IT IS WORTH TO KNOW RULES OF HEBREW RHETORIC
(semitic techniques of literary composition):

• Precursors are: R. Lowth and J. Bengl (XVII century)
• Relationships between elements of the structure:
  • parallelisms: Cf. Catholic Encyclopedia; See also: J. R. Lundbom
    • synonymous
    • antithetical
    • synthetic
  • concentric structures      A B C B’ A’
  • chiasmus structures        A B C C’ B’ A’        –   Cf. Wikipedia
  • inclusions                       A …………….. A
• These relations can connect:
  • not only verses,
  • but also greater fragments of the text.
• The literary medium of the meaning are (A. Schökel, 1981):
  • not only words or sentences,
  • but also relations between elements of the work structure.
• The study of the literary structure is like a radiography of the text (S. Hałas, 1998).

Examples of the Hebrew Rhetoric:

• Parallelisms:
  • Gen 27:29: the series of three successive parallelisms: two first are synonymous, and the third is antithetical:
    1. Let peoples serve you, And nations bow to you;
    2. master over your brothers, And let your mother’s sons bow to you.
    3. Cursed be they who curse you, Blessed they who bless you.
  • Sir 24:20–22: the series of three successive parallelisms: the first is synonymous, two next are synthetic:
    1. 20 For the memory of me is sweeter than honey, and the possession of me sweeter than the honeycomb.
    2. 21 Those who eat of me will hunger for more, and those who drink of me will thirst for more.
    3. 22 Whoever obeys me will not be put to shame, and those who work with me will not sin.
  • Isa 51,9–10: → please click to read the discussion of this parallelism in my doctoral dissertation (You should select pages 209–217 there)!
• Inclusion:
  • Inclusion consisting of two identical phrases “with Pharaoh king of Egypt” is in verses Exo 6,13 and Exo 6,27
  • Inclusion consisting of two pericopes: Exo 1,1–6,1 and Exo 15,22–18,27
• chiasmus: Chiasmus: chiasmus consisting of six pericopes