the lost world of scripture by john walton and brent sandy
TRANSCRIPT
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A n c i e n t L i t e r A r y c u L t u r e
A n d B i B L i c A L A u t h o r i t y
John H. Walton
and D. Brent Sandy
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The
Lost
World
of
Scripture A nci e n t L i t e r A ry c u Lt u r e
A nd B i BL ic A L A u t hor i t y
J h. Wal
a d. B Sa
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InterVarsity Press
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Email: [email protected]
©203 by John H. Walton and D. Brent Sandy
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VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 973, 978, 984, 20 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved
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L C C--P D A catalog record or this book is available rom the Library o Congress.
P 2 20 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
Y 3 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 2 20 9 8 7 6 5 4 3
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contentS
Prc
Inrocion
Part 1The Old Testament World of
Composition and Communication
Pp 1:
Ancin Nr Ern ocii wr ring ominn
n noing comprb o or n book
w know m
Pp 2:
Expnion n rviion wr poib ocmn
wr copi gnrion r gnrion n vny
compi ino irry work
Pp 3:
Eciv commnicion m ccommo o
cr n nr o inc
Pp 4:
Bib conin no nw rvion bo
working n nrning o mri wor
Stepping Back and Summing Up:
How compoiion o O mn my b
nroo irny in ig o w i known o
ncin irry cr 6
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Part 2
The New Testament World of
Composition and Communication
Pp 5:
Mc o irr o Grco-Romn wor
rin mn o ring-ominn cr
Pp 6:
Or n wrin pproc o irr ni
igniicn irnc
Pp 7:
Grk iorin, pioopr n Jwi rbbi or
inrciv xmp o ncin or cr
Pp 8:
J’ wor w prominny non-ir n or
Pp 9:Logos/Wor rrr o or commnicion,
no o wrin x
Pp 10:
J procim r in or orm n
commiion i oowr o o m
Pp 11: Vrin wr common in or x o
J’ wor n
Pp 12:
rogo Nw mn, pokn wor
rr n wrin wor wr primry oc
Pp 13: Exc woring w no ncry o prrv n
rnmi rib rprnion o inpir r 6
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Stepping Back and Summing Up:
How compoiion o Nw mn my b
nroo irny in ig o w i known o ncin irry cr
Part 3
The Biblical World of Literary Genres
Pp 14:
oriy o O mn nrriv irr
i mor connc o rvion n o iory
Pp 15:
oriy o O mn g irr
i mor connc o rvion n o w 6
Pp 16:
oriy o O mn propic irr
i mor connc o rvion n o r-ing
Pp 17:
gnr o Nw mn r mor
connc o oriy n xiy
Part 4
Concluding Affirmations on the Origin and
Authority of Scripture
Pp 18:
Airmion bo origin o Scripr
conirm i nmn or nr
Pp 19:
Airmion bo oriy o Scripr
r i ivin orc n iocion 6
Pp 20:
Inrrncy ni ro n imiion
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Pp 21:
Bi in oriy no ony invov w
Bib is b o w w do wi i
Fi Concion or Viro Rr
Nm n Sbjc Inx
Scripr Inx
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introduction
Megatrends roll across the landscape o morn Wrncr ik miv orm O in inc y my no ook vry in-
ring or ignicn, n wio kn obrvr ring o po-
ni c orm cn nk p on bor w riz w’ ppning
In wk o c orm, owvr, cng cn b ioric
T crrn igi rvoion ppr o b on o o mgorm I’
bn ovr v nr yr inc Wrn cr rvoion in
prin cnoogy B cng wiring ron now ppr o b
ignicn Gnbrg Gxy w n, mrking n o
Mi Ag n bginning o Rninc
T igi nivr i brv, nw wor, n w v no bgn o
n o i Tr r mny qion: How i or pnnc on i nw
cnoogy going o rwir or brin? Wi pop in r ook bck
on prin cr n wonr bo o wor o Gnbrg? How wi
iory jg w m o —wi in mi o i—o b igni-
icn mgrn? Wi w n orv y nor g rmov rom ncin wor o or commnicion? Or mig igi rvoion k
bck o r?
