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Literary structure (chiasm, chiasmus) of Book of Deuteronomy

Chiastic Structure and Concentric Structure and Parallel of each pericope

[1]Events at Horeb recalled  (Deut 1:1-8)
 
  A(1:1-2)  
"These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel beyond the Jordan" (1:1)"   
(בעברהירדן)
    B(1:3)    "Moses spoke to the Israelites just as the LORD had commanded" (1:3)
      C(1:4)      Defeating two kings
  A'(1:5)  
"Beyond the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses undertook to expound this law as follows" (1:5)"   
(בעברהירדן)
    B'(1:6-8a)    "The LORD our God spoke to us at Horeb" (1:6)
      C'(1:8b)      "go in and take possession of the land" (1:8)
 
   A: Beyond the Jordan. B: The words of the LORD. C: Taking possession of the land.

[2]Appointment of Tribal Leaders  (Deut 1:9-18)
 
  A(1:9-13)  Command of Moses; Choose leaders
    B(1:14-15)    Leaders were selected
  A'(1:16-18)  Command of Moses; Judge rightly
 
   A: Words of Moses. B: Leaders were selected.

[3]Israel's refusal to enter the Land  (Deut 1:19-33)
 
  A(1:19)  The journey of wilderness
    B(1:20-21)    
Words of Moses; Do not fear   
(תירא)
      C(1:22)      Words of the people; Send men to report the land
        D(1:23-25)        The spy and report
      C'(1:26-28)      Words of the people; Where are we headed?
    B'(1:29-31)    
Words of Moses; Have no fear   
(תיראון)
  A'(1:32-33)  The LORD led Israel through the journey
 
   A: The journey of wilderness. B: Words of Moses. C: Words of the people. D: The spy and report.

[4]The penalty for Israel's rebellion  (Deut 1:34-45)
 
  A(1:34-40)  
"the LORD heard your words" (1:34)"   
(וישׁמעיהוה)
    B(1:41)    
People went up into the hill   
(לעלתההרה)
      C(1:42)      "I will not be in your midst" (1:42)
    B'(1:43)    
People went up into the hill   
(ותעלוההרה)
  A'(1:44-45)  
"he did not listen to your cry" (1:45)"   
(ולאשׁמע)
 
   A: The LORD heard your words. B: People went up into the hill. C: I will not be in your midst.

[5]The desert years  (Deut 1:46-2:25)
 
  A(1:46-2:1)  
Kadesh   
(בקדשׁ)
    B(2:2-6)    
"I have already given Esau possession of the highlands of Seir" (2:5)"   
(כילאאתן)
      C(2:7-8)      Description about the descendants of Esau who live in Seir
        D(2:9-13a)        "the descendants of Esau dispossessed them, clearing them out of the way and taking their place" (2:12)
  A'(2:13b-16)  
Kadesh-barnea   
(מקדשׁ)
    B'(2:17-19)    
"I have given it to the descendants of Lot as their own" (2:19)"   
(כילאאתן)
      C'(2:20-23)      Description about the descendants of Esau who live in Seir
        D'(2:24-25)        "Begin the occupation" (2:24)
 
   A: Kadesh. B: The lands of others. C: Description about the descendants of Esau who live in Seir. D: Occupation.

[6]Defeat of king Sihon  (Deut 2:26-37)
 
  A(2:26-29)  Israel requested to go through the town
    B(2:30)    Disturbance by Sihon
      C(2:31)      The words of the LORD
    B'(2:32)    Sortie of Sihon
  A'(2:33-37)  Israel occupied the towns
 
   A: Israel. B: Sihon. C: The words of the LORD.

[7]The land of king Sihon and Og  (Deut 3:1-22)
 
  A(3:1-3)  Command to occupy
    B(3:4-11)    "we took from the two kings of the Amorites beyond the Jordan the territory" (3:8)
      C(3:12-17)      Distribution of the lands
    B'(3:18-20)    "The LORD, your God, has given you this land as your own" (3:18)
  A'(3:21-22)  Command to occupy
 
   A: Command to occupy. B: Acquisition of the land. C: Distribution of the lands.

