Read Exodus 10:1-13:16 at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraph divisions for “bo” are:
Exo 10:1-11 {s} Warning of the plague of locusts
Exo 10:12-20 {p} The plague of locusts
Exo 10:21-29 {p} The plague of darkness
Exo 11:1-3 {s} One final plague + favor in the sight of the Egyptians
Exo 11:4-8 {s} One final plague + distinction between Israel
Exo 11:9-10 {s} Pharaoh will/ did not heed + wonders multiplied in Egypt
Exo 12:1-20 {p} Passover + Unleavened Bread instruction
Exo 12:21-28 {s} Israel observed the Passover as YHVH had commanded Moses
Exo 12:29-36 {p} Final plague: death of the firstborn
Exo 12:37-42 {p} Israel ceased their sojourn in Egypt
Exo 12:43-50 {s} The ordinance of the Passover
Exo 12:51 {p} YHVH brought Israel out of Egypt
Exo 13:1-10 {p} Ordinance of the firstborn + Unleavened Bread
Exo 13:11-16 {p} Ordinance of the firstborn a sign to future generations
There are so many smaller and larger and overlapping chiastic structures in this parashah, that it has been a challenge to map them all and discover the single chiastic structure that bo forms (here are the smaller structures discovered previously). But I did find a new one this year, right in the heart of bo:
Exo 11:1-12:36, sx3+p+s+p
1a) Exo 11:1-3 s, Pharaoh will drive you out/ favor in the sight of the Egyptians:
– 1a.1) Exo 11:1, One more plague, afterward Pharaoh will let you go/ drive you out;
– 1a.2) Exo 11:2-3 s, Ask silver + gold/ the Lord gave them favor in the sight of Egyptians;
1b) Exo 11:4-10 s+s, At midnight I will strike the land of Egypt and the all the firstborn shall die;
1c) Exo 12:1, Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying;
1d) Exo 12:2-14, Passover instruction:
– 1d.1) Exo 12:2-11, Choose + kill unblemished lamb/ its blood on the doorposts + lintel;
– 1d.2) Exo 12:12-13, For I will pass through Egypt + strike the firstborn/ when I see the blood, I will pass over you;
– 1d.3) Exo 12:14, This Passover a memorial feast to the Lord throughout your generations by everlasting ordinance;
1e) Exo 12:15-16, Eat unleavened bread for seven days/ whoever eats leaven will be cut off;
1f) Exo 12:17a, You shall observe Unleavened Bread;
central axis) Exo 12:17b, On this day I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt;
1f) Exo 12:17c, Therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations as an everlasting ordinance;
2e) Exo 12:18-20 p, You shall eat unleavened bread for seven days/ whoever eats leaven shall be cut off;
2d) Exo 12:21-27, Passover commandment:
– 2d.1) Exo 12:21-22, Choose + kill the Passover lamb/ its blood on the lintel + doorposts;
– 2d.2) Exo 12:23, The Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians/ when He sees the blood, He will pass over the door;
– 2d.3) Exo 12:24-27, You shall observe this Passover as an ordinance for you and your sons forever;
2c) Exo 12:28 s, The children of Israel did so; just as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did;
2b) Exo 12:29-30, At midnight the Lord struck the firstborn of Egypt, and they died;
2a) Exo 12:31-36 p, Pharaoh drove them out/ favor in the sight of the Egyptians:
– 2a.1) Exo 12:31-34, Pharaoh let them go/ Egyptians drove them out in haste;
– 2a.2) Exo 12:35-36 p, Israel asked silver + gold/ the Lord gave them favor in the sight of Egyptians.
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