Literary Devices – Bemidbar 1/0

Literary Devices – Bemidbar 1

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Structure

Literary Envelope

• Bemidbar 1-10 is sandwiched by mention of the various tribal princes and their standards, marking these chapters as one coherent unit with an overarching theme: the journey to and preparation for entry into Israel. 

Articles

• See סדר ותוכן בספר במדבר, by R. Aviyah HaCohen, for analysis of the structure of the book of Bemidbar as a whole. He divides the book into three sections a) Bemidbar 1-10: the structure of the camp and its travels  b) Bemidbar 11-20: complaints of the nation c) Bemidbar 21-34: preparations for conquest and inheritance.
• Watch Bemidbar: The Story of Two Generations, by Dr. Yael Ziegler, for discussion of an alternative structure of the book of Bemidbar¹ and an in depth look at the first sub-unit, chapters 1-10, which portrays an obedient, trusting nation, marked by inner harmony.
• For further discussion of the use of literary envelopes (also called "inclusios") and analysis of other structural devices found in Tanakh, with many examples, see Structural Devices.

Character Titles

¹ Dr. Ziegler divides the book into two main units, Bemidbar 1-19 which focuses on the generation that left Egypt and chapters 20-end which focus on the generation that entered the land.