[8]Moses views Canaan from Pisgah  (Deut 3:23-29)
 
  A(3:23-25)  Wish of crossing over the Jordan
    B(3:26a)    Wrath of the LORD
    B'(3:26b-28)    Reject of the LORD
  A'(3:29)  In the ravine
 
   A: Movement of the people. B: Reject of the LORD.

[9]Exhortation to keep the law  (Deut 4:1-14)
 
  A(4:1)  
"hear the statutes and decrees which I am teaching you to observe" (4:1)"   
(אלהחקיםואלהמשׁפטים)
    B(4:2)    "you shall not add to what I command you nor subtract from it" (4:2)
      C(4:3)      
"You have seen with your own eyes" (4:3)"   
(הראת)
        D(4:4)        "you, who clung to the LORD, are all alive today" (4:4)
          E(4:5-6)          
"Look" (4:5)"   
(ראה)
            F(4:7)            
"what great nation" (4:7)"   
(מיגוי)
            F'(4:8)            
"what great nation" (4:8)"   
(ומיגוי)
          E'(4:9)          
"Do not forget the things which you yourselves have seen" (4:9)"   
(ראו)
        D'(4:10)        "they may learn to fear me as long as they live" (4:10)
      C'(4:11-12)      
"saw no form" (4:12)"   
(ראים)
    B'(4:13)    "his covenant, which he commanded you to keep" (4:13)
  A'(4:14)  
"to teach you the statutes and decrees which you are to observe" (4:14)"   
(חקיםומשׁפטים)
 
   A: The statutes and decrees. B: To command. C: To see. D: To live. E: To see. F: What great nation.

[10]Against idolatry  (Deut 4:15-31)
 
  A(4:15)  
"on the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb" (4:15)"   
(ביום)
    B(4:16-19)    
"do not be led astray and bow down to them" (4:19)"   
(ועבדתם)
      C(4:20)      "he has taken and led out of Egypt" (4:20)
        D(4:21-22)        
"I am going to die without crossing over the Jordan" (4:22)"   
(עבריאתהירדן)
          E(4:23-24)          Prohibition of idolatry
        D'(4:25-26)        
"you will soon utterly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan" (4:26)"   
(עבריםאתהירדן)
      C'(4:27)      "The LORD will scatter you among the nations" (4:27)
    B'(4:28-29)    
"you will serve other gods made by human hands" (4:28)"   
(ועבדתם)
  A'(4:30-31)  
"when all these things have happened to you in time to come" (4:30)"   
(הימים)
 
   A: On that day. B: Idolatry. C: The LORD led / scattered. D: The Jordan river, death. E: Prohibition of idolatry.

[11]Mighty acts of God  (Deut 4:32-40)
 
  A(4:32-33)  
Hearing the voice of God speaking out of a fire   
(מתוךהאשׁ)
    B(4:34)    
Signs and wonders in Egypt   
(במצרים)
      C(4:35)      
"the LORD is God; there is no other besides him" (4:35)"   
(יהוההואהאלהים)
  A'(4:36)  
Hearing the voice of God speaking out of a fire   
(מתוךהאשׁ)
    B'(4:37-38)    
"He brought you out of Egypt by his great power" (4:37)"   
(ממצרים)
      C'(4:39-40)      
"the LORD is God; there is no other" (4:39)"   
(יהוההואהאלהים)
 
   A: Hearing the voice of God speaking out of a fire. B: Egypt. C: The LORD is God.

[12]Cities of refuge East of the Jordan  (Deut 4:41-43)
 
  A(4:41)  "Moses set apart on the east side of the Jordan three cities" (4:41)
    B(4:42)    "to which a homicide could flee" (4:42)
  A'(4:43)  Bezer; Ramoth; Golan
 
   A: Three towns. B: The cities of refuge.

[13]Transition to the second address  (Deut 4:44-49)
 
  A(4:44-45)  
Israel set out from Egypt   
(בצאתםממצרים)
    B(4:46a)    
The land of King Sihon of the Amorites    
(בעברהירדן)
  A'(4:46b)  
Israel set out from Egypt   
(בצאתםממצרים)
    B'(4:47-49)    
The land of King Og of Bashan   
(בעברהירדן)
 
   A: Egypt. B: Two kings.

