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Literary structure (chiasmus, chiasm) of Book of Numbers

Chiasmus and Concentric Structure of divided by 7

The divided in seven structure would correspond to the changing of the themes in small stories. Those are: the covenant as God's people, ritual rules, people's dissatisfaction and defeat, revision of ritual regulations, the way to the promised land, the land acquisition and the land distribution.


7-1

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
1 The first census of Israel (1:1-47)
see 4-1-1
see 4-1-17 Offerings of the leaders (7:1-88)
see 4-1-1
2 The duties of Levites (1:48-54)
see 4-1-1
see 4-1-16 Regulations for rituals and vow (5:1-6:27)
see 4-1-1
3 The order of encampment and marching (2:1-34)
see 4-1-1
see 4-1-15 The duties and census of the Levites 2 (4:1-49)
see 4-1-1

7-1-1

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
1 The first census of Israel (1:1-47)
1:2"Take a census of the whole community of the Israelites, by clans and ancestral houses, registering each male individually.
Census4 The duties and census of the Levites 1 (3:1-51)
3:15"Take a census of the Levites by ancestral houses and clans, registering every male of a month or more."
2 The duties of Levites (1:48-54)
1:49"The tribe of Levi alone you shall not enroll nor include in the census along with the other Israelites.
Levi is special3 The order of encampment and marching (2:1-34)
2:33The Levites, however, were not registered with the other Israelites, for so the LORD had commanded Moses.

7-1-2

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
4 The duties and census of the Levites 1 (3:1-51)
3:17The sons of Levi were named Gershon, Kohath and Merari.
Levites7 Offerings of the leaders (7:1-88)
7:7He gave two wagons and four oxen to the Gershonites in proportion to their duties, 7:8and four wagons and eight oxen to the Merarites in proportion to their duties, under the supervision of Ithamar, son of Aaron the priest. 7:9He gave none to the Kohathites, because they had to carry on their shoulders the sacred objects which were their charge.
5 The duties and census of the Levites 2 (4:1-49)
4:15 Only after Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sacred objects and all their utensils on breaking camp, shall the Kohathites enter to carry them. But they shall not touch the sacred objects; if they do they will die.
Touch, death6 Regulations for rituals and vow (5:1-6:27)
6:6 As long as he is dedicated to the LORD, he shall not enter where a dead person is. 6:7 Not even for his father or mother, his sister or brother, should they die, may he become unclean, since his head bears his dedication to God.

7-2

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
8 Consecration and Service of the Levites (7:89-8:26)
7:89 the ark of the commandments
The ark14 The ark of the covenant (10:33-36)
10:33 the ark of the covenant of the LORD
9 The passover at Sinai (9:1-14)
9:14"If an alien who lives among you wishes to keep the LORD'S Passover, he too shall observe the rules and regulations for the Passover.
An alien13 Moses and Hobab (10:29-32)
10:29Hobab, son of Reuel the Midianite,
10 The cloud and the fire (9:15-23)
9:17Whenever the cloud rose from the tent, the Israelites would break camp; wherever the cloud came to rest, they would pitch camp.
Cloud and the Dwelling12 Departure from Sinai (10:11-28)
10:11the cloud rose from the Dwelling of the commandments. 10:12The Israelites moved on from the desert of Sinai by stages, until the cloud came to rest in the desert of Paran.

7-2-1

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
8 Consecration and Service of the Levites (7:89-8:26)
8:13Thus, then, shall you have the Levites stand before Aaron and his sons, to be offered as a wave offering to the LORD; 8:14and thus shall you set aside the Levites from the rest of the Israelites, that they may be mine.
The sons of Aaron11 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.
9 The passover at Sinai (9:1-14)
9:5And they did so, celebrating the Passover in the desert of Sinai during the evening twilight of the fourteenth day of the first month, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Obeying the commandments of the Lord10 The cloud and the fire (9:15-23)
9:18At the bidding of the LORD the Israelites moved on, and at his bidding they encamped.

7-2-2

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
11 The silver trumpets (10:1-10)
10:2"Make two trumpets of beaten silver, which you shall use in assembling the community and in breaking camp.
Setting out from camp14 The ark of the covenant (10:33-36)
10:34And when they set out from camp, the cloud of the LORD was over them by day.
12 Departure from Sinai (10:11-28)
10:11the cloud rose from the Dwelling of the commandments. 10:12The Israelites moved on from the desert of Sinai by stages,
Setting out for the promised land13 Moses and Hobab (10:29-32)
10:29"We are setting out for the place which the LORD has promised to give us.