unrning or n mncrip gxy o bibic wor—
bor wr o prin cr—i ni or grping ow
Bib w wrin Bor r wr book n nwrin copi, r
wr ony or x J’ Srmon on Mon, bor nyon wro i
own, w n or x x cm ino xinc n wr p ong
irny in wor omin by ring Brin wr wir irny
Bor moving ino cpr o i book, in i inrocion
w r bginning gron zro Fnmny, w biv Bib
rv ig poib onor ric, p, mo powr
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12 HE LOS WORL OF SCRIPuR E
book vr wrin—r r impy no connr I i irry mr-
pic, mgnm op, r prormnc B r’ mor o ory
T im impornc o Bib i wr: i i inpir rv-ion o Amigy Go, vny rr in wor o impovri
i, prking monin rm in ri o r Or poin,
owvr, i no o worip Bib; w worip Go o Bib
T incomprbiiy o Bib ivin rvion i iy ovr-
wm by i miiriy Mny Criin v mip copi o
Bib in mip vrion Som v cc o i by igi -
vic Myb y v n crc or yr n v in o i
wor ovr n ovr W wonr i om o i go in on r n o
or I m b rbrking or Go wn i Wor o i r pon
, wn i powr i imini by , wn w no ongr ong o r
Spiri pking o
Criin my org or no k rioy Bib i on n
ony, boy oriiv book, i mn or mo nion
Living o i r i ig o cing I w i o ow Bib
rpc i i , w r o b m An i’ mor n ory; i’ prcic o bringing or og n iv ino in wi Go’ og
n i
W o vry ig viw o Scripr W con Bib i Go’
-icor T O n Nw mn r irry poi o
ivin r T im rvion i J im T cnr mg i
crion, , rmpion n rorion W frm inrrncy W r in
grmn wi niion gg by vi ockry “Bib
propry inrpr in ig o [] cr n commnicion vop
by im o i compoiion wi b own o b compy r (n
ror no ) in i frm, o gr o prciion inn
by or, in mr ring o Go n i crion”
T porion o ockry’ mn bo “cr n commni-
cion vop by im o i compoiion” i pcicy wr i
book k o mk i primry conribion How i commnicion
David S. Dockery, Christian Scripture: An Evangelical Perspective on Inspiration, Authority and
Interpretation (Nashville: B & H, 1), p. .We agree with Allert “that a high view o Scripture demands an understanding and integration
o the Bible’s very ormation”; Craig D. Allert, A High View o Scripture? Te Authority o the Bible
and the Formation o the New estament Canon (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2), p. 1.
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Introduction 13
ncion in ncin Nr Ern n Grk n Romn wor? How i
Go, pking ong go in vrio wy (Hb 1:1), bcom mn pking
rom Go (2 P 1:21), wic in rn bcm “i i wrin” (M 4:4-10)? Gopok, pop pok on i b, n pop wro; w co b impr?
W, w wi no in cpr bow, r i mc o conir
bo wo proc
Mo o r probby nprpr, owvr, or ow irn n-
cin wor i rom or own A o b obvio—og o mny i’
pprny no— O mn i mor imir o cr o
ncin Nr E, n Nw mn o cr o Grk n
Romn, n ir i o or wny-r-cnry wor W’r on
o yr n on o mi rmov I mn w rqny n o
p brk on n k wr w’r ring Bib in ig o
origin cr or in ig o conmporry cr Wi Bib’ v
wr vry irn rom ncin cr’, i obvioy commnic in
xiing ngg n wiin cr com o i y
In iion o cng o comprning ncin irry cr,
r’ conirb “on” in ow Bib cm ino bing Mc o w w vny wrin w r rv in or orm For xmp,
w n Go pking o Jrmi or wny-r yr, n r o
yr n rmon ony n ing im o wri w bn
prcing Or J prcing n iving o r or r yr wi
no in o wriing own i cing or vn gging i oowr
o prrv nying in wriing Or book o Ac rcoring r
iry yr o iory o ry crc wi no rrnc o wrin
orm o gop Or xporion wi o imporn inig bo
i “on”
Among or ing, vinc mb in i book inviby
o qion o inrrncy Wi w wory frm w
Bib i rv bo i origin, oriy n rn, w rc-
ogniz r i wy bi o nin wn icing inrrncy
n r concp in r wy Ti i cr r B r o
mr i, no rm, or vn combinion o rm, cn compy rprn n o Scripr’ oriy In rgr, w n i p o r-
mmbr Jon Cvin’ commn i commimn o bo ivin n
mn pc o Scripr xpo im o ccion i no b-
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14 HE LOS WORL OF SCRIPuR E
iv in vrb inpirion3 In or wor, i’ nry impoib o pk
ccry bo inpirion o Scripr n no conric on or
b minroo Non, w wi o or b, vn i i p rik o bing minroo
I’ ing o conc i inrocion by frming mmry o
1978 Cicgo Smn on Bibic Inrrncy:
1 Go, wo i Him r n pk r ony, inpir Hoy
Scripr in orr rby o rv Him o o mnkin rog J
