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Literary structure (chiasm, chiasmus) of Book of Joshua

Chiastic Structure and Concentric Structure and Parallel of each pericope

[1]God's commission to Joshua  (Josh 1:1-18)
 
  A(1:1-9)  
"I will be with you as I was with Moses" (1:5)"   
(הייתיעםמשׁה)
    B(1:10-11)    Joshua's commands
    B'(1:12-15)    Joshua's commands
  A'(1:16-18)  
"may the LORD, your God, be with you as he was with Moses" (1:17)"   
(היהעםמשׁה)
 
   A: As the LORD was with Moses. B: Joshua's commands.

[2]Spies sent to Jericho  (Josh 2:1-24)
 
  A(2:1)  
Joshua sent the two spies   
(יהושׁעבןנון)
    B(2:2-7)    
The spies fled from enemies   
(רדפו)
      C(2:8-13)      Words of Rahab
        D(2:14)        Words of the spies
          E(2:15-16)          Rahab assisted the spies' escape
        D'(2:17-20)        Words of the spies
      C'(2:21)      Words of Rahab
    B'(2:22)    
The spies fled from enemies   
(הרדפים)
  A'(2:23-24)  
Joshua got reports from the two spies   
(אליהושׁעבןנון)
 
   A: Joshua. B: The spies fled from enemies. C: Words of Rahab. D: Words of the spies. E: Rahab assisted the spies' escape.

[3]Israel crosses the Jordan  (Josh 3:1-17)
 
P(3:1)Moving to the Jordan
  A(3:2-4)  "the ark of the covenant which the Levitical priests will carry" (3:3)
    B(3:5)    "the LORD will perform wonders among you" (3:5)
      C(3:6)      Words of Joshua
        D(3:7-8)        The words of the LORD
      C'(3:9)      Words of Joshua
    B'(3:10-13)    "the water flowing down from upstream will halt in a solid bank" (3:13)
  A'(3:14-17)  "the priests carrying the ark of the covenant ahead of them" (3:14)
 
   A: The priests carrying the ark of the covenant ahead of the people. B: Mention about the miracle. C: Words of Joshua. D: The words of the LORD.

[4]Twelve stones set up at Gilgal  (Josh 4:1-5:1)
 
  A(4:1-3)  The words of the LORD
    B(4:4-13)    
"When your children ask you what these stones mean to you" (4:6)"   
(מההאבניםהאלה)
      C(4:14)      "the LORD exalted Joshua" (4:14)
  A'(4:15-16)  The words of the LORD
    B'(4:17-24)    
"when the children among you ask their fathers what these stones mean" (4:21)"   
(מההאבניםהאלה)
      C'(5:1)      "their hearts failed and they lost all courage to resist the Israelites" (5:1)
 
   A: The words of the LORD. B: The memorial stones. C: The fame.

[5]The new generation circumcised  (Josh 5:2-9)
 
  A(5:2)  The words of the LORD
    B(5:3)    The circumcision
      C(5:4-5)      The reason why Joshua circumcised them
        D(5:6)        "the LORD swore that he would not let them see the land" (5:6)
      C'(5:7)      The reason why Joshua circumcised them
    B'(5:8)    After the circumcision
  A'(5:9)  The words of the LORD
 
   A: The words of the LORD. B: The circumcision. C: The reason why Joshua circumcised them. D: The LORD swore.

[6]The Passover  (Josh 5:10-12)
 
P(5:10)Celebrating the Passover in the promised land
  A(5:11)  
Eating the produce of the land   
(מעבור)
  A'(5:12)  
Eating the produce of the land   
(מעבור)
 
   A: Eating The produce of the land.

[7]Joshua's vision  (Josh 5:13-15)
 
  A(5:13)  Joshua asked
    B(5:14a)    
The captain replied   
(שׂרצבאיהוה)
      C(5:14b)      Joshua fell prostrate to the ground
    B'(5:15a)    
The captain commanded   
(שׂרצבאיהוה)
  A'(5:15b)  Joshua obeyed
 
   A: Acts of Joshua. B: Acts of The captain. C: Joshua fell prostrate to the ground.

[8]Jerico taken and destroyed  (Josh 6:1-21)
 
  A(6:1)  "Jericho had shut and barricaded its gates" (6:1)
    B(6:2-5)    
"the entire people must utter a mighty war cry" (6:5)"   
(יריעו)
      C(6:6-9)      
"March round the city" (6:7)"   
(וסבואתהעיר)
        D(6:10-11)        "Do not raise a war cry" (6:10)
      C'(6:12-15)      
"they marched round the city seven times" (6:15)"   
(ויסבואתהעיר)
    B'(6:16-19)    
"Raise the war cry" (6:16)"   
(הריעו)
  A'(6:20-21)  "they raised a tremendous shout. The wall collapsed" (6:20)
 
   A: To keep out / invasion. B: Raise the war cry. C: To march round the city. D: Do not raise a war cry.

