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Title: Cuneiform Literacy and Deuteronomic Composition
Author(s): MORROW, W.S.
Journal: Bibliotheca Orientalis
Volume: 62    Issue: 3-4   Date: mei - augustus 2005   
Pages: 204-213
DOI: 10.2143/BIOR.62.3.2015539

Abstract :
Eckart Otto’s (O.) account of the composition of the laws in Dtn 12-26 claims wide-ranging influence from cuneiform documents. Both the period in which Deuteronomy’s legal corpus was first composed as well as its extent may be determined on the basis of parallels with datable Akkadian texts (p. 14). The original version of the Deuteronomic (Dtn) laws was drafted in the 7th century B.C.E. during Josianic times (p. 359). In that era, incorporation of various pre-Dtn texts and cuneiform influences produced a body of law that included most of Dtn 6,4-5; 12,13-27*; 13,2-12*; 14,22-18,5*; 19,2-25,12*; 26,2-13*; and 28,15.20-44* (pp. 352, 362). O. also makes a strong claim that the covenantal theology Deuteronomy’s laws assume was derived from Akkadian sources. The unique contribution of Judah’s theologians during the period of Neo-Assyrian (NA) hegemony was to adapt the imagery of covenantal relationships with the god Asshur into a subversive claim favouring the unique status of YHWH (pp. 86-88).


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