The inscriptions record two treaties that "list curses and magical rites which take effect if the treaty is violated". One is a treaty between two minor kings, Barga'yah and Matti'el, who hailed from the southwestern periphery of the
Assyrian empire. In the text, Matti'el swears to accept dire consequences for himself and his cities should he violate the stipulations of the treaty: Thought to be reflective of Assyrian or neo-Assyrian culture and similar to other documents dating from the first millennium BCE, scholars such as
Joseph Fitzmyer have perceived
Canaanite influences in the text, while Dennis McCarthy has noted similarities to second millennium BCE treaties imposed by
Hittite kings on Syrian vassals.
Identification of the treaty kings Two treaties conducted between minor kings from the Kingdom of
Arpad inscribed on the stelae are often cited as evidence of the
Aramaean tradition of treaty-making. The Sefire inscriptions are of interest to those studying beliefs and practices in ancient
Syria and
Palestine and the text is considered notable for constituting "the best extrabiblical source for
West Semitic traditions of covenantal blessings and curses." ==Gallery==