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Literary structure (chiasmus, chiasm) of Book of Genesis

Chiasmus and Concentric Structure of whole text

Genesis has a concentric structure whose center is the pericope regarding pericope no. 41 (Gen. 26:15-25) "Trouble with Wells, Covenant with God". This central pericope regarding Isaac's covenant also becomes the divisional fulcrum of the whole text. Those parts that precede it (pericopes nos. 1 to 41) and follow it (pericopes nos. 41 to 81) constitute concentric structures composed of pericopes.The parts that precede Isaac's covenant are largely composed of stories about the Hebrews' search for the Promised Land, while those that follow it depict stories from after they have reached the Promised Land. The divisional central pericope (no. 41) depicts Isaac digging wells for people and domestic animals, and also depicts his covenant with the LORD. This pericope thus plays a key role in the text, in explaining why the land of Canaan became the land of the Hebrews.


1-1

1 Six Days of Creation and the Sabbath (1:1-2:4a)
  2 The Garden of Eden (2:4b-17)
    3 Creation of Woman (2:18-25)
      4 The First Sin and Its Punishment (3:1-24)
        5 Cain Murders Abel (4:1-26)
          6 Adam's Descendants to Noah and His Sons (5:1-32)
            7 The Great Flood (6:1-8:22)
              8 The Covenant with Noah (9:1-17)
                9 Noah and His Sons (9:18-29)
                  10 Nations Descended from Noah (10:1-32)
                    11 The Tower of Babel (11:1-9)
                      12 Descendants of Shem (11:10-26)
                        13 Descendants of Terah (11:27-32)
                          14 The Call of Abram (12:1-9)
                            15 Abram and Sarai in Egypt (12:10-20)
                              16 Abram and Lot Separate (13:1-18)
                                17 Lot's Captivity (14:1-12)
                                  18 Abram and Melchizedek (14:13-24)
                                    19 God's Covenant with Abram (15:1-21)
                                      20 The Birth of Ishmael (16:1-16)
                                        21 The Sign of the Covenant (17:1-27)
                                          22 A Son Promised to Abraham and Sarah (18:1-15)
                                            23 Judgment Pronounced on Sodom (18:16-33)
                                              24 The Depravity of Sodom (19:1-11)
                                                25 Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed (19:12-29)
                                                  26 The Shameful Origin of Moab and Ammon (19:30-38)
                                                    27 Abraham and Sarah at Gerar (20:1-18)
                                                      28 The Birth of Isaac (21:1-8)
                                                        29 Hagar and Ishmael Sent Away (21:9-21)
                                                          30 The Covenant of Abram and Abimelech (21:22-34)
                                                            31 The Command to Sacrifice Isaac (22:1-19)
                                                              32 The Children of Nahor (22:20-24)
                                                                33 Sarah's Death and Burial (23:1-20)
                                                                  34 The Marriage of Isaac and Rebekah (24:1-67)
                                                                    35 Abraham Marries Keturah (25:1-6)
                                                                      36 The Death of Abraham (25:7-11)
                                                                        37 Ishmael's Descendants (25:12-18)
                                                                          38 The Birth and Youth of Esau and Jacob (25:19-28)
                                                                            39 Esau Sells His Birthright (25:29-34)
                                                                              40 Isaac and Abimelech (26:1-14)
                                                                                41 Trouble with Wells, Covenant with God (26:15-25)
                                                                              42 Covenant with Abimelech (26:26-33)
                                                                            43 Esau's Hittite Wives (26:34-35)
                                                                          44 Jacob Steals the Blessing (27:1-40)
