Difference between revisions of "Literary Devices – Bereshit 18/0"

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Attimes, Tanakh includes parenthetical statement that provides background information important to the narrative. A good example of this device is found in Bereshit 18:11: “And Avraham and Sarah were elderly, coming on in years; Sarah had ceased to have a menstrual flow like women.
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At times, Tanakh includes parenthetical statement that provides background information important to the narrative. A good example of this device is found in Bereshit 18:11: “And Avraham and Sarah were elderly, coming on in years; Sarah had ceased to have a menstrual flow like women.
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<category>Allusions
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Hashem’s statement that He will descend to check the corruption of Sedom alludes to the one previous context in which Hashem “descends,” in the story of The Tower of Babel (11:5, 7). In both places Hashem intervenes to undermine or destroy a society gone astray.&#160; One can click on the word “erdah” (18:21) to see the other instances of this verb in Tanakh.&#160;&#160;
 
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Version as of 06:32, 2 July 2023

Literary Devices – Bereshit 18

This topic has not yet undergone editorial review

Structure

Strategic Repetition Tanakh is often strategic about how it repeats information or dialogue.  In verses 13-14, Hashem repeats Sarah’s words to Avraham, but leaves out her reference to Avraham’s advanced age and to her having withered.  As Rashi points out, Hashem leaves out her mention of Avraham’s old age to preserve peace between them, and one might add that perhaps He leaves out her description of her being withered out of respect for her. 

Key Words

צחק (to laugh)

  • Tanakh Lab demonstrates that the root “צחק” is the word that appears with the greatest frequency in this chapter relative to the rest of Tanakh. This word is associated strongly with the narrative of Yitzchak, in this chapter as well as in Chapters 17 and 21.
  • For analysis of the significance of laughter in Yitzchak’s narrative and legacy, see Parshat Vayera - Laughter and Isaac by R. Alex Israel.

מהר (to hurry)

  • Tanakh Lab demonstrates that the root "מהר” (to hurry) is the word that appears with third greatest frequency in this chapter relative to the rest of Tanakh. This root is accompanied by two appearances of the root "רוץ" (to run). Together they connote the enthusiasm of Avraham in greeting and serving his guests.
  • Interestingly, according to the Tanakh Lab1, the chapter most linguistically similar to this chapter is Bereshit 24, discussing Rivka’s hospitality, in which the same two roots appear.2 Rivka, too, rushes and runs to provide hospitality.

צדיק (righteous)  In the section of the chapter about Sedom (verses 16-33), Tanakh Lab demonstrates that the word “צדיק” is one of the most frequently used words relative to the rest of Bereshit and the rest of Tanakh.  The related word “צדקה” also appears (verse 19), as well as the connected word “משפט” (verses 19 and 25).  Hashem says of Avraham that he will pursue "צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט", and shortly thereafter Avraham demands of Hashem that He practice מִשְׁפָּט. These words emphasize the central ideas of the story about the lack of righteousness in the culture of Sedom, and how Avraham’s compassion on Sedom is a manifestation of righteousness. 

Character Titles

Parenthetical statement At times, Tanakh includes parenthetical statement that provides background information important to the narrative. A good example of this device is found in Bereshit 18:11: “And Avraham and Sarah were elderly, coming on in years; Sarah had ceased to have a menstrual flow like women.

Allusions Hashem’s statement that He will descend to check the corruption of Sedom alludes to the one previous context in which Hashem “descends,” in the story of The Tower of Babel (11:5, 7). In both places Hashem intervenes to undermine or destroy a society gone astray.  One can click on the word “erdah” (18:21) to see the other instances of this verb in Tanakh.