Jerry Brownell sent in this structure of the whole of Ezekiel that was discovered by Paula Spencer in 1992 who was then a student of Jerry’s.
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Genesis 49:29-33
THE LAST WORDS OF JACOB AND JOSEPH A RHETORICO-STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF GENESIS 49:29-33 AND 50:24-26 Nicholas P. Lunn. TYNDALE BULLETIN 59.2 (2008)
A 29a Then he instructed [ וַיצְַו ] them: ‘I am about to be gathered to my people [נאֱֶסָף אֶל־עַמִּי].
B 29b Bury me with my fathers in the cave [הַמְּעָרָה] in the field [בִּשְׂדֵה] of Ephron the Hittite [הַחִתִּי ], the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre in Canaan, which Abraham bought [קָנהָ ] as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite, along with the field.
C 31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife,
there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife,
and there I buried Leah.
B’ 32 The field [הַשָּׂדֶה] and the cave [הַמְּעָרָה] in it were a purchase [מִקְנהֶ ] from the Hittites [בְּניֵ־חֵת]
A’ 33 When Jacob had finished instructing [ לְצַוֹתּ ] his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people [וַיאֵָּסֶף אֶל־עַמָּי].
Psalms 120-134
Here is a comment from The Christian’s Friend : 1896
https://www.stempublishing.com/magazines/cf/1896/The-Songs-of-Degrees.html
“All are grouped,” says a pious expositor, “around Psalm 127, which was written by Solomon. On both sides there stands a heptad (i.e., seven) of pilgrim songs, consisting of two Psalms written by David, and five others, which have no name attached. Both sevens are divided into four and three …”
Does anyone know who the “pious expositor” is?
Wikipedia (referencing The Flow of the Psalms, O. Palmer Robertson, P&R Publishing, 2015, pp. 232–233) adds, “A chiastic structure is seen by many in these Psalms with Psalm 127 a Psalm of Solomon as center. Preceded and succeeded by seven Psalms of ascent, each side adorned with 24 occurrences of ‘Yahweh,’ a numerical symmetry evoking divine significance.”
Amos 5:10-12
From Caroline Astell-Burt
(From Jewish Study Bible)
A They hate the arbiter in the gate
And detest him whose plea is just
B Because you impose tax on the poor
And exact from him a levy of grain.
C You have built houses of hewn stone
But you shall not live in them
C You have planted delightful vineyards
But shall not drink their wine.
B I have noted how many are your crimes
And countless your sins
A You enemies of the righteous ,You takers of bribes
You who subvert in the gate The cause of the needy!
1 Samuel 19
| From Sebastian Engelhardt
Structure of 1 Samuel 19: ABA’B’ A Saul fights and loses (because of Jonathans intercession) 1-6 B David fights and wins (against Philistines) 7-8 A’ Saul fights and loses (because of Michals substitution) 9-17 B’ God fights and wins (against Saul and his men) 18-24 |
Luke 2:40-52
An alternative proposal from Tim Yearsley
“This passage is clearly a tipping point in the relationship between Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The passage commences referring to Mary and Joseph as ‘his parents’, traversing through to ‘Joseph and his mother’ via “my Father’s business’ to the point where ‘his mother kept these sayings in her heart”. Given the bookends in vv40 and 52 I suggest there may be a structure highlighting the tipping point in Jesus’ advancing maturity and relationship with his Father, now apparent to those who were astonished at his understanding and answers such that he was increased in favour with God and man.”
A Child’s (Jesus) growth
40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
B Travel to Jerusalem from Nazareth with parents
41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
C Joseph and mother didn’t know Jesus stayed behind
43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
D Joseph & Mary sought Jesus amongst their kin
44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and theysought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. 45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
E Astonishment at Jesus understanding
46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
D’ But Jesus was found about his Father’s business
48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?
C’ Joseph & Mary didn’t understand
50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.
B’ Travel from Jerusalem to Nazareth
51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
A’ Jesus advancing maturity
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
A question about the Tabernacle chiasm?
Joe Mullin points out the inversion in the “thou shalt make” and the “And he made” details of the Tabernacle furniture and the Tabernacle structure, but asks why the altar of burnt offering (27:1 and 38:1) incense altar (30:1 and 37:25) and laver (30:18 and 38:8) do not fit this pattern. Any thoughts?