Cri Cror n Lor, Rmr n Jg Hoy Scripr i Go’
win o Him
2 Hoy Scripr, bing Go’ own Wor, wrin by mn prpr n -
prinn by Hi Spiri, i o inib ivin oriy in mr pon
wic i oc: I i o b biv, Go’ inrcion, in i frm;
oby, Go’ commn, in i rqir; mbrc, Go’ pg,
in i promi
3 T Hoy Spiri, Scripr’ ivin Aor, bo nic i o by Hi
inwr win n opn or min o nrn i mning
4 Bing woy n vrby Go-givn, Scripr i wio rror or in
i cing, no in w i bo Go’ c in crion, bo
vn o wor iory, n bo i own irry origin nr Go, n in
i win o Go’ ving grc in inivi iv
5 T oriy o Scripr i incpby impir i i o ivin inr-
rncy i in ny wy imi or irgr, or m riv o viw o r
conrry o Bib’ own; n c p bring rio o o bo
inivi n Crc4
Cited in Moisés Silva, Has the Church Misread the Bible? Te History o Interpretation in the Light o Current Issues, vol. 1 o Foundations o Contemporary Interpretation (Grand Rapids: Academie/
Zondervan, 1), p. .International Council on Biblical Inerrancy, Te Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy
(Chicago: 1), available at http://.1.1./Reormation_net/COR_Docs/1_Inerrancy_
Christian_Worldview.pd.
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Pr 1
he Old estaetWld Cstad Cat
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ProPoSition 1
Ancient Near Eastern Societies Were
Hearing Dominant and Had Nothing Comparable
to Authors and Books as We Know Tem
Why is it that I can hear playing in rrn ong I vn’
r or iry yr n cn i ing ong wi c wor? I i iky
I v nvr n wrin-o wor o o ong, b I on r-
mmbr m micoy Ti i impy on irion o ro
ring cn py in ping on riion
Or morn Wrn ociy opr on prmi o ircy I i no
j w v ring n wriing nog o ry o c ki o
vry ci rogo ir cion; ring n wriing r ni o
vn bic v o pricipion in ociy I i rr pron wo cnno
r n wri Wrn cr cn ror b crib x-om-inn cr Nvr, mny rn br by ring n by ring
x my v i vng, b ring o no b conir n in-
rior rnmiion mo Ti i n imporn iincion bc
v or ociy pc on ircy omim o mipr-
cpion ircy n inignc or opiicion go n-in-n
Sopiic n prociv pricipion in ociy b on x r-
qir ircy, b no o in ring-ominn ociy
Compr provi p irion A ig prcng o compr
r r no compn o r compr owr co, on wri i
In r w r iir, y w cn compr in inign n
vn opiic wy bc or o compr o no rqir
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18 HE LOS WORL OF SCRIPuR E
o b progrmmr In imir ion, ociy i ring om-
inn vop in c wy pricipion o no rqir
ring or wriing, xcp by m grop o pciy rin iniviwo cn rv bic n o ociy
I w r o nrn mor y vopmn o bibic irr
n or viw o i oriy, w n o j or inking bo ow
inormion w imin n riion rnmi in ncin
wor In ncin wor, i w crib wo rprn p-
cii minoriy Or mmbr o ociy mig v bn cpb o
rning o r n wri, n in om prio n pc noby i
o vry bic v, b r w no n or common pop or vn
i o bcom ir (j r i no n or o rn progrmming
ngg) o ncion Lircy invov n oric n rcn ki ,
n i vng wr no ignicn nog o wrrn im o civ
i Lircy i no ncriy bn in ring-ominn ocii; i i
impy nonni I wo ror b inccr o ink ring-
ominn cr r ncriy iir Ti ignion i
bcom pjoriv in or g; w o br “non-ir” T op-riv conr i no “oriy vr ircy” b “ring-ominn vr
x-ominn” Wiim Scniwin poin o r i
impy irnc in ow pop r qipp o proc inormion
A n irion conir pciy o cr mcnic Mny pop
nrn omoiv bic n co o bic k Cnging oi i
no rock cinc, y vn o wo cn iy o o v i on or
m bc y on’ wn o crw nr cr or bor wi
m or qipmn Or know mor bo cr n mig o n-p
on ir own, b y cnno bgin o cop wi bi-in compr n
probm y iniy Evn om proion mcnic v o n
comr o pciiz r
W cn rnr i m or o pcrm o wriing n crib
In act, the level o general literacy seems to uctuate. Evidence suggests that general literacy
was higher in the Old Babylonian period than in the Neo-Assyrian period more than a millen-nium later. See summary discussion in Niek Veldhuis, “Levels o Literacy,” in Te Oxord Hand-
book o Cuneiorm Culture, ed. Karen Radner and Eleanor Robson (Oxord: Oxord University
Press, 211), pp. -.William Schniedewind, How the Bible Became a Book (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,
2), p. 1.