[9]Curse of Joshua  (Josh 6:22-27)
 
  A(6:22)  
Words of Joshua   
(נשׁבעתם)
    B(6:23)    
"Rahab the prostitute, her father's family and all who belonged to her"   
(רחב)
      C(6:24)      "They burned the city and everything inside it" (6:24)
    B'(6:25)    
"Rahab the prostitute, her father's family and all who belonged to her"   
(רחב)
  A'(6:26-27)  
Words of Joshua   
(וישׁבע)
 
   A: Words of Joshua. B: Rahab the prostitute, her father's family and all who belonged to her. C: They burned the city and everything inside it.

[10]The sin of Achan and its punishment  (Josh 7:1-26)
 
  A(7:1)  
"the anger of the LORD flared up against the Israelites" (7:1)"   
(ויחר)
    B(7:2-3)    
The messengers of Joshua   
(וישׁלח)
      C(7:4-5)      Israel soldiers were killed by soldiers of Ai
        D(7:6)        "Joshua lay prostrate before the ark of the LORD until evening" (7:6)
          E(7:7-9)          Asking the cause of defeat to the LORD
            F(7:10-15)            The words of the LORD
          E'(7:16-18)          Searching a person who caused the wrath of the LORD
        D'(7:19)        "give to the LORD, the God of Israel, glory and honor" (7:19)
      C'(7:20-21)      Sin of Achan
    B'(7:22-23)    
The messengers of Joshua   
(וישׁלח)
  A'(7:24-26)  
"the anger of the LORD relented" (7:26)"   
(מחרון)
 
   A: The wrath of the LORD. B: The messengers of Joshua. C: The punishment and the sin. D: To give to the LORD glory. E: Looking for the cause of defeat. F: The words of the LORD.

[11]Ai captured by a stratagem and destroyed  (Josh 8:1-29)
 
  A(8:1-2)  The words of the LORD
    B(8:3-13)    The tactics of Israel
      C(8:14-17)      "not a soldier remained in Ai or Bethel" (8:17)
  A'(8:18a)  The words of the LORD
    B'(8:18b-24)    Israel's tactics succeeded
      C'(8:25-29)      "There fell that day a total of twelve thousand men and women, the entire population of Ai" (8:25)
 
   A: The words of the LORD. B: The tactics of Israel. C: Every man in Ai.

[12]Joshua renews the covenant  (Josh 8:30-35)
 
  A(8:30)  
Building an altar on Mount Ebal   
(בהרעיבל)
    B(8:31)    
The book of the law   
(בספרתורת)
      C(8:32)      "Joshua inscribed upon the stones a copy of the law written by Moses" (8:32)
  A'(8:33)  
"Half of them were facing Mount Gerizim and half Mount Ebal" (8:33)"   
(הרעיבל)
    B'(8:34)    
The book of the law   
(בספרהתורה)
      C'(8:35)      "Every single word that Moses had commanded, Joshua read aloud" (8:35)
 
   A: Mount Ebal. B: The book of the law. C: Teaching.

[13]The Gibeonites save themselves by trickery  (Josh 9:1-27)
 
P(9:1-2)Other kings
  A(9:3-6)  Plot of the people in Gibeon
    B(9:7)    Acts of the Israelites
      C(9:8)      Question of Joshua
        D(9:9-13)        Response of the people of Gibeon
          E(9:14-15)          "a treaty with them guaranteeing their lives" (9:15)
  A'(9:16-17)  Disclosure of the truth
    B'(9:18-21)    Acts of the Israelites
      C'(9:22-23)      Question of Joshua
        D'(9:24-25)        Response of the people of Gibeon
          E'(9:26-27)          "he saved them from being killed by the Israelites" (9:26)
 
   A: Plot of the people in Gibeon. B: Acts of the Israelites. C: Question of Joshua. D: Response of the people of Gibeon. E: Guaranteeing their lives.

[14]Five kings defeated  (Josh 10:1-43)
 
  A(10:1-7)  Attack of the kings
    B(10:8)    
"Do not fear" (10:8)"   
(אלתירא)
      C(10:9-11)      Victory of Joshua
        D(10:12-14)        "the LORD fought for Israel" (10:14)
      C'(10:15-24)      Victory of Joshua
    B'(10:25-27)    
"Do not be afraid or dismayed" (10:25)"   
(אלתיראו)
  A'(10:28-43)  Death of the kings
 
   A: The kings. B: Do not fear. C: Victory of Joshua. D: The LORD fought for Israel.

