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Literary structure (chiasm, chiasmus) of Book of Numbers

Correspondence table of Pericopes and Literary Structure


The text can be divided in 49 (7 x 7) pericopes. This text includes, one 24 paired (49 pericopes) whole concentric structure, divided in two 12 paired concentric structures, divided in three 8 paired concentric structures, divided in four 6 paired concentric structures, divided in seven 3 paired concentric structures.

Pericope12347
1 The first census of Israel (1:1-47) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 7-1
2 The duties of Levites (1:48-54) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 7-1
3 The order of encampment and marching (2:1-34) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 7-1
4 The duties and census of the Levites 1 (3:1-51) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 7-1
5 The duties and census of the Levites 2 (4:1-49) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 7-1
6 Regulations for rituals and vow (5:1-6:27) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 7-1
7 Offerings of the leaders (7:1-88) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 7-1
8 Consecration and Service of the Levites (7:89-8:26) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 7-2
9 The passover at Sinai (9:1-14) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 7-2
10 The cloud and the fire (9:15-23) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 7-2
11 The silver trumpets (10:1-10) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 7-2
12 Departure from Sinai (10:11-28) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 7-2
13 Moses and Hobab (10:29-32) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 4-2 7-2
14 The ark of the covenant (10:33-36) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-2 7-2
15 Complaining in the Desert (11:1-35) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-2 7-3
16 Aaron and Miriam Jealous of Moses (12:1-16) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-2 7-3
17 Spies sent into Canaan (13:1-24) 1-1 2-1 3-1 3-2 4-2 7-3
18 The report of the spies (13:25-33) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 7-3
19 The People Rebel (14:1-10) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 7-3
20 Sin of rebellion (14:11-35) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 7-3
21 An Attempted Invasion is Repulsed (14:36-45) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 7-3
22 Sin offerings (15:1-31) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 7-4
23 Penalty for violating the Sabbath (15:32-36) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 7-4
24 Fringes on garments (15:37-41) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 7-4
25 Revolt of Korah, Dathan, and Abram (16:1-17:5) 1-1 2-1 2-2 3-2 4-2 4-3 7-4
26 Aaron saves the people (17:6-15) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 7-4
27 Aaron's Rod (17:16-28) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 7-4
28 Regulations about priests and Levites (18:1-32) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 7-4
29 Ceremony of the Red Heifer (19:1-22) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 7-5
30 The waters of Meribah (20:1-13) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 7-5
31 Passages through Edom refused (20:14-21) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 7-5
32 The death of Aaron (20:22-29) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 7-5
33 King Arad defeated (21:1-3) 1-1 2-2 3-2 3-3 4-3 7-5
34 The Bronze Serpent (21:4-9) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-3 7-5
35 The journey to Moab (21:10-20) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-3 7-5
36 King Sihon and King Og defeated (21:21-35) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-3 7-6
37 Balak and Balaam (22:1-40) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-3 4-4 7-6
38 Balaam's oracle (22:41-24:25) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 7-6
39 Worship of Baal of Peor (25:1-19) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 7-6
40 A Census of the New Generation (26:1-65) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 7-6
41 The daughters of Zelophehad (27:1-11) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 7-6
42 Joshua appointed Moses' successor (27:12-23) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 7-6
43 Regulations about offerings and vow (28:1-30:17) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 7-7
44 War against Midiam (31:1-54) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 7-7
45 Conquest and division of transjordan (32:1-42) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 7-7
46 The stages of Israel's journey from Egypt (33:1-49) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 7-7
47 Orders about heritage (33:50-34:29) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 7-7
48 Cities for the Levites and Refuge (35:1-34) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 7-7
49 Marriages of female heirs (36:1-13) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 7-7

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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