[14]The ten commandments  (Deut 5:1-22)
 
  A:(5:1-5)  
"The LORD spoke with you face to face on the mountain from the midst of the fire" (5:4)"   
(בהרמתוךהאשׁ)
    B:(5:6-10)    "You shall not have other gods besides me" (5:7)
      C(5:11)      "You shall not take the name of the LORD, your God, in vain" (5:11)
        D(5:12-15)        "No work may be done then, whether by you, or your son or daughter, or your male or female slave" (5:14)
          E(5:16)          Parents
            F(5:17)            Murder
          E'(5:18)          Adultery
        D'(5:19)        Stealing
      C'(5:20)      Perjury
    B'(5:21)    "You shall not covet your neighbor's wife" (5:21)
  A'(5:22)  
"the LORD spoke with a loud voice to your entire assembly on the mountain from the midst of the fire" (5:22)"   
(בהרמתוךהאשׁ)
 
   A: The LORD spoke on the mountain from the midst of the fire. B: Betrayal. C: Words. D: Rights of other people. E: Blood relative. F: Murder.

[15]Moses the mediator of God's will  (Deut 5:23-33)
 
  A(5:23)  "you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness" (5:23)
    B(5:24-26)    
"a man can still live after God has spoken with him" (5:24)"   
(היום)
      C(5:27)      
"We will listen and obey" (5:27)"   
(ועשׂינו)
  A'(5:28)  "The LORD heard your words" (5:28)
    B'(5:29)    
"to fear me and keep all my commands always" (5:29)"   
(הימים)
      C'(5:30-33)      
"they may observe them in the land which I am giving them to possess" (5:31)"   
(ועשׂו)
 
   A: To listen. B: Days. C: To do.

[16]Don't forget the Lord  (Deut 6:1-9)
 
  A(6:1-2)  
6:2 so that you and your son and your grandson may fear the LORD (6:2)   
(ובנך)
    B(6:3)    
"6:3 Hear then, Israel, (6:3)"   
(ושׁמעת)
    B'(6:4-5)    
"6:4 Hear, O Israel! (6:4)"   
(שׁמע)
  A'(6:6-9)  
"6:7 Drill them into your children. Speak of them at home and abroad, whether you are busy or at rest.(6:7)"   
(לבניך)
 
   A: Children. B: To listen.

[17]Caution against disobedience  (Deut 6:10-25)
 
  A(6:10-12)  
"6:12 take care not to forget the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery. (6:12)"   
(מצרים)
    B(6:13-15)    6:14 You shall not follow other gods (6:14)
    B'(6:16-19)    6:16 You shall not put the LORD, your God, to the test (6:16)
  A'(6:20-25)  
"6:21 We were once slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with his strong hand (6:21)"   
(במצרים)
 
   A: Egypt. B: Prohibition.

[18]Destroy them  (Deut 7:1-5)
 
  A(7:1-2)  "you must utterly destroy them" (7:2)
    B(7:3-4)    Prohibition of marriage with pagan
  A'(7:5)  "break down their altars, smash their pillars, hew down their sacred poles, and burn their idols with fire" (7:5)
 
   A: Destruction. B: Prohibition of marriage with pagan.

[19]God chooses Israelites  (Deut 7:6-15)
 
  A(7:6)  "you are a people sacred to the LORD" (7:6)
    B(7:7-8)    
"the oath he had sworn to your fathers" (7:8)"   
(נשׁבע)
  A'(7:9-11)  "the LORD your God is God, the faithful God" (7:9)
    B'(7:12-15)    
"he promised on oath to your fathers" (7:12)"   
(נשׁבע)
 
   A: God and the people. B: The oath to your fathers.

[20]Don't be afraid  (Deut 7:16-26)
 
  A(7:16)  You shall consume
    B(7:17-21)    
The LORD destroyed them   
(אבד)
      C(7:22)      "He will dislodge these nations before you little by little" (7:22)
    B'(7:23-24)    
The LORD destroyed them   
(והאבדת)
  A'(7:25-26)  You shall consume
 
   A: You shall consume. B: The LORD destroyed them. C: He will dislodge these nations before you little by little.

