exodus 13:17-17:16, annual cycle beshalach chiastic structure

Read Exodus 13:17-17:16 at Bible Gateway.

The Hebrew paragraph divisions for beshalach are:

Exo 13:17-22 {p} God led them Himself in a pillar of cloud and fire
Exo 14:1-14 {p} Pharaoh pursues Israel + Israel complains + the Lord’s assurance of deliverance
Exo 14:15-25 {p} The Red Sea divided; Israel goes through on dry ground
Exo 14:26-31 {p} The Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea
Exo 15:1 {s} Song of Moses + Sing to YHVH, for He has triumphed gloriously!
Exo 15:2 {s} YHVH has become my salvation
Exo 15:3 {s} YHVH is a man of war
Exo 15:4 {s} He has cast Pharaoh’s army into the sea
Exo 15:5 {s} The depths of the sea have covered them
Exo 15:6 {s} YHVH’s right hand glorious in power + dashed the enemy in pieces
Exo 15:7 {s} YHVH overthrew His enemy by the greatness of His power
Exo 15:8 {s} YHVH made the waters stand upright
Exo 15:9 {s} The enemy said I will pursue and destroy them
Exo 15:10 {s} YHVH made the waters cover them
Exo 15:11 {s} Who is like YHVH glorious in holiness fearful in praises doing wonders
Exo 15:12 {s} YHVH’s right hand caused the earth to swallow them
Exo 15:13 {s} in mercy YHVH has led forth His people whom He has redeemed
Exo 15:14 {s} Philistia will be in anguish
Exo 15:15 {s} Edom, Moab and Canaan will be dismayed
Exo 15:16 {s} They will be in dread till the redeemed of Israel pass over
Exo 15:17 {s} YHVH will plant Israel in His established place
Exo 15:18 {s} YHVH shall reign forever and ever
Exo 15:19 {p} Egyptians drowned in the sea + Israel went on dry land in the sea
Exo 15:20-21 {s} Dance of Miriam + Sing to YHVH, for He has triumphed gloriously!
Exo 15:22-26 {s} Israel complained of no water + waters of Marah (bitterness) made sweet
Exo 15:27-16:3 {s} Israel complained of no bread
Exo 16:4-10 {p} YHVH answered that He will provide bread from heaven
Exo 16:11-27 {s} YHVH provides manna + Sabbath rest commandment
Exo 16:28-36 {p} The Sabbath rest is YHVH’s commandment + memorial of manna
Exo 17:1-7 {p} YHVH provides water from the rock at Massah and Meribah
Exo 17:8-13 {p} Amalek fought with Israel + Joshua defeated Amalek
Exo 17:14-16 {p} YHVH will have war with Amalek from generation to generation

It turns out that beshalach forms a single complex chiastic structure:

Exo 13:17-17:16
1a) Exo 13:17-15:21 px4+sx18+p+s, Wilderness journey + war with Egypt + YHVH’s triumph/ memorialized;
– 1a.1) Exo 13:17-22 p, All the congregation of Israel set out on their journey by the way of the wilderness;
– 1a.2) Exo 14:1-31 p+p+p, Egypt fought with Israel + YHVH defeated Egypt through Moses;
– 1a.3) Exo 15:1-21 sx18+p+s, Song of Moses + dance of Miriam (YHVH triumphed gloriously);
1b) Exo 15:22-26 s, Contention at the waters of Marah:
– 1b.1) Exo 15:22-23, Israel went out into the Wilderness of Shur + found no water;
– 1b.2) Exo 15:24, Israel complained against Moses;
– 1b.3) Exo 15:25a, Moses cried out to YHVH;
– 1b.4) Exo 15:25b, YHVH showed Moses how to make the bitter water sweet;
– 1b.5) Exo 15:25c-26 s, There YHVH tested Israel;
1c) Exo 15:27-16:1, Israel came to Elim (twelve wells + seventy palm trees);
1d) Exo 16:2-3 s, Lack of bread in the wilderness;
1e) Exo 16:4-5, YHVH will rain bread from heaven + that He may test them;
1f) Exo 16:6-12, Israel saw the glory of YHVH;
1g) Exo 16:13-15, Manna from heaven;
1h) Exo 16:16a, The thing that YHVH has commanded;
central axis) Exo 16:16b-27 s, gathering manna day by day + not gathering manna on Sabbath i.e., Sabbath rest taught;
2h) Exo 16:28-30, Sabbath rest is YHVH’s commandment;
2g) Exo 16:31, Israel called its name Manna;
2f) Exo 16:32, That future generations may see the bread from heaven;
2e) Exo 16:33-34, Aaron will keep bread from heaven + as a Testimony;
2d) Exo 16:35a, Provision of bread in the wilderness;
2c) Exo 16:35b-36 p, Until Israel came to Canaan;
2b) Exo 17:1-7 p, Contention at the waters of Massah and Meribah:
– 2b.1) Exo 17:1, Israel went out from the Wilderness of Sin + found no water;
– 2b.2) Exo 17:2-3, Israel complained against Moses;
– 2b.3) Exo 17:4, Moses cried out to YHVH;
– 2b.4) Exo 17:5-6, YHVH showed Moses how to bring water from the rock;
– 2b.5) Exo 17:7 p, There Israel tested YHVH;
2a) Exo 17:1-16 p+p+p, Wilderness journey + war with Amalek + YHVH’s triumph/ memorialized;
– 2a.1) Exo 17:1-7 p, All the congregation of Israel set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sin;
– 2a.2) Exo 17:8-13 p, Amalek fought with Israel + YHVH defeated Amalek through Joshua;
– 2a.3) Exo 17:14-16 p, Moses: “The LORD is my banner” + war with Amalek from generation to generation.

Sabbath rest, the central axis of the entire parashah. May we bow our knee to the King of the universe, and honor Him on His holy day, with rest.