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Literary structure (chiasmus, chiasm) of Book of Tobit

Chiasmus and Concentric Structure of whole text


1-1

1 Preface (1:1-8)
  2 History of Tobit (1:9-2:10)
    3 Prayer of Tobit and Sarah (2:11-3:15)
      4 Raphael was sent (3:16-17)
        5 Departure of Tobiah (4:1-21_6:1)
          6 Capture of fish (6:2-9)
            7 Recommendation of marriage (6:10-18)
              8 The marriage (7:1-8:3)
                9 Prayer of Tobiah and Sarah (8:4-9a)
              10 Gratitude of Raguel (8:9b-21)
            11 Return of Tobiah (9:1-10:13)
          12 Instruction of Raphael (11:1-8)
        13 Recovery of Tobit (11:9-18)
      14 Identity of the traveler (12:1-22)
    15 Tobit's thanksgiving to God (13:1-18)
  16 Tobit's final counsel (14:1-13)
17 Conclusion (14:14-15)
Former halfRelationLatter half
1 Preface (1:1-8)
1:2 who during the reign of Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, was taken captive from Thisb (1:2)
The captivity17 Conclusion (14:14-15)
14:15 He witnessed the exile of the city's inhabitants when Cyaxares, king of Media, led them captive into Media. (14:15)
2 History of Tobit (1:9-2:10)
2:10 For four years I was deprived of eyesight, and all my kinsmen were grieved at my condition (2:10)
Blindness16 Tobit's final counsel (14:1-13)
14:2 He was sixty-two years old when he lost his eyesight, and after he recovered it (14:2)
3 Prayer of Tobit and Sarah (2:11-3:15)
3:1 Grief-stricken in spirit, I groaned and wept aloud. Then with sobs I began to pray: (3:1)
Tobit's prayer15 Tobit's thanksgiving to God (13:1-18)
13:1 Then Tobit composed this joyful prayer: Blessed be God who lives forever, because his kingdom lasts for all ages. (13:1)
4 Raphael was sent (3:16-17)
3:17 So Raphael was sent to heal them both (3:17)
Raphael14 Identity of the traveler (12:1-22)
12:15 I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who enter and serve before the Glory of the Lord. (12:15)
5 Departure of Tobiah (4:1-21_6:1)
Departure of Tobiah
Journey of Tobiah13 Recovery of Tobit (11:9-18)
Return of Tobiah
6 Capture of fish (6:2-9)
6:9 And as for the gall, if you rub it on the eyes of a man who has cataracts, blowing into his eyes right on the cataracts, his sight will be restored. (6:9)
Recovery of the sight12 Instruction of Raphael (11:1-8)
11:8 This medicine will make the cataracts shrink and peel off from his eyes; then your father will again be able to see the light of day. (11:8)
7 Recommendation of marriage (6:10-18)
6:13 tonight we must speak for the girl, so that we may have her engaged to you. And when we return from Rages, we will take her and bring her back with us to your house. (6:13)
Marriage11 Return of Tobiah (9:1-10:13)
10:10 Raguel then promptly handed over to Tobiah Sarah his wife, together with half of all his property: male and female slaves, oxen and sheep, asses and camels, clothing, money, and household goods. (10:10)
8 The marriage (7:1-8:3)
7:9 Afterward, Raguel slaughtered a ram from the flock and gave them a cordial reception. (7:9)
Feast10 Gratitude of Raguel (8:9b-21)
8:19 He asked his wife to bake many loaves of bread; he himself went out to the herd and picked out two steers and four rams which he ordered to be slaughtered. So the servants began to prepare the feast.(8:19)

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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