Pattern Analysis for 2 Chronicles 5:2-14

Pattern Analysis Methodology

The Ark of the LORD was Brought in the House of the LORD

Webpage adjusted for smaller screen width.

Show PotentialHide Potential

Rhetoric

Potential Rhetoric

Within Pattern Analysis, rhetoric is the persuasive portion of a literary unit based on its structure. Certain locations within each literary unit are potentially persuasive–they are presented below for the sake of analysis. Normally, many of the potential locations can be persuasive, but often not all. The student is encouraged to listen to what the Holy Spirit seems to be emphasizing.

Chiasm

An A-B-C-C'-B'-A' or A-B-C-X-C'-B'-A' type of structure. It is a repetition of similar themes in the reverse sequence. Other names for chiasms include chiasmus, concentric symmetry, introversion, inverted parallelism, reverse symmetry, and ring construction. The most common emphatic locations are found in the center point and the first/last elements.

First/Last A, A' (v3; 11-13D)

In a chiasm, these are the two A elements: A-B-C-C'-B'-A'. Oftentimes an emphasis may be found in these locations.

Corresponding Elements B, B' (v4; 10)

Also known as conjugate pairs. It is any two elements that are paired with each other. In some cases, the pair may be emphatic even though they are not in a position of emphasis such as first/first or first/last. For example, in a chiastic A-B-C-X-C'-B'-A' structure, the two B elements might add considerable conviction to the reader or listener.

Corresponding Elements C, C' (v5; 7-9C)

Also known as conjugate pairs. It is any two elements that are paired with each other. In some cases, the pair may be emphatic even though they are not in a position of emphasis such as first/first or first/last. For example, in a chiastic A-B-C-X-C'-B'-A' structure, the two B elements might add considerable conviction to the reader or listener.

Center Point X (v6)

An emphasis or turning point that is at the logical center of a structure. It is either an X in the middle of a chiasm, parallel symmetry, immediate repetition, or list is a center point, or if two elements appear at the center of a chiasm rather than an X, those two elements are the center point. For example, X is the center point of A-B-C-X-A'-B'-C', and C-C' is the center point of A-B-C-C'-B'-A'.

C'
Amplification a, a' (v8A; 8B)

A clarification of an element or a sequence of elements where the second part in some way removes the obfuscation that may be found in the first. An amplification can be a large increase such as the multiplication of believers in the book of Acts; the additional detail provided by its conjugate pair, seen especially when a substructure provides data that is not in the first; or in an immediate repetition where the second part adds more than just the antithesis to the first such as Kugel’s A what’s more B teaching.

Amplification b, b' (v9A; 9B)

A clarification of an element or a sequence of elements where the second part in some way removes the obfuscation that may be found in the first. An amplification can be a large increase such as the multiplication of believers in the book of Acts; the additional detail provided by its conjugate pair, seen especially when a substructure provides data that is not in the first; or in an immediate repetition where the second part adds more than just the antithesis to the first such as Kugel’s A what’s more B teaching.

Variation B' (v10)

The themes of two corresponding elements are somewhat different from one another in content. It is an unexpected change in the pattern. Normally just one of the pair is emphatic. In A-B-C-D-A'-B'-Y' D', the emphasis would be found in either C or more likely Y'.

A'
First/Last a, a' (v12A; 13C)

In a chiasm, these are the two A elements: A-B-C-C'-B'-A'. Oftentimes an emphasis may be found in these locations.

Center Point b, b' (v12B,13A; 13B)

An emphasis or turning point that is at the logical center of a structure. It is either an X in the middle of a chiasm, parallel symmetry, immediate repetition, or list is a center point, or if two elements appear at the center of a chiasm rather than an X, those two elements are the center point. For example, X is the center point of A-B-C-X-A'-B'-C', and C-C' is the center point of A-B-C-C'-B'-A'.

Substructure Summary sum (v13D)

An opening or closing summarization that appears within a substructure. The schematic representation is the lowercase letters sum. This summarization may appear at the end of a substructure, a-b-x-a'-b'-sum, or at the beginning, sum-a-b-c-d. All the substructure summaries are emphatic.

