Law and Covenant (20-24)

B. Law and Covenant (20-24)

Although the Elohist source contained some of the ancestral material of the book of Genesis, the heart of the Elohist source is the exodus from Egypt and the law giving on the mountain. The Elohist contains one of the fullest records of the nature of the covenant relationship God established with his people.

Elohist Covenant Tradition. Covenant traditions were stronger in the northern territories of Israel than in Judah to the south. The covenant accounts of the Elohist provide a direct link to these covenant traditions going all the way back to the time before the monarchy. Before becoming a nation, the tribes had formed a federation headquartered at Shechem. There they periodically engaged in covenant renewal ceremonies that affirmed their solidarity and confirmed their faith in Yahweh. The ceremony led by Joshua in chapter 24 is the most elaborately described of these ceremonies. It is probable that the Elohist was associated in some way with prophetic circles in Israel, most likely with an Elijah group. Moses' activities on the mountain of God are very much like those of the northern prophet Elijah who came after him. Points of similarity include the following. Moses, like Elijah, was the champion of God confronting a difficult and contentious Israelite people. Each had a loyal disciple, Joshua and Elisha, respectively. And both Moses and Elijah traveled to Horeb (for an account of Elijah see Chapter 9).

    The covenant making that takes place in Exodus was a response to the miraculous escape from Egypt that God had arranged. In this covenant God formalized his relationship with the Hebrews by, in effect, putting it down in a contract, what governments would call a treaty.