112 SHALOM E. HOLTZ contextual similarity, the strength of the Neo-Babylonian parallel lies in the specific, functional similarity between the objects that are tied and sealed: the sins in the Bible and the corpora delicti in the Neo-Babylon- ian records serve as evidence. The idea that God bundles and seals sins in order to preserve them as ev- idence emerges not only from the Neo-Babylonian parallels, but also, as im- portantly, from the biblical texts themselves. The use of the verb N_p_c in Hos 13,12b supports this suggestion 17. In context, then, the verse in Hosea in- troduces the subsequent punishment that is described in the following verses 18. Ephraim’s sin is bound up and stored away; it is on file as God’s legal justifi- cation for the punitive judgment that is to come. At the same time, Hosea 13,12 is a culminating statement at the end of God’s indictment or accusation in the preceding verses 19. The description of Ephraim’s sins (see vv. 1-2,10) concludes with God’s declaration that the evidence is stored, for the record. Similarly, the image of the bound sin in Job 14,17 relates, in some way, to the notice about God’s “keeping” (r_m_#) or not keeping Job’s trans- gression in 14,16b. The problem, of course, lies in the negation of the verb r_m_#, which suggests a contrast between “keeping” in 14,16b and “bind- ing” in 14,17. In fact, some commentators exploit this contrast to suggest that the bundling of sins represents forgiveness; Job’s sins are bound in order to dispose of them or to otherwise make them unavailable or irrelevant 20. But forgiving sin makes little sense in Hos 13,12; the context practically demands punishment 21. So, based on economy of argument, one would expect bind- ing sins to have the same meaning in Job 14,17 22. Moreover, Watson’s Akka- dian parallels, discussed earlier, also point in the punitive direction. The 17 See, for example, H.W. WOLFF, Hosea (Hermeneia; Philadelphia, PA 1974) 227, and ANDERSEN – FREEDMAN, Hosea, 637. 18 So, for example, E. BEN ZVI, Hosea (FOTL 21A/1; Grand Rapids, MI 2005) 273. On the general problem of situating Hos 13,12 within the sur- rounding verses, see ANDERSEN – FREEDMAN, Hosea, 637-638. 19 See, for example, J.L. MAYS, Hosea. A Commentary (OTL; Philadelphia, PA 1969) 180, and WOLFF, Hosea, 227. 20 These include: E.J. KISSANE, The Book of Job (New York 1946) 82; S.L. TERRIEN, Job (CAT 13; Neuchâtel 1963) 123; F.I. ANDERSEN, Job. An Intro- duction and Commentary (London 1976) 172; N.C. HABEL, The Book of Job (OTL; Philadelphia, PA 1985) 243-244; and C.A. NEWSOM, The Book of Job (NIB 4; Nashville, TN 1996) 442-443. 21 Even though D.A. GARRETT, Hosea, Joel (NAC 19A; Nashville, TN 1997) 263 argues, on questionable grounds, that this verse connotes “an act of grace”, he cannot ignore the presence of “an act of judgment”. 22 For suggestions that the image has a different meaning in the two verses, see J. LÉVÊQUE, Job et son Dieu (Paris 1970) 459-460; D.J.A. CLINES, Job 1-20 (WBC 17; Dallas, TX 1989) 334 and G.H. WILSON, Job (NIBC; Peabody, MA 2007) 156 (referring to “elsewhere”, without specifically citing Hos 13,12).