Preaching the Law. Reconsidering the Relationship between the Covenant Code and Deuteronomy

ABSTRACT Similarities and divergences between the Covenant Code (CC) and the Deuteronomic Code (DC) typically have been explored by focusing on content, leading to a proposed relationship of abrogation or revision and implementation. The communicative contexts, text pragmatics, and communicative intentionality of both the CC and DC have remained marginal to the debate. I shall argue that Deuteronomy takes up, expands, and improves communicative strategies already present in CC, with the underlying aim of transforming law into “preached law.” The transfer of preached law from orality to a written medium builds and reinforces the authoritative status of those who transmit it. Thus, a transfer of authority occurs: from the object (law) to its preachers (interpreters).