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Literary structure (chiasmus, chiasm) of Book of Numbers

Chiasmus and Concentric Structure of whole text

The center of whole Book of Numbers is "Revolt of Korah, Dathan, and Abram" (no. 25, 16:1-17:5). This part depicts the story that Israelites revolted against Moses and Aron, then the earth swallowed revolting Israelites. The story about revolting Israelites might be contrasted with the story about drowned Egyptian military in Exodus.


1-1

1 The first census of Israel (1:1-47)
  2 The duties of Levites (1:48-54)
    3 The order of encampment and marching (2:1-34)
      4 The duties and census of the Levites 1 (3:1-51)
        5 The duties and census of the Levites 2 (4:1-49)
          6 Regulations for rituals and vow (5:1-6:27)
            7 Offerings of the leaders (7:1-88)
              8 Consecration and Service of the Levites (7:89-8:26)
                9 The passover at Sinai (9:1-14)
                  10 The cloud and the fire (9:15-23)
                    11 The silver trumpets (10:1-10)
                      12 Departure from Sinai (10:11-28)
                        13 Moses and Hobab (10:29-32)
                          14 The ark of the covenant (10:33-36)
                            15 Complaining in the Desert (11:1-35)
                              16 Aaron and Miriam Jealous of Moses (12:1-16)
                                17 Spies sent into Canaan (13:1-24)
                                  18 The report of the spies (13:25-33)
                                    19 The People Rebel (14:1-10)
                                      20 Sin of rebellion (14:11-35)
                                        21 An Attempted Invasion is Repulsed (14:36-45)
                                          22 Sin offerings (15:1-31)
                                            23 Penalty for violating the Sabbath (15:32-36)
                                              24 Fringes on garments (15:37-41)
                                                25 Revolt of Korah, Dathan, and Abram (16:1-17:5)
                                              26 Aaron saves the people (17:6-15)
                                            27 Aaron's Rod (17:16-28)
                                          28 Regulations about priests and Levites (18:1-32)
                                        29 Ceremony of the Red Heifer (19:1-22)
                                      30 The waters of Meribah (20:1-13)
                                    31 Passages through Edom refused (20:14-21)
                                  32 The death of Aaron (20:22-29)
                                33 King Arad defeated (21:1-3)
                              34 The Bronze Serpent (21:4-9)
                            35 The journey to Moab (21:10-20)
                          36 King Sihon and King Og defeated (21:21-35)
                        37 Balak and Balaam (22:1-40)
                      38 Balaam's oracle (22:41-24:25)
                    39 Worship of Baal of Peor (25:1-19)
                  40 A Census of the New Generation (26:1-65)
                41 The daughters of Zelophehad (27:1-11)
              42 Joshua appointed Moses' successor (27:12-23)
            43 Regulations about offerings and vow (28:1-30:17)
          44 War against Midiam (31:1-54)
        45 Conquest and division of transjordan (32:1-42)
      46 The stages of Israel's journey from Egypt (33:1-49)
    47 Orders about heritage (33:50-34:29)
  48 Cities for the Levites and Refuge (35:1-34)
49 Marriages of female heirs (36:1-13)
Former halfRelationLatter half
1 The first census of Israel (1:1-47)
1:16 These were councilors of the community, princes of their ancestral tribes, chiefs of the troops of Israel.
Since ancestral age49 Marriages of female heirs (36:1-13)
36:8all the Israelites may remain in possession of their own ancestral heritage.
2 The duties of Levites (1:48-54)
1:50You are to give the Levites charge of the Dwelling of the commandments with all its equipment and all that belongs to it. It is they who shall carry the Dwelling with all its equipment and who shall be its ministers. They shall therefore camp around the Dwelling.
Hereditary property of the Levites48 Cities for the Levites and Refuge (35:1-34)
35:2out of their hereditary property they shall give the Levites cities for homes, as well as pasture lands around the cities.
3 The order of encampment and marching (2:1-34)
List of leaders of the tribes (2:3-29)
Leaders of the tribes47 Orders about heritage (33:50-34:29)
34:18and one prince from each of the tribes whom you shall designate for this task.
4 The duties and census of the Levites 1 (3:1-51)
3:13When I slew all the first-born in the land of Egypt, I made all the first-born in Israel sacred to me, both of man and of beast. They belong to me;
The first-born in Egypt is struck 46 The stages of Israel's journey from Egypt (33:1-49)
33:4While the Egyptians buried their first-born all of whom the LORD had struck down;
5 The duties and census of the Levites 2 (4:1-49)
Task of each Levi clan(4:1-49)
Heritage of the tribes45 Conquest and division of transjordan (32:1-42)
32:19so long as we receive a heritage for ourselves on this eastern side of the Jordan."
6 Regulations for rituals and vow (5:1-6:27)
5:10Each Israelite man may dispose of his own sacred contributions; they become the property of the priest to whom he gives them."
Sacred contributions44 War against Midiam (31:1-54)
31:41The taxes contributed to the LORD, Moses gave to the priest Eleazar, as the LORD had commanded him.
7 Offerings of the leaders (7:1-88)
7:3The offering they brought before the LORD consisted of six baggage wagons and twelve oxen, that is, a wagon for every two princes, and an ox for every prince. These they presented as their offering before the Dwelling.
Offerings43 Regulations about offerings and vow (28:1-30:17)
Regulation about offerings (28:1-30:17)
8 Consecration and Service of the Levites (7:89-8:26)
8:10While the Levites are present before the LORD, the Israelites shall lay their hands upon them. 8:11Let Aaron then offer the Levites before the LORD as a wave offering from the Israelites, thus devoting them to the service of the LORD.
Calling42 Joshua appointed Moses' successor (27:12-23)
