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Literary structure (chiasmus, chiasm) of Book of Genesis

Chiasmus and Concentric Structure of divided by 4

When we consider the set of divisions in Genesis formed by the covenants of Abraham (no. 21, Gen. 17:1-27), Isaac (no. 41, Gen. 26:15-25), and Jacob (no. 61, Gen. 35:9-15), we see that each is the same size, and that the four parts sit in a concentric structure. Each of these divisional pericopes is a story of the covenant between the LORD and one of the three patriarchs, indicating that these covenants are the turning points in the history of the Hebrews.
The centers of divided in four structure are "The Tower of Babel" (no 11, 11:1-9), "The Command to Sacrifice Isaac" (no. 31, 22:1-19), "Jacob Prospers at Laban's Expense" (no. 51, 30:25-43), and "Joseph's Brothers' Second Trip to Egypt" (no. 71, 43:1-45:28). The common theme would be a punishment or an ordeal. The divided in four structure is thought to signify that overcoming a punishment or an ordeal has some close relationship to the covenant with the Lord.


4-1

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
1 Six Days of Creation and the Sabbath (1:1-2:4a)
1:28"Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it.
Increasing people21 The Sign of the Covenant (17:1-27)
17:2Between you and me I will establish my covenant, and I will multiply you exceedingly."
2 The Garden of Eden (2:4b-17)
2:7the LORD God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being.
Birth of a boy20 The Birth of Ishmael (16:1-16)
16:15Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram named the son whom Hagar bore him Ishmael. 16:16Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.
2 The Garden of Eden (2:4b-17)
2:6but a stream was welling up out of the earth and was watering all the surface of the ground--
Welling water20 The Birth of Ishmael (16:1-16)
16:14That is why the well is called Beer-lahai-roi. It is between Kadesh and Bered.
3 Creation of Woman (2:18-25)
2:21So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man,
Deep sleep19 God's Covenant with Abram (15:1-21)
15:12As the sun was about to set, a trance fell upon Abram,
4 The First Sin and Its Punishment (3:1-24)
3:19By the sweat of your face shall you get bread to eat, Until you return to the ground, from which you were taken;
Getting bread18 Abram and Melchizedek (14:13-24)
14:18Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine, and being a priest of God Most High,
4 The First Sin and Its Punishment (3:1-24)
3:15I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel."
Victory against enemy18 Abram and Melchizedek (14:13-24)
14:20And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your foes into your hand."
5 Cain Murders Abel (4:1-26)
4:11Therefore you shall be banned from the soil that opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.
Corpse in soil17 Lot's Captivity (14:1-12)
14:10Now the Valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits; and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, they fell into these,
6 Adam's Descendants to Noah and His Sons (5:1-32)
Genealogy of Adam(5:1-32)
Descendants16 Abram and Lot Separate (13:1-18)
13:16I 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.
7 The Great Flood (6:1-8:22)
6:7"I will wipe out from the earth the men whom I have created, and not only the men, but also the beasts and the creeping things and the birds of the air, for I am sorry that I made them."
Disaster15 Abram and Sarai in Egypt (12:10-20)
12:10There was famine in the land; so Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, since the famine in the land was severe.
8 The Covenant with Noah (9:1-17)
9:1"Be fertile and multiply and fill the earth.
Blessing of the God14 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.
9 Noah and His Sons (9:18-29)
9:18The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham and Japheth.
Three sons13 Descendants of Terah (11:27-32)
11:27Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran,
10 Nations Descended from Noah (10:1-32)
Genealogy of Noah's sons(10:1-32)
Genealogy12 Descendants of Shem (11:10-26)
Genealogy of Sem(11:10-26)

4-1-1

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
1 Six Days of Creation and the Sabbath (1:1-2:4a)
1:1In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth,
Heaven and earth11 The Tower of Babel (11:1-9)
11:4"Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky, and so make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered all over the earth."
2 The Garden of Eden (2:4b-17)
2:11
Havilah10 Nations Descended from Noah (10:1-32)
10:29
2 The Garden of Eden (2:4b-17)
2:13
Cush10 Nations Descended from Noah (10:1-32)
10:6,7,8
2 The Garden of Eden (2:4b-17)
2:14
Asshur10 Nations Descended from Noah (10:1-32)
10:11,22
3 Creation of Woman (2:18-25)
2:25The man and his wife were both naked, yet they felt no shame.
Naked9 Noah and His Sons (9:18-29)
9:21When he drank some of the wine, he became drunk and lay naked inside his tent.
4 The First Sin and Its Punishment (3:1-24)
3:19By the sweat of your face shall you get bread to eat, Until you return to the ground, from which you were taken;
Regulation for food8 The Covenant with Noah (9:1-17)
9:3Every creature that is alive shall be yours to eat;
5 Cain Murders Abel (4:1-26)
4:11Therefore you shall be banned from the soil that opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.
Cursed land7 The Great Flood (6:1-8:22)
6:11In the eyes of God the earth was corrupt and full of lawlessness.

