Structure – Shemot 1/0

Structural Analysis – Shemot 1
"Slaves to Paroh"

Open Structure in Stages   Open Outline

Broader Context

Shemot 1 is part of the larger unit "Slavery and Redemption" which encompasses the first fifteen chapters of Sefer Shemot. For elaboration, various possible subdivisions of this bigger unit, as well as the relationship between Chapters 1 and 2, see Structure of Sefer Shemot.

Step 1 – Boundaries of the Unit

"Slaves to Paroh" (Chapter 1)

• Chapter 1 provides the background for the enslavement of the Israelites.
• Characters – Chapter 1 focuses on the nation as a whole. Chapter 2, in contrast, shines the spotlight on an individual and his family.¹
• Plot – Chapter 1 gives details of the bondage and Paroh's tyranny, while Chapter 2 begins to plant the seeds of the redemption.
• Refrain – The chapter is unified by the motif of the fertility of the Israelites (repeated in verses 7, 9, 12, and 20), and its relationship to Paroh's oppression.

Step 2 – Division into Scenes

I. Introduction: "From Family to Nation" (1:1-7)
II. Main Scene: "Evil Decrees" (1:8-22)

• Chapter 1 may be divided into an introduction (1:1-7) and a main body (1:8-22).²
• Plot – The introduction delineates the factors which directly lead to the decrees in the main scene. The text highlights this by using similar language in both sections:
  • The death of Yosef – the introduction's "וַיָּמָת יוֹסֵף" is echoed by "וַיָּקָם מֶלֶךְ... אֲשֶׁר לֹא יָדַע אֶת יוֹסֵף".
  • The proliferation of the Children of Israel – the state described in the introduction of "וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל... וַיִּרְבּוּ וַיַּעַצְמוּ" reverberates in Paroh's concern "הִנֵּה עַם בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל רַב וְעָצוּם מִמֶּנּוּ" in the main scene.
• Timing – The words "וַיָּקָם מֶלֶךְ חָדָשׁ" usher in a new era and separate the two sections of the chapter.
• Characters – In the opening verses, the term "בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל" ("Children of Israel") denotes the twelve literal sons of Israel (Jacob), while in the main scene the name refers to the Israelite nation.

Step 3.1 – Subdivision of Introduction

A. "A Family Retrospective" (1:1-5)
B. "Transition to Nationhood" (1:6-7)

• The chapter's introduction can be subdivided into verses 1-5 which recapitulate events already told in Sefer Bereshit and verses 6-7 which transition the reader to the upcoming story of Sefer Shemot.³
• Characters – Each subsection speaks about "the children of Israel," the eleven brothers, and Yosef. The order in the second subsection is the reverse of the order in the first, forming a chiastic structure.
• Plot – Verses 1-5 describe the generation which descended to Egypt, while verses 6-7 transition to the generation which was enslaved.

Step 3.2 – Subdivision of Main Scene

A. "Enslavement" (1:8-14)
B. "Extermination" (1:15-22)

• The main section of the chapter can be subdivided into two subscenes – verses 8-14 and verses 15-22.
• Characters – In Subscene A, Paroh speaks to the nation, while in Subscene B, he speaks first to the midwives and only afterwards (in the final verse) to the nation.
• Plot – There is a progressive worsening of Paroh's decrees, with the first subscene starting with slavery and the second moving to outright murder.
• Parallels – Each subscene opens with the king issuing a decree which proceeds to fail in achieving its goal of slowing the Israelite population growth.⁴ Each initial decree is then followed by a second stage, in which the persecution intensifies.⁵

Click here to continue to Literary Analysis.

¹ See N. Leibowitz, Iyyunim Chadashim BeSefer Shemot (Jerusalem, 1970): 20 who elaborates on this contrast.

² Cf. U. CassutoShemot 1:22About Prof. U. Cassuto who suggests that the chapter divides into three equal sections of seven verses each (he views verse 22 as a conclusion), with the events of each section leading to the next in a cause and effect relationship.

³ Many commentators discuss the relationship between the first few verses of the book and Sefer Bereshit. See RambanShemot 1:1About Ramban who sees our verses as a narrative resumption of Bereshit 47. For a detailed analysis of some of the parallels, see M. Greenberg, Understanding Exodus, (New York, 1969): 18-19 and R"E Samet's article.

⁴ See 1:12,20 and Literary for elaboration. Also see U. CassutoShemot 1:8Shemot 1:15Shemot 1:21About Prof. U. Cassuto who notes the appearance of the verb וירבו at the end of each section of the chapter.

⁵ See Stages of Paroh's plan. R"E Samet develops this idea and further elaborates on the chapter's structure and its implications in his article.