Treaty of the Great King: The Covenant Structure of Deuteronomy: Studies and Commentary

by Meredith G. Kline

In Treaty of the Great King, Kline gives a detailed analysis and strong evidence for supporting the interpretation of Deuteronomy as being a legal document between Israel and YHWH that was patterned after ancient Near Eastern treaties, with Moses as its primary compiler. These studies were foundational in Kline's career as a covenant theologian. Meredith G. Kline (1922-2007) was Professor of Old Testament at Westminster Seminary California. He previously taught at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and at Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia), from which he received his BD and ThM degrees. He earned is PhD degree in Assyriology and Egyptology under Cyrus Gordon at Dropsie College. He was also an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. The collection of essays in Creator, Redeemer, Consummator, a festschrift written in honor of Dr. Kline, attests to the indelible influence his work has exerted on contemporary biblical and theological scholarship.

Genres: Theology, Old Testament

150 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1963

About the author

Meredith G. Kline was Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He received his B.D. and Th.M. degrees from Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia) and his Ph.D. degree in Assyriology and Egyptology from Dropsie College. Professor Kline maintained an active writing and teaching ministry, serving on the faculty of Westminster Theological Seminary in Escondido, California. He was also an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. The collection of essays in the recently-published Creator, Redeemer, Consummator, a festschrift written in honor of Dr. Kline, attests to the indelible influence his work has exerted on contemporary biblical and theological scholarship.

Reviews

[Tyler Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first deep interaction with Kline (although I believe I have a good sense of his work through secondary sources). The book is two parts. The first are some articles on Deuteronomy as a whole, in light of the (then new) scholarship regarding Suzerain-Vassal covenants. This was the strongest portion of the book. Many helpful insights, and even some thought provoking applications to higher critical approaches to Deuteronomy.

The second half was a commentary: relatively concise and simple. Nothing too earth shattering in these sections.

I was a little disappointed to learn (thanks to the Glory Cloud Podcast) that this represents some of Kline's less refined thoughts regarding republication and the Mosaic Covenant. Apparently it wasn't until Kingdom Prologue that he really come into his own on that topic. But I'm reluctant to work through that massive tome at this time.

[Rodney Harvill · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book Dr. Kline makes a convincing argument for the covenant structure of Deuteronomy by comparing it with ancient near-eastern suzerain-vassal treaties. This accomplishes two applications:

1. For the past two centuries various scholars have argued that Deuteronomy is a product of the reign of Josiah and not from the time of Moses. In comparing the structure of Deuteronomy to that of ancient treaties from the second millennium BC, Dr. Kline demonstrates the credibility of a Mosaic dating of the book. This is not conclusive proof because there remains debate regarding how its structure compares to that of first millennium BC treaties.
2. As slaves in Egypt, the Israelites had been vassals of Pharaoh. Now that God had defeated Pharaoh with the plagues and led the Israelites out of Egypt, He was now their suzerain, their king, and they were His vassals, His subjects. The covenant dictated how they were to live and appropriate consequences for obedience and for disobedience. By presenting the covenant in the form of a suzerain-vassal treaty with which they would be familiar, God made the relationship crystal-clear.

Although the book contains some intriguing trivia, such as the hypothesis that the two tablets of stone were identical with the same verbiage on each one, representing two copies of the covenant, one for the suzerain and one for the vassal, I am most impressed with the implications of the suzerain-vassal relationship. God is king; we are His subjects. God commands; we obey. We face adverse consequences for disobedience. God is faithful to restore us if we repent and return to Him.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book. I'm convinced of Kline's thesis, if not in every particular. This is Kline's first book, so there are some views he advocates in this book that he later changed his mind on, particularly with the view of the Mosaic covenant being a part of the covenant of Grace. However, the archeological evidence of viewing covenants as classic forms of ancient Hittite treaties and the book of Deuteronomy as a Covenant renewal document I find compelling.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating book, filled with gems, but also very boring at times.

[Colt Melot · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is excellent. It's only 149 pages but packs a lot into those pages. The first part compares Deuteronomy to ancient near Eastern covenants between suzerain and vassals and how Deuteronomy follows the same structure. the second part is a short commentary on Deuteronomy tying it all together. If you're studying Covenant theology, I believe this is a piece of the puzzle you need, regardless of which side of the aisle you fall.

[Kevin Godinho · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very dry read, but there was a handful of good takeaways. By and large this book didn't contain whatever it is that I'm looking for. That is likely more my fault than the book's. If you know what you're getting into you might like it more than I did.

[Kevin Sheth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meredith Kline’s Treaty of the Great King provides the theological and cultural context behind the structure and covenantal framework of Deuteronomy. It becomes glaringly obvious through Kline’s research and exegesis that Deuteronomy is structured as a Suzerain Vassal Treaty, typical of the Ancient Near East. Rather than seeing this as a mark against Deuteronomy and the Old Testament as copying other Ancient Near Eastern texts, Kline demonstrates that this strengthens our interpretation of Deuteronomy against critical scholars and helps us understand the relationship between the Sinaitic covenant and Christ’s fulfillment of the covenant of redemption.