exodus 30:11-34:35, annual ki tisa “when you take” chiastic structure

Read Exodus 30:11-34:35 at Bible Gateway.

exo 30:11-34:35 hebrew paragraph divisions
exo 30:11-34:35 index of study notes
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The chiastic structure for ki tisa has eluded me for several years, but this the LORD has revealed it:

1a) Exo 30:11-31:11 {p+p+s+s+p} Spirit- filled worship and service;

1a) Exo 30:11-16 {p} Atonement money (census) shall be for the service of the tabernacle;
1b) Exo 30:17-21 {p} The pattern for the laver of bronze, i.e., washing: the transition from the world to the Lord’s presence;
central axis) Exo 30:22-33 {s} The pattern for the holy anointing oil, i.e., anointing to serve as minister and priest;
2b) Exo 30:34-38 {s} The pattern for the continual holy incense, i.e., prayer in the Holy Place of the Lord’s presence;
2a) Exo 31:1-11 {p} Bezalel called and equipped by the Spirit to make the tabernacle.

1b) Exo 31:12-17 {s} The Sabbath commandment;

1c) Exo 31:18-32:6 {p} Aaron and the people make the golden calf, i.e., idolatry;

1d) Exo 32:7-13, The sin of Israel + the mediation of Moses;

central axis) Exo 32:14 {p} “So the LORD relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people;”

2d) Exo 32:15-35 {s} Moses + Levites restrained the sin of the people + the mediation of Moses;

2c) Exo 33:1-11 {p} The bad news: the Lord will not go up with them;

2b) Exo 33:12-16 {p} “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

2a) Exo 33:17-34:35 {p+p+s} Keep My commandments;

1a) Exo 33:17-23 {p} The plea of Moses: show me Your glory;
1b) Exo 34:1-4, Moses took up the second set of tablets;
central axis) Exo 34:5-26 {p} The renewal of the covenant = keep My commandments;
2b) Exo 34:27-29a, Moses brought down the second set of tablets with the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments;
2a) Exo 34:29b-35 {s} Moses’ face shown with the glory of the Lord he had seen.

I had previously seen that ki tisa divides into three chiastic structures, the two of the A pair, and the central portion. But how could it be that the A pairs relate, that is the question that kept me from seeing the whole parashah structure. I thought there must be another structure that I wasn’t seeing. But the A pair relates in a way that will blow your mind!

So let’s look at the A pair. In the 1a pair a definite pattern emerges:

atonement
washing
anointing
prayer
equipped by the Spirit for the work of the ministry

This is the pattern every believer in Messiah Yeshua follows. First He makes atonement for us by His blood. When we receive His gift of grace, we are washed clean from our sins. This is basic salvation, or justification, that sets us in right- standing with the Father. Next comes the anointing oil of the Holy Spirit, or as Acts calls it, the baptism of the Spirit. The purpose of the baptism, Jesus tells us, is that we may receive power to serve as witnesses of Him to the ends of the earth (Act 1:8). But someone might say, Wait a minute. The holy anointing oil is reserved for the priests. Yes – in Messiah, we all serve as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exo 19:6):

You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Pet 2:5

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Pet 2:9

Following the anointing oil of His Spirit, is continual prayer going up before God in the Holy Place. This is a powerful picture of our daily relationship with the Lord, of formal prayer in our prayer closet morning and evening, but also of continual communion with the Lord throughout the day, for the smoke of the incense continues for some length of time after it has been lit. In other words, as we go about our day, we are constantly speaking with Him in our hearts, not only for wisdom and guidance, but also in sharing whatever comes up, as friends do, as parents and children do, as even lovers do. That sharing is two- way, for He is also constantly speaking to us in that still small voice in our hearts, and through many sundry and various means.

Now the believer, so prepared, is equipped with gifts for the work of the ministry (Eph 4:7-12, Rom 12:6-8, 1 Cor 12:1-11). The 1a pair reveals by prophetic type and foreshadow, our Spirit- filled worship and service! (Yes, charismatic Christians, Torah is speaking to you!)

Now the 2a pair: Notice what the LORD says:

And He said: “Behold, I make a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord. For it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.” Exo 34:10

Jesus echoes this very thing when He says:

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” Joh 14:12-14

The works Jesus did were healing the sick, raising the dead, feeding thousands with five loaves and two fishes, walking on water, answering every question with wisdom, even trick questions designed to entrap Him – the things of the Spirit (Act 10:38). The believer in Messiah Yeshua (that is me and you) will do greater works than Jesus, because He went to His Father. What happened when He went to His Father? He poured out His Spirit on His disciples (Act 1:4-9, Act 2).

Notice that in the structure above, the comment of the Lord about the great works is in the central axis of the 2a pair that we are discussing. Following it in the same central axis, is the summary of His commandments which are originally found in Exo 20-23. And what surrounds it? Moses took up the 2nd set of tablets, and he brought down the 2nd set of tablets, inscribed with the words of the Ten Commandments. So you might say the central axis of the 2a pair has at its heart, the prophecy of the miraculous works of the Spirit of God, enclosed and bounded by the commandments of God.

Now if you would really like your mind blown, go back to Jesus’ discourse in Joh 14:

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” Joh 14:12-18

John 14:15 is at the heart: “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” This admonition is enclosed and bounded by the prophecy of the miraculous works of the Spirit (Joh 14:15 is the central axis of the chiastic structure found in Joh 14). Jesus is repeating the same message that Moses heard on Mount Sinai at the renewal of the covenant, but in reverse order.

Torah people – fear not walking in the gifts of the Spirit, for Torah prophesied of you that you would do so! Charismatic people – fear not walking in the commandments of the LORD, for Jesus prophesied that you would do so (echoing both Torah and the Prophets), empowered by the Spirit!