Historical Theology
Southwestern Journal of Theology
Volume 57, No. 2 – Spring 2015
Managing Editor: Terry L. Wilder
By Kenneth A. Kitchen and Paul J.N. Lawrence. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag, 2013. lxxiv + 1641 pages. Hardcover, $460.00.
This is a monumental and magisterial work that has been in process for nearly three decades. While results have been published by Kitchen throughout the years, we now have the complete data published. This three-volume work collects and syntesizes laws, treaties, and covenants of the Ancient Near East.
The work is divided into three volumes. Volume 1 contains the texts and raw data. Volume 2 is the commentary on the texts, indices, and chromograms (colored charts to compare the various components of the law codes). Volume 3 contains a historical discussion and summary. It is purposefully designed to present the levels of analysis. Each volume contains 1086, 268, and 288 pages respectively.
The three volumes do not replace major principle ediceps of various collections of texts. The authors are up front and admit that this work does not supersede earlier translations of the ancient texts. The purpose is to collate this genre of literature throughout a 3000 year history. The goal of the authors is to provide an edition that allows scholars and researchers to compare this body of literature while also viewing the history and evolution of the varied formats through the centuries. First, the authors have defined fifteen possible components that they present under thirteen numeric headings (e.g. title and preamble are different components but are listed under the same numeric heading). These components are: title/preamble, prologue (historical or other), stipulations or laws, deposit of the document, periodic reading of document to parties, witnesses, blessings, curses, oath(s), solemn ceremony, epilogue, additional items, sanctions, and a historical report.
Volume 1 consists of the primary data of the work. Over 125 texts have been collated and analyzed. Each text provides introductory material such as bibliographical references, sources, and general descriptions of the type of text (e.g. monument, location). This is followed by a transliterated text with the English translation on the opposing page. These texts are divided into subsets that correspond with the various components. At the end of each text is a “textual key to the color-chart (chromogram)” in volume three. This textual key is a table illustrating the structure of the texts and the order of the components.
Volume 2 is designed as an aide to volume 1. It contains the historical context, notes, and commentary to volume 1. While readers might question this separation, once you start using the work, it becomes clear that this was the best way to present the data as well as use the sources. A reader can have the texts open in volume 1, while having the aides open in volume 2. Volume 2 consists of three parts. The first part contains notes to the texts such as historical, geographical and/or philological commentary to the texts. The second part contains an index of topics and major notes. This includes various indices covering topics (e.g. alphabetical listing of all topics found in the laws and stipulations sections, index of deities as witnesses), statistical lists (e.g. price of slaves, fines, etc.), related notes on terminology for treaties, laws and covenants, and finally maps. The last part of volume 2 contain the chromograms. These chromograms are unique to this study and probably are the most valuable asset to assist scholars in research. These chromograms are color charts designed to facilitate the comparison of the order, content, and format of the various components of the texts. This part requires a learning curve for the reader, but once a working knowledge is acquired of the various color codes, a reader is quickly able to be able to discern the similarities and differences of the types of laws, treaties, and covenants between geographical areas over time.
Volume 3, according to the authors, offers a “synthesis of the history, development and interrelations of the subject” (xx). It provides a metanarrative from the third millennium to the early-Roman period of the laws, treaties, and covenants found throughout the Ancient Near East. Most historians and biblical scholars will likely refer to this volume.
Unique to this work is that the biblical text is interspersed among the ANE texts. This is purposeful to place the laws, treaties, and covenants found in the Old Testament within their historical context. This resource is long overdue and we are fortunate that Kitchen was able to finish this magnus opus. Unfortunately, the price will limit its location in personal libraries, but it should be a reference resource in every research library. Old Testament scholars and students, especially those who study the Pentateuch and ANE backgrounds, will find these volumes to be extremely useful references.