                                                                        45 Rebekah Recommends That Jacob Flee (27:41-45)
                                                                      46 Jacob Escapes Esau's Fury (27:46-28:9)
                                                                    47 Jacob's Dream at Bethel (28:10-22)
                                                                  48 Jacob Meets Rachel (29:1-14b)
                                                                49 Jacob Marries Laban's Daughters (29:14c-30)
                                                              50 Children of Jacob (29:31-30:24)
                                                            51 Jacob Prospers at Laban's Expense (30:25-43)
                                                          52 Jacob Flees with Family and Flocks (31:1-21)
                                                        53 Laban Overtakes Jacob (31:22-42)
                                                      54 Laban and Jacob Make a Covenant (31:43-54)
                                                    55 Mahanaim (32:1-13)
                                                  56 Jacob Sends Presents to Appease Esau (32:14-22)
                                                57 Jacob Wrestles at Peniel (32:23-33)
                                              58 Jacob and Esau Meet (33:1-20)
                                            59 The Rape of Dinah (34:1-31)
                                          60 Jacob Returns to Bethel (35:1-8)
                                        61 The Covenant Renewed (35:9-15)
                                      62 Deaths and Birth of a Child (35:16-29)
                                    63 Esau's Descendants (36:1-43)
                                  64 Joseph Dreams of Greatness (37:1-11)
                                65 Joseph Is Sold by His Brothers (37:12-36)
                              66 Judah and Tamar (38:1-30)
                            67 Joseph and Potiphar's Wife (39:1-23)
                          68 Joseph Interprets Dreams (40:1-41:45)
                        69 Children of Joseph (41:46-57)
                      70 Joseph's Brothers' First Trip to Egypt (42:1-38)
                    71 Joseph's Brothers' Second Trip to Egypt (43:1-45:28)
                  72 Jacob Brings His Whole Family to Egypt (46:1-7)
                73 List of Jacob's Family (46:8-27)
              74 Jacob and Pharaoh (46:28-47:12)
            75 The Famine in Egypt (47:13-26)
          76 The Last Days of Jacob (47:27-31)
        77 Jacob Blesses Joseph's Sons (48:1-22)
      78 Jacob's Last Words to His Sons (49:1-28)
    79 Jacob's Death and Burial (49:29-50:14)
  80 Joseph Forgives His Brothers (50:15-21)
81 Joseph's Last Days and Death (50:22-26)
Former halfRelationLatter half
1 Six Days of Creation and the Sabbath (1:1-2:4a)
1:28God blessed them, saying: "Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it.
God gives land81 Joseph's Last Days and Death (50:22-26)
50:24God will surely take care of you and lead you out of this land to the land that he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."
2 The Garden of Eden (2:4b-17)
2:9the tree of the knowledge of good and bad
Good and bad (bAj rh) 80 Joseph Forgives His Brothers (50:15-21)
50:20Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good, to achieve his present end, the survival of many people.
3 Creation of Woman (2:18-25)
2:24That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body.
Husband and wife are united79 Jacob's Death and Burial (49:29-50:14)
49:31There Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried, and so are Isaac and his wife Rebekah, and there, too, I buried Leah--
4 The First Sin and Its Punishment (3:1-24)
Curse at paradise lost(3:14-19)
Curse / blessing for each one78 Jacob's Last Words to His Sons (49:1-28)
Blessing for 12 sons (49:1-28)
5 Cain Murders Abel (4:1-26)
4:5but on Cain and his offering he did not. Cain greatly resented this and was crestfallen.
Fury toward privileged little brother77 Jacob Blesses Joseph's Sons (48:1-22)
48:18"That is not right, father; the other one is the first-born; lay your right hand on his head!"
6 Adam's Descendants to Noah and His Sons (5:1-32)
Genealogy of Adam
Ancestors76 The Last Days of Jacob (47:27-31)
47:30 When I lie down with my ancestors, have me taken out of Egypt and buried in their burial place.
7 The Great Flood (6:1-8:22)
Flood
Natural disaster75 The Famine in Egypt (47:13-26)
Famine
8 The Covenant with Noah (9:1-17)
9:3Every creature that is alive shall be yours to eat;
Stock raising74 Jacob and Pharaoh (46:28-47:12)
47:3 We, your servants, like our ancestors, are shepherds.