4-1-2

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
11 The Tower of Babel (11:1-9)
11:6"If now, while they are one people, all speaking the same language, they have started to do this,
One people / many peoples21 The Sign of the Covenant (17:1-27)
17:16I will bless her, and I will give you a son by her. Him also will I bless; he shall give rise to nations, and rulers of peoples shall issue from him."
12 Descendants of Shem (11:10-26)
Genealogy of Sem(11:10-26)
Descendants20 The Birth of Ishmael (16:1-16)
16:10I will make your descendants so numerous,"
13 Descendants of Terah (11:27-32)
Genealogy of Terah(11:27-32)
Lineage of Abraham19 God's Covenant with Abram (15:1-21)
15:4"No, that one shall not be your heir; your own issue shall be your heir."
14 The Call of Abram (12:1-9)
12:3I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you.
Abraham is blessed18 Abram and Melchizedek (14:13-24)
14:19Blessed be Abram by God Most High, the creator of heaven and earth;
15 Abram and Sarai in Egypt (12:10-20)
12:20Then Pharaoh gave men orders concerning him, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and all that belonged to him.
Migration with possessions17 Lot's Captivity (14:1-12)
14:12taking with them Abram's nephew Lot, who had been living in Sodom, as well as his possessions.

4-2

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
21 The Sign of the Covenant (17:1-27)
17:2Between you and me I will establish my covenant, and I will multiply you exceedingly."
Increasing Abraham41 Trouble with Wells, Covenant with God (26:15-25)
26:24I will bless you and multiply your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham."
22 A Son Promised to Abraham and Sarah (18:1-15)
18:12So Sarah laughed to herself and said, "Now that I am so withered and my husband is so old, am I still to have sexual pleasure?"
Problems about wife40 Isaac and Abimelech (26:1-14)
26:7When the men of the place asked questions about his wife, he answered, "She is my sister."
23 Judgment Pronounced on Sodom (18:16-33)
Negotiation for Sodom(18:23-32)
Negotiation39 Esau Sells His Birthright (25:29-34)
Negotiation between Jacob and Esau (25:30-33)
24 The Depravity of Sodom (19:1-11)
19:8I have two daughters who have never had intercourse with men.
Two children38 The Birth and Youth of Esau and Jacob (25:19-28)
25:26 Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.
25 Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed (19:12-29)
19:22Hurry, escape there! I cannot do anything until you arrive there." That is why the town is called Zoar.
Naming and dwelling place37 Ishmael's Descendants (25:12-18)
25:16These are the sons of Ishmael, their names by their villages and encampments;
26 The Shameful Origin of Moab and Ammon (19:30-38)
19:30where he lived with his two daughters in a cave.
Cave36 The Death of Abraham (25:7-11)
25:9His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah,
27 Abraham and Sarah at Gerar (20:1-18)
20:2he said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister."So Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent and took Sarah.
Bigamy of Abraham and Sarah35 Abraham Marries Keturah (25:1-6)
25:1Abraham married another wife, whose name was Keturah.
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.
Fulfillment of promise of god34 The Marriage of Isaac and Rebekah (24:1-67)
24:7"The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and the land of my kin, and who confirmed by oath the promise he then made to me, 'I will give this land to your descendants'--he will send his messenger before you, and you will obtain a wife for my son there.
29 Hagar and Ishmael Sent Away (21:9-21)
21:14Early the next morning Abraham got some bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. Then, placing the child on her back, he sent her away.
Separation with wife33 Sarah's Death and Burial (23:1-20)
23:2She died in Kiriatharba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham performed the customary mourning rites for her.
30 The Covenant of Abram and Abimelech (21:22-34)
21:23Therefore, swear to me by God at this place that you will not deal falsely with me or with my progeny and posterity,
Descendants32 The Children of Nahor (22:20-24)
22:20"Milcah too has borne sons, to your brother Nahor: 22:21Uz, his first-born, his brother Buz, Kemuel (the father of Aram), 22:22Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel."

