GENESIS: SIX LEVELS OF SYMMETRY

Books such as The Shape of Biblical Language and Chiasmus in Antiquity demonstrate that some of the symmetrical literary forms found in the Bible are the same as those seen in the ancient literature of other Mediterranean cultures as well as in later religious writings and liturgies (see my posts entitled: “Chiasms in the Book of Mormon” and “John Welch's Literary Analysis of the Book of Mormon”) . This symmetry can be defined as literary units or paragraphs which match up in language and/or theme with other units in the same book in a regular manner in parallel cycles (such as ABC-A'B'C'); chiastic structures (such as ABC-C'B'A'); or combinations of these two forms (such as AB-CDC'-AB).

What those books fail to point out is that the extrabiblical examples often occur in (a) only one section of a larger literary work or (b) do not extend any further than one level of symmetry. By marked contrast, the books of the Bible not only show overall symmetry, but that symmetry almost always extends down to at least one more level. As an example, look at the Book of Genesis. The overall literary structure in Figure 1 demonstrates that it alternates in a regular manner between narrative sections and genealogy lists.

Figure 1: Divisions in the Book of Genesis

I. Narrative (1:1-4:26)

II. Genealogy (5:1-6:8)

III. Narrative (6:9-9:29)

                                                IV. Genealogy (10:1-31)

V. Narrative (10:32-11:9)

VI. Genealogy (11:10-26)

VII. Narrative–Abraham (11:27-25:11)

VIII. Genealogy (25:12-18)

IX. Narrative–Isaac/Jacob (25:19-35:29)

X. Genealogy (36:1-43)

                        XI. Narrative–Joseph (37:1-50:29)

Of these eleven major sections, the last one is the largest. Its structure is defined below:

Figure 2: The Joseph Cycle

A. Jacob’s family dwells in Canaan (37:1-2a)

B. Joseph’s favored status (special garment) (37:2b-3)

C. Separation from brothers (37:4-36)

1. Joseph dreams

                                                    2. The pit–threatened death, slavery in Egypt

                                                        3. Jacob deceived by Joseph’s brothers

D. Judah’s first test (ch. 38)

E. Joseph as a slave (39:1-20)

1. The Lord is with Joseph

                                                                                        2. Overseer of house

                                                                                            3. Potiphar prospers

                                                                                                4. Joseph’s first test

                                                                                                    5. Thrown into prison

E'. Joseph as a prisoner (39:21-41:36)

                                                                            1. The Lord is with Joseph

                                                                                2. Overseer of prisoners

                                                                                    3. Work prospers

                                                                                        4. Joseph’s second test

                                                                                            5. Released from prison

B'. Joseph’s favored status (special garment) (41:37-44)

C'. Reunion with brothers (41:45-42:38)

                                        1. Joseph’s dream fulfilled

                                            2. Prison–threatened death and slavery in Egypt

                                                3. Jacob told the truth by Joseph’s brothers

D'. Judah’s second test (43:1-44:34)

A'. Jacob's family dwells in Egypt; Promise of return to Canaan (45:1-50:26)

Sub-Structure of the Joseph Cycle

The symmetry present in the Joseph Cycle can actually be shown to exist on a further level of organization for the largest unit in Figure 2 – Section A':

Figure 3: The Structure of Section A' (Genesis 45-50) 

1. Joseph weeps and comforts distressed brothers (45:1-8)

    2. Joseph and father's household dwell in Egypt (45:9-47:27) 

        3. Years of Jacob's life (47:28-29a)

            4. Promise to bury Jacob (47:29b-31)

 

                5. Jacob blesses Joseph's sons; younger favored (48:1-20)

                    6. Joseph blessed; promise of return to Canaan (48:21-22)

                5'. Jacob blesses his sons; younger favored (49:1-28)

 

        3'. Jacob dies (49:29-33)

            4'. Jacob is buried (50:1-50:14)

1'. Joseph weeps and reassures distressed brothers (50:15-21)

    2'. Joseph and father's household dwell in Egypt (50:22-26)

The largest of these sub-units, Section A'2, evinces a symmetry of its own:

Figure 4: The Structure of Section A'2 (Genesis 45:9-47:27)

a. Joseph will provide food during famine (45:9-11)

    b. Joseph's charge to brothers (45:12-15)

        c. Pharaoh's provision for Jacob's family (45:16-24)

            d. Charge delivered to Jacob; “I must see him before I die” (45:25-28)

                e. Israel “sets out” to Beersheba (46:1-2)

                    f. God's promise to Jacob (46:3-4)

                e'. Jacob and family “set out” to Egypt (46:5-27)

            d'. Jacob sees Joseph; “I can now die” (46:28-30)

    b'. Joseph's charge to brothers (46:31-47:6)

        c'. Jacob blesses Pharaoh (47:7-10)

a'. Joseph provides food during famine (47:13-27)

 

In turn, the largest of these units can be further subdivided:

Figure 5: The Structure of Section A'2e' (Genesis 46:5-27)

(1). “Jacob and his offspring who came to Egypt” (46:5-8)

    (2). Eight tribes (46:9-19)

        (3). Joseph's two sons (46:20)

    (2'). Three tribes (46:21-25)

        (3'). Joseph's two sons (46:26-27a)

(1'). “All the offspring of Jacob who came to Egypt” (46:27b)

 

Drilling down even further into the structure:

Figure 6: The Structure of Section A'2e'(2)

(a) children of four patriarchs (46:9-12a)

    (b) children of Perez (46:12b)

(a') children of two patriarchs (46:13-14)

        (c)“These are the sons of X...she bore to Jacob,” “daughter”(46:15)

(a'') children of two patriarchs (46:16-17a)

    (b') children of Beriah (46:17b)

        (c') “These are the children of Y...she bore to Jacob,” “daughter” (46:18)

I would defy anyone to find a document, ancient or new, outside of the Bible which contains six successive layers of symmetry or near-symmetry in it