8 The Covenant with Noah (9:1-17)
9:1 Be fertile and multiply and fill the earth.
Permission for settling74 Jacob and Pharaoh (46:28-47:12)
47:6settle your father and brothers in the pick of the land.
9 Noah and His Sons (9:18-29)
9:18 The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.)(9:18)
Lineage73 List of Jacob's Family (46:8-27)
List of Jacob's descendants (46:8-27)
10 Nations Descended from Noah (10:1-32)
Genealogy of Noahs sons (10:1-32)
Lineage72 Jacob Brings His Whole Family to Egypt (46:1-7)
46:7 His sons and his grandsons, his daughters and his granddaughters--all his descendants--he took with him to Egypt. (46:7)
11 The Tower of Babel (11:1-9)
Tower of Babel
Division / reconciliation71 Joseph's Brothers' Second Trip to Egypt (43:1-45:28)
Forgiveness of Jpseph
12 Descendants of Shem (11:10-26)
9 ancestors and Terah's 3 sons
Twelve persons are divided to 9 and 370 Joseph's Brothers' First Trip to Egypt (42:1-38)
42:36Joseph is gone, and Simeon is gone, and now you would take away Benjamin!
13 Descendants of Terah (11:27-32)
Sons of Terah
Sons69 Children of Joseph (41:46-57)
Birth of sons of Jpseph
13 Descendants of Terah (11:27-32)
11:31 Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot, son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and brought them out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to go to the land of Canaan.
Journey to foreign country69 Children of Joseph (41:46-57)
41:57In fact, all the world came to Joseph to obtain rations of grain,
14 The Call of Abram (12:1-9)
12:2"I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
Making name great68 Joseph Interprets Dreams (40:1-41:45)
41:41"I place you in charge of the whole land of Egypt."
15 Abram and Sarai in Egypt (12:10-20)
12:15So she was taken into Pharaoh's palace.
Wife and adultery67 Joseph and Potiphar's Wife (39:1-23)
39:12she laid hold of him by his cloak, saying, "Lie with me!"
16 Abram and Lot Separate (13:1-18)
13:13Now the inhabitants of Sodom were very wicked in the sins they committed against the LORD.
People against the Lord66 Judah and Tamar (38:1-30)
38:7But Er, Judahs first-born, greatly offended the LORD; so the LORD took his life.
16 Abram and Lot Separate (13:1-18)
13:16 I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth; if anyone could count the dust of the earth, your descendants too might be counted.
Increasing descendants66 Judah and Tamar (38:1-30)
38:8"Unite with your brother's widow, in fulfillment of your duty as brother-in-law, and thus preserve your brother's line."
17 Lot's Captivity (14:1-12)
14:10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits; and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, they fell into these, while the rest fled to the mountains. (14:10)
Person who drops into a hole65 Joseph Is Sold by His Brothers (37:12-36)
37:24 then they took him and threw him into the cistern, which was empty and dry.(37:24)
18 Abram and Melchizedek (14:13-24)
14:19Blessed be Abram by God Most High, the creator of heaven and earth; 14:20 And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your foes into your hand."
Blessed person64 Joseph Dreams of Greatness (37:1-11)
37:9the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me
19 God's Covenant with Abram (15:1-21)
15:5He took him outside and said: "Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so," he added, "shall your descendants be."
Prosperity of descendants63 Esau's Descendants (36:1-43)
Genealogy of Esau (36:1-43)
20 The Birth of Ishmael (16:1-16)
16:4He had intercourse with her, and she became pregnant.
Pregnancy and birth62 Deaths and Birth of a Child (35:16-29)
35:16Then they departed from Bethel; but while they still had some distance to go on the way to Ephrath, Rachel began to be in labor and to suffer great distress.
21 The Sign of the Covenant (17:1-27)
17:6I will render you exceedingly fertile; I will make nations of you; kings shall stem from you.
