Thursday, March 01, 2007

Israel's Empire Policy

For understanding Biblical Theology, it is worth thinking about Israel's Empire policy (e.g. under David).

Was it more like the British system where you might have dominions, dependencies and a commonwealth or France where foreign states are incorporated into France and become little parts of France abroad? No doubt there are other options such as EU style federations.

This helps us to think about the relationship between Jew and Gentile and the nature and extent of covenant membership. For example, could one be heir of the promises to Abraham but not under the Mosaic covenant as an Israelite and yet in covenant loyalty to King David: in this case the conquored peoples of the world sound much more like New Testament believers who are not incorporated into national Israel but become part of Abraham's law-governed Jesus defining seed.

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