[21]God's care in the wilderness  (Deut 8:1-20)
 
  A(8:1)  The land which the LORD promised on oath to your fathers
    B(8:2-4)    Fourty years in the wilderness
      C(8:5)      you must realize that the LORD (8:5)
        D(8:6-9)        "keep the commandments of the LORD your God, by walking in his ways and by fearing him" (8:6)
      C'(8:10)      you must bless the LORD, your God (8:10)
    B(8:11-16)    Exodus
  A'(8:17-20)  The covenant which he swore to your fathers
 
   A: The covenant to the fathers. B: Exodus. C: The commandments about the LORD. D: Keep the commandments of the LORD.

[22]Warning about perish  (Deut 9:1-6)
 
  A(9:1-3)  To drive them out
    B(9:4a)    It is not because of your merits
  A'(9:4b-5)  To drive them out
    B'(9:6)    It is not because of your merits
 
   A: To drive them out. B: It is not because of your merits.

[23]The consequences of rebelling against God  (Deut 9:7-29)
 
  A(9:7-10)  "I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights without eating or drinking" (9:9)
    B(9:11-14)    The words of the LORD
      C(9:15-17)      Destruction of the tablets
        D(9:18-19)        "for forty days and forty nights without eating or drinking" (9:18)
      C'(9:20-21)      Destruction of the idol
    B'(9:22-24)    The words of the LORD
  A'(9:25-29)  "Throughout the forty days and forty nights that I lay prostrate before the LORD" (9:25)
 
   A: Forty days and forty nights. B: The words of the LORD. C: Destruction. D: Forty days and forty nights.

[24]The second pair of tablets  (Deut 10:1-11)
 
  A(10:1-2)  The words of the LORD
    B(10:3-5)    
10:5 placed the tablets in the ark I had made (10:5)   
(ארון)
      C(10:6)      Death of Aaron
    B'(10:7-9)    
10:8 to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD (10:8)   
(ארון)
  A'(10:10-11)  The words of the LORD
 
   A: The words of the LORD. B: The ark of the covenant of the LORD. C: Death of Aaron.

[25]The essence of the law  (Deut 10:12-22)
 
  A(10:12-14)  
"heaven and the heaven of heavens belong to the LORD your God" (10:14)"   
(השׁמים)
    B(10:15)    "the LORD chose you, out of all the peoples" (10:15)
      C(10:16)      "Circumcise, then, the foreskin of your heart" (10:16)
        D(10:17-18)        "who loves the strangers" (10:18)
      C'(10:19)      "You shall also love the stranger" (10:19)
    B'(10:20-21)    "He is your glory, he, your God" (10:21)
  A'(10:22)  
"the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars in heaven" (10:22)"   
(השׁמים)
 
   A: Heaven. B: The people of the LORD. C: Exhortation. D: The LORD loves weak people.

[26]Great deeds of the Lord  (Deut 11:1-9)
 
  A(11:1)  
"keep his charge, his decrees, his ordinances, and his commandments always" (11:1)"   
(ושׁמרת)
    B(11:2)    
"It is not your children, who have not known it from experience" (11:2)"   
(לאראו)
      C(11:3-4)      Miracle in the Red Sea
        D(11:5)        "what he did for you in the desert" (11:5)
      C'(11:6)      Miracle of Dathan and Abiram
    B'(11:7)    
"With your own eyes you have seen all these great deeds" (11:7)"   
(הראת)
  A'(11:8-9)  
"Keep, then, this entire commandment" (11:8)"   
(ושׁמרתם)
 
   A: Keep commandments. B: To see. C: Miracles of destruction. D: Miracles in the desert.

[27]Blessings and curses  (Deut 11:10-32)
 
  A(11:10-12)  "the land which you are to enter and occupy" (11:10)
    B(11:13-17)    Blessing and Curse about grain wine and oil
      C(11:18-21)      "Bind them at your wrist as a sign, and let them be a pendant on your forehead" (11:18)
      C'(11:22-25)      "loving the LORD, your God, and following his ways exactly" (11:22)
    B'(11:26-30)    "I set before you here, this day, a blessing and a curse" (11:26)
  A'(11:31-32)  "to enter and occupy the land which the LORD, your God, is giving you" (11:31)
 
   A: The land which you are to enter. B: Blessing and Curse. C: Following to the LORD.