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Proposition 1 19
proion in ncin wor Bic ircy w no o o rng o
common pron, b vrio v o proion wr ir
or xpinc or in iion wn rqir xpri xcbic ki
The World of Hearing Dominance
T ncin wor w coniny ring ominn rr n x om-
inn Inormion w imin ory riion wr p on by
wor o mo gnrion o gnrion T biiy o r or wri w
no ni o b y ncioning mmbr o ociy, n ircy w
no pr o bic cion proc, orm or inorm, o no on w
ivng i y co no r or wri Hring i on corpor
xrci n ror coinci wi ignicnc o commniy in
ncin wor Ring n wriing r mor on iniviiic xrci
n coinci wi v o inivi inpnnc in morn Wrn
ociy Pop gr o r; y go o on ir own o r or wri
In ring-ominn ociy no ony i inormion imin
ory, b o oriy opr irny n in x-ominn o-ciy Scniwin ppropriy obrv, “Wriing oc oriy in
x n i rr in o in riion n i commniy”3 From or
morn, x-ominn conx, w on ink o or riion bing
nrib bc o ir iiy In c, owvr, wrin riion cn
b j i or on T iiy pn on mn o
conx in wic riion i bing rnmi A morn i-
rion o ying powr o ring, pop in crc oy wo wr
ri on ymn rcogniz immiy wn vn ing wor bn
cng, wr or ping ngg or gnr-inciv incinion
A I m wriing i I m on ro pking in vrio pc, n
ror nconring vriy o worip xprinc In cp rvic
yry w ng ymn I probby no ng or r in c
In or vr in w cng n i immiy cg my -
nion Or r cn b vry mning bo prci rnmiion o
rr riion, n wo v bn vn mor c in o-ciy in wic or rnmiion o riion w norm
Ibid., p. 11.
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20 HE LOS WORL OF SCRIPuR E
Mny in x-ominn ing mig incry biv x rn-
miion i mor rib n cry prior Wy wo ny ociy c-
pb o ircy or nying ? In Po’ Phaedrus, Socr wigin on i: “Yo mig ink [wrin wor] pok i y
inignc, b i yo qion m, wiing o know bo ir ying,
y wy y ony on n m ing An vry wor, wn onc i
i wrin, i bni bo, ik mong o wo nrn n o
wo v no inr in i”4
Frrmor, wriing w prciv ving crin igy pcic
ro n qii in ncin wor An ioogy o wriing vop
in ncin Nr E w wriing n ppropri mn or com-
mnicing wi ii Mgic incnion n ri ror ook
wrin orm, og y wr o prorm ory Scniwin poin
o go To in Egyp i bo go o crib n go o
mgic5 Likwi, wriing w mpoy mn or o nco
powr n oriy wiin ociy “Pbic wrin monmn wr no
or ring, b wr ipy o roy powr n oriy”6 Aoriy
w ror v in wrin ocmn n in oriivgr wo powr w ipy in monmn W wi vop
ignicnc o i in nx cpr
For crrn icion i i imporn o cknowg Scni-
win’ inig concion: “Or riion n wrin x o rp-
rn comping cnr o oriy Wi oriy n literacy my xi
on coninm, oriy n textuality comp wi c or irn
mo o oriy”7 A goo xmp wo b crc o
orm wrin ocrin mn, b n iion or riion
iniying wic mn o mn y k rioy n wic
y o no, w or riion bo inrprion o in in
mn Prp or riion vn inc iion bi In
i irion or oriy i comping wi x oriy
T nr o oriy compiion mig o b nroo in conx
Plato, Phaedrus, in Plato I , trans. Harold N. Fowler, LCL (Cambridge, MA: Harvard Univer-sity Press, 11), pp. -.
