THE LITERARY STRUCTURE
OF THE BOOK OF EXODUS 1–18
AND THE LITERARY STRUCTURE
OF ANCIENT HITTITE TREATIES
the possibility of the reduction to 4 elements

As a result of the investigations it was found that the structure of six consecutive pericopes of the Book of Exodus 1–18 fulfills the requirements imposed by the literary scheme of the Hittite alliance treaties. At the same time, you can see that:

• The 1st and the 2nd pericope in some respects are the entirety – they show the magnificence of God, His love for Israel, His promises of the covenant: self–presentation of God as the king–suzerain, as the king full of glory, splendour and majesty; presentation of the contributions of God to the life of Israel–vassal within the framework of the history preceding the ratification of the Passover/exodus covenant; the God’s initiation of the ratification ceremony of the covenant with Israel, being connected with the promise of the bestowal of the Land of Canaan upon her.
• Also the 5th and the 6th pericope in some respects are the entirety – they show how the magnificent God fulfils the promises of the alliance after its ratification, and how the bestowed Israel inscribes into her memory the doings of God who as the partner of the alliance is her protector against enemies, hunger and thirst; he is a patient teacher of the covenant law; he leads Israel to Himself, to the life in the land He promised to their fathers.

For that reason the structure of Exod 1–18 can be reduced to four elements:

The possibility of making such a thematic reduction was perceived at the beginning of Israel as the People of the Lord; it became the principle for incorporation of the history of Exod 1–18 into the Passover ritual, what is being discussed in the next few points of the presentation.