[28]Correct place for worship  (Deut 12:1-12)
 
  A(12:1-4)  "the land which the LORD has given you to occupy" (12:1)
    B(12:5-7)    Holocausts; personal contributions; several offerings
  A'(12:8-10)  "your resting place, the heritage which the LORD will give you" (12:9)
    B'(12:11-12)    Holocausts; personal contributions; several offerings
 
   A: The land which the LORD has given. B: Offerings.

[29]A prescribed place of worship  (Deut 12:13-28)
 
  A(12:13-15)  "the unclean as well as the clean may eat it, as they do the gazelle or the deer" (12:15)
    B(12:16)    "you shall not partake of the blood" (12:16)
      C(12:17-20)      "you must eat before the LORD, your God, in the place he chooses" (12:18)
  A'(12:21-22)  "You may eat it as you would the gazelle or the deer: the unclean and the clean eating it alike" (12:22)
    B'(12:23-25)    "make sure that you do not partake of the blood" (12:23)
      C'(12:26-28)      "the place which the LORD chooses" (12:26)
 
   A: The gazelle or the deer. B: You shall not partake of the blood. C: The place which the LORD chooses.

Deut 12:1-7
  A(12:1)  "the land which the LORD has given you to occupy" (12:1)
    B(12:2-3)    "Destroy without fail every place on the high mountains, on the hills" (12:2)
  A'(12:4-5)  "the place which the LORD, your God, chooses out of all your tribes and designates as his dwelling" (12:5)
    B'(12:6-7)    Offerings
 
   A: Places. B: Destruction of altars of pagan / services for the LORD.

Deut 12:8-28
  A(12:8)  
"what seems right to himself" (12:8)"   
(הישׁר)
    B1(12:9-12)    Regulations about offerings
    B2(12:13-19)    Regulations about offerings
    B3(12:20-27)    Regulations about offerings
  A'(12:28)  
"what is good and right in the sight of the LORD " (12:28)"   
(והישׁר)
 
   A: What is right. B: Regulations about offerings.

[30]Slaughtering animals  (Deut 12:29-13:19)
 
  A1(12:29-30)  A temptation of pagan
    B1(12:31-13:1)    Countermeasure against a temptation
  A2(13:2-4)  A temptation of pagan
    B2(13:5-6)    Countermeasure against a temptation
  A3(13:7-9)  A temptation of pagan
    B3(13:10-12)    Countermeasure against a temptation
  A4(13:13-14)  A temptation of pagan
    B4(13:15-19)    Countermeasure against a temptation
 
   A: A temptation of pagan. B: Countermeasure against a temptation.

[31]Regulations  (Deut 14:1-25:16)
 
  A(14:1-21)  Sacred people: "the LORD chose you from all the nations" (14:2)
    B(14:22-15:18)    
"The needy: "remember that you were slaves in Egypt" (15:15)"   
(מצרים)
      C(15:19-23)      
"First-born male: "You will eat it at home, unclean and clean together" (15:22)"   
(והטהור)
        D(16:1-16:17)        Feasts of the LORD: "you shall make merry in his presence together with your son and daughter, your male and female slave, and the Levite who belongs to your community, as well as the alien, the orphan and the widow among you" (16:11)
          E(16:18-17:13)          
Heresy and judgment: regulations about capital punishment   
(וסקלתם)
            F(17:14-20)            Kings: "he will not think himself superior to his brothers" (17:20)
              G(18:1-8)              
"Levites: "The whole priestly tribe of Levi shall have no share in the heritage with Israel" (18:1)"   
(ונחלה)
                H(18:9-22)                Prophets: "these nations whom you are to dispossess" (18:14)
                  I(19:1-21)                  
"Cities of Refuge and judgment: "innocent blood will not be shed and you will not become guilty of bloodshed" (19:10)"   
(דםנקי)
                    J(20:1-20)                    Wars
                  I'(21:1-9)                  
"Dead body and judgment: " let not the guilt of shedding innocent blood remain in the midst of your people Israel" (21:8)"   
(דםנקי)
                H'(21:10-21)                Family: "When you go out to war against your enemies and the LORD, your God, delivers them into your hand, so that you take captives" (21:10)
              G'(21:22-23)               
"Hanged man: "you will defile the land which the LORD, your God, is giving you as an inheritance" (21:23)"   
(נחלה)
            F'(22:1-12)            Animals and beneficence: "If you see your brother's ox or one of his sheep straying, you must not disregard it: you must take it back to your brother" (22:1)
          E'(22:13-23:1)          
Divorce and judgment: regulations about capital punishment   
(וסקלוה)
        D'(23:2-9)        The community of the LORD: regulations about person who cannot be admitted into the community
      C'(23:10-24:9)      
"Uncleanness of the people: "any one of you is unclean by reason of a nocturnal emission" (23:11)"   
(טהור)
    B'(24:10-22)    
"The needy: "remember that you were slaves in Egypt" (24:18)"   
(במצרים)
  A'(25:1-16)  Wicked: "Everyone who is dishonest in any of these matters is an abomination to the LORD, your God." (25:16)
 
