ANE Background of Biblical Prophecy

The above image is a representation (from the Louvre) of the investiture of King Zimri-Lin from Mari. Deities pictured below the scene pouring water represent the presence of divine blessings for the kingdom. The collection of oracles, dream reports, visionary experience reports, etc. in the Mari tablets from the second millennium B.C. provide valuable parallels and differences with Biblical collections of similar material in the prophetic books. Translations of the Mari letters are available for perusal on-line. http://homepages.gac.edu/~celledge/MariActivity.htm  A very helpful article by Abraham Malamat explores the similarities and differences between the Israelite and West Semitic expressions of prophecy at Mari, over 6 centuries prior to the rise of prophecy in Israel. http://prophetess.lstc.edu/~rklein/Documents/malamat.htm