I study the Torah every year using the teaching tools of Scripture. (Why?)
Today is the 39th Sabbath of the annual Torah cycle. The Torah reading (parashah) is Pinchas, Phinehas, Num 25:10-29:40.
The paragraph divisions are as follows:
Num 25:10-15 p YHVH’s covenant of peace with Phinehas son of Eleazar son of Aaron
Num 25:16-26:1a p (and it came to pass after the plague. p) Harass the Midianites and attack them
Num 26:1b-51 p The number of the believing generation
— Num 26:1b-11 s The number of Reuben was 43,730
— Num 26:12-14 s The number of Simeon was 22,200
— Num 26:15-18 s The number of Gad was 40,500
— Num 26:19-22 s The number of Judah was 76,500
— Num 26:23-25 s The number of Issachar was 64,300
— Num 26:26-27 s The number of Zebulun was 60,500
— Num 26:28-37 s The number of Joseph: Manasseh =52,700, Ephraim =32,500
— Num 26:38-41 s The number of Benjamin was 45,600
— Num 26:42-43 s The number of Dan was 64,400
— Num 26:44-47 s The number of Asher was 53,400
— Num 26:48-51 p The number of Naphtali was 45,400, total = 601,730
Num 26:52-27:5 p Those who will inherit the land
— Num 26:52-56 s To this number shall the land be divided among them
— Num 26:57-65 s Levites = 23,000 + not a man was numbered previously
— Num 27:1-5 p The case of the daughters of Zelophehad
Num 27:6-11 p If a man die without a son, his inheritance shall pass to his daughter
Num 27:12-23 p Joshua, not Moses, will lead the people in and cause them to inherit the land
— Num 27:12-14 s Moses to go up to Mount Abarim to see the land before his death
— Num 27:15-23 p Joshua inaugurated to lead the people in
Num 28:1-8 p Daily offerings, morning and evening
Num 28:9-10 p Offerings for the Sabbath
Num 28:11-31 p Offerings for the new moon and spring feast days
— Num 28:11-15 s Offerings for the new moon
— Num 28:16-25 s Offerings for Passover and Unleavened Bread
— Num 28:26-31 p Offerings for the Feast of Weeks
Num 29:1-40 p Offerings for the fall feast days
— Num 29:1-6 s Offerings for the Feast of Trumpets
— Num 29:7-11 s Offerings for the Day of Atonement
— Num 29:12-16 s Offerings for the 1st day of Tabernacles (13)
— Num 29:17-19 s Offerings for the 2nd day of Tabernacles (12)
— Num 29:20-22 s Offerings for the 3rd day of Tabernacles (11)
— Num 29:23-25 s Offerings for the 4th day of Tabernacles (10)
— Num 29:26-28 s Offerings for the 5th day of Tabernacles (9)
— Num 29:29-31 s Offerings for the 6th day of Tabernacles (8)
— Num 29:32-34 s Offerings for the 7th day of Tabernacles (7) = 70
— Num 29:35-40 p Offerings for the 8th day following Tabernacles (1)
I am not wise enough to see a single chiastic structure which encompasses this parashah. But I have found something interesting. In this parashah, there is a bookend which links back to the beginning of Numbers:
Num 1:1-26:65
1a) Num 1:1-3, In the wilderness of Sinai, number the children of Israel;
1b) Num 1:4-3:51, The number ofIsrael+ Levites at Sinai;
— 1) Num 1:1-47, The number of the armies ofIsrael, 603,550;
— 2) Num 1:48-54, The Levites were not numbered as they will not inherit the land;
— 3) Num 2:1-31, The families of tribes + Levites encamped around the tabernacle;
— 4) Num 3:1-10, The seed of Aaron who are to attend to the priesthood;
— 5) Num 3:11-51, YHVH has taken the Levites, 22,000, instead of the firstborn, 22,273;
1c) Num 4:1-49, The duties of the Levites in the service of the tabernacle;
1d) Num 5:1-31, Uncleanness, defilement removed from camp; unfaithful wife;
2d) Num 25:1-9, Uncleanness, defilement removed from camp; unfaithful Israel;
2c) Num 25:10-18, Duty of priesthood: make atonement for Israel to turn YHVH’s wrath from Israel;
2b) Num 26:1b-26:62, The number of Israel + Levites at Acacia Grove;
— 1) Num 26:1b-51, The number of the children of Israel, 601,730;
— 2) Num 26:52-56, Those who were numbered who will inherit the land;
— 3) Num 26:57, The families of Levites numbered;
— 4) Num 26:58-61, The seed of Aaron;
— 5) Num 26:62, The number of the Levites, 23,000;
2a) Num 26:63-65,There was not a man left of those who were numbered at Sinai.
What is the central axis? I admit I don’t know! I am in the process of uncovering the central part of this structure, which encompasses most of the book of Numbers! But this is why we can study Torah over and over again, year after year, and never come to the end of the treasures it contains! Increase me in wisdom, dear God, so that I may see wonderful things out of Your Torah!
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