   A: Sacred people. B: The needy. C: Uncleanness. D: The community of the LORD. E: Death penalty. F: Love for brothers. G: The inheritance. H: Victory against enemies. I: Blood of innocent people. J: Wars.

[32]Destroy Amalek  (Deut 25:17-19)
 
  A(25:17)  
25:17 Bear in mind what Amalek did to you (25:17)   
(עמלק)
    B(25:18)    25:18 he harassed you along the way (25:18)
    B'(25:19a)    25:19 the LORD, your God, gives you rest from all your enemies (25:19)
  A'(25:19b)  
25:19 you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under the heavens. Do not forget! (25:19)   
(עמלק)
 
   A: Amalek. B: Attack and protection.

[33]First fruits and tithes  (Deut 26:1-15)
 
  A(26:1-3)  
"the land which he swore to our fathers he would give us" (26:3)"   
(נשׁבע)
    B(26:4)    
"The priest shall set it in front of the altar of the LORD" (26:4)"   
(והניחו)
      C(26:5-10a)      Confession of faith
    B'(26:10b-11)    
"having set them before the LORD" (26:10)"   
(והנחתו)
  A'(26:12-15)  
"the land flowing with milk and honey which you promised on oath to our fathers" (26:15)"   
(נשׁבעת)
 
   A: The land which the LORD swore to the fathers. B: To set for the LORD. C: Confession of faith.

[34]Concluding exhortation  (Deut 26:16-19)
 
  A1(26:16)  
"This day the LORD" (26:16)"   
(היום)
  A2(26:17)  
"Today you are making this agreement with the LORD (26:17)"   
(היום)
  A3(26:18-19)  
"today the LORD" (26:18)"   
(היום)
 
   A: Today.

[35]The inscribed stones and altar on Mount Ebal  (Deut 27:1-10)
 
  A(27:1)  
"Keep all these commandments which I enjoin on you today" (27:1)"   
(המצוה)
    B(27:2-3)    
"write on them all the words of this law" (27:3)"   
(התורה)
    B'(27:4-8)    
"On the stones you shall inscribe all the words of this law" (27:8)"   
(התורה)
  A'(27:9-10)  
"keep his commandments and statutes which I enjoin on you today" (27:10)"   
(מצותו)
 
   A: The commandments. B: The words of this law.

[36]Twelve curses  (Deut 27:11-26)
 
  A(27:11-13)  Twelve tribes
    B(27:14)    "The Levites shall proclaim aloud to all the men of Israel" (27:14)
  A'(27:15-26)  Twelve commands
 
   A: Twelve. B: The Levites.

