FAQ       Top  >  Literary Structure of the Bible  >  Book of Exodus  >  7

Literary structure (chiasmus, chiasm) of Book of Exodus

Chiasmus and Concentric Structure of divided by 7

Divided in seven structure seems to characterize roughly each divided portion. Main theme in 7-1 is about sufferings of Israel, in 7-2 is about command to save Israel people, in 7-3 is about the passover, in 7-4 is about escape from Egypt, in 7-5 is about the way to the mount Sinai, in 7-6 is about the covenant with the LORD, in 7-7 is about the construction of the tabernacle.


7-1

1 Introduction (1:1-7)
  2 Construction of Cities (1:8-14)
    3 Command to Kill Boys (1:15-22)
      4 Birth and Youth of Moses (2:1-10)
    5 Moses flees to Midian (2:11-15)
  6 Marriage of Moses (2:16-22)
7 The LORD's Mercy for Israel (2:23-25)
Former halfRelationLatter half
1 Introduction (1:1-7)
see 4-1-1
see 4-1-17 The LORD's Mercy for Israel (2:23-25)
see 4-1-1
2 Construction of Cities (1:8-14)
see 4-1-1
see 4-1-16 Marriage of Moses (2:16-22)
see 4-1-1
3 Command to Kill Boys (1:15-22)
see 4-1-1
see 4-1-15 Moses flees to Midian (2:11-15)
see 4-1-1

7-1-1

1 Introduction (1:1-7)
  2 Construction of Cities (1:8-14)
  3 Command to Kill Boys (1:15-22)
4 Birth and Youth of Moses (2:1-10)
Former halfRelationLatter half
1 Introduction (1:1-7)
1:5The total number of the direct descendants of Jacob was seventy.
Giving birth to boys4 Birth and Youth of Moses (2:1-10)
2:1 Now a certain man of the house of Levi married a Levite woman, 2:2 who conceived and bore a son. Seeing that he was a goodly child, she hid him for three months.
2 Construction of Cities (1:8-14)
1:12Yet the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread.
Increasing Israelites3 Command to Kill Boys (1:15-22)
1:20The people, too, increased and grew strong.

7-1-2

4 Birth and Youth of Moses (2:1-10)
  5 Moses flees to Midian (2:11-15)
  6 Marriage of Moses (2:16-22)
7 The LORD's Mercy for Israel (2:23-25)
Former halfRelationLatter half
4 Birth and Youth of Moses (2:1-10)
2:6 On opening it, she looked, and lo, there was a baby boy, crying! She was moved with pity for him and said, "It is one of the Hebrews' children." (2:6)
Mercy7 The LORD's Mercy for Israel (2:23-25)
2:25 He saw the Israelites and knew. . . .(2:25)
5 Moses flees to Midian (2:11-15)
2:12 Looking about and seeing no one, he slew the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.(2:12)
Moses saves people6 Marriage of Moses (2:16-22)
2:17 But some shepherds came and drove them away. Then Moses got up and defended them and watered their flock. (2:17)

7-2

8 Moses at the Burning Bush (3:1-4:17)
  9 Moses Returns to Egypt (4:18-31)
    10 Bricks without Straw (5:1-23)
      11 Israel's Deliverance Assured (6:1-12)
    12 The Genealogy of Moses and Aaron (6:13-27)
  13 Moses and Aaron obey Commands of God (6:28-7:7)
14 Ten Miracles (7:8-10:29)
Former halfRelationLatter half
8 Moses at the Burning Bush (3:1-4:17)
4:9take some water from the river and pour it on the dry land. The water you take from the river will become blood on the dry land.
River of blood14 Ten Miracles (7:8-10:29)
7:20and all the water of the river was changed into blood.
9 Moses Returns to Egypt (4:18-31)
4:21see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have put in your power. I will make him obstinate, however, so that he will not let the people go.
Obstinate Pharaoh13 Moses and Aaron obey Commands of God (6:28-7:7)
7:3Yet I will make Pharaoh so obstinate that, despite the many signs and wonders that I will work in the land of Egypt, 7:4he will not listen to you.
10 Bricks without Straw (5:1-23)
5:1After that, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Let my people go, that they may celebrate a feast to me in the desert."
Persuasion to Pharaoh12 The Genealogy of Moses and Aaron (6:13-27)
6:27These are the ones who spoke to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to bring the Israelites out of Egypt--the same Moses and Aaron.

