Literary Devices – Bereshit 2-3/0
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
This topic has not yet undergone editorial review
Literary Devices – Bereshit 2-3
Parallels and Contrasts
Chiastic Structure The story of Gan Eden can be construed as a chiasm,1 in which the turning point is the sin of eating from the Tree of Knowledge:
- a) The placement of man in Gan Eden: וַיַּנִּחֵהוּ בְגַן עֵדֶן (2:15)
- b) The naming of animals: וַיִּקְרָא הָאָדָם שֵׁמוֹת לְכׇל הַבְּהֵמָה (2:19-20)
- c) The creation of Chava and her relationship with Adam: וְדָבַק בְּאִשְׁתּוֹ וְהָיוּ לְבָשָׂר אֶחָד (2:22-24)
- d) The dialogue between the snake and Chava: וַיֹּאמֶר הַנָּחָשׁ אֶל הָאִשָּׁה (3:2-5)
- e) The sin of eating from the tree: וַתִּקַּח מִפִּרְיוֹ וַתֹּאכַל (3:6)
- d') The curse on the relationship between the snake and Chavvah and offspring: וְאֵיבָה אָשִׁית בֵּינְךָ וּבֵין הָאִשָּׁה (3:14-15)
- c') The curse on the relationship between Adam and Chava: וְאֶל אִישֵׁךְ תְּשׁוּקָתֵךְ וְהוּא יִמְשׇׁל בָּךְ (3:16)
- b') The naming of Chavvah: וַיִּקְרָא הָאָדָם שֵׁם אִשְׁתּוֹ חַוָּה (3:20)
- a') The banishment from Gan Eden: וַיְשַׁלְּחֵהוּ י״י אֱלֹהִים מִגַּן עֵדֶן (3:22-23)
The structure highlights how in the aftermath of sin, the status quo changes, and earlier relationships are reversed.
