife beliefs, diaspora studies, migration studies, frontier studies, social memory, ancient economies, and ancient political organization. Her numerous publications include 17 authored or edited books, 44 chapters in edited volumes, 14 articles in refereed journals, 58 dictionary and encyclopedia articles, and 128 book reviews (as of 2/2015).
Description
Two terms, berit and ‘edut, are used in the Hebrew Bible to describe a formal agreement sealed by an oath. Both designate the terms and conditions of such an agreement, which, in the case of the agreement entered into at Mt Sinai/Horeb between Israel and its deity, were carried inside an ark or wooden chest. Both terms can designate a vassal treaty or a contract for royal service.