7-2-1

8 Moses at the Burning Bush (3:1-4:17)
  9 Moses Returns to Egypt (4:18-31)
  10 Bricks without Straw (5:1-23)
11 Israel's Deliverance Assured (6:1-12)
Former halfRelationLatter half
8 Moses at the Burning Bush (3:1-4:17)
4:5they may believe," he continued, "that the LORD, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, did appear to you.
The God of ancestors11 Israel's Deliverance Assured (6:1-12)
6:3As God the Almighty I appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but my name, LORD, I did not make known to them.
9 Moses Returns to Egypt (4:18-31)
4:21I will make him obstinate, however, so that he will not let the people go.
Pharaoh refuses for Israelites to depart10 Bricks without Straw (5:1-23)
5:2I do not know the LORD; even if I did, I would not let Israel go.

7-2-2

11 Israel's Deliverance Assured (6:1-12)
  12 The Genealogy of Moses and Aaron (6:13-27)
  13 Moses and Aaron obey Commands of God (6:28-7:7)
14 Ten Miracles (7:8-10:29)
Former halfRelationLatter half
11 Israel's Deliverance Assured (6:1-12)
6:11"Go and tell Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to let the Israelites leave his land."
Persuading Pharaoh14 Ten Miracles (7:8-10:29)
Persuasion by Moses and Aaron(7:8-10:29)
12 The Genealogy of Moses and Aaron (6:13-27)
6:26This is the Aaron and this the Moses to whom the LORD said, "Lead the Israelites from the land of Egypt, company by company."
Leading Israelites from Egypt13 Moses and Aaron obey Commands of God (6:28-7:7)
7:4Therefore I will lay my hand on Egypt and by great acts of judgment I will bring the hosts of my people, the Israelites, out of the land of Egypt,

7-3

15 Warning of the Final Plague (11:1-10)
  16 The First Passover Instituted (12:1-28)
    17 The Tenth Plague (12:29-32)
      18 The Exodus (12:33-41)
    19 Directions for the Passover (12:42-51)
  20 The Consecration of the First-born (13:1-2)
21 The Festival of Unleavened Bread (13:3-10)
Former halfRelationLatter half
15 Warning of the Final Plague (11:1-10)
11:9The LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh refuses to listen to you that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt."
Power of the LORD21 The Festival of Unleavened Bread (13:3-10)
13:3Moses said to the people, "Remember this day on which you came out of Egypt, that place of slavery. It was with a strong hand that the LORD brought you away.
16 The First Passover Instituted (12:1-28)
12:12For on this same night I will go through Egypt, striking down every first--born of the land, both man and beast, and executing judgment on all the gods of Egypt-I, the LORD!
First-born children20 The Consecration of the First-born (13:1-2)
13:2"Consecrate to me every first-born
17 The Tenth Plague (12:29-32)
12:29At midnight the LORD slew every first-born in the land of Egypt
Fulfillment of passover / regulation for passover19 Directions for the Passover (12:42-51)
12:43These are the regulations for the Passover.

7-3-1

15 Warning of the Final Plague (11:1-10)
  16 The First Passover Instituted (12:1-28)
  17 The Tenth Plague (12:29-32)
18 The Exodus (12:33-41)
Former halfRelationLatter half
15 Warning of the Final Plague (11:1-10)
11:1Then the LORD told Moses, "One more plague will I bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt. After that he will let you depart. In fact, he will not merely let you go; he will drive you away.
Departing from Egypt18 The Exodus (12:33-41)
12:37The Israelites set out from Rameses for Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, not counting the children. 12:38A crowd of mixed ancestry also went up with them, besides their livestock, very numerous flocks and herds.
16 The First Passover Instituted (12:1-28)
12:12For on this same night I will go through Egypt, striking down every first--born of the land, both man and beast, and executing judgment on all the gods of Egypt-I, the LORD!
Prophecy of passover / fulfillment of passover17 The Tenth Plague (12:29-32)
12:29At midnight the LORD slew every first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh on the throne to the first-born of the prisoner in the dungeon, as well as all the first-born of the animals.

