Event Title
Chiastic Structure of 2 Samuel 6–12
Location
Seminary Room N110
Start Date
10-2-2017 12:00 PM
End Date
10-2-2017 12:30 PM
Description
The book of Samuel is a brilliant work of biblical narrative literature, which has intrigued and enthralled generations of scholars. The book is littered with literary microstructures and macrostructures. Second Samuel’s macrostructure can be displayed in an AB//BA:
A Civil war between Saul’s house and David (1–5)
B David overcomes his enemies and the house of Saul (6–12)
A’ Civil war within the house of David (13–20)
B’ David praises Yhwh for delivering him from his enemies and Saul (21–24)
Many scholars have noted that the final section, B’ chaps. 21–24, has a chiastic macrostructure.
A Plague on Israel because of King Saul’s sin (21:1–14)
B List of David’s warriors and their deeds (21:15–22)
C David’s song of praise to Yhwh (chap. 22)
C’ David’s song of praise to Yhwh (23:1–7)
B’ List of David’s mighty men (23:8–39)
A’ Plague on Israel because of King David’s sin (chap. 24)
A similar chiastic structure appears in 2 Sam 6–12, which is presented in this paper focusing on how 2 Sam 6–7 aids the interpretation of its parallel chaps. 11–12. Through the chiastic links, David’s actions are compared and contrasted, as well as the characters Bath-Sha’ul and Bathsheba (and Uzzah and Uriah).
Chiastic Structure of 2 Samuel 6–12
Seminary Room N110
The book of Samuel is a brilliant work of biblical narrative literature, which has intrigued and enthralled generations of scholars. The book is littered with literary microstructures and macrostructures. Second Samuel’s macrostructure can be displayed in an AB//BA:
A Civil war between Saul’s house and David (1–5)
B David overcomes his enemies and the house of Saul (6–12)
A’ Civil war within the house of David (13–20)
B’ David praises Yhwh for delivering him from his enemies and Saul (21–24)
Many scholars have noted that the final section, B’ chaps. 21–24, has a chiastic macrostructure.
A Plague on Israel because of King Saul’s sin (21:1–14)
B List of David’s warriors and their deeds (21:15–22)
C David’s song of praise to Yhwh (chap. 22)
C’ David’s song of praise to Yhwh (23:1–7)
B’ List of David’s mighty men (23:8–39)
A’ Plague on Israel because of King David’s sin (chap. 24)
A similar chiastic structure appears in 2 Sam 6–12, which is presented in this paper focusing on how 2 Sam 6–7 aids the interpretation of its parallel chaps. 11–12. Through the chiastic links, David’s actions are compared and contrasted, as well as the characters Bath-Sha’ul and Bathsheba (and Uzzah and Uriah).