stand in regard to covenant-enacting rites such as swearing, giving gifts, eating together, offering sacrifices? With respect to the function of the DF, does this play the same role in every text? One may wonder whether the affirmation of fellowship is the peculiar feature of the OT covenant episodes? Or, does the biblical formula reflect a general reality found throughout the Ancient Orient—a fact which, if proved, will corroborate the reality of the OT formula. These questions are studied here.