7-3

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
15 Complaining in the Desert (11:1-35)
11:1 Now the people complained in the hearing of the LORD; and when he heard it his wrath flared up so that the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed the outskirts of the camp.(11:1)
The people complained, and was killed21 An Attempted Invasion is Repulsed (14:36-45)
14:36 And so it happened to the men whom Moses had sent to reconnoiter the land and who on returning had set the whole community grumbling against him by spreading discouraging reports about the land; 14:37 these men who had given out the bad report about the land were struck down by the LORD and died. (14:36-37)
16 Aaron and Miriam Jealous of Moses (12:1-16)
12:14 But the LORD answered Moses, "Suppose her father had spit in her face, would she not hide in shame for seven days? Let her be confined outside the camp for seven days; only then may she be brought back."(12:14)
Sins and forgiveness20 Sin of rebellion (14:11-35)
14:18 'The LORD is slow to anger and rich in kindness, forgiving wickedness and crime; yet not declaring the guilty guiltless, but punishing children to the third and fourth generation for their fathers' wickedness.' (14:18)
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 Canaan19 The People Rebel (14:1-10)
14:8 If the LORD is pleased with us, he will bring us in and give us that land, a land flowing with milk and honey.

7-3-1

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
15 Complaining in the Desert (11:1-35)
11:10When Moses heard the people, family after family, crying at the entrance of their tents,
Complaints of the people18 The report of the spies (13:25-33)
13:32"The land that we explored is a country that consumes its inhabitants. And all the people we saw there are huge men, 13:33 veritable giants (the Anakim were a race of giants); we felt like mere grasshoppers, and so we must have seemed to them."
16 Aaron and Miriam Jealous of Moses (12:1-16)
12:2They complained, "Is it through Moses alone that the LORD speaks? Does he not speak through us also?"
Leader17 Spies sent into Canaan (13:1-24)
13:2"Send men to reconnoiter the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. You shall send one man from each ancestral tribe, all of them princes."
16 Aaron and Miriam Jealous of Moses (12:1-16)
12:14"Suppose her father had spit in her face, would she not hide in shame for seven days?
Seven periods17 Spies sent into Canaan (13:1-24)
13:22(Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)

7-3-2

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
18 The report of the spies (13:25-33)
13:29 Amalekites live in the region of the Negeb; Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites dwell in the highlands, and Canaanites along the seacoast and the banks of the Jordan." (13:29)
Amalekites and Canaanites21 An Attempted Invasion is Repulsed (14:36-45)
14:43 For there the Amalekites and Canaanites face you, and you will fall by the sword. You have turned back from following the LORD; therefore the LORD will not be with you."(14:43)
19 The People Rebel (14:1-10)
14:6 while Joshua, son of Nun, and Caleb, son of Jephunneh, who had been in the party that scouted the land, tore their garments 14:7 and said to the whole community of the Israelites, "The country which we went through and explored is a fine, rich land. (14:6-7)
Caleb20 Sin of rebellion (14:11-35)
14:24 But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me unreservedly, I will bring him into the land where he has just been, and his descendants shall possess it. (14:24)

7-4

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
22 Sin offerings (15:1-31)
see 1-1
see 1-128 Regulations about priests and Levites (18:1-32)
see 1-1
23 Penalty for violating the Sabbath (15:32-36)
see 1-1
see 1-127 Aaron's Rod (17:16-28)
see 1-1
24 Fringes on garments (15:37-41)
see 1-1
see 1-126 Aaron saves the people (17:6-15)
see 1-1

7-4-1

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
22 Sin offerings (15:1-31)
15:22"When through inadvertence you fail to carry out any of these commandments which the LORD gives to Moses,
Violation25 Revolt of Korah, Dathan, and Abram (16:1-17:5)
16:1Korah, son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, (and Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, son of Pallu, son of Reuben) took 16:2two hundred and fifty Israelites who were leaders in the community, members of the council and men of note. They stood before Moses,
23 Penalty for violating the Sabbath (15:32-36)
15:33Those who caught him at it brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly. 15:34 But they kept him in custody, for there was no clear decision as to what should be done with him.
Commandments of God24 Fringes on garments (15:37-41)
15:40Thus you will remember to keep all my commandments and be holy to your God.

7-4-2

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
25 Revolt of Korah, Dathan, and Abram (16:1-17:5)
16:33and they perished from the community.
If Levites come near the sacred vessels , they shall die28 Regulations about priests and Levites (18:1-32)
18:3They shall look after your persons and the whole tent; however, they shall not come near the sacred vessels or the altar, lest both they and you die.
26 Aaron saves the people (17:6-15)
17:7But while the community was deliberating against them, Moses and Aaron turned toward the meeting tent, and the cloud now covered it and the glory of the LORD appeared.
Rebellion against Moses and Aaron27 Aaron's Rod (17:16-28)
17:25"Put back Aaron's staff in front of the commandments, to be kept there as a warning to the rebellious,

7-5

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
29 Ceremony of the Red Heifer (19:1-22)
19:9There they are to be kept for preparing lustral water for the Israelite community.
The water35 The journey to Moab (21:10-20)
21:16"Bring the people together, and I will give them water."
30 The waters of Meribah (20:1-13)
20:5Why did you lead us out of Egypt, only to bring us to this wretched place which has neither grain nor figs nor vines nor pomegranates? Here there is not even water to drink!"
Complains about being led out Egypt34 The Bronze Serpent (21:4-9)
21:5"Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this wretched food!"
31 Passages through Edom refused (20:14-21)
20:14From Kadesh Moses sent men to the king of Edom with the message:
A king of gentiles33 King Arad defeated (21:1-3)
21:1When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negeb, heard that the Israelites were coming along the way of Atharim, he engaged them in battle and took some of them captive.