4-2-1

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
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.
Promise of increasing descendants31 The Command to Sacrifice Isaac (22:1-19)
22:17I will bless you abundantly and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore; your descendants shall take possession of the gates of their enemies,
22 A Son Promised to Abraham and Sarah (18:1-15)
18:1The LORD appeared to Abraham by the terebinth of Mamre,
The Lord and a tree30 The Covenant of Abram and Abimelech (21:22-34)
21:33Abraham planted a tamarisk at Beer-sheba, and there he invoked by name the LORD, God the Eternal.
23 Judgment Pronounced on Sodom (18:16-33)
18:18now that he is to become a great and populous nation, and all the nations of the earth are to find blessing in him?
Great nation29 Hagar and Ishmael Sent Away (21:9-21)
21:18for I will make of him a great nation."
24 The Depravity of Sodom (19:1-11)
19:3He prepared a meal for them, baking cakes without leaven, and they dined.
Entertaining (msth)28 The Birth of Isaac (21:1-8)
21:8and on the day of the child's weaning, Abraham held a great feast.
25 Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed (19:12-29)
19:26But Lots wife looked back, and she was turned into a pillar of salt.
Sacrifice of wife27 Abraham and Sarah at Gerar (20:1-18)
20:2he said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." So Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent and took Sarah.

4-2-2

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
31 The Command to Sacrifice Isaac (22:1-19)
22:17I will bless you abundantly and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore;
Blessing for descendants41 Trouble with Wells, Covenant with God (26:15-25)
26:24I will bless you and multiply your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham."
32 The Children of Nahor (22:20-24)
22:23These eight Milcah bore to Abraham's brother Nahor.
Increasing descendants40 Isaac and Abimelech (26:1-14)
26:4I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and give them all these lands,
33 Sarah's Death and Burial (23:1-20)
23:16Abraham accepted Ephrons terms; he weighed out to him the silver that Ephron had stipulated in the hearing of the Hittites, four hundred shekels of silver at the current market value.
Gaining by negotiation39 Esau Sells His Birthright (25:29-34)
25:33So he sold Jacob his birthright under oath. 25:34Jacob then gave him some bread and the lentil stew;
34 The Marriage of Isaac and Rebekah (24:1-67)
24:15He had scarcely finished these words when Rebekah (who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor) came out with a jug on her shoulder.
The LORD hears entreaty38 The Birth and Youth of Esau and Jacob (25:19-28)
25:21Isaac entreated the LORD on behalf of his wife, since she was sterile. The LORD heard his entreaty, and Rebekah became pregnant.
35 Abraham Marries Keturah (25:1-6)
Descendants by Keturah(25:1-4)
Abrahams collateral descendants37 Ishmael's Descendants (25:12-18)
Descendants by Hagar(25:12-15)