[15]The united kings of northern Canaan defeated  (Josh 11:1-15)
 
  A(11:1-5)  "All these kings joined forces and marched against Israel" (11:5)
    B(11:6)    
"I shall hand them all over" (11:6)"   
(נתן)
      C(11:7)      Attack of Joshua
    B'(11:8-9)    
"The LORD delivered them into the power of the Israelites" (11:8)"   
(ויתנם)
  A'(11:10-15)  The kings were killed
 
   A: The kings. B: The LORD delivered them into the power of the Israelites. C: Attack of Joshua.

[16]Summary of Joshua's conquests  (Josh 11:16-23)
 
  A(11:16-17)  
"Joshua captured all this land" (11:16)"   
(אתכלהארץ)
    B(11:18-19)    "the exception of the Hivites who lived in Gibeon" (11:19)
      C(11:20)      "they might be doomed to destruction and thus receive no mercy" (11:20)
    B'(11:21-22)    "some survived in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod" (11:22)
  A'(11:23)  
"Joshua captured the whole country" (11:23)"   
(אתכלהארץ)
 
   A: The whole country. B: Exception. C: Destruction.

[17]The kings conquered by Moses and Joshua  (Josh 12:1-24)
 
  A(12:1)  "the Israelites conquered and whose lands they occupied" (12:1)
    B(12:2-6)    List of occupied countries in east Jordan
  A'(12:7-8)  "Joshua and the Israelites conquered west of the Jordan and whose land" (12:7)
    B'(12:9-24)    List of occupied countries in west Jordan
 
   A: Occupied countries. B: The lists.

[18]The parts of Canaan still unconquered  (Josh 13:1-7)
 
 
   List of the lands to be occupied

Josh 13:8-33
  A(13:8-10)  Aroer; Medeba
    B(13:11)    Gilead
      C(13:12-13)      Ashtaroth; Edrei
        D(13:14)        "to the tribe of Levi Moses assigned no heritage" (13:14)
  A'(13:15-23)  Aroer; Medeba
    B'(13:24-28)    Gilead
      C'(13:29-31)      Ashtaroth; Edrei
        D'(13:32-33)        "Moses gave no heritage to the tribe of Levi" (13:33)

[19]The territory east of the Jordan  (Josh 13:8-14)
 
  A(13:8)  
"Moses had given them east of the Jordan" (13:8)"   
(נחלתם)
    B(13:9-12)    
"Moses had conquered and dispossessed these two kings" (13:12)"   
(וירשׁם)
    B'(13:13)    
"The Israelites did not, however, dispossess either the Geshurites or the Maacathites" (13:13)"   
(הורישׁו)
  A'(13:14)  
"to the tribe of Levi Moses assigned no heritage" (13:14)"   
(נחלה)
 
   A: The heritage. B: Dispossess.

[20]The territory of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh  (Josh 13:15-33)
 
  A1(13:15-23)  Heritage of Reubenite
  A2(13:24-28)  Heritage of Gadite
  A3(13:29-31)  Heritage of Manasseh
  A4(13:32-33)  "Moses gave no heritage to the tribe of Levi" (13:33)
 
   A: Heritages of the tribes.

[21]The distribution of territory west of the Jordan  (Josh 14:1-5)
 
  A(14:1-2)  
"their heritage by lot, in accordance with the instructions the LORD had given through Moses" (14:2)"   
(צוהיהוהבידמשׁה)
    B(14:3)    
"the Levites were given no heritage" (14:3)"   
(לאנתן)
    B'(14:4)    
"The Levites themselves received no share of the land" (14:4)"   
(ולאנתנו)
  A'(14:5)  
"in apportioning the land, did the Israelites carry out the instructions of the LORD to Moses" (14:5)"   
(צוהיהוהאתמשׁה)
 
   A: In accordance with the instructions of the LORD to Moses. B: The Levites were given no heritage.

[22]The territory of Judah  (Josh 14:6-15:63)
 
  A(14:6-15)  
Heritage of Caleb son of Jephunneh   
(כלבבןיפנה)
    B(15:1-12)    Areas of heritage of Judah
  A'(15:13-19)  
Hebron was given to Caleb son of Jephunneh   
(לכלבבןיפנה)
    B'(15:20-63)    List of heritage of Judah
 
   A: Caleb son of Jephunneh. B: Areas of heritage of Judah.

[23]The territory of Ephraim and Manasseh  (Josh 16:1-17:18)
 
  A(16:1-3)  
"The lot that fell to the Josephites" (16:1)"   
(הגורל)
    B(16:4-10)    
The area of the Ephraimites; they could not drive out the Canaanites   
(גבול)
      C(17:1-2)      The territory of the tribes of the Manassehites
        D(17:3-4)        The territory of Zelophehad's daughters
      C'(17:5-6)      The territory of the tribes of the Manassehites
    B'(17:7-13)    
The area of the Manassehites; they could not drive out the Canaanites   
(גבול)
  A'(17:14-18)  
"Why have you given us only one lot" (17:14)"   
(גורל)
 
   A: The lot. B: The areas. C: The territory of the tribes of the Manassehites. D: Zelophehad's daughters.

