THE PATRIACHAL PERIOD
One key feaure of the patriachal period that i would like to discuss is covenant making.
Q.What is a covenant?
Covenant is reffered to as an agreeement between 2 people or 2 powers,a distinctive feature that was used during the ancient days.
They are 2 types of treaties associated with covenant making.
■Parity treaty
This is an agreement that involves 2 equal powers
■Suzerin-Vassal treaty
This is an agreement between a major power and a lesser power.
Abrahamic covenant in the book of Gen 12:1-3 fall under the Suzerin-Vassal treaty as it was an agreement between God and Man with God being the major power and Abraham the lesser power.This covenant was sealed with a ritual of circumcision as a physical sign between the two and was to be adhered to the leetter.
Understanding this process of covenant making help explain the theological concepts like promised land,inheritance and the people of God.it also provides context for practices like circumcision and the battle between jews and gentiles thus giving us fidelity to interpret scripture.
However,treaties were some of the key socio-political governing features that used to happen during the patriachal era.