Read Exodus 18:1-20:26 at Bible Gateway.
The paragraph divisions for yitro are posted here. The single chiastic structure formed by yitro is posted here. The first paragraph in yitro, Exo 18:1-27, forms its own chiastic structure:
1a) Exo 18:1-6, Jethro arrives to Moses;
1b) Exo 18:7-8, Moses met his father-in-law + Moses tells Jethro how YHVH judged Egypt;
1c) Exo 18:9-10, Jethro rejoiced in YHVH;
central axis) Exo 18:11, “Now I know that YHVH is greater than all the gods; for in the very thing in which they behaved proudly, He was above them;”
2c) Exo 18:12a, Jethro sacrificed to YHVH;
2b) Exo 18:12b-27, Aaron + elders met Moses’ father-in-law + Jethro tells Moses how to judge Israel;
2a) Exo 18:27 {p} Jethro departs from Moses.
So the main point of the entire paragraph, is the greatness of YHVH above all other gods, which are false gods and no gods at all.
The second paragraph in yitro, Exo 19:1-25, forms these interesting chiastic structures:
Exo 19:3-7a
1a) Exo 19:3a, Moses went up to God (Elohiym);
1b) Exo 19:3b, Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob;
central axis) Exo 19:4-6a, “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation;”
2b) Exo 19:6b, These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel;
2a) Exo 19:7a, Moses went down to the elders of the people.
In other words, the main point of this first chiastic structure is YHVH’s declaration of love for Israel, and the terms of the marriage covenant between Himself and Israel, His special treasure above all people.
Exo 19:7b-25
1a) Exo 19:7b-9, Moses brought back the words of the people to YHVH: “All that YHVH has spoken we will do;”
–> 1a) Exo 19:7b, Moses laid before the elders all these words which YHVH commanded him;
–> 1b) Exo 19:8a, Then all the people answered together, “All that YHVH has spoken we will do;”
–> central axis) Exo 19:8b, So Moses brought back the words of the people to YHVH;
–> 2b) Exo 19:9a, “I come to you in the thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever;”
–> 2a) Exo 19:9b, So Moses told the words of the people to YHVH.
1b) Exo 19:10-15, Consecrate the people + set bounds around the mountain lest the people be put to death:
–> 1a) Exo 19:10-11a, Consecrate the people + wash their clothes + be ready for the third day;
–>1b) Exo 19:11b, For on the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people;
–> central axis) Exo 19:12-13a, “You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, ‘Take heed to yourselves that you do not go up to the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. Not a hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with an arrow; whether man or beast, he shall not live;’”
–> 2b) Exo 19:13b, “When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come near the mountain;”
–> 2a) Exo 19:14-15, Moses sanctified the people + they washed their clothes to be ready for the third day.
1c) Exo 19:16a, Thunder, lightning, thick cloud on the mountain;
1d) Exo 19:16b, Trumpet sound was very loud;
1e) Exo 19:16c, People in the camp trembled;
central axis) Exo 19:17-18a, And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because YHVH descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace;
2e) Exo 19:18b, Mount Sinai quaked greatly;
2d) Exo 19:19a, Trumpet sounded long and loud;
2c) Exo 19:19b-20a, Moses spoke + God answered him by voice + the LORD came down upon Mt Sinai.
2b) Exo 19:20b-24, Warn the people lest they break through the bounds, and YHVH break out against them;
2a) Exo 19:25, So Moses went down to the people, and spoke to them the words of YHVH.
The main point of this second complex chiastic structure, is Israel’s response to God’s declaration of love and proposal of the covenant: All that YHVH has said, we will do. So Moses, the mediator of the covenant, brought the people out of the camp to meet with God. Moses is a type of Messiah and foreshadows this same reality in the new covenant. For we have been betrothed to a Bridegroom, who is returning in the culmination of the covenant, to make us His Bride. The covenant is all about the reunion, restoring the unity, which God and man enjoyed together in the Garden.
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