And because the cultic and cultural structures of Israel which were the immediate Sitz im Leben of the various parts of the Old Testament were thus so thoroughly covenantalized, it follows that all the inspired literature deriving from and related to that cult (like ritual legislation and hymns) and associated with that culture (like civil law, national history, diplomatic messages of prophets, and instruction of sages) served the covenant and inevitably bore its stamp. Examination will further show,