Schniedewind, How the Bible Became a Book, pp. 2-2.Ibid., p. . Tis is not to suggest that they were never read but is a statement o why the docu-
ments were written.Ibid., p. 1.
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Proposition 1 21
o icion in morn igr cion bo oriy on in
book vr oriy on grn by bginning n o opn-
orc inrn rorc o wic nyon wio crni mig con-rib Anor xmp wo b ow pop pick p oriiv
w y r on Hiory Cnn rr n going o rib iory
book wrin by qi cmic
Why Then Documents?
In n ncin ring-ominn ociy, x r rgy ocmn wrin
or mc mor imi nmbr o ron n in x-ominn cr
Documents were written or archives. A im r wr miy rciv,
b or mp rciv wr mor prvn Arciv wo o
miniriv ocmn, gnry ir o n conomic or g
nr Sc ocmn wr pr o ni rcor kping n wo
rry b cc (Compr o micno ocmn yo
kp in yor cbin) Scrib or ir wo rv ncion o
rwing p c ocmn, j wyr oy rw p orm g
ocmn or norizion Roy or mp rciv mig o o
ocmn o (g, cr, ri, roy corrponnc)
Documents were written or libraries. Tog mig omim
ovrp wi rciv or b o ogr, w cn rr o ibrri
oc on criv irry work Librri my v wir or mor
rqn cc n rciv, b w o no con m wi
ncion o ibrri oy Ty wr no pbic, n mo pop wo
v no ron o cc m nor wo y v wrwi oo o (bing non-ir)8 Common ok n o ry on or r-
iion rr n ocmn mig prrv o riion
Wo wo compi ibrri n wy? On poibiiy i c
ibrri rc wiom nrpri o cocing An rniv i
y rprn n niqrin inr in prrvion o r-ng ri-
ion Som vinc vn gg gr ibrry ik o Ar-
bnip w compi or poropic prpo vi Crr gg
ibrri wr compi or rrnc b wo rry b cc
Personal libraries were nearly nonexistent.
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22 HE LOS WORL OF SCRIPuR E
T oc w on incribing cr’ mo prcio riion on
ini o pop Wiin i conx, copi o x rv
oii rrnc poin or rciion n mmorizion o riion, monrion o mry o riion, n gi
rom go B y wr no or ninii Fw o
ir wo v progr o poin wr y wo v
bn b or moiv o c x o cc riion y
i no ry know9
ominiq Crpin rpor o on o b on in
mo mo o ncin ibrri (Arbnip, vn cnry ), bo qrr o x r o ivinion, nor prcn
prin o ri n pryr, n bo m prcng r xic
i T irry x nmbr bo ory0
Rgr o ncriny o or inormion, i g i i
imporn impy o no ocmn wriing in ncin wor
wo v rv irn prpo n i o oy Evn oy,
book cocor mig v wi rng o moivion ing ir
obby Frrmor, crib wo wro ocmn wr no
xrciing ir criv irry ki—criviy w mni
or v T crib wr mni xpr, no irry cror
or orii (mor on i nx cpr)
Documents were ofen written as school texts In crib crricm,
crin irry x wr copi by ging crib rying o prc
ir ki Sc x r rqny nr n mni kin
o mik in copying crib, pciy inxprinc on, migmk Ti proirion o pricr ocmn o no rc x-
niv circion o m; y rmin ociz in crib coo
Wi i my b r cion o ocmn or crib
crricm rc ir o prrv imporn riion, or mo-
ivion co o b poib
David Carr, Writing on the ablet o the Heart (Oxord: Oxord University Press, 2), p. .Dominique Charpin, Reading and Writing in Babylon (Chicago: University o Chicago Press,
21), pp. 12-. Schwemer similarly notes that a large proportion o the texts in the library
pertained to protecting the king’s person; Daniel Schwemer, “Magic Rituals: Conceptualization
and Perormance,” in Te Oxord Handbook o Cuneiorm Culture, ed. K. Radner and E. Robson
(Oxord: Oxord University Press, 211), p. 2.
