Blasphemy, Talion, and Chiasmus 69 (24,13) .rmal hvmAla hwhy rbdyw – A μhydyAta μy[mvhAlk wkmsw hnjml ≈wjmAla llqmhAta axwh – B (24,14) .hd[hAlk wta wmgrw wvarAl[ (24,15a) rmal rbdt larcoy ynbAlaw – C (24,15b) .wafj acnw wyhla llqyAyk vya vya – D rgk hd[hAlk wbAwmgry μwgr tmwy twm hwhyAμv bqnw – E (24,16) .tmwy μvAwbqnb jrzak (24,17) .tmwy twm μda vpnAlk hky yk vyaw – F (24,18) .vpn tjt vpn hnmlvy hmhbAvpn hkmw – G (24,19) .wl h[cy ˆk hc[ rvak wtym[b μwm ˆtyAyk vyaw – H (24,20a) ˆv tjt ˆv ˆy[ tjt ˆy[ rbv tjt rbv – I (24,20b) .wb ˆtny ˆk μdab μwm ˆty ravk – H’ (24,21a) hnmlvy hmhb hkmw – G’ (24,21b) .tmwy μda hkmw – F’ (24,22a) hyhy jrzak rgk μkl hyhy dja fpvm – E’ (24,22b) .μkyhla hwhy yna yk – D’ (24,23a) larcy ynbAla hvm rbdyw – C’ (24,23b) ˆba wta wmgryIw hnjml ≈wjmAla llqmhAta wayxwyw – B’ (24,23c) .hvmAta hwhy hwx rvak wc[ larç]yAynbw – A’ Two clauses introduce two levels of direct address in the passage (vv. 13 and 15a). The first layer is the Lord’s address to Moses alone, and the latter layer is what Moses is to pass on to the people. Some researchers restrict their analysis to the main speech in vv. 15-23a; but the mirroring of literary units actually entails the narrated introduction and conclusion (vv. 13-14 and 23bc; cf. Num 15,35-36). The triple iteration of the talion law in v. 20a is the fulcrum or hinge of the chiasmus, as eight juxtaposed pairs of statements surround the talionic law (3). Each clause of the talion law proper constitutes the simplest chiastic form (“fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth”; v. 20a). The three syntactically identical clauses form a chiastic core of their own. The corresponding lines that make up each layer of the surrounding chiastic structure inherently reinforce the talion principle by echoing it stylistically. I will trace out these correspondences, moving outward from this inner crux, level by level. Then, I will comment on certain stylistic variations that expose aspects of the chiasmus that are significant for interpreting the message of the passage. The chiastic layer lying closest to the triple iteration of the talion concerns injuries. It is balanced stylistically by a carefully coordinated use of the word “give” in vv. 19 and 20b (H + H’). The offense is described, most literally, in this way: “If a man gives an injury against his neighbor, just as he does thus it shall be done to him” (v. 19). The corresponding response in v. 20b collapses the two clauses of v. 19 with verbal and syntactical echoes, reading, “Just as he gives an injury to a human, thus it shall be given to him”(4). (3) Welch isolates one less layer. What he identifies as a single pair of parallel lines (vv. 24,15b-16 + 22), I split into two pairs of parallel lines (D + D’ – v. 24,15b//v. 22b, and E + E’ – v. 16//v. 22a; see below). Otherwise our delineation of the chiasmus is the same. (4) Besides the use of natan in both lines, the writer repeats the alliterative sequence of particles (ka’aπer + ken) and the transition from active to passive verb forms.