7-3-2

18 The Exodus (12:33-41)
  19 Directions for the Passover (12:42-51)
  20 The Consecration of the First-born (13:1-2)
21 The Festival of Unleavened Bread (13:3-10)
Former halfRelationLatter half
18 The Exodus (12:33-41)
12:41 At the end of four hundred and thirty years, all the hosts of the LORD left the land of Egypt on this very date. (12:41)
The day of Exodus21 The Festival of Unleavened Bread (13:3-10)
13:3 Moses said to the people, "Remember this day on which you came out of Egypt, that place of slavery. It was with a strong hand that the LORD brought you away. Nothing made with leaven must be eaten. (13:3)
19 Directions for the Passover (12:42-51)
12:44 However, any slave who has been bought for money may partake of it, provided you have first circumcised him.
Opening a part of body20 The Consecration of the First-born (13:1-2)
13:2 Consecrate to me every first-born that opens the womb among the Israelites, both of man and beast, for it belongs to me.

7-4

22 The Consecration of the First-born (13:11-16)
  23 The Pillars of Cloud and Fire (13:17-22)
    24 Crossing the Red Sea (14:1-18)
      25 The Pursuers Drowned (14:19-31)
    26 The Song of Moses (15:1-19)
  27 The Song of Miriam (15:20-21)
28 Bitter Water Made Sweet (15:22-27)
Former halfRelationLatter half
22 The Consecration of the First-born (13:11-16)
see 1-1
see 1-128 Bitter Water Made Sweet (15:22-27)
see 1-1
23 The Pillars of Cloud and Fire (13:17-22)
see 1-1
see 1-127 The Song of Miriam (15:20-21)
see 1-1
24 Crossing the Red Sea (14:1-18)
see 1-1
see 1-126 The Song of Moses (15:1-19)
see 1-1

7-4-1

22 The Consecration of the First-born (13:11-16)
  23 The Pillars of Cloud and Fire (13:17-22)
  24 Crossing the Red Sea (14:1-18)
25 The Pursuers Drowned (14:19-31)
Former halfRelationLatter half
22 The Consecration of the First-born (13:11-16)
13:14With a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, that place of slavery.
Salvation by the LORD25 The Pursuers Drowned (14:19-31)
14:30Thus the LORD saved Israel on that day from the power of the Egyptians.
23 The Pillars of Cloud and Fire (13:17-22)
13:17should the people see that they would have to fight, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.
People want to return to Egypt24 Crossing the Red Sea (14:1-18)
14:12Leave us alone. Let us serve the Egyptians'? Far better for us to be the slaves of the Egyptians than to die in the desert

7-4-2

25 The Pursuers Drowned (14:19-31)
  26 The Song of Moses (15:1-19)
  27 The Song of Miriam (15:20-21)
28 Bitter Water Made Sweet (15:22-27)
Former halfRelationLatter half
25 The Pursuers Drowned (14:19-31)
14:21Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD swept the sea with a strong east wind throughout the night and so turned it into dry land. When the water was thus divided,
Miracles about water28 Bitter Water Made Sweet (15:22-27)
15:25he appealed to the LORD, who pointed out to him a certain piece of wood. When he threw this into the water, the water became fresh.
26 The Song of Moses (15:1-19)
The song of Moses
Psalm27 The Song of Miriam (15:20-21)
The song of Miriam