27:22Moses did as the LORD had commanded him. Taking Joshua and having him stand in the presence of the priest Eleazar and of the whole community, 27:23he laid his hands on him and gave him his commission, as the LORD had directed through Moses.
9 The passover at Sinai (9:1-14)
9:13However, anyone who is clean and not away on a journey, who yet fails to keep the Passover, shall be cut off from his people,
Being cut off from the people41 The daughters of Zelophehad (27:1-11)
27:4But why should our father's name be withdrawn from his clan merely because he had no son?
10 The cloud and the fire (9:15-23)
9:23ever heeding the charge of the LORD, as he had bidden them through Moses.
Obedience / disobedience40 A Census of the New Generation (26:1-65)
26:9and the descendants of Eliab were Dathan and Abiram-the same Dathan and Abiram, councilors of the community, who revolted against Moses and Aaron (like Korahs band when it rebelled against the LORD).
11 The silver trumpets (10:1-10)
10:8"It is the sons of Aaron, the priests, who shall blow the trumpets; and the use of them is prescribed by perpetual statute for you and your descendants.
Everlasting priesthood39 Worship of Baal of Peor (25:1-19)
25:13which shall be for him and for his descendants after him the pledge of an everlasting priesthood,
12 Departure from Sinai (10:11-28)
10:13The first time that they broke camp at the bidding of the LORD through Moses,
Obedience to the Lord38 Balaam's oracle (22:41-24:25)
23:8How can I curse whom God has not cursed? How denounce whom the LORD has not denounced?
13 Moses and Hobab (10:29-32)
10:31Moses said, "Please, do not leave us; you know where we can camp in the desert, and you will serve as eyes for us. 10:32If you come with us, we will share with you the prosperity the LORD will bestow on us."
Asking to come37 Balak and Balaam (22:1-40)
22:16 Please do not refuse to come to me. 22:17I will reward you very handsomely and will do anything you ask of me.
14 The ark of the covenant (10:33-36)
10:35your enemies may be scattered, and those who hate you may flee before you."
Defeating the enemy36 King Sihon and King Og defeated (21:21-35)
21:35So they struck him down with his sons and all his people, until not a survivor was left to him, and they took possession of his land.
15 Complaining in the Desert (11:1-35)
11:18Therefore the LORD will give you meat for food, 11:19and you will eat it,
Food provided by the Lord35 The journey to Moab (21:10-20)
21:16"Bring the people together, and I will give them water."
16 Aaron and Miriam Jealous of Moses (12:1-16)
12:14Let her be confined outside the camp for seven days; only then may she be brought back."
Salvation from sin34 The Bronze Serpent (21:4-9)
21:9Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he recovered.
17 Spies sent into Canaan (13:1-24)
13:2"Send men to reconnoiter the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites.
Giving the land of Canaan33 King Arad defeated (21:1-3)
21:3Later, when the LORD heeded Israel's prayer and delivered up the Canaanites,
18 The report of the spies (13:25-33)
13:31But the men who had gone up with him said, "We cannot attack these people; they are too strong for us." 13:32So they spread discouraging reports among the Israelites about the land they had scouted,
Disobeying the Lord32 The death of Aaron (20:22-29)
20:24"Aaron is about to be taken to his people; he shall not enter the land I am giving to the Israelites, because you both rebelled against my commandment at the waters of Meribah.
19 The People Rebel (14:1-10)
14:3 Why is the LORD bringing us into this land only to have us fall by the sword? Our wives and little ones will be taken as booty. Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?"(14:3)
Exodus31 Passages through Edom refused (20:14-21)
20:16 and how, when we cried to the LORD, he heard our cry and sent an angel who led us out of Egypt. (20:16)
20 Sin of rebellion (14:11-35)
14:23 not one shall see the land which I promised on oath to their fathers. None of these who have spurned me shall see it. (14:23)
Person who cannot enter into the land of promise30 The waters of Meribah (20:1-13)
20:12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you were not faithful to me in showing forth my sanctity before the Israelites, you shall not lead this community into the land I will give them."(20:12)
21 An Attempted Invasion is Repulsed (14:36-45)
14:37 these men who had given out the bad report about the land were struck down by the LORD and died. (14:37)
Killed by the LORD29 Ceremony of the Red Heifer (19:1-22)
19:13 Everyone who fails to purify himself after touching the body of any deceased person, defiles the Dwelling of the LORD and shall be cut off from Israel. Since the lustral water has not been splashed over him, he remains unclean: his uncleanness still clings to him. (19:13)
22 Sin offerings (15:1-31)
15:31Since he has despised the word of the LORD and has broken his commandment, he must be cut off. He has only himself to blame."
Responsibility of sin28 Regulations about priests and Levites (18:1-32)
18:1"You and your sons as well as the other members of your ancestral house shall be responsible for the sanctuary; but the responsibility of the priesthood shall rest on you and your sons alone.
23 Penalty for violating the Sabbath (15:32-36)
15:36So the whole community led him outside the camp and stoned him to death, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Death caused by sin 27 Aaron's Rod (17:16-28)
17:25so that their grumbling may cease before me; if it does not, they will die."
24 Fringes on garments (15:37-41)
15:39When you use these tassels, let the sight of them remind you to keep all the commandments of the LORD, without going wantonly astray after the desires of your hearts and eyes.
Rebel26 Aaron saves the people (17:6-15)
17:6The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron, saying, "It is you who have slain the LORD'S people."

Citations of the Bible are from New American Bible, New Revised Standard Version and New Jerusalem Bible.

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Literary Structure of the Bible by Hajime Murai is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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