[37]Blessings for obedience and warnings against disobedience  (Deut 28:1-46)
 
  A(28:1-2)  
"if you continue to heed the voice of the LORD" (28:1)"   
(והיהאםשׁמוע)
    B(28:3-6)    Six blessings
      C(28:7-13)      Other blessings
        D(28:14)        "not turning aside to the right or to the left from any of the commandments which I now give you" (28:14)
  A'(28:15)  
"if you do not hearken to the voice of the LORD" (28:15)"   
(והיהאםלאתשׁמע)
    B'(28:16-19)    Six curses
      C'(28:20-44)      Other curses
        D'(28:45-46)        "you would not hearken to the voice of the LORD, your God, nor keep the commandments and statutes" (28:45)
 
   A: To heed the voice of the LORD. B: Six blessings and curses. C: Other blessings and curses. D: Warnings.

[38]Warning against descendants  (Deut 28:47-68)
 
  A(28:47-48)  "He will put an iron yoke on your neck, until he destroys you" (28:48)
    B(28:49-57)    
"The LORD will raise up against you a nation from afar, from the end of the earth" (28:49)"   
(מקצההארץ)
      C(28:58-59)      "he will smite you and your descendants with severe and constant blows" (28:59)
        D(28:60)        "all the diseases of Egypt" (28:60)
        D'(28:61)        "any kind of sickness or calamity" (28:61)
      C'(28:62)      "Of you who were numerous as the stars in the sky, only a few will be left" (28:62)
    B'(28:63-67)    
"The LORD will scatter you among all the nations from one end of the earth to the other" (28:64)"   
(מקצההארץ)
  A'(26:68)  "there you will offer yourselves for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves" (28:68)
 
   A: Slaves. B: The end of the earth. C: Destruction of the descendants. D: Disease.

[39]The covenant renewed in Moab  (Deut 28:69-29:28)
 
  A(28:69)  The words of the covenant
    B(29:1-7)    
"the LORD did in the land of Egypt" (29:1)"   
(מצרים)
      C(29:8)      
"Keep the terms of this covenant" (29:8)"   
(הברית)
        D(29:9-14)        
"your chiefs and judges, your elders and officials, and all of the men of Israel" (29:9)"   
(אישׁ)
          E(29:15-16)          "the loathsome idols of wood and stone, of gold and silver" (29:16)
        D'(29:17)        
"no man or woman, no clan or tribe among you" (29:17)"   
(אישׁ)
      C'(29:18-20)      
"in keeping with all the curses of the covenant" (29:20)"   
(הברית)
    B'(29:21-27)    
"the God of their fathers, had made with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt" (29:24)"   
(מצרים)
  A'(29:28)  "we may carry out all the words of this law" (29:28)
 
   A: Words. B: Egypt. C: The covenant. D: The people of the tribe. E: The idol.

[40]With heart and soul  (Deut 30:1-14)
 
  A(30:1-5)  
30:2 I am laying down for you today (30:2)   
(מצוךהיום)
    B(30:6)    
30:6 with all your heart and all your soul (30:6)   
(בכללבבךובכלנפשׁך)
      C(30:7)      30:7 But all those curses the LORD, your God, will assign to your enemies and the foes who persecuted you.(30:7)
        D'(30:8)        30:8 You, however, must again heed the LORD'S voice and carry out all his commandments which I now enjoin on you.(30:8)
      C'(30:9)      30:9 the LORD, your God, will again take delight in your prosperity, even as he took delight in your fathers', (30:9)
    B'(30:10)    
30:10 with all your heart and all your soul. (30:10)   
(בכללבבךובכלנפשׁך)
  A'(30:11-14)  
30:11 I am laying down for you today (30:11)   
(מצוךהיום)
 
   A: I am laying down for you today. B: With all your heart and all your soul. C: Curses and prosperity. D: Reconciliation.

[41]Life and death  (Deut 30:15-20)
 
  A(30:15)  
"30:15 Here, then, I have today set before you life and prosperity, death and doom.(30:15)"   
(נתתי)
    B(30:16-18)    
30:16 you will live and grow numerous (30:16)   
(וחיית)
  A'(30:19a)  
"30:19 I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. (30:19)"   
(נתתי)
    B'(30:19b-20)    
30:19 you and your descendants may live (30:19)   
(תחיה)
 
   A: To set the blessing and the curse. B: To live.