“Thou shalt make…”
A
- Ark 25:10-16
- Mercy seat 25:6-9
- Table of shewbread 25:23-30
- Lampstand 25:31-39
B
-
- Curtains 26:1-6
- Goats hair covering 26:7-14
- Boards 26:15-25
- Bars 26:26-29
- Vail 26:33-35
- Hanging for door of outer court 26:36,37
“And he made…”
B’
-
- Curtains 36:8-13
- Goats hair covering 36:14-19
- Boards 36:20-30
- Bars 36:31-34
- Vail 36:35,36
- Hanging for door of other court 36:37,38
A’
- Ark 37:1-5
- Mercy seat 37:6-9
- Table of shewbread 37:10-16
- Lampstand 37:16-24
In 1895 Robert Roberts, “pondering whether there can be anything in this apparently needless duplication of details” went on to write
““There is a natural difference between the order in which divine purposes are revealed, and the order in which they are executed. The glorious upshot of the whole work was first revealed to Abraham: “In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed”. But before this came a long history of curse and woe. The kernel of the matter first: afterwards, the outer fringe of related matters. This appears to be the order of the “thou-shalt-make” series of specifications, while the “and-he-made” series reverses this order, giving the related matters first, and the kernel last, as the order observed in the fulfilment of the purpose requires … which is in harmony with the fact that in historic evolution, the inside of matters comes last in realisation, though first in promise .”
2 Kings 7
from Dafydd Jenkins who says
“The reversal from ‘fine flour, barley’ to ‘barley, fine flour’ between verses 1 and 18 is a classic signal for an inverse parallel.
The centre of the pattern is two paired structures, however D has a b c, a b c, while D’ has a b c, c b a. D highlights the lepers recognition that they need to report God’s salvation, D’ that the king fails to believe the report.
Exodus 15:1-21*
Based on James M. Hamilton Jr. JETS 67.3 (2024): 463–74
This is a seven part structure, significantly different from the previous post. The writer proposes that both C and C’ are each chiastic as well.
A. 1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying,
I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously:
the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
2 The LORD is my strength and song,
and he is become my salvation:
he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation;
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
B. 3 The LORD is a man of war:
the LORD [YHWH] is his name.
4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea:
his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.
C. Egypt vanquished
a. 5 The depths have covered them:
they sank into the bottom as a stone.
b. In Egypt
6 Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power:
thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.
7 And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee:
thou sentest forth thy wrath,
which consumed them as stubble.
b’. in the sea
8 And with the blast of thy nostrils
the waters were gathered together,
the floods stood upright as an heap,
and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.
9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake,
I will divide the spoil;
my lust shall be satisfied upon them;
I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.
a’. 10 Thou didst blow with thy wind,
the sea covered them:
they sank as lead in the mighty waters.
D. 11 Who is like unto thee, O LORD,
among the gods?
Who is like thee, glorious in holiness,
fearful in praises, doing wonders?
12 Thou stretchedst out thy right hand,
the earth swallowed them.
C’. Israel delivered from Egypt to enter Canaan
a. 13 Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people
which thou hast redeemed:
thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.
b. 14 The people shall hear, and be afraid:
sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.
15 Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed;
the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them;
all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.
16 Fear and dread shall fall upon them;
by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone;
b’. till thy people pass over, O LORD,
till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.
a’. 17 Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance,
in the place, O LORD,
which thou hast made for thee to dwell in,
in the Sanctuary, O Lord,
which thy hands have established.
B’. 18 The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.
19 For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea,
and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them;
but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.
A’. 20 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. 21 And Miriam answered them,
Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously;
the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
Micah 1:1-9
From Wes Wheeler
1. The word of the LORD that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.
A. 2 Hear, you peoples, all of you;
pay attention, O earth, and all that is in it,
and let the Lord GOD be a witness against you,
the Lord from his holy temple.
B. 3 For behold, the LORD is coming out of his place,
and will come down and tread upon the high places of the earth.
4.And the mountains will melt under him,
and the valleys will split open,
like wax before the fire,
like waters poured down a steep place.
C. 5 All this is for the transgression of Jacob
and for the sins of the house of Israel.
What is the transgression of Jacob?
Is it not Samaria?
And what is the high place of Judah?
Is it not Jerusalem?
B’. 6 Therefore I will make Samaria a heap in the open country,
a place for planting vineyards,
and I will pour down her stones into the valley
and uncover her foundations.
all her wages shall be burned with fire,
and all her idols I will lay waste,
for from the fee of a prostitute she gathered them,
and to the fee of a prostitute they shall return.
A’. 8 For this I will lament and wail;
I will go stripped and naked;
I will make lamentation like the jackals,
and mourning like the ostriches.
9. For her wound is incurable,
and it has come to Judah;
it has reached to the gate of my people,
to Jerusalem.