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Proposition 1 23
Documents were written to be read aloud Wn cr w i,
mngr wo rv o ppropri inc, b king or
commonr, o r i o Evn i inc w cpb o ring,i my v bn conir mor ppropri or conn o b
r (no Jr 6) Tr w no ring pbic, ony pbic ring
Documents were written as symbolic expressions o power Mny o
roy incripion wr no xpc o b r by pbic, n om-
im wr vn bri in gron or pc in inccib pc I
w mor imporn o ocmn (vn rom r) n i w o
r i Mor imporn n w i i w i bn wrin Aim c ocmn inic inc king in min
w ir r king or go
Ti vry bri inrocion o conr bwn ring-ominn
ocii n x-ominn ocii i ignicn or or nrning o
ncin Ir n o ow w bcom or Bib ook p Wn w
r nconr Ir i i ring-ominn ociy, rgy non-ir
mo o ncin wor w (og rv by irry i n crc-
riz vn ry on by om cpciy or ircy mong gnr pop-
ion) Ovr im rog Iron Ag (monrcy prio) Iri o-
ciy bcm incringy ir, ro o x xpn n irry
procion bcm mor imporn I rmin qi conrovri wn
ook pc,3 b or or prpo w n no ci bc
c i or ominnc conin rog Grco-Romn prio
n o rg xn p ni invnion o movb-yp prining
pr For or prpo, i i nog o proc wi n invigion o w i wo ook ik or proc o irry procion o rnpir in
ring-ominn ociy Evinc ncin Ir w ring om-
inn i on in common woring o x i wr w n r-
At ell ayinat a copy o Esarhaddon’s vassal treaty was ound in the temple across rom the
altar, suggesting that it was displayed in the god’s presence and perhaps served as a votive ob-
ject. See Jacob Lauinger, “Some Preliminary Toughts on the ablet Collection in Building XVI
rom ell ayinat,” Te Canadian Society or Mesopotamian Studies (211): -1.
For elaboration and details see Richard Hess, “Literacy in Iron Age Israel,” in Windows into Old estament History , ed. V. Philips Long, David W. Baker and Gordon J. Wenham (Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 22), pp. 2-12.Schniedewind makes a case that the roots o greater literacy are evident as early as the seventh
century .; How the Bible Became a Book, p. 2. Undoubtedly, however, it was an extended pro-
cess that continued even through the Hellenistic period and into the New estament era.
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24 HE LOS WORL OF SCRIPuR E
qn rrnc o wor bing pokn n o pop ring4 A
m im, w o no minimiz or imi mn in Bib
bo wrin ocmn n ro y py5
I rog mo o O mn prio Ir w ring- ominn
ociy, w wo no xpc compx irry procion in ry g
o ormion o bibic x, og m im w m mi
r i no irc vinc o or compoiion o bibic x, i, no
mn xpiciy o c proc Sn Niic, owvr,
ini nmro inicor wrin x w now po or
prcror Or y mb in wrin work inc rpiion wiin
pg, o orm n orm prn, n convnioniz p-
rn o conn6 T bry ocmn conry mim
A n irion, I grw p pying b nni wi o i rok n
cniq Wn I ook p nni in my n yr my r incinion
w o my b nni cniq wi rgr rck on rgr
pying T I w inrny b nni pyr rnpn w
vin o ny nni pyr A nor irion, cooking pnck br
on w iron i r in oming ik pnck; imiry,prrving n or riion in ocmn wi no obcr crcr-
iic o oriy Inicor gg w n o conir ikioo
ri g o vopmn o cnonic irry
riion bgn in ring-ominn ociy, crcriz by or i-
minion n nrgir by ocmn wr prrv in rciv
or ibrri Noing in bibic x nrmin i mo, n vry-
ing w know rom ncin wor ppor i Ti mn w v
o ink irny bo “book” n “or” in ncin wor, wic
o nx cion
Authors and Books Versus Authorities,
Scribes and Documents
oy wn w ink o book o Bib n ir or, or
Specically related to Deuteronomy see Daniel Block, “Recovering the Voice o Moses: TeGenesis o Deuteronomy,” in Te Gospel According to Moses (Eugene, OR: Cascade, 212),
pp. 21-.For example, Josh :1; 2:; 2:2; 1 Kings 2:.Susan Niditch, Oral World and Written Word (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1),
pp. 1-11.