Closing Summary SUM (v13E,14)

A summarization that concludes a basic structure which is designated with the letters SUM. For example, A-B-C-A'-B'-C'-SUM. A closing summary is also known as a concluding epitome, final unit, and an epilogue. It serves two functions: to summarize and to motivate. It is always emphatic and should be easily detected.


This CHIASM describes how the empty ark of the covenant was brought into the house of the Lord.

1) The FIRST/LAST elements, particularly A′, describe the celebration. The SUBSTRUCTURE SUMMARY presents the song, He indeed is good for His lovingkindness is everlasting.

2) The two corresponding B elements describe the ark, but the scenario is different. In the first, verse 4, the men simply carried the ark. In the second, that VARIATION of the B′ element refers to the ark as an otherwise empty box except for the two tablets. That variation is more subtle, but it is significant to the story.

3) The X CENTER POINT mentions the far too excessive sacrifice of sheep and oxen. Remember that at the dedication of the tabernacle, no animals were sacrificed (Exodus 40:1-38). In contrast, after the golden calf was molded in Exodus 32:7, the dedication of that idol included a sacrifice of animals. The cherubim are in some ways similar to that golden calf, possibly encouraged by Solomon′s wife who was the Egyptian daughter of Pharaoh.

4) The CLOSING SUMMARY reveals that the glory of the Lord appeared when a cloud was released.
  Show More Rhetoric   Show Less Rhetoric

Structured Themes

CHIASM:

... the ark of the Lord was brought to the house of the Lord ...

a change of characters

BEGINNING MARKER:  Then Solomon assembled to Jerusalem the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers′ households of the sons of Israel,  (v2A) 

the ark was to be relocated

PRELIMINARY:  to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion.  (v2B) 

all the leaders came for the celebration

All the men of Israel assembled themselves to the king at the feast, that is in the seventh month.  (v3)

the Levites took up the ark

Then all the elders of Israel came, and the Levites took up the ark.  (v4)

they brought the ark to the temple

They brought up the ark and the tent of meeting and all the holy utensils which were in the tent; the Levitical priests brought them up.  (v5)

Solomon and the people sacrificed many, many sheep and oxen

And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel who were assembled with him before the ark, were sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered.  (v6)

the ark was brought into the holy of holies

C′ 

Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the holy of holies, under the wings of the cherubim.  (v7)

IMMEDIATE REPETITION SUBSTRUCTURE: ... the cherubim and the poles for the ark ... Show Hide

the wings covered the ark

For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark,  (v8A)

the cherubim covered the ark and poles

a′ 

so that the cherubim made a covering over the ark and its poles.  (v8B)

poles were visible from the inner sanctuary

The poles were so long that the ends of the poles of the ark could be seen in front of the inner sanctuary,  (v9A)

the poles were hidden from outside

b′ 

but they could not be seen outside;  (v9B)

a postscript

ending marker:  and they are there to this day.  (v9C) 

VARIATION: the ark only had two tablets inside

B′ 

There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets which Moses put there at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the sons of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.  (v10)

A′ 

CHIASM SUBSTRUCTURE: ... the Levitical priests and singers celebrated in unison ... Show Hide

a change of location

sub-unit marker:  When the priests came forth from the holy place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, without regard to divisions),  (v11) 

the Levitical singers with instruments

and all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and kinsmen, clothed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps and lyres, standing east of the altar,  (v12A)

the priests with trumpets in unison

and with them one hundred and twenty priests blowing trumpets in unison  (v12B,13A)

trumpeters and singers in one voice

b′ 

when the trumpeters and the singers were to make themselves heard with one voice to praise and to glorify the Lord,  (v13B)

trumpets and other musical instruments

a′ 

and when they lifted up their voice accompanied by trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music,  (v13C)

SUBSTRUCTURE SUMMARY: their praise song

sum 

and when they praised the Lord saying, “He indeed is good for His lovingkindness is everlasting,”  (v13D)

CLOSING SUMMARY: the house of the Lord was filled with a cloud; the glory of the Lord appeared

SUM 

then the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.  (v13E,14)