[24]The territories of the remaining tribes  (Josh 18:1-19:51)
 
  A(18:1-10)  
Joshua distributed the lands   
(אהלמועד)
    B1(18:11-28)    The heritage of Benjaminites
    B2(19:1-9)    The heritage of Simeonites
    B3(19:10-16)    The heritage of Zebulunites
    B4(19:17-23)    The heritage of Issacharites
    B5(19:24-31)    The heritage of Asherites
    B6(19:32-39)    The heritage of Naphtalites
    B7(19:40-48)    The heritage of Danites
  A'(19:49-51)  
The end of distribution of the lands   
(אהלמועד)
 
   A: Distribution of the lands. B: The heritage of the tribes.

[25]The cities of refuge  (Josh 20:1-9)
 
  A(20:1-6)  
"guilty of accidental and unintended homicide may flee for asylum" (20:3)"   
(לנוס)
    B'(20:7-8)    The list of the cities
  A'(20:9)  
"who had killed a person accidentally might flee to escape death" (20:9)"   
(לנוס)
 
   A: The cities of refuge. B: The list of the cities.

[26]Cities allotted to Levities  (Josh 21:1-45)
 
P(21:1-3)"the Israelites gave the Levites the following cities with their pasture lands" (21:3)
  A(21:4)  
Cities of those Levites who were sons of Aaron    
(אהרן)
    B(21:5)    
Cities of other Kohathites   
(קהת)
      C(21:6)      
Cities of Gershonites   
(גרשׁון)
        D(21:7-8)        
Cities of Merarites   
(מררי)
  A'(21:9-19)  
Cities of those Levites who were sons of Aaron    
(אהרן)
    B'(21:20-26)    
Cities of other Kohathites   
(קהת)
      C'(21:27-33)      
Cities of Gershonites   
(גרשׁון)
        D'(21:34-40)        
Cities of Merarites   
(מררי)
P'(21:41-45)"the total number of cities which belonged to the Levites, was forty-eight" (21:41)
 
   A: Aaron. B: Other Kohathites. C: Gershonites. D: Merarites.

[27]The eastern tribes return to their territory  (Josh 22:1-8)
 
  A(22:1-5)  Words of Joshua
    B(22:6)    
Blessing of Joshua   
(ויברכם)
      C(22:7a)      Heritage of half the tribe of Manasseh
    B'(22:7b)    
Blessing of Joshua   
(ויברכם)
  A'(22:8)  Words of Joshua
 
   A: Words of Joshua. B: Blessing of Joshua. C: Heritage of half the tribe of Manasseh.

[28]The Altar of the Eastern tribes  (Josh 22:9-34)
 
  A(22:9-10)  
Building an altar   
(מזבח)
    B(22:11-14)    Acts of the Israelites
      C(22:15-20)      Question of Phinehas
        D(22:21-29)        Apology of Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh
      C'(22:30-31)      Approval of Phinehas
    B'(22:32-33)    Acts of the Israelites
  A'(22:34)  
Naming the altar   
(למזבח)
 
   A: The altar. B: Acts of the Israelites. C: Words of Phinehas. D: Apology of Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

[29]Joshua exhorts the people  (Josh 23:1-16)
 
  A(23:1-5)  "you will take possession of their land as the LORD, your God, promised you" (23:5)
    B(23:6-10)    
"these nations while they survive among you" (23:7)"   
(בגויםהאלההנשׁארים)
      C(23:11)      "to love the LORD, your God" (23:11)
    B'(23:12-13)    
"the remnant of these nations while they survive among you" (23:12)"   
(הגויםהאלההנשׁארים)
  A'(23:14-16)  "not one of all the promises the LORD, your God, made to you has remained unfulfilled" (23:14)
 
   A: Fulfillment of the words of the LORD. B: Pagan people. C: To love the LORD.

[30]The tribes renew the covenant  (Josh 24:1-28)
 
P(24:1)"Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem" (24:1)
  A1(24:2-15)  Words of Joshua
    B1(24:16-18)    Words of the people
  A2(24:19-20)  Words of Joshua
    B2(24:21)    Words of the people
  A3(24:22a)  Words of Joshua
    B3(24:22b)    Words of the people
  A4(24:23)  Words of Joshua
    B4(24:24)    Words of the people
P'(24:25-28)"Joshua made a covenant with the people at Shechem" (24:25)
 
   A: Words of Joshua. B: Words of the people.

[31]Death of Joshua and Eleazar  (Josh 24:29-33)
 
  A(24:29-31)  Death of Joshua
    B(24:32)    Burial of Joseph
  A'(24:33)  Death of Eleazar
 
   A: Death and burial. B: Burial of Joseph.


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

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