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Proposition 1 25
og r conrin by cr i W iv in wor wi in-
c propry rig connc o i r copyrig, pbi,
mrk n irib in x-ominn ociy wr pop vpron ibrri or wic y prc book y r iny o
mv Non o morn mn xi in ncin wor,
y w iy impo c ym on or nrning o procion
o book o Bib I wo no b n ovrmn o y in
ncin wor r wr no or n r wr no book— no
in nying ik orm w r miir wi oy7 In r
wr orii, ocmn n crib8
Authorities and tradents. Aorii r inivi n ini-
ion gnr inormion T ormo mn oriy w, o
cor, king Hi oriy xn o o mmbr o i mini-
rion wo xc i oriy Or oriy, on b no wy
inpnn, w on in mp pronn Loc govrnmn o
rv in n oriiv ro A o orii gnr inor-
mion by wic ociy opr: corrponnc, cr, grmn
vrio v, ring n o on or govrnmn orii; ri,incnion, pryr n o on or mp pronn; n ivinion
x by pcii in minirion working in r Roy
oriy w o rponib or gnring rcor o mini-
rion: nn n cronic o king’ civiy, roy incripion n
icion o pbic work, pciy mp Wn iminion o
i inormion w ncry, i w ypicy on ory, og i w
on prrv in wrin ocmn in rciv A r, w wo no
y orii gnr ocmn— cop oo mny p
ino on Aorii gnr imporn inormion Scrib gnr
ocmn in ppor o minirion or vriy o
By “books” here we reer not only to the book orm (“codex”), which was not invented until the
second century ad., but also to the idea o a book as a complex literary product, an extended
document or a combination o documents. Tis statement does not intend to overlook the rare
exceptions where elites such as Shulgi or Enheduanna claim to be authors. Also, o course, in
Egypt as early as the Old Kingdom there are collections o wisdom instruction attributed to an
authority (e.g., Ptahhotep), though we still have to dierentiate between author and authority gure. On the issue o royal authorship in Mesopotamian traditions see Eckart Frahm, “Keep-
ing Company with Men o Learning: Te King as Scholar,” in Radner and Robson, Oxord
Handbook o Cuneiorm Culture, pp. 2-22.Much o this inormation is summarized rom Karel van der oorn, Scribal Culture and the
Making o the Hebrew Bible (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2).
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2 HE LOS WORL OF SCRIPuR E
Byon o miniriv v o inormion, rgy non-
ymo inivi r o bin procion o w mig b c
irry work W wi rr o pop tradents—o wo wrinvov in prpion o riion Evryon i rn om
v, b om mmbr o ociy v mor ignicn ro in i rgr
n i i o m w rr Som o rn co b mmbr o
cory i, n ir proc wo b on in wiom ying n in
myoogic n pic riion Wi vry w xcpion, cory
rn rmin nonymo Aorii known by nm wo ypicy b
o wo oriy w riv rom poiic ofc y I w
rr rn’ nm (vn i pri) wo b prrv9 B ro
o rn w no imi o o wo bn c o rv ociy
in orm cory vocion In conr, v o oriy wo b
grn o o wo r rpc rnmir o riion vry v
wiin miy, cn, vig or ciy Nvr, o ping on
riion wo b nroo bing iinc rom o y
nm rn in ory p wo origin (or ignicny p)
riion—in c i i bio pop wo v og o c r-iion ving ingr poin o originion
Documents. In ncin wor book wr no “pbi” Inc
propry w n nknown concp wr copyrig n pgirim Nir
n mrking nor commrci iribion o ny kin ook pc Li-
rry procion ook orm o ocmn rr n book In c,
Hbrw wor i on rn “book” (sēpher ) rr o ocmn,
wvr mri i mig b wrin on ocmn mig b rcor on
wx b (mporry), orc, ppyr, prcmn, cy b or on—
rry vn on bronz Ty n o b rivy bri n imp rr
n compx Evn proc o cory orii n o b
imi in ng (For xmp, ony w pic rqir mip b
in Mopomi or mip v o ppyr in Egyp; cro by ir
nr bcm nwiy i y go vry ong) T ocmn wr -
ign or org n conion in rciv, no or circion in
x-ominn ociy Ti rmin r vn r rniion o x
Exceptions are ound in the works o the high priestess Enheduanna in the Ur III period in
Mesopotamia. It is also worth noting lower ofcials whose names are preserved in the Instruc-
tions in Egypt as authority gures (e.g., Anii, Amenemope).
