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Literary structure (chiasm, chiasmus) of Books of Samuel


Correspondence table of Pericopes and Literary Structure


1 and 2 Samuel were not separated in original Hebrew version.
The text can be divided in 81 (9 x 9) pericopes. This text includes, one 40 paired (81 pericopes) whole concentric structure, divided in two 20 paired concentric structures, divided in three 13 paired concentric structures, divided in four 10 paired concentric structures, divided in five 8 paired concentric structures, divided in nine 4 paired concentric structures.

Pericope123459
1 Prologue of Samuel's Birth (1S1:1-8) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-1
2 Samuel's Birth (1S1:9-28) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-1
3 Hannah's Prayer (1S2:1-10) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-1
4 The Child Samuel at Shiloh (1S2:11-26) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-1
5 Prophecy Against Eli's Household (1S2:27-36) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-1
6 Samuel's Calling and Prophetic Activity (1S3:1-21_1S4:1a) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-1
7 The Ark of God Captured (1S4:1b-22) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-1
8 The Pilistines and the Ark (1S5:1-12) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-1
9 The Ark Returned to Israel (1S6:1-21_1S7:1) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-1
10 Samuel at Judge (1S7:2-17) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-2
11 Israel Demands a King (1S8:1-22) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-2
12 Saul Chosen to Be King (1S9:1-1S10:16) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-2
13 Saul Proclaimed King (1S10:17-27) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-2
14 Saul Defeats the Ammonites (1S11:1-15) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-2
15 Samuel's Farewell Address (1S12:1-25) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-2
16 Saul's Unlawfull Sacrifice (1S13:1-23) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-2
17 Jonathan Surprises and Routs the Philistines (1S14:1-46) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 5-2 9-2
18 Saul's Continuing Wars (1S14:47-52) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-2 9-2
19 Saul Defeats the Amalekites (1S15:1-35) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-2 9-3
20 David Anointed as King (1S16:1-13) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-2 9-3
21 David Plays the Lyte for Saul (1S16:14-23) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 4-2 5-2 9-3
22 David and Goliath (1S17:1-58) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-2 5-2 9-3
23 Saul Tries to Kill David (1S18:1-30) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-2 5-2 9-3
24 David Escapes (1S19:1-24) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-2 5-2 9-3
25 The Friendship of David and Jonathan (1S20:1-42) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-2 5-2 9-3
26 David and Ahimelech (1S21:1-1S22:23) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-2 5-2 9-3
27 David at Keilah (1S23:1-14) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-2 5-2 9-3
28 David at Ziph (1S23:15-28) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-2 9-4
29 David Spares Saul's Life (1S24:1-23) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-2 9-4
30 Death of Samuel, David and the Wife of Nabal (1S25:1-44) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-2 9-4
31 David Spares Saul's Life a Second Time (1S26:1-25) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-2 9-4
32 David Serves King Achish of Gath (1S27:1-12) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-2 9-4
33 Saul Consults a Medium (1S28:1-25) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-2 5-3 9-4
34 The Philistines Reject David (1S29:1-11) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-3 9-4
35 David Avenges the Destruction of Ziklag (1S30:1-31) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-3 9-4
36 The Death of Saul and His Sons (1S31:1-13) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-3 9-4
37 David Mourns for Saul and Jonathan (2S1:1-27) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-3 9-5
38 David Anointed King of Judah (2S2:1-11) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-3 9-5
39 The Battle of Gibeon (2S2:12-32_2S3:1) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-3 9-5
40 Birth of David's Son at Hebron (2S3:2-5) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-3 9-5
41 Abner Defects to David (2S3:6-21c) 1-1 2-1 2-2 3-2 4-2 4-3 5-3 9-5
42 Abner Id Killed by Joab (2S3:21d-39) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-3 9-5
43 Ishbaal Assassinated (2S4:1-12) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-3 9-5
44 David Anointed King of All Israel (2S5:1-5) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-3 9-5
45 Jerusalem Made Capital of the United Kingdom (2S5:6-12) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-3 9-5
46 Birth of David's Son at Jerusalem (2S5:13-16) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-3 9-6
47 Philistine Attack Repulsed (2S5:17-25) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-3 9-6
48 David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem (2S6:1-15) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-3 9-6
49 Michal Despises (2S6:16-23) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-3 5-4 9-6
50 God's Covenant With David (2S7:1-17) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-4 9-6
51 David's Prayer (2S7:18-29) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-4 9-6
52 David's Wars (2S8:1-14) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-4 9-6
53 David's Officers (2S8:15-18) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-4 9-6
54 David's Kindness to Mephibosheth (2S9:1-13) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-4 9-6
55 The Ammonites and Arameans Are Defeated (2S10:1-19) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-3 5-4 9-7
56 David Commits Adultery With Bathsheba (2S11:1-27) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-3 5-4 9-7
57 Nathan Condemns David (2S12:1-14) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-3 5-4 9-7
58 Solomon Is Born (2S12:15-25) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-3 5-4 9-7
59 The Ammonites Crushed (2S12:26-31) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-3 5-4 9-7
60 Amnon and Tamar (2S13:1-22) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-3 5-4 9-7
61 Absalom Avenges the Violation of His Sister (2S13:23-2S14:33) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-3 4-4 5-4 9-7
62 Absalom Usurps the Throne (2S15:1-12) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-4 9-7
63 David Flees From Jerusalem (2S15:13-29) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-4 9-7
64 Hushai Becomes David's Spy (2S15:30-37) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-4 9-8
65 David's Adversaries (2S16:1-14) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-4 5-5 9-8
66 The Counsel of Ahithophel (2S16:15-2S17:26) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-8
67 Preparation for War (2S17:27-2S18:5) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-8
68 The Defeat and Death of Absalom (2S18:6-18) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-8
69 David Hears of Absalom's Death (2S18:19-2S19:9b) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-8
70 David Recalled to Jerusalem (2S19:9c-15) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-8
71 Simei, Mephibosheth (2S19:16-31) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-8
72 Barzillai (2S19:32-40) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-8
73 Israel and Judah (2S19:41-44) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-9
74 The Rebellion of Sheba (2S20:1-22) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-9
75 David's officers (2S20:23-26) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-9
76 David Avenges the Gibeonites (2S21:1-14) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-9
77 Exploits of David's Men (2S21:15-22) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-9
78 David's Song of Thanksgiving (2S22:1-51) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-9
79 The Last Words of David (2S23:1-7) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-9
80 David's Mighty Men (2S23:8-39) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-9
81 David's Census of Israel and Judah (2S24:1-25) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-9

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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