Read Genesis 18:1-22:24 at Bible Gateway.
The paragraph divisions for vayeira are posted here. Vayeira forms a complete chiastic structure by itself, which is posted here. Each of the paragraph divisions also form their own chiastic structures, some of which are posted here. This week I was working on the chiastic structure for the akedah, the binding of Isaac, Gen 22:1-24:
Gen 21:33-22:19
1a) Gen 21:33-34, Abraham dwelt in Beersheba;
1b) Gen 22:1-2, God: Go to Moriah and offer your only son Isaac as a burnt offering;
1c) Gen 22:3-9, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering (chiasm);
central axis) Gen 22:10, Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son;
2c) Gen 22:11-15, Abraham called the name of the place, The LORD will provide (chiasm);
2b) Gen 22:16-18, God: Because you have not withheld your only son Isaac, blessing, because you have obeyed;
2a) Gen 22:19, Abraham returned to Beersheba and dwelt there.
The C pairs each form mini chiastic structures with the provision of the Lord as the central axis:
Gen 22:3-9 (1c pair above):
1a.1) Gen 22:3-5, Abraham went to the place of which God had told him (chiasm);
1a.2 Gen 22:6, Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son;
central axis) Gen 22:7-8, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering;
2a.1) Gen 22:9a, Then they came to the place of which God had told him;
2a.2) Gen 22:9b, Abraham bound Isaac his son and laid him upon the wood.
Gen 22:11-15 (2c pair above):
1a) Gen 22:11-12, The Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven;
central axis) Gen 22:13-14, Abraham beheld the ram + called the name of the place, The LORD will provide;
2a) Gen 22:15, The Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven.
Furthermore, the 1a.1 pair of the Gen 22:3-9 chiastic structure above also forms its own mini chiastic structure:
Gen 22:3-5 (1a.1 pair above):
1a) Gen 22:3, Abraham saddled his donkey, took two of his young men and Isaac his son and went;
central axis) Gen 22:4, Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off;
2a) Gen 22:5, Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go and come back to you.”
The signs of messiah are overwhelmingly evident in all the central axis’ of these chiastic structures (more on the signs of messiah in the akedah).
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