Literary Devices – Shemot 9/0
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Literary Devices – Shemot 9
Structure
Parallels and Contrasts
Key Words
"כבד" (heavy) and "חזק" (strong)
The roots "כבד" and "חזק" appear only a couple of times in the chapter, but might be key words throughout the narrative of the Exodus.
- Concordance – Tracing the usage of both the verb and adjective "כבד" in Torah1 reveals how they appear throughout the Exodus narrative, from the initial "heavy" famine that causes the nation to descend to Egypt to the "great" wealth with which the nation leaves Egypt.2 Similarly, both the adjective and verbal root "חזק" repeat in the narrative, referring on one hand to Paroh's obstinance in preventing the Exodus and on the other to God's mighty hand which brings it about.