Note: earlier post edited as per comments.
A. 9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.
10 And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 11 In all the signs and the wonders, which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, 12 And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel.
B. Joshua 1:1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying, 2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
C. 5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
D. 6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. 7 Only be thou strong and very courageous,
E. that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
F. 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night,
E’. that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
D’. 9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed:
C’. for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
B’. 10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11 Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it.12 And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying, 13 Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, The LORD your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land. 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valour, and help them; 15 Until the LORD have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the LORD your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD’s servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising.
A’. 16 And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go. 17 According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses. 18 Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.
I spotted this one in the reading yesterday too. It possibly extends even further:
Deut 34:9b and the children of Israel hearkened unto, and did as the LORD commanded Moses
1a: Moses the servant of the LORD
3b: that I have given you
11b:which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it
13a,15b:Moses the servant of the LORD
17a: according as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee.
This is pretty interesting in the way in which it adds evidence to the inspired nature of the canon of Scripture itself. Joshua had to follow Deuteronomy directly to continue the chiasm.
Has anyone else got any examples of this trans-book-division-chiasmus?
Thanks for this very interesting contribution. I don’t think we have another example straddling books although I am working on the end of Joshua and the beginning of Judges.
Although not a TBDC there is a chiasm which straddles Psalm 1 and Psalm 2:
A (1:1) Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor SITTETH in the seat of the scornful.
B (2,3) But his delight is in the law of Yahweh; and in his law doth HE MEDITATE (01897) day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
C (4,5) THE UNGODLY are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore THE UNGODLY shall not stand in the judgment,
D (5) nor sinners in the congregation OF THE RIGHTEOUS.
D’ (6 ) For Yahweh knoweth the way OF THE RIGHTEOUS:
C’ (6) but the way of THE UNGODLY shall perish.
B’ (2:1-3) Why do the heathen rage, and the people IMAGINE (01897) a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against Yahweh, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
A’ (2:4) HE THAT SITTETH in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.