Read Exodus 38:21-40:28 at Bible Gateway.
outline of exodus by its hebrew paragraph divisions
exo 35:1-40:38, vayakhel + pekudei chiastic structures 2012 mar 17
exo 39-40, repetition in the paragraph divisions 2011 feb 15
exo 38:21-40:38, pekudei “countings” index
I was once again not wise enough to find the single chiastic structure formed by pekudei, although as I was working on it I realized that understanding the strong themes was the key to unlocking the chiastic structure. So I focused on pekudei‘s strong themes:
Exo 37:25-39:1 {sx5+p} With the offering brought for the tabernacle, Bezalel made all that the Lord commanded Moses
Exo 39:2-7 {s+p} He made the ephod + its shoulders
Exo 39:8-21 {p} He made the breastplate
Exo 39:22-32 {sx3+p} He made the priests’ coverings + all the work of the tabernacle was finished
Exo 39:33-43 {p} They brought the tabernacle to Moses, he inspected it and found it done according to the commandment
Exo 40:1-16-33 {sx8+p} On the first day of the first month, Moses erected the tabernacle + finished the work
Exo 40:34-38 {p} The cloud and the glory covered and filled the Tabernacle + directed their journey
The first strong theme crosses the boundary of the parashah and reaches back into vayakhel. This was one I was not able to complete when working on vayakhel‘s strong themes last week, but this week was able to complete it:
Exo 37:25-39:1 {sx5+p} strong theme paragraph divisions:
Exo 37:25-29 {s} He made the altar of incense + utensils + anointing oil + incense
Exo 38:1-7 {s} He made the altar of burnt offering + utensils
Exo 38:8 {s} He made the laver of bronze and its base
Exo 38:9-20 {s} He made the hangings + pillars + sockets + screen of the gate for the outer court
Exo 38:21-23 {s} The inventory for the tabernacle + Bezalel made all that the Lord commanded Moses
Exo 38:24-39:1 {p} The gold, silver, bronze for the tabernacle + blue, purple, scarlet thread for garments of ministry
Exo 37:25-39:1 {sx5+p} strong theme chiastic structure:
1a) Exo 37:25-29 {s} He made the incense altar + anointing oil + sweet incense (for ministering in the Holy Place);
1b) Exo 38:1-38:20 {sx3}, He made the furnishings (bronze altar + laver) and frame (bronze + silver) of the outer court;
central axis) Exo 38:21-23 {s} The inventory for the tabernacle + Bezalel made all that the Lord commanded Moses;
2b) Exo 38:24-31, The offering + its use for the furnishings + frame of the tabernacle:
–> 1a) Exo 38:24, Offering of gold + its use for the furnishings + frame of the Most Holy + Holy Place;
–> 1b) Exo 38:25-27, The offering of silver + its use for the frame of the Holy Place;
–> central axis) Exo 38:28, Silver used for the pillars of the outer court;
–> 2b) Exo 38:29-30a, The offering of bronze + its use for the entrance to the Holy Place;
–> 2a) Exo 38:30b-31, Offering of bronze + its use for the furnishing (bronze altar) + frame of the outer court.
2a) Exo 39:1 {p} He made garments of ministry for ministering in the Holy Place.
Most of what I learned this week I filed into my puzzle pieces necessary for future revelation file. I see the patterns and connections, but don’t understand them all yet. For example, why is the silver used for the pillars of the outer court, the central axis for the smaller chiastic structure from Exo 28:24-31? The surrounding elements force it into its place (as we have seen so many times before with the chiastic structures in Torah). I don’t know … but I do know that the materials, furnishings, frame, and function of the tabernacle all are shadows which proclaim Messiah, Immanuel, God with us, and teach us spiritual truths about God dwelling with man. I suspect that its meaning and importance will become clear at some point in the future.
One thing I did learn this week while studying this torah portion, was that just as each of the three sections of the tabernacle has its own 1) furnishings and 2) frame, curtains and coverings, the garments of ministry for the priests also have its own 1) furnishings and 2) frame, and “curtains and coverings” if you will. This is why there are two paragraphs, a weak and a strong, from Exo 39:2-7 concerning the ephod (I ask myself, why are these two paragraphs separated? Why aren’t they together as one? I learn the most interesting things that way LOL). The ephod is a furnishing, and the shoulders of the ephod are its frame. I am sure this will all be necessary to know to uncover the greater chiastic structures of Exodus.
Leave a Reply