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Proposition 1 27
ominnc bgn T gnr popion i no own ocmn, i
cc o ocmn n wo b rgy incpb o ring ocmn
ocmn wr conir imporn or crib o v cc own iion ro nci conion Tog oc-
mn wo v bn prioicy rcopi, y i no v mjor
ro in ncion o ociy or in rnmiion o riion y
Wn wr o or wiom convy, ocmn wr no
cck o o ibrry Sc inormion w rin in or ri-
ion o cr n w rwn rom m Aoriy w no con-
nc o ocmn b o pron o oriy bin ocmn
wn pron w known, or o riion i
W i o i oy Mo o v nvr r ny ppr by ron-
omr proving nmbr o pn or ir orbi ron n Mo
o wr o c by or ir-gr cr Evn i w i r i in
book, book w impy rping w cr i, no bni-
ing or ning i; mo o v nvr r book bo ow o -
rmin pnry orbi wi ccor n cop W ccp or
ronomy on oriy o “cinc” w v nvr r n wono nrn i w i0 T cinc w biv o b r i rig w
v rom rn wo v p i oriiv cnon on o rog
myri o cr mn Evn r r connc o oriy
gr on v bn ppmn in oriy gr’ nm by r
rn Or nrning o rwinim inc mc mor n w
rwin im promg W vn v coo o og rrr o
No-rwinim o frm om grow in riion
Ti concp o iniying oriy gr wo inking bcom
cnoniz on v, b rmin bjc o ongoing rn invovmn,
i o w known in or W rcogniz Ponim n No-
Ponim, Epicrnim, n Frin i In bibic i w r
vn wr cory gr c Wn, no im orig-
inor o i i b on wo popriz m, n n im-
porn rn in riion o orc ory A m im, W-
inim i i own coo o og Wn im wory rcogniz oy
Tanks to Jonathan Walton or this illustration.
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28 HE LOS WORL OF SCRIPuR E
Scribes. Aorii wr no gnry ngg in wriing (inc wriing
w no primry mn o gnring n rnmiing inormion)
Wriing wo gnry v bn on by crib, vn wn -oriy gr w ir n cpb o oing i im Wriing w -
oci primriy wi prrvion (rciv n ibrri) n ony c-
onriy wi iminion (wrin copy o or co r i
o; 2 Cron 17:9) T crib wo copi riion wr no
on wo wo rci riion in pbic— wr pr ro
Scrib wr rin o proc ocmn n minin rciv T
mo viib mniion o ir vocion w in conncion wi cor
(nion or oc) n mp Nvr, gnr pbic wo
v rqir om cc o crib proion or gnring oc-
mn o iy i (rcip, invnori, n procion, g poiion,
mrrig conrc, inrinc iribion, c) I i no niky
oming bic rcip or invnory co b wrin by o wo
no crib rining, b ny orm ocmn wo v bn
nr o crib Scrib wr no inc o ociy Tir
pciiz rining i no ccor m i mong inigniT crib wo no b con wi oriy wo wor r-
cor, nor wo oriy b iky o nrk k o crib
For Further Reading
Bn Zvi, E, n Mic H Foy Writings and Speech in Israelite and Ancient
Near Eastern Prophecy. An: Sociy o Bibic Lirr, 2000
Crr, vi Writing on the ablet o the Heart. Oxor: Oxor univriy Pr, 2005
Crpin, ominiq Reading and Writing in Babylon. Cicgo: univriy o
Cicgo Pr, 2010
For, Bnjmin R “rnmiion o Knowg” In Companion to the Ancient
Near East , i by ni Sn, 245-52 Oxor: Bckw, 2005
Niic, Sn Oral World and Written Word Loivi: Wminr Jon Knox,
199
Ong, Wr Orality and Literacy 2n Lonon: Rog, 2002
Ror, on B “Scrib n Spkr” In Writings and Speech in Israelite and
Ancient Near Eastern Prophecy , i by E Bn Zvi n Mic H Foy,
145-218 An: Sociy o Bibic Lirr, 2000
Roon, Criopr A Writing and Literacy in the World o Ancient Israel. A-
n: Sociy o Bibic Lirr, 2010
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Proposition 1 29
Scniwin, Wiim How the Bible Became a Book Cmbrig: Cmbrig
univriy Pr, 2005
Vnipo, Hrmn “Mmory n Lircy in Ancin Wrn Ai” In Civiliza-tions o the Ancient Near East , i by Jck M Son, 2181-9 Nw York:
Scribnr, 1995
Vi, Nik “Lv o Lircy” In Oxord Handbook o Cuneiorm Culture,
i by Krn Rnr n Enor Robon, 8-89 Oxor: Oxor univriy
Pr, 2011