4-3

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
41 Trouble with Wells, Covenant with God (26:15-25)
26:24I will bless you and multiply your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham."
Blessing for descendants61 The Covenant Renewed (35:9-15)
35:11"I am God Almighty; be fruitful and multiply. A nation, indeed an assembly of nations, shall stem from you, and kings shall issue from your loins.
42 Covenant with Abimelech (26:26-33)
26:28"We are convinced that the LORD is with you,
The Lord is with him60 Jacob Returns to Bethel (35:1-8)
35:3and I will build an altar there to the God who answered me in my hour of distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone."
42 Covenant with Abimelech (26:26-33)
26:33He called it Shibah;
Naming of a place60 Jacob Returns to Bethel (35:1-8)
35:8and so it was called Allonbacuth.
43 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.
Marriage with pagan59 The Rape of Dinah (34:1-31)
34:7What Shechem had done was an outrage in Israel; such a thing could not be tolerated.
44 Jacob Steals the Blessing (27:1-40)
27:29Be master of your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow down to you.
Bowing down to brother58 Jacob and Esau Meet (33:1-20)
33:3He himself went on ahead of them, bowing to the ground seven times, until he reached his brother.
45 Rebekah Recommends That Jacob Flee (27:41-45)
27:45 (until your brothers anger against you subsides) and he forgets what you did to him. Then I will send for you and bring you back.
Jacobs long-term battle57 Jacob Wrestles at Peniel (32:23-33)
32:25Then some man wrestled with him until the break of dawn.
46 Jacob Escapes Esau's Fury (27:46-28:9)
28:8Esau realized how displeasing the Canaanite women were to his father Isaac, 28:9so he went to Ishmael, and in addition to the wives he had, married Mahalath, the daughter of Abraham's son Ishmael and sister of Nebaioth.
Pleasing56 Jacob Sends Presents to Appease Esau (32:14-22)
32:21For Jacob reasoned, "If I first appease him with gifts that precede me, then later, when I face him, perhaps he will forgive me."
47 Jacob's Dream at Bethel (28:10-22)
28:19 He called that site Bethel
Naming a place of the God55 Mahanaim (32:1-13)
32:3 When he saw them he said, "This is Gods encampment." So he named that place Mahanaim.
48 Jacob Meets Rachel (29:1-14b)
29:10 As soon as Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his uncle Laban, with the sheep of his uncle Laban, he went up, rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well, and watered his uncle's sheep.
Laban's daughter and domestic animals54 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.
48 Jacob Meets Rachel (29:1-14b)
29:2 A large stone covered the mouth of the well.
Stone54 Laban and Jacob Make a Covenant (31:43-54)
31:45Then Jacob took a stone and set it up as a memorial stone. 31:46Jacob said to his kinsmen, "Gather some stones." So they got some stones and made a mound; and they had a meal there at the mound.
49 Jacob Marries Laban's Daughters (29:14c-30)
29:18 Since Jacob had fallen in love with Rachel, he answered Laban, "I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel." 29:25 In the morning Jacob was amazed: it was Leah!
Laban's deception53 Laban Overtakes Jacob (31:22-42)
31:41Of the twenty years that I have now spent in your household, I slaved fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flock, while you changed my wages time after time.
50 Children of Jacob (29:31-30:24)
30:18 Leah then said, "God has given me my reward for having let my husband have my maidservant"; so she named him Issachar.
Reward52 Jacob Flees with Family and Flocks (31:1-21)
31:8 Whenever your father said, The speckled animals shall be your wages, the entire flock would bear speckled young; whenever he said, The streaked animals shall be your wages, the entire flock would bear streaked young.

4-3-1

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
41 Trouble with Wells, Covenant with God (26:15-25)
26:24I will bless you and multiply your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham."
Blessing because of others51 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.
42 Covenant with Abimelech (26:26-33)
26:33He called it Shibah;
Naming50 Children of Jacob (29:31-30:24)
Naming of Jacob's sons (29:31-30:24)
42 Covenant with Abimelech (26:26-33)
26:28so we propose that there be a sworn agreement between our two sides--between you and us. Let us make a pact with you:
Covenant50 Children of Jacob (29:31-30:24)
30:15 "In exchange for your sons mandrakes, Jacob may lie with you tonight."
43 Esau's Hittite Wives (26:34-35)
Esau's marriage
Marriage49 Jacob Marries Laban's Daughters (29:14c-30)
Jacob's marriage
44 Jacob Steals the Blessing (27:1-40)
27:36He has now supplanted me twice! First he took away my birthright, and now he has taken away my blessing."
Story of blessing robbed by Jacob48 Jacob Meets Rachel (29:1-14b)
29:13Jacob then recounted to Laban all that had happened, 29:14and Laban said to him, "You are indeed my flesh and blood."
45 Rebekah Recommends That Jacob Flee (27:41-45)
27:45(until your brother's anger against you subsides) and he forgets what you did to him. Then I will send for you and bring you back.
Returning to the land47 Jacob's Dream at Bethel (28:10-22)
28:15Know that I am with you; I will protect you wherever you go, and bring you back to this land. I will never leave you until I have done what I promised you."

