I study the Torah every year using the teaching tools of Scripture. (Why?)
Today is the 47th Sabbath of the annual Torah cycle. The Torah reading (parashah) is Ki Tavo (when you enter), Deu 26:1-29:9.
The Hebrew paragraph divisions given by the Holy Spirit, are (I have combined them with my notes for the divisions of the explanations of the Ten Commandments):
CONTINUATION OF THE EXPLANATION OF THE 10TH COMMANDMENT: DO NOT COVET (Deu 24:10-26:15)
Deu 26:1-11 {s} Do not withhold the firstfruits that are justly due
Deu 26:12-15 {s} Do not withhold the tithe of the 3rd year that is justly due
CONCLUSION TO THE EXPLANATION OF THE 10 COMMANDMENTS:
Deu 26:16-19 {p} Walk in them + YHVH is your God; you are His people
Deu 27:1-8 {s} Write this law at the entrance to the Land
Deu 27:9-10 {s} Take heed, listen, and observe His commandments
Deu 27:11-14 {s} Bless on Mount Gerizim, curse on Mount Ebal
Deu 27:15 {s} Cursed is he who makes an image as an idol
Deu 27:16 {s} Cursed is he who treats father or mother with contempt
Deu 27:17 {s} Cursed is he who moves a boundary stone
Deu 27:18 {s} Cursed is he who leads the blind off the road
Deu 27:19 {s} Cursed is he who perverts justice due to stranger, fatherless, or widow
Deu 27:20 {s} Cursed is he who lies with father’s wife
Deu 27:21 {s} Cursed is he who lies with an animal
Deu 27:22 {s} Cursed is he who lies with his sister
Deu 27:23 {s} Cursed is he who lies with his mother in law
Deu 27:24 {s} Cursed is he who attacks his neighbor secretly
Deu 27:25 {s} Cursed is he who slays the innocent for a bribe
Deu 27:26 {p} Cursed is he who does not conform to all the words of this law
Deu 28:1-14 {p} Blessings which follow obedience
Deu 28:15-68 {s} Curses which follow disobedience
Deu 29:1 {p} These are the words of the covenant
Deu 29:2-9 {p} Keep the words of this covenant
I could not make a single chiastic structure from Ki Tavo, but I did find this one which is the conclusion to all the explanation of the Ten Commandments:
Deu 26:16-29:9
1a) Deu 26:16-19 p, Walk in these statutes and judgments + YHVH is your God; you are His people;
1b) Deu 27:1-10 s+s, Write the words of this Torah at the entrance to the Land;
1c) Deu 27:11-26 sx12+p, Curses for disobedience;
central axis) Deu 28:1-14 p, Blessings which follow obedience;
2c) Deu 28:15-68 s, Curses which follow disobedience;
2b) Deu 29:1 p, These are the words of the covenant;
2a) Deu 29:2-9 p, Keep the words of this covenant that you may prosper in all that you do.
Isn’t it interesting that the central axis is the highlight of all the good that will come upon us when we obey God, rather than all the bad that will come upon us if we do not? Now God is not capriciously causing good to come upon some and bad to come upon others. Rather, He is explaining the spiritual laws of the universe to mankind: Doing certain things will increase health, prosperity, happiness, social stability, justice, and peace to come upon us, because these are the things that CAUSE health, prosperity, happiness and so on. So I God want man to do these things, because I want man to experience prosperity, happiness, and social stability. I love you, so I want the best for you!
But doing certain other things that I have prohibited for man, will increase disease, poverty, misery, anarchy, injustice, and unrest to come upon man, because these are the the things that CAUSE disease, poverty, misery and so on. So I God do not want man to do these things, because I do not want all this suffering to come upon man. I love you, so rather I want the best for you!
Christians and believers, I am begging us all, may the good Lord grant our eyes to be opened to see the good and great blessing that God has given us by giving us His Torah. He has not given us His commandments to burden His people with commandments, but because He loves us, He has given us His own wisdom and the keys to unlock health, prosperity, happiness, social stability, justice, and peace to us in all that we do.
“Therefore keep the words of this covenant, and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do.” Deu 29:9
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