Chiastic Structures
The Written Word of Elohim contains many literary devices, one of which is the Chiastic Structure format.
Again, this structure is a literary device in which a narrative is divided into two halves, the themes of the first half being repeated in the second half, but in reverse order. The themes act as pointers to the Central Axis, or the thrust of the teaching. The only criteria is that the themes themselves be symmetrical about the Central Axis. The basic form is: ABC → X ← CBA. This example form illustrates only three themes, but there is no limit to the number of themes that may act as pointers to the Central Axis. And, there is no limit to how far removed these themes may be from the central axis. Some Chiastic structures are closely compacted, while others may cover a whole chapter, several chapters or even reside across several books of the Bible.
For some individuals it is helpful to diagram the concept of a Chiastic Structure in their mind as follows, in order to aid them in recognizing one when they are studying the Biblical record.
The following diagram illustrates a four-theme Chiastic Structure surrounding the Central Axis, being that of the Golden Calf of Exodus Chapters 32 -34:
Fire (Ex. 24:17) – Elohim’s presence descended atop Mt. Sinai
Cloud atop Mt. Sinai (Ex. 24:16) – Elohim’s presence, again
Command to Build Tabernacle (Ex. 25:8-9) – Elohim’s desire to dwell among His people
Shabbat Observance (Ex. 31:12-17) – The appointed time (Moed) with Elohim
→ Golden Calf Incident (Ex. 32-34) – Central Axis, or focus of the teaching
Shabbat Observance (Ex. 35:1-3) – The appointed time (Moed) with Elohim
Building of Tabernacle (Ex. 35:4 – 40:33) – Elohim will dwell if built to His instructions
Cloud descended on Tabernacle (Ex. 40:34) – Elohim’s presence, thus approval signified
Fire (Ex. 40:38) – Elohim’s presence atop Tabernacle, and thus approval signified
As in all forms of teaching devices, the central axis of the Chiastic Structure has its purpose – to point the reader to just what is the principal thrust, or teaching, centered on that axis. The surrounding themes are used as pointers, and thus provide the background to enlighten the reader as to the central teaching intended to be imparted.
So just what was the Golden Calf incident’s teaching thrust? In spite of all the miracles of Elohim leading up to the exodus itself, coming out of Egypt and traveling to Mt. Sinai, miracles acknowledged as to their source by Moses, the Children of Israel were focused on Moses the man, not Elohim the source of the miracles. Instead of looking through Moses as the appointed administrator of Elohim’s providence over, and protection of, the Children of Israel, they looked to Moses himself as their protector, provider and savior. When Moses absented himself from their presence for an unexpected and unspecified time period, their response was panic, so they acted to replace him with another ‘savior,’ one of their own making. Thus, Elohim quickly determined this generation was not ready to enter the Promised Land, due to their slave mentality and conditioned sense of reliance on a man – be it Pharaoh or Moses. The second generation from the Exodus would require considerable training – 40 years in the wilderness – in order to redirect their reliance upon the Creator Elohim, from that of a Moses, or substitution of a golden calf idol of their own making. Could it be that the idea for the latter came from the examples that were observed in Egypt for multiple generations?
A very compressed Chiastic Structure is found in Numbers 12:6-8, in the words of Elohim Himself, at the incident of Miriam’s and Aaron’s attempt to usurp Moses’ leadership during the wilderness journey. Its diagram is as follows:
Prophet/servant (Num.12:6a) - If there is a prophet among you
Elohim makes Himself known in a vision (Num. 12:6b)
Elohim speaks to him (prophet) in dreams (Num. 12:6c)
→ Not so with My Servant Moses (Num. 12:7 a and b) – Central Axis, he is faithful
Elohim speaks to him (Moses) face to face (Num 12:8a)
Elohim speaks even plainly, (Num. 12:8b) – not in dark sayings
Prophet/servant Moses sees form of Elohim (Num. 12:8c) – Why did you speak against Moses?
What was the teaching thrust to this Central Axis? Miriam and Aaron lost sight of the fact that Moses was commissioned by Elohim to lead the Children of Israel out of Egypt and to the Promised Land. Moses was no ordinary Prophet or servant of Elohim. Moses had a unique relationship with Elohim, a faithful Prophet/servant. By attempting to usurp Moses’ position, his sister and brother were actually going against Elohim Himself. The result was that Miriam (seemingly the initiator) became leprous, was put outside the camp for seven days and thus shamed for her actions. She was not faithful in honoring Elohim’s instructions to Moses.
Another Chiastic Structure, of much wider range than the above, is found in 2 Samuel 15:10 through 20:2, covering portions of six chapters. This particular Chiastic Structure contains eleven themes symmetrically pointing towards the central axis from each side. It is found in the narrative of David’s flight from his rebellious son Absalom. This Central Axis is interesting in that it contains the Messianic sign of life, death and the number three; viz., that three men brought David and his servants provisions (2 Sam. 17:27-29). Credit for discovery of this particular Chiastic Structure is to Tony Robinson’s book entitled The Scroll of the Gospel of David, Restoration of Torah Ministries, available through www.restorationoftorah.org. This ministry is an excellent resource for thematic analysis and the Hebraic literary device of Chiastic Structures.
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