Descendants become king61 The Covenant Renewed (35:9-15)
35:11A nation, indeed an assembly of nations, shall stem from you, and kings shall issue from your loins.
21 The Sign of the Covenant (17:1-27)
17:8I will give to you and to your descendants after you the land in which you are now staying, the whole land of Canaan, as a permanent possession;
Giving land61 The Covenant Renewed (35:9-15)
35:12The land I once gave to Abraham and Isaac I now give to you; And to your descendants after you will I give this land."
21 The Sign of the Covenant (17:1-27)
17:5 No longer shall you be called Abram; your name shall be Abraham, for I am making you the father of a host of nations.
Changing name61 The Covenant Renewed (35:9-15)
35:10"You whose name is Jacob shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name."
22 A Son Promised to Abraham and Sarah (18:1-15)
18:1The LORD appeared to Abraham by the terebinth of Mamre,
Oak tree60 Jacob Returns to Bethel (35:1-8)
35:8 Death came to Rebekah's nurse Deborah; she was buried under the oak below Bethel,
23 Judgment Pronounced on Sodom (18:16-33)
18:23"Will you sweep away the innocent with the guilty? 18:24Suppose there were fifty innocent people in the city; would you wipe out the place, rather than spare it for the sake of the fifty innocent people within it?
Genocide at city59 The Rape of Dinah (34:1-31)
34:25On the third day, while they were still in pain, Dinahs full brothers Simeon and Levi, two of Jacobs sons, took their swords, advanced against the city without any trouble, and massacred all the males.
24 The Depravity of Sodom (19:1-11)
19:8I have two daughters who have never had intercourse with men. Let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you please.
Presenting in advance woman to frightening person58 Jacob and Esau Meet (33:1-20)
33:1So he divided his children among Leah, Rachel and the two maidservants, 33:2putting the maids and their children first, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last.
25 Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed (19:12-29)
19:15As dawn was breaking, the angels urged Lot on, saying, "On your way! Take with you your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city."
Dawn, angel57 Jacob Wrestles at Peniel (32:23-33)
32:27The man then said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go until you bless me."
26 The Shameful Origin of Moab and Ammon (19:30-38)
19:30Since Lot was afraid to stay in Zoar, he and his two daughters went up from Zoar and settled in the hill country, where he lived with his two daughters in a cave.
Being afraid and avoiding56 Jacob Sends Presents to Appease Esau (32:14-22)
32:21 and be sure to add, 'Your servant Jacob is right behind us.'" For Jacob reasoned, "If I first appease him with gifts that precede me, then later, when I face him, perhaps he will forgive me." (32:21)
27 Abraham and Sarah at Gerar (20:1-18)
20:14 Then Abimelech took flocks and herds and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham; and after he restored his wife Sarah to him, (20:14)
Flocks and herds and male and female slaves55 Mahanaim (32:1-13)
32:6 I own cattle, asses and sheep, as well as male and female servants. I am sending my lord this information in the hope of gaining your favor."(32:6)
28 The Birth of Isaac (21:1-8)
21:2Sarah became pregnant and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time that God had stated. 21:3Abraham gave the name Isaac to this son of his whom Sarah bore him. 21:4When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God had commanded.
Sign of covenant54 Laban and Jacob Make a Covenant (31:43-54)
31:43 Laban replied to Jacob: "The women are mine, their children are mine, and the flocks are mine; everything you see belongs to me. But since these women are my daughters, I will now do something for them and for the children they have borne. 31:44Come, then, we will make a pact, you and I; the LORD shall be a witness between us."
29 Hagar and Ishmael Sent Away (21:9-21)
21:17God heard the boy's cry, and God's messenger called to Hagar from heaven
God sees suffering people53 Laban Overtakes Jacob (31:22-42)
31:42If my ancestral God, the God of Abraham and the Awesome One of Isaac, had not been on my side, you would now have sent me away empty-handed. But God saw my plight and the fruits of my toil, and last night he gave judgment."