7-5-1

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
29 Ceremony of the Red Heifer (19:1-22)
19:9There they are to be kept for preparing lustral water for the Israelite community.
Water and sin32 The death of Aaron (20:22-29)
20:24because you both rebelled against my commandment at the waters of Meribah.
30 The waters of Meribah (20:1-13)
20:5Why did you lead us out of Egypt, only to bring us to this wretched place which has neither grain nor figs nor vines nor pomegranates? Here there is not even water to drink!"
Water and food31 Passages through Edom refused (20:14-21)
20:17We will not cross any fields or vineyards, nor drink any well water,

7-5-2

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
32 The death of Aaron (20:22-29)
20:24because you both rebelled against my commandment at the waters of Meribah.
The water35 The journey to Moab (21:10-20)
21:16"Bring the people together, and I will give them water."
33 King Arad defeated (21:1-3)
21:3they doomed them and their cities. Hence that place was named Hormah.
Doomed by the Lord34 The Bronze Serpent (21:4-9)
21:6In punishment the LORD sent among the people saraph serpents, which bit the people so that many of them died.

7-6

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
36 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.
Defeating42 Joshua appointed Moses' successor (27:12-23)
27:17who shall act as their leader in all things, to guide them in all their actions; that the LORD'S community may not be like sheep without a shepherd."
37 Balak and Balaam (22:1-40)
22:3Indeed, Moab feared the Israelites greatly because of their numbers, and detested them. 22:4So Moab said to the elders of Midian, "Soon this horde will devour all the country around us as an ox devours the grass of the field."
Fear about losing the land41 The daughters of Zelophehad (27:1-11)
27:4But why should our fathers name be withdrawn from his clan merely because he had no son? Let us, therefore, have property among our fathers kinsmen."
38 Balaam's oracle (22:41-24:25)
23:10Who has ever counted the dust of Jacob, or numbered Israel's wind-borne particles?
Incresed Israel40 A Census of the New Generation (26:1-65)
The second census (25:19-26:65)

7-6-1

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
36 King Sihon and King Og defeated (21:21-35)
21:34Do to him as you did to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon."
Killed39 Worship of Baal of Peor (25:1-19)
25:5"Each of you shall kill those of his men who have submitted to the rites of Baal of Peor."
37 Balak and Balaam (22:1-40)
Balak and Balaam (22:1-40)
Balaam38 Balaam's oracle (22:41-24:25)
Oracles of Balaam (22:41-24:25)

7-6-2

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
39 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,
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.
40 A Census of the New Generation (26:1-65)
26:53"Among these groups the land shall be divided as their heritage in keeping with the number of individuals in each group.
The land of heritage41 The daughters of Zelophehad (27:1-11)
27:7you shall give them hereditary property among their father's kinsmen, letting their father's heritage pass on to them.

7-7

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
43 Regulations about offerings and vow (28:1-30:17)
see 4-4-2
see 4-4-249 Marriages of female heirs (36:1-13)
see 4-4-2
44 War against Midiam (31:1-54)
see 4-4-2
see 4-4-248 Cities for the Levites and Refuge (35:1-34)
see 4-4-2
45 Conquest and division of transjordan (32:1-42)
see 4-4-2
see 4-4-247 Orders about heritage (33:50-34:29)
see 4-4-2

7-7-1

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
43 Regulations about offerings and vow (28:1-30:17)
28:16"On the fourteenth day of the first month falls the Passover of the LORD, 28:17and the fifteenth day of this month is the pilgrimage feast.
The day of the Passover46 The stages of Israel's journey from Egypt (33:1-49)
33:3They set out from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month. On the Passover morrow the Israelites went forth in triumph, in view of all Egypt,
44 War against Midiam (31:1-54)
31:9But the Israelites kept the women of the Midianites with their little ones as captives, and all their herds and flocks and wealth as spoil,
Possessions45 Conquest and division of transjordan (32:1-42)
32:26While our wives and children, our herds and other livestock remain in the towns of Gilead,

7-7-2

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
46 The stages of Israel's journey from Egypt (33:1-49)
33:48 Setting out from the Abarim Mountains, they camped on the plains of Moab along the Jericho stretch of the Jordan.
On the plains of Moab along the Jericho stretch of the Jordan49 Marriages of female heirs (36:1-13)
36:13 These are the commandments and decisions which the LORD prescribed for the Israelites through Moses, on the plains of Moab beside the Jericho stretch of the Jordan.
47 Orders about heritage (33:50-34:29)
34:2When you enter the land of Canaan, this is the territory that shall fall to you as your heritage--the land of Canaan with its boundaries:
The land of heritage48 Cities for the Levites and Refuge (35:1-34)
35:2 out of their hereditary property they shall give the Levites cities for homes, as well as pasture lands around the cities.

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