Chiastic Structure

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The Artistic Structure of the Book of Esther
Prof. Jonathan Grossman
The chiastic structure of the Book of Esther serves a dual purpose. Firstly, it highlights the reversal of the events: Haman's plan to exterminate the Jews versus the Jews ultimately controlling their enemies; Secondly, parallels between the two halves of the story indicate the internal processes that the Jews undergo during the course of the narrative, hinting that in fact there is no room for comparison at all.
Eikha and the Power of Biblical Poetry
Part 2
Dr. Yael Ziegler | 37 minutes
This second shiur in the Eikha series, drawing from academic literature, provides a basic introduction to Biblical poetry in general: the purposes and styles, with examples from Eikha and elsewhere in the Bible. Different types of imagery, metre, and structural styles (especially the acrostic and chiasm) are demonstrated in vivid examples from Eikha.
Eikha Chapter 2
Part 4
Dr. Yael Ziegler | 51 minutes
While Perek Alef is characterized by the deafening silence at the aftermath of the churban, Perek Bet takes a retrospective look at the horror of the churban as it unfolded. Like the first chapter, Chapter two is divided into two halves - but this time, the part representing collective Jerusalem has difficulty admitting any sense of culpability; instead, there is a sense of an accusation against God.
Eikha Chapter 3 (Part A)
Part 5
Dr. Yael Ziegler | 50 minutes
This shiur looks at the first part of Chapter 3 (Perek Gimmel). Chapter three is unique, with a tripartite division, and is the central chapter in Eikha. Unlike the first two chapters, the perspective portrated is that of an individual. Chapter 3 does not depict the churban, but does explore theological issues, perhaps from the personal perspective of Yirmiahu.
Eikha Chapter 4
Part 7
Dr. Yael Ziegler | 51 minutes
Unlike Chapter Three, there is no personal “I” voice in Chapter Four. The fourth chapter reveals the overarching chiastic structure in the book of Eikha, as it mirrors the structure and motif, and theological approach of Chapter Two, reflecting the feeling of injustice - that children are suffering for the sins of the leaders.
Eikha Chapter 5
Part 8
Dr. Yael Ziegler | 41 minutes
This shiur analyzes Chapter Five and summarizes the significance of the structural and theological implications of the entire book. The peripheral chapters reflect an approach of examining sins. The inner chapters portray the suffering of the innocent. The central chapter grapples with living in a world we cannot understand, stating that there is a greater purpose, and that God is not capricious. Chapter Five shows more hope and progress, as the grieving community seeks a renewed relationship with God.
God's Power
Rabbi Alex Israel | 35 minutes
This parasha seems to starts out with a grand statement but then fizzles out, pausing to list geneology, and then repeats Moshe's worry about his speech impediment. Upon closer examination, we see that the parasha's chiastic structure emphasizes the transformation of Moshe's mission from a political role to that of “emissary of God” (Sheliach Hashem).
The Structure and Significance of the Opening Verses
Dr. Mordechai Sabato
Parshat Re’eh opens the Covenant of Arvot Mo’av, which is concluded with blessings and curses. Brit of Arvot Mo’av – a collection of statutes and judgements - is a completion of the Ten Commandments in Horev. The observance of mitzvot entails a blessing and a curse, and the blessing and the curse are part of the conditions of the land.
Eliyahu in Horev (Part 1)
Structure of the Story
Rabbi Elchanan Samet
The chiastic structure in chapter 19 utilizes parallels in language, themes, characters and geography in order to highlight Eliyahu’s revelation at Mount Horev as the central axis of this narrative.
Eliyahu in Horev (Part 9)
The First Encounter Between Eliyahu and Elisha (Part 1)
Rabbi Elchanan Samet
The description of the meeting between Eliyahu and Elisha highlights the profound contrasts between these two prophets. The scene describing their meeting brings together, like a mirror, Eliyahu's past and Elisha's future. Therefore, every detail in this brief description contributes to understanding the relationship between the two men and their respective eras.
Mizmor 2
Rabbi Avi Baumol
Mizmor 2 compliments Mizmor 1. The first aims to dictate to the common man how to live his life, how to repel the evil people in his midst. The second brings the message back to the royal chambers and ultimately to the Nation of God as a whole.
Mizmor 145
Tehila U-Berakha: "Ashrei" - Part I
Rabbi Avi Baumol