7-5

29 Bread from Heaven (16:1-36)
  30 Water from the Rock (17:1-7)
    31 Amalek Attacks Israel and Is Defeated (17:8-16)
      32 Jethro's Advice (18:1-27)
    33 The Israelites Reach Mount Sinai (19:1-9)
  34 The LORD Comes Down upon Mount Sinai (19:10-19)
35 Moses goes up to Mount Sinai (19:20-25)
Former halfRelationLatter half
29 Bread from Heaven (16:1-36)
16:23Tomorrow is a day of complete rest, the sabbath, sacred to the LORD.
Regulations about sacred object35 Moses goes up to Mount Sinai (19:20-25)
19:23for you yourself warned us to set limits around the mountain to make it sacred.
30 Water from the Rock (17:1-7)
17:7Is the LORD in our midst or not?
The LORD is with people34 The LORD Comes Down upon Mount Sinai (19:10-19)
19:18the LORD came down upon it in fire.
31 Amalek Attacks Israel and Is Defeated (17:8-16)
17:10Moses had climbed to the top of the hill with Aaron and Hur.
Moses climbs on the mountain33 The Israelites Reach Mount Sinai (19:1-9)
19:3Moses went up the mountain to God. Then the LORD called to him and said,

7-5-1

29 Bread from Heaven (16:1-36)
  30 Water from the Rock (17:1-7)
  31 Amalek Attacks Israel and Is Defeated (17:8-16)
32 Jethro's Advice (18:1-27)
Former halfRelationLatter half
29 Bread from Heaven (16:1-36)
16:2Here in the desert the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron.
People complains32 Jethro's Advice (18:1-27)
18:13The next day Moses sat in judgment for the people, who waited about him from morning until evening.
30 Water from the Rock (17:1-7)
17:5holding in your hand, as you go, the staff with which you struck the river.
Staff31 Amalek Attacks Israel and Is Defeated (17:8-16)
17:9I will be standing on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.

7-5-2

32 Jethro's Advice (18:1-27)
  33 The Israelites Reach Mount Sinai (19:1-9)
  34 The LORD Comes Down upon Mount Sinai (19:10-19)
35 Moses goes up to Mount Sinai (19:20-25)
Former halfRelationLatter half
32 Jethro's Advice (18:1-27)
18:19Act as the people's representative before God, bringing to him whatever they have to say. 18:20Enlighten them in regard to the decisions and regulations, showing them how they are to live and what they are to do.
Moses tells teachings35 Moses goes up to Mount Sinai (19:20-25)
19:25So Moses went down to the people and told them this.
33 The Israelites Reach Mount Sinai (19:1-9)
19:9The LORD also told him, "I am coming to you in a dense cloud, so that when the people hear me speaking with you, they may always have faith in you also."
The LORD comes down34 The LORD Comes Down upon Mount Sinai (19:10-19)
19:18Mount Sinai was all wrapped in smoke, for the LORD came down upon it in fire. The smoke rose from it as though from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently.

7-6

36 The Ten Commandments (20:1-21)
  37 The Book of the Covenant (20:22-23:33)
    38 The Blood of the Covenant (24:1-18)
      39 The Command to Make the Tabernacle (25:1-31:12)
    40 Sabbath Regulations (31:12-18)
  41 The Golden Calf (32:1-33:6)
42 The Tent Outside the Camp (33:7-11)
Former halfRelationLatter half
36 The Ten Commandments (20:1-21)
20:21Still the people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the cloud where God was.
People put the distance from the Lord42 The Tent Outside the Camp (33:7-11)
33:10On seeing the column of cloud stand at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise and worship at the entrance of their own tents.
37 The Book of the Covenant (20:22-23:33)
20:23neither gods of silver nor gods of gold shall you make for yourselves.
Making a god of gold41 The Golden Calf (32:1-33:6)
32:31"Ah, this people has indeed committed a grave sin in making a god of gold for themselves!
38 The Blood of the Covenant (24:1-18)
24:12 The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain and, while you are there, I will give you the stone tablets on which I have written the commandments intended for their instruction."(24:12)
Obtaining the stone tablets of the commandments40 Sabbath Regulations (31:12-18)
31:18 When the LORD had finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the commandments, the stone tablets inscribed by God's own finger.(31:18)

