the lost world of scripture by john walton and brent sandy

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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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©203 by John H. Walton and D. Brent Sandy

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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




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




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




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




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




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.




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-





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.




Pr 1

he Old estaetWld Cstad Cat




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





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.




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.





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.




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.





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.




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.





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.




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).





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).




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.





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




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