Mizmor 145 – ‘Ashrei’ - is central in Jewish liturgy. An analysis of the contrast between praise of God - which creates a distance between man and his Maker - and blessing of God which forges closeness between the one giving the blessing and the receiver – is evaluated.
Mizmor 97
Kabalat Shabbat (Part 3)
Rabbi Avi Baumol
The progression of the praising of God is noted: from the universal natural, to the nations of the world and ultimately culminating with the righteous people in the world praising God for the coming of the day of Judgement. God’s victory over the idol gods is evaluated.
Rebuke
Rabbi Alex Israel | 38 minutes
This parasha has a symmetrical- perhaps chiastic – structure. It is framed by pesukim that emphasize the separation from foreign nations and forbidden relationships and practices. This shiur looks at how the structure highlights and interacts with the content of the parasha, and looks at the meaning of the mitzvah of tokheha- rebuke- which is also highlighted by a “frame” of “Ani Hashem”.
Linguistic Mirroring
A Harmonious Story, Part I
Dr. Yael Ziegler
The structure of Ruth is a chiastic one. Repetition of key words and phrases is one of many linguistic techniques used. Boaz and Ruth's shared trait of kindness stages them as the main characters. Ruth as the initiator and Boaz completing the task come together to create the Davidic dynasty.
Ahazya (Part 9)
The Structure of the Story
Rabbi Elchanan Samet
The structure of the story sheds an additional light on the story. The subject of our story is the victory of God's word and the victory of its bearer over the king who has sinned. However, the real message of the story is the failure of the attempts to harm Eliyahu. Those who attempt to sabotage the fulfillment of God's word by harming Eliyahu are punished. In contrast, those who submit to the prophet are not harmed, even though the act of submission would seem to endanger them. This is true of Ahazya's first set of messengers, as well as applying to the third captain of fifty and his men.
The Storm (Part 2)
Structure of the Story
Rabbi Elchanan Samet
The chapter divides into two sections: Elisha accompanies Eliyahu to his eventual ascent in a storm to heaven, and Elisha’s assumption of the role as prophet instead of Eliyahu. The description of Eliyahu’s ascent to the heavens is shrouded in many mysterious remarks that need explanation and is built in the three and four model.
A Perfect Murder: Navot's Vineyard
Rabbi Alex Israel
Though it is completely clear from the beginning of the storyline that Ahav is legally powerless to commandeer Navot's vineyard - a significant statement regarding the autonomy of the common citizen in ancient Israel - the outcome after Izevel's ruthless plan displays the helplessness and vulnerability of the simple Jewish farmer. While the story describes Ahav as passive and ignorant of Izevel's plan and Izevel as the mastermind, Eliyahu makes it clear that Ahav is fully implicated in the murder. Ahav succeeds in taking Navot's ethical stand and grotesquely twisting it into an egotistical gesture of greed and as king he cannot absolve himself by claiming ignorance, all the more so when the pointers were rather obvious.
A Closer Look at Kiddush
Rabbi David Fohrman |
Rabbi Fohrman offers a deeper insight into the seemingly boring and repetitious nature of the text of our Shabbat morning kiddush. Over and over, the text discusses "keeping" shabbat, holiness, and a covenant - but why? Want to see more videos like this? Check out https://www.alephbeta.org/
In a Whirlwind
Rabbi Alex Israel
Eliyahu's dramatic ascent to the heavens highlights Elisha as opposed to the other Bnei Ha'Nevi'im. Elisha is also Eliyahu's succesor, but also operates in a completely different manner. Elisha, is always surrounded by other people and is deeply sensitive to the needs of others. Eliyahu is a lone spiritual figure.
By the Waters of Babylon: Analyzing Mizmor 137
Rabbi Yitzchak Etshalom
תאריך פרסום: תש"ע | |
Traditionally, mizmor Tehillim 137 of "Al neharot bavel" is known to be about mourning for the Beit Hamikdash while in exile. However, by analyzing this mizmor within the context of the purpose of Tehillim as a whole, we can uncover an alternative understanding - that this mizmor is actually a joyous reflective song about survival and triumph in the face of destruction.
Yirmiyahu and Hananya ben Azzur
Rabbi David Sabato
Yirmiyahu hears the words of Chananya which negate his prophecy, does not counter them, but merely warns Chananya against false prophecy. Moreover, Yirmiyahu who loves his people with all his heart, hopes and wants to believe that his own prophecy of calamity will be cancelled. Only after God speaks to him does he know that this was a false prophecy. A true prophet is aware of the possibility of change and of the dynamic quality of prophecy. The decree is not fixed and absolute, but rather dynamic and conditioned on the situation.

