The Emergence of the Deuteronomistic Covenant

This study examines the emergence of the Deuteronomistic covenant. It takes as its point of departure previous research, which has either regarded the covenant as directly influenced by nonbiblical treaty texts or as a product of an innerbiblical theological develop-ment. Using comparative analysis, Alm concludes that the covenant elements in Deuteronomy are influenced by both innerbiblical and nonbiblical materials, to varying degrees. To provide a possible explanation for the emergence of the covenant metaphor, blending theory is applied. This explains the cognitive process that created the metaphor, using knowledge of the relationship between subordinate and superior. Two aspects of this relationship are important, namely the relationship between a vassal and a great king - specified as the political relationship between the Assyrian people and their king - and the relationship between a people and a god - specified as the religious relationship between the people of Israel and YHWH. The knowledge of these two aspects, along with the historical circumstances of the exile, generate a cognitive blending process that creates the Deuteronomistic covenant metaphor, expressed as ISRAEL IS A VASSAL TO YHWH AS A GREAT KING. By combining comparative analysis of the relevant texts and blending theory to explain the cognitive process, this study offers new insight into the emergence of the Deuteronomistic covenant.