4-3-2

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
51 Jacob Prospers at Laban's Expense (30:25-43)
30:27"If you will please. . . . "I have learned through divination that it is because of you that God has blessed me.
Jacobs blessing61 The Covenant Renewed (35:9-15)
35:9On Jacobs arrival from Paddan-aram, God appeared to him again and blessed him.
52 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.
Command to go to Bethel60 Jacob Returns to Bethel (35:1-8)
35:1God said to Jacob: "Go up now to Bethel. Settle there and build an altar there to the God who appeared to you while you were fleeing from your brother Esau."
53 Laban Overtakes Jacob (31:22-42)
31:33Laban then went in and searched Jacob's tent and Leah's tent, as well as the tents of the two maidservants; but he did not find the idols. Leaving Leah's tent, he went into Rachel's. 31:34Now Rachel had taken the idols, put them inside a camel cushion, and seated herself upon them.
Deception by Jacob's family59 The Rape of Dinah (34:1-31)
34:13Jacob's sons replied to Shechem and his father Hamor with guile, speaking as they did because their sister Dinah had been defiled.
54 Laban and Jacob Make a Covenant (31:43-54)
31:51Laban said further to Jacob: "Here is this mound, and here is the memorial stone that I have set up between you and me. 31:52This mound shall be witness, and this memorial stone shall be witness, that, with hostile intent, neither may I pass beyond this mound into your territory, nor may you pass beyond it into mine.
Memorial and covenant about gaining land58 Jacob and Esau Meet (33:1-20)
33:19 The plot of ground on which he had pitched his tent he bought for a hundred pieces of bullion from the descendants of Hamor, the founder of Shechem. 33:20He set up a memorial stone there and invoked "El, the God of Israel."
55 Mahanaim (32:1-13)
32:3 When he saw them he said, "This is God's encampment." So he named that place Mahanaim.
Named after the God57 Jacob Wrestles at Peniel (32:23-33)
32:31 Jacob named the place Peniel, "Because I have seen God face to face," he said, "yet my life has been spared."

4-4

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
61 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."
Promised land81 Joseph's Last Days and Death (50:22-26)
50:24 God 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."
62 Deaths and Birth of a Child (35:16-29)
35:22While Israel was encamped in that region, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father's concubine. When Israel heard of it, he was greatly offended.
Sin of Jacob's son80 Joseph Forgives His Brothers (50:15-21)
50:17'You shall say to Joseph, Jacob begs you to forgive the criminal wrongdoing of your brothers, who treated you so cruelly.'
62 Deaths and Birth of a Child (35:16-29)
35:29then he breathed his last. After a full life, he died as an old man and was taken to his kinsmen. His sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
Reconciliation of brothers80 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.
63 Esau's Descendants (36:1-43)
36:6Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the members of his household, as well as his livestock comprising various animals and all the property he had acquired in the land of Canaan, and went to the land of Seir, out of the way of his brother Jacob.
Movement from / to Canaan79 Jacob's Death and Burial (49:29-50:14)
50:13They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave in the field of Machpelah,
64 Joseph Dreams of Greatness (37:1-11)
37:7and your sheaves formed a ring around my sheaf and bowed down to it."
Joseph is selected78 Jacob's Last Words to His Sons (49:1-28)
49:26May they rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers.
65 Joseph Is Sold by His Brothers (37:12-36)
37:28They sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. Some Midianite traders passed by, and they pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and took him to Egypt.
Immigration to / emigration from foreign country77 Jacob Blesses Joseph's Sons (48:1-22)
48:21But God will be with you and will restore you to the land of your fathers.
65 Joseph Is Sold by His Brothers (37:12-36)
37:12One day, when his brothers had gone to pasture their father's flocks at Shechem,
Shechem77 Jacob Blesses Joseph's Sons (48:1-22)
48:22As for me, I give to you, as to the one above his brothers, Shechem, which I captured from the Amorites with my sword and bow."
66 Judah and Tamar (38:1-30)
Death of Judahs sons (33:8-10)
Not increasing / increasing descendants76 The Last Days of Jacob (47:27-31)
47:27There they acquired property, were fertile, and increased greatly.
67 Joseph and Potiphar's Wife (39:1-23)
39:4he took a liking to Joseph and made him his personal attendant; he put him in charge of his household and entrusted to him all his possessions.
Joseph as a manager75 The Famine in Egypt (47:13-26)
47:20Thus Joseph acquired all the farm land of Egypt for Pharaoh, since with the famine too much for them to bear, every Egyptian sold his field; so the land passed over to Pharaoh, 47:21and the people were reduced to slavery, from one end of Egypt's territory to the other.
68 Joseph Interprets Dreams (40:1-41:45)
41:14and they hurriedly brought him from the dungeon. After he shaved and changed his clothes, he came into Pharaohs presence.
Meeting with Pharaoh74 Jacob and Pharaoh (46:28-47:12)
47:1Joseph went and told Pharaoh, "My father and my brothers have come from the land of Canaan, with their flocks and herds and everything else they own; and they are now in the region of Goshen."
69 Children of Joseph (41:46-57)
41:50 Before the famine years set in, Joseph became the father of two sons, borne to him by Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, priest of Heliopolis. (41:50)
Descendants of Jacob's children73 List of Jacob's Family (46:8-27)
List of Jacob's descendants
70 Joseph's Brothers' First Trip to Egypt (42:1-38)
42:2Go down there and buy some for us,
Going down to Egypt72 Jacob Brings His Whole Family to Egypt (46:1-7)
46:3Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt,