30 The Covenant of Abram and Abimelech (21:22-34)
21:33 Abraham planted a tamarisk at Beer-sheba, and there he invoked by name the LORD, God the Eternal. 21:34Abraham resided in the land of the Philistines for many years.
The place for pray52 Jacob Flees with Family and Flocks (31:1-21)
31:13 I am the God who appeared to you in Bethel, where you anointed a memorial stone and made a vow to me. Up, then! Leave this land and return to the land of your birth."
31 The Command to Sacrifice Isaac (22:1-19)
22:18 and in your descendants all the nations of the earth shall find blessing--
Source of blessing51 Jacob Prospers at Laban's Expense (30:25-43)
30:27 I have learned through divination that it is because of you that God has blessed me.
31 The Command to Sacrifice Isaac (22:1-19)
22:13As Abraham looked about, he spied a ram caught by its horns in the thicket.
Stock is given51 Jacob Prospers at Laban's Expense (30:25-43)
30:42 So the feeble animals would go to Laban, but the sturdy ones to Jacob.
32 The Children of Nahor (22:20-24)
22:20"Milcah too has borne sons, to your brother Nahor:
Birth of children50 Children of Jacob (29:31-30:24)
Birth of children of Jacob(29:31-30:24)
33 Sarah's Death and Burial (23:1-20)
23:1The span of Sarah's life was one hundred and twenty-seven years.
Wife49 Jacob Marries Laban's Daughters (29:14c-30)
29:22So Laban invited all the local inhabitants and gave a feast. 29:23At nightfall he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob consummated the marriage with her.
33 Sarah's Death and Burial (23:1-20)
23:9to sell me the cave of Machpelah that he owns; it is at the edge of his field. Let him sell it to me in your presence, at its full price, for a burial place."
Covenant49 Jacob Marries Laban's Daughters (29:14c-30)
29:18"I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel."
34 The Marriage of Isaac and Rebekah (24:1-67)
A travel of servant
Travel to Paddan-aram48 Jacob Meets Rachel (29:1-14b)
A travel of Jacob
35 Abraham Marries Keturah (25:1-6)
25:5Abraham deeded everything that he owned to his son Isaac. 25:6 To his sons by concubinage, however, he made grants while he was still living, as he sent them away eastward, to the land of Kedem, away from his son Isaac.
Deeding land to descendant47 Jacob's Dream at Bethel (28:10-22)
28:13 the land on which you are lying I will give to you and your descendants.
36 The Death of Abraham (25:7-11)
25:11After the death of Abraham, God blessed his son Isaac,
Blessing of Abraham is given to descendants46 Jacob Escapes Esau's Fury (27:46-28:9)
28:4May he extend to you and your descendants the blessing he gave to Abraham"
37 Ishmael's Descendants (25:12-18)
25:17 The span of Ishmael's life was one hundred and thirty-seven years.
Death of Abraham's son45 Rebekah Recommends That Jacob Flee (27:41-45)
27:41"When the time of mourning for my father come"
38 The Birth and Youth of Esau and Jacob (25:19-28)
25:23But one shall surpass the other, and the older shall serve the younger."
Prophecy of obedience to little brother44 Jacob Steals the Blessing (27:1-40)
27:29"Let peoples serve you, and nations pay you homage; Be master of your brothers, and may your mothers sons bow down to you.
39 Esau Sells His Birthright (25:29-34)
25:33 But Jacob insisted, "Swear to me first!" So he sold Jacob his birthright under oath.(25:33)
Esau's mistake43 Esau's Hittite Wives (26:34-35)
26:34When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith, daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath, daughter of Elon the Hivite. 26:35But they became a source of embitterment to Isaac and Rebekah.
40 Isaac and Abimelech (26:1-14)
26:11"Anyone who molests this man or his wife shall forthwith be put to death."
Not being molested42 Covenant with Abimelech (26:26-33)
26:29just as we have not molested you, but have always acted kindly toward you and have let you depart in peace.

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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