The story of Abraham
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Clair B
Mar 7, 2010, 2:05:41 PM3/7/10
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The story of Abraham is interesting. If you've read through it, you may have noticed some of the stories repeat themselves. For example, there are two incidents where a king want's Sarah to be his wive, so Abraham tells the king Sarah is his sister. (Gen 12:10-20; Gen 20:1-18)
These parallel stories are arranged in a chiastic format -- essentially like an elaborate sandwich with bread, mayo, mustard, lettus, cheeze and meat; followed by the same ingredients in reverse order. The meat lies at the center of the inverted parallel structure.
Understanding this can bring a seemingly random collection of stories to life. Comparing and contrasting the parallels often lead to further insight.
At the center of the Abraham chiasmus is the focal point -- Abraham's covenant with God. Below is the chiastic structure of Abraham. Note that C' and D' seem to be out of order.
Gen 11:21-22:19
These parallel stories are arranged in a chiastic format -- essentially like an elaborate sandwich with bread, mayo, mustard, lettus, cheeze and meat; followed by the same ingredients in reverse order. The meat lies at the center of the inverted parallel structure.
Understanding this can bring a seemingly random collection of stories to life. Comparing and contrasting the parallels often lead to further insight.
At the center of the Abraham chiasmus is the focal point -- Abraham's covenant with God. Below is the chiastic structure of Abraham. Note that C' and D' seem to be out of order.
Gen 11:21-22:19
A Display of faith: Abram leaves his homeland; the first promise 11:31–12:3
B Abram sojourns in Canaan 12:4-9
C The stay in Egypt; Abram passes Sarai off as his sister 12:10-20
D The separation of Abram, who has the promise, from Lot, who does not have the promise 13:1-18
E The rescue of Lot 14:1-24
F Abram's fears of infertility are allayed by the promise of a son; God makes a covenant 15:1-21
G Sarai's attempt to get a son: Ishmael 16:1-16
X THE COVENANT; Abram's new name, etc. 17:1-10
G´ Circumcision; the rejection of Ishmael and the promise of a son through Sarah 17:9-27
F´ Sarah is told of the promise of a son, despite her fears of infertility 18:1-15
E´ The rescue of Lot 18:16–19:38
C´ The stay in Gerar; Abraham passes Sarah off as his sister 20:1-18
D´ The birth of Isaac; the separation of Isaac, the child of the promise, from Ishmael, the child outside the promise 21:1-21
B´ Abraham sojourns among the Philistines 21:22-34
A´ Display of faith: Abraham is willing to sacrifice Isaac; the final promise 22:1-19
B Abram sojourns in Canaan 12:4-9
C The stay in Egypt; Abram passes Sarai off as his sister 12:10-20
D The separation of Abram, who has the promise, from Lot, who does not have the promise 13:1-18
E The rescue of Lot 14:1-24
F Abram's fears of infertility are allayed by the promise of a son; God makes a covenant 15:1-21
G Sarai's attempt to get a son: Ishmael 16:1-16
X THE COVENANT; Abram's new name, etc. 17:1-10
G´ Circumcision; the rejection of Ishmael and the promise of a son through Sarah 17:9-27
F´ Sarah is told of the promise of a son, despite her fears of infertility 18:1-15
E´ The rescue of Lot 18:16–19:38
C´ The stay in Gerar; Abraham passes Sarah off as his sister 20:1-18
D´ The birth of Isaac; the separation of Isaac, the child of the promise, from Ishmael, the child outside the promise 21:1-21
B´ Abraham sojourns among the Philistines 21:22-34
A´ Display of faith: Abraham is willing to sacrifice Isaac; the final promise 22:1-19
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