4-4-1

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)
Former halfRelationLatter half
61 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.
Becoming a king71 Joseph's Brothers' Second Trip to Egypt (43:1-45:28)
45:8and he has made of me a father to Pharaoh, lord of all his household, and ruler over the whole land of Egypt.
62 Deaths and Birth of a Child (35:16-29)
35:27Jacob went home to his father Isaac at Mamre, in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron),
Going to father's place70 Joseph's Brothers' First Trip to Egypt (42:1-38)
42:29When they got back to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them.
62 Deaths and Birth of a Child (35:16-29)
35:29then he breathed his last. After a full life, he died as an old man and was taken to his kinsmen.
Death of father70 Joseph's Brothers' First Trip to Egypt (42:1-38)
42:38If some disaster should befall him on the journey you must make, you would send my white head down to the nether world in grief."
63 Esau's Descendants (36:1-43)
36:1These are the descendants of Esau (that is, Edom).
Descendants69 Children of Joseph (41:46-57)
41:50Before the famine years set in, Joseph became the father of two sons,
63 Esau's Descendants (36:1-43)
Migration of Esau's family (36:6-7)
Journey for surviving69 Children of Joseph (41:46-57)
41:57In fact, all the world came to Joseph to obtain rations of grain, for famine had gripped the whole world.
64 Joseph Dreams of Greatness (37:1-11)
37:5Once Joseph had a dream, which he told to his brothers:
Future is shown in dream68 Joseph Interprets Dreams (40:1-41:45)
40:5the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt who were confined in the jail both had dreams on the same night, each dream with its own meaning.
65 Joseph Is Sold by His Brothers (37:12-36)
37:23So when Joseph came up to them, they stripped him of the long tunic he had on; 37:24then they took him and threw him into the cistern,
Joseph is caught67 Joseph and Potiphar's Wife (39:1-23)
39:20He seized Joseph and threw him into the jail where the royal prisoners were confined.
65 Joseph Is Sold by His Brothers (37:12-36)
37:36The Midianites, meanwhile, sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, a courtier of Pharaoh and his chief steward.
Potiphar67 Joseph and Potiphar's Wife (39:1-23)
39:1When Joseph was taken down to Egypt, a certain Egyptian (Potiphar, a courtier of Pharaoh and his chief steward) bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him there.

4-4-2

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
71 Joseph's Brothers' Second Trip to Egypt (43:1-45:28)
45:7God, therefore, sent me on ahead of you to ensure for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives in an extraordinary deliverance.
Providence of the God81 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."
72 Jacob Brings His Whole Family to Egypt (46:1-7)
46:3 Then he said: "I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you a great nation.(46:3)
Do not be afraid80 Joseph Forgives His Brothers (50:15-21)
50:19 But Joseph replied to them: "Have no fear. Can I take the place of God? (50:19)
73 List of Jacob's Family (46:8-27)
List of Jacob's descendants
Jacob's children79 Jacob's Death and Burial (49:29-50:14)
50:8 as well as Joseph's whole household, his brothers, and his father's household; only their children and their flocks and herds were left in the region of Goshen.(50:8)
74 Jacob and Pharaoh (46:28-47:12)
47:7After Jacob had paid his respects to Pharaoh,
Blessing by Jacob78 Jacob's Last Words to His Sons (49:1-28)
49:28as he bade them farewell and gave to each of them an appropriate message.
75 The Famine in Egypt (47:13-26)
47:20Thus Joseph acquired all the farm land of Egypt for Pharaoh, since with the famine too much for them to bear, every Egyptian sold his field; so the land passed over to Pharaoh,
Gaining a land77 Jacob Blesses Joseph's Sons (48:1-22)
48:4and I will give this land to your descendants after you as a permanent possession.'

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.
Caution: The copyright of the cited Bible verses belongs to each translator and publisher.

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