In contrast, Chananya presents the opposite position. He extrapolates from prophecies he heard from others and attempts to draw conclusions from them. The falseness in his prophecy stems from his failure to understand that God's word does not fit every generation in the same way, and in this regard, he is the total opposite of Yirmiyahu, the true prophet.
The Chiastic Structure of Vayikra Chapter 20
Rabbi Menachem Leibtag
תאריך פרסום: תש"ע | |
The chiastic structure is a tool used to understand the meaning of a chapter of Tanakh in much greater depth. This lecture illustrates how this method creates order within verses that appear random and superfluous, and then examines Vayikra Chapter 20 by applying the chiastic structure in order to gain an appreciation about what it means to be representing God through sanctity.
Two Ways to Praise God - Mizmor 145
Dr. Yael Ziegler |
What is the importance of Mizmor 145 (Ashrei) that warrants our recitation of it three times a day? This shiur offers a close examination of this Psalm, analyzing its structure and composition that profoundly affect the deeper understanding of the Psalm itself. By gaining a closer appreciation of the text, one can understand God's interaction with man, and the desire to cultivate a connection in which man and God are involved in a reciprocal relationship.
Zechariah 7-8
Matan Al Haperek
Rabbi David Sabato
With the building of the Second Temple and the end of the seventy years of exile, the people began to wonder how to relate to the fast days which were decreed after the destruction of the First Temple. Perek 7 begins with a description of the arrival of a delegation, apparently from the Babylonian exile, to the priests and prophets in Jerusalem in order to ask about one of the fast days (7:1-3). Zechariah’s answer includes several short prophecies which are based on quotes from earlier prophecies of the “former prophets”, mostly from Yirmiyahu. At the beginning and again at the end Zechariah addresses the question of the status of the fast days directly, and in the middle he reviews the past and remembers the early prophecies of doom and then the prophecies of consolation. These prophecies are presented in a chiastic structure and together are designed to deal with this question.
Pekudei: A Giant Chiasm In Sefer Shmot
Rabbi David Fohrman |
In this week's video, Rabbi Fohrman explores an incredible chiasm that encompasses more than 15 chapters, and asks, how do the pieces of this puzzle, especially the focal point at the center, come together to help us understand how the Torah builds together?

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Lech Lecha: Covenant With God
Rabbi David Fohrman |
In this week's parsha, God and Abraham make a hugely important covenant, where God promises Abraham children and land, leading to the start of the Jewish nation. In this video, Rabbi Fohrman helps us understand what can we learn from a fascinating literary chiasm in the text surrounding this covenant.

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Creating a Model Society: Torah and the Davidic Kingdom
The Structure & Story of Book I
Dr. Beni Gesundheit | 57 minutes
Unit II, Tehillim 15-24

Tehillim 15-24, the second unit in Book 1, form a chiastic structure around its central mizmor, Tehillim 19. These mizmorim also provide a response to the problem of evil expressed in unit 1. Tehillim 19 poetically praises the Torah and its contribution to man. The contextual interpretation will be used to show how parallel verses in proximal chapters surrounding this mizmor reinforce the concept of our commitment to God, from nature which sings and praises God and the psalmist who describes his responsibility to Torah.