Moses Never Forgot He Was A Hebrew

This chiasm in Exodus 2:11 shows that Moses never forgot he was a Hebrew, and it was inevitable that he would eventually rebel against Pharaoh's rule.

...and for the search engines:

• He went out to his people
• Looked on their burdens
• Witnessed their abuse
• A Hebrew, one of his people

The Structure of Jacob's House

These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah... (Genesis 46:18)

The house of a nomadic patriarch included his wives, his children, his servants, and their children. If he had multiple wives, each of them had her own sub-house made up of her own children, her personal servants, her handmaids, and her handmaids’ children, especially if they were also the patriarch’s concubines. If an infertile (or under-fertile) woman gave her servant girl to her husband as a concubine, the servant’s children were born free and belonged to the free woman as if they were her own. Inheritance in such situations was undoubtedly complicated, especially if the free wife had natural children of her own later. The conflict between Ishmael and Isaac is a good illustration.

In this passage, the children of Jacob’s four wives are listed first according to their mothers and then by their birth order. Leah’s children are given first and listed in age order, followed by Zilpah’s, Rachel’s, and finally Bilhah’s. This illustrates the internal structure of Jacob’s house according to his wives. Zilpah and her children were a subdivision within Leah’s house, because Zilpah was always Leah’s servant even while a concubine to Jacob. The same is true of Rachel and Bilhah.

On another level, this organization illustrates another structure within the nation of Israel. When the Hebrews left Egypt, they brought with them a mixed multitude of gentiles who came to be associated with one tribe or another, eventually becoming indistinguishable in every way. They were attached to Israel by faith in God’s promises and by their presence at Sinai. How tribal identities were determined or assigned I have no idea, but that they were, I have no doubt. By the time Israel entered the promised land, there was no more mixed multitude, but only the twelve tribes plus Levi.

Chiasm around the Covenant of Jonathan and David

A chiasm in 1 Samuel 17:58-18:1 surrounding the covenant of Jonathan and David, the adoption of David into Saul's house, and Jonathan's recognition of the transfer of power to David.

• 17:58 – David the son of Jesse
• 18:1 – David spoke to Saul
• Jonathan and David’s souls bound up together because Jonathan loved David as himself
• 18:2 – Saul took David that day (adopted) and wouldn’t let David go back to his father’s house
• 18:3 – Jonathan and David cut a covenant, because Jonathan loved David as himself
• 18:4 – Jonathan gave David his robe, clothes, sword, and bow
• 18:5 – David acts as the son of Saul

A Chiasm in Psalm 81 - God Is Waiting

All of Psalm 81 has some really cool and subtle references to God's grand redemption plan using Yoseph as a prefiguring of Yeshua, the "Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world." I'm pretty sure that Asaph, the author, is also overlaying the Fall and Spring feasts in order to reinforce the same message: Israel's release from bondage in Egypt was decreed even while they were at the heights of power, just as mankind's release from bondage to sin was decreed before Adam was even formed, let alone sinned.

Maybe I'll write more about that later.

In this chiasm, Israel's betrayal is framed by God's redemption, including a promise to forgive them when they repent. There's also an implication of Israel's role as a nation of prophets and priests to the whole world. God wanted to open their mouths and fill it with his voice. He wanted (wants!) them to be a conduit for his message to the world, but they were unwilling to hear it.

They will not always be unwilling. Joseph's brothers didn't immediately recognize him or understand the language he spoke, but he revealed himself to them when he was ready. So too will Yeshua reveal himself to his brothers, most of whom are as yet unable to recognize him.

• V6 – Relief from burdens
• V7 – God’s response to Israel’s call of distress in Egypt
• V8 – God calls Israel to hear him
• V9 – Don’t serve false gods
• V10a – I am your God and rescuer
• V10b – Open your mouth & I will fill it
• V11a – But you didn’t listen to my voice
• V11b – You would not submit to me
• V12 – God let Israel serve themselves
• V13 – God calls Israel to hear him
• V14 – God’s response to Israel’s repentance and call of distress in the world
• V16 – Rewards from God

Jacob's Concubines and Wives

...He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives... (Genesis 37:2)

Jacob's concubines, Bilhah and Zilpah, were concubines, but also fully his wives. The Hebrew word used here literally just means "woman," so translating it as some other word in English is a judgment call requiring the translator to make some assumptions about the original intent. Moses might have been just calling Bilhah and Zilpah Jacob's women, but it is the same word used in other passages to refer to Eve, Sarah, Hagar, Keturah, Rachel, Leah, and all of the other wives of the Bible, so the word "wives" is perfectly justified in this verse.

A concubine was not just a spare sex partner, but had rights and responsibilities in her husband's house. The primary difference between a concubine and any other wife in the Bible is that a concubine is also a slave. Keeping in mind that Biblically a slave has more rights than free men in most other ancient cultures, it certainly isn't an ideal relationship, but it's not the horrifying lot anti-patriarchs make it out to be either.