[42]Joshua becomes Moses' successor  (Deut 31:1-8)
 
  A(31:1-6)  
"It is the LORD, your God, who will cross before you" (31:3)"   
(לפניך)
  A'(31:7-8)  "It is the LORD who marches before you" (31:8)
 
   A: The LORD who will cross before you.

[43]The law to be read every seventh year  (Deut 31:9-13)
 
P(31:9-11)he entrusted this law to the levitical priests who carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel (31:9)
  A(31:12)  
"fear the LORD, your God" (31:12)"   
(ויראואתיהוה)
  A'(31:13)  
"fear the LORD, your God" (31:13)"   
(ליראהאתיהוה)
 
   A: Fear the LORD, your God.

[44]Introduction to Song of Moses  (Deut 31:14-23)
 
  A(31:14a)  The words of the LORD
    B(31:14b-15)    Acts of Moses
      C(31:16-18)      
"They will forsake me and break the covenant which I have made with them" (31:16)"   
(והפראתבריתי)
        D(31:19)        "this song may be a witness for me against the Israelites" (31:19)
      C'(31:20-21)      
"despising me and breaking my covenant" (31:20)"   
(והפראתבריתי)
    B'(31:22)    Acts of Moses
  A'(31:23)  The words of the LORD
 
   A: The words of the LORD. B: Acts of Moses. C: Breaking the covenant. D: This song may be a witness.

[45]Moses prepares to recite his song  (Deut 31:24-29)
 
P(31:24-25)Command of Moses
  A(31:26)  
"there it may be a witness against you" (31:26)"   
(לעד)
    B(31:27)    
"Why, even now, while I am alive among you, you have been rebels against the LORD!" (31:27)"   
(מותי)
  A'(31:28)  
"so may call heaven and earth to witness against them" (31:28)"   
(ואעידה)
    B'(31:29)    
"after my death you are sure to become corrupt and to turn aside from the way" (31:29)"   
(מותי)
 
   A: Witness. B: Corruption after death of Moses.

[46]The song of Moses  (Deut 31:30-32:44)
 
  A(31:30)  
The words of this song   
(דבריהשׁירה)
    B(32:1-6)    "A faithful God, without deceit" (32:4)
      C(32:7-18)      "You forgot the God who gave you birth" (32:18)
        D(32:19-26)        The wrath of God
      C'(32:27-35)      "these foes would mistakenly boast" (32:27)
    B'(32:36-43)    "there is no god besides me" (32:39)
  A'(32:44)  
The words of this song   
(דבריהשׁירה)
 
   A: The words of this song. B: The true God. C: Sins of human. D: The wrath of God.

[47]Moses' death foretold  (Deut 32:45-52)
 
  A(32:45)  32:45 When Moses had finished speaking all these words to all Israel, (32:45)
    B(32:46-47)    32:47 you are to enjoy a long life on the land which you will cross the Jordan to occupy. (32:47)
  A'(32:48)  32:48 On that very day the LORD said to Moses, (32:48)
    B'(32:49-52)    32:52 You may indeed view the land at a distance, but you shall not enter that land (32:52)
 
   A: Words. B: To enjoy a long life on the land / not to enter the land.

[48]Moses' blessing on Israel  (Deut 33:1-29)
 
  A(33:1-5)  "a king in Jeshurun" (33:5)
    B1(33:6)    Reuben
    B2(33:7)    Judah
    B3(33:8-11)    Levi
    B4(33:12)    Benjamin
    B5(33:13-17)    Joseph
    B6(33:18-19)    Zebulun; Issachar
    B7(33:20-21)    Gad
    B8(33:22)    Dan
    B9(33:23)    Naphtali
    B10(33:24)    Asher
  A'(33:25-29)  "There is none like God, O Jeshurun" (33:26)
 
   A: Jeshurun. B: Twelve tribes.

[49]Israel mourns the death of Moses  (Deut 34:1-12)
 
  A(34:1-3)  The promised land
    B(34:4)    The words of the LORD
      C(34:5-7)      Death of Moses
    B'(34:8-9)    34:9 carrying out the LORD'S command to Moses (34:9)
  A'(34:10-12)  Egypt
 
   A: The promised land and Egypt. B: The words of the LORD. C: Death of Moses.


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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