Style And Structure In Biblical Hebrew Narrative

by Jerome T. Walsh

The pages of the Hebrew Bible are filled with stories - short and long, funny and sad, histories, fables, and morality tales. The ancient narrators used a variety of stylistic devices to structure, to connect, and to separate their tales - and thus to establish contexts within which meaning comes to light. What are these devices, and how do they guide our reading and our understanding of the text? Style and Structure in Biblical Hebrew Narrative explores some of the answers and shows scriptural interpretation can be a matter of style." Part one of Style and Structure in Biblical Hebrew Narrative examines a wide variety of symmetrical patterns biblical Hebrew narrative uses to organize its units and subunits, and the interpretive dynamics those patterns can imply. Part two addresses the question of boundaries between literary units. Part three examines devices that biblical Hebrew narrative uses to connect consecutive literary units and subunits. Chapters in Part Structures of Organization are "Reverse Symmetry," "Forward Symmetry," "Alternating Repetition," "Partial Symmetry," "Multiple Symmetry," "Asymmetry." Chapters in Part Structures of Disjunction are "Narrative Components," "Repetition," and "Narrative Sequence." Chapters in Part Structures of Conjunction are "Threads," " Examples," "Linked Examples," " Examples," and "Double-Duty Examples." Jerome T. Walsh, PhD, is a professor of theology and religious studies at the University of Botswana. He is the author of 1 Kings in the Berit Olam (The Everlasting Covenant) Studies in Hebrew Narrative and Poetry series for which he is also an associate editor. "

Genres: Biblical Studies, Theology, Christian

224 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2001

Reviews

[Jacob Aitken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walsh, Jerome T.
#chiasm

Chiasms are now familiar models in biblical studies, for which we are grateful. A chiasm demonstrates literary unity and purpose, and if an author had a purpose, and we can prove a unity by a chiasm in a text, then much of liberal scholarship is wrong.

Jerome Walsh does not simply cover new ground by showing dozens of chiasm. Had he only done that, his book would still be a success. But he does more. By showing chiasms in the text, he invites readers to ask questions of the text. For example, when the themes/words repeat in the bottom half of the chiasm, are we seeing an intensification of action?

We tend to think of all X patterns in the bible as chiasms, but there are subgroups within the chiasm. A strict chiasm forms a tight X, like below

A.
B
C
B'
A'

Looser chiasms, by contrast, are more properly known as concentric patterns:

A
B
B'
A'

Sometimes the Hebrew words in a text form a chiasm, such as in Numbers 12:13

'el na' repa na lah

'el
na'
repa
na
la

In these lines we see the reversal is mediated by Moses's repeated entreaty "na."

Elsewhere, the subunits can form an inclusio, highlighting thematic elements.

Not all structures are chiastic. One common one is Forward Symmetry:

A
B
C
A'
B'
C'

The episode in 1 Kings is such an example.

A. Bathsheba, David
B. Nathan, David
A' David, Bathsheba
B' David, Nathan

**Alternating Repetition**

In its simplest form it is ABA'. If it is expanded, it is now ABA'B', a type of forward symmetry. It can be used as an inclusio or a frame, such as in 1 Kgs 2:36-46a.

A. Solomon's interview with Shimei
a. King sent for and summoned Shimei
b. Shimei said to king
B. Narrative of Shimei's disobedience
A' Solomon's second interview with Shimei
a' King sent for and summoned Shimei
b' king said...

In short, alternating repetition allows the narrator to achieve "the depiction of simultaneity."

**Conclusion**

This is an excellent handbook for seeing "test cases" of chiasms in Hebrew scripture.

[John Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Along with other writers on this topic, this book helped me better understand how ancient writers deployed deliberate literary strategies common in their time to impact their readers through a narrative's cumulative effect.