7-6-1

36 The Ten Commandments (20:1-21)
  37 The Book of the Covenant (20:22-23:33)
  38 The Blood of the Covenant (24:1-18)
39 The Command to Make the Tabernacle (25:1-31:12)
Former halfRelationLatter half
36 The Ten Commandments (20:1-21)
20:2 "I, the LORD, am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery.(20:2)
The LORD, God39 The Command to Make the Tabernacle (25:1-31:12)
29:46 They shall know that I, the LORD, am their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, so that I, the LORD, their God, might dwell among them.(29:46)
37 The Book of the Covenant (20:22-23:33)
The book of the covenant
The book of the covenant38 The Blood of the Covenant (24:1-18)
24:7 Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people, who answered, "All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do." (24:7)

7-6-2

39 The Command to Make the Tabernacle (25:1-31:12)
  40 Sabbath Regulations (31:12-18)
  41 The Golden Calf (32:1-33:6)
42 The Tent Outside the Camp (33:7-11)
Former halfRelationLatter half
39 The Command to Make the Tabernacle (25:1-31:12)
Command to make the Tabernacle
The tent42 The Tent Outside the Camp (33:7-11)
The meeting tent
40 Sabbath Regulations (31:12-18)
31:14 Therefore, you must keep the sabbath as something sacred. Whoever desecrates it shall be put to death. If anyone does work on that day, he must be rooted out of his people. (31:14)
Being rooted out of one's own people41 The Golden Calf (32:1-33:6)
32:28 The Levites carried out the command of Moses, and that day there fell about three thousand of the people. (32:28)

7-7

43 The LORD goes with Israelites (33:12-17)
  44 The Glory of God (33:18-23)
    45 The Covenant Renewed (34:1-28)
      46 The shining face of Moses (34:29-35)
    47 Preparation for Constructing the Tabernacle (35:1-39:43)
  48 Construction of the Tabernacle (40:1-33)
49 The Cloud and the Glory (40:34-38)
Former halfRelationLatter half
43 The LORD goes with Israelites (33:12-17)
see 4-4-2
see 4-4-249 The Cloud and the Glory (40:34-38)
see 4-4-2
44 The Glory of God (33:18-23)
see 4-4-2
see 4-4-248 Construction of the Tabernacle (40:1-33)
see 4-4-2
45 The Covenant Renewed (34:1-28)
see 4-4-2
see 4-4-247 Preparation for Constructing the Tabernacle (35:1-39:43)
see 4-4-2

7-7-1

43 The LORD goes with Israelites (33:12-17)
  44 The Glory of God (33:18-23)
  45 The Covenant Renewed (34:1-28)
46 The shining face of Moses (34:29-35)
Former halfRelationLatter half
43 The LORD goes with Israelites (33:12-17)
33:13 Now, if I have found favor with you, do let me know your ways so that, in knowing you, I may continue to find favor with you. Then, too, this nation is, after all, your own people." (33:13)
Sign of the LORD's favor46 The shining face of Moses (34:29-35)
34:30 When Aaron, then, and the other Israelites saw Moses and noticed how radiant the skin of his face had become, they were afraid to come near him.(34:30)
44 The Glory of God (33:18-23)
33:22 When my glory passes I will set you in the hollow of the rock and will cover you with my hand until I have passed by
The LORD passed45 The Covenant Renewed (34:1-28)
34:6 the LORD passed before him

7-7-2

46 The shining face of Moses (34:29-35)
  47 Preparation for Constructing the Tabernacle (35:1-39:43)
  48 Construction of the Tabernacle (40:1-33)
49 The Cloud and the Glory (40:34-38)
Former halfRelationLatter half
46 The shining face of Moses (34:29-35)
34:33 When he finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.
Covered49 The Cloud and the Glory (40:34-38)
40:35 Moses could not enter the meeting tent, because the cloud settled down upon it and the glory of the LORD filled the Dwelling.
47 Preparation for Constructing the Tabernacle (35:1-39:43)
Preparation for Constructing the Tabernacle
Construction of the Tabernacle48 Construction of the Tabernacle (40:1-33)
Construction of the Tabernacle

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

Creative Commons License
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.

Comments