Design Patterns Pt. 1

Tonight, we’re going to start the discussion of design patterns, which we’ll continue next week. We’ll introduce the concept, but do some deeper exploration next time.

A coherent reading of any work of art, whatever the medium, requires some detailed awareness of the grid of conventions upon which and against which this particular work operates. Usually, these are elaborate sets of tacit agreements between artist and audience that create the enabling context in which the complex communication of art occurs. Through our awareness of convention we can recognize significant or simply pleasing patterns of repetition, symmetry, or contrast; we can detect subtle cues and clues as to the meaning of the work; we can spot what is innovative and what is traditional at each part of the artistic creation … One of the chief difficulties modern readers have in perceiving the artistry in biblical narrative is precisely that we have lost most of the keys to the conventions out of which these texts were shaped.

Robert Alter, The Art of Biblical Narrative, 47

[watch design patterns video]

Repetition is one of the most important design features of biblical narrative. Repetition is used to create patterns that guide the reader’s focus, and it’s used to create expectations around where to look for meaning.

Biblical authors do this in a unique and pervasive way. Martin Buber and Franz Rosenweig, two Jewish scholars, gave this technique the name leitwort, which means “lead word” or “control word.”

A “lead word” is a word that repeats significantly in a text or group of texts, and by following these repetitions, one is able to decipher or grasp a meaning of the text … The repetition may not be of the same exact word, but of the word-root … which intensifies the dynamic action of the repetition … If you imagine the entire text stretched out before you, you can sense waves moving back and forth between key words, matching the rhythm of the text … it is one of the most powerful means of conveying meaning.

Martin Buber, Schriften zur Bibel, 1131

Example 1: “Good” in Genesis 1-4

Tables: Genesis 1, Genesis 2, Genesis 3-4:17 (those in this group should pay attention to words like “right and regard” depending on translation.

How many times is “good” used? What does the repetition of the word do to advance the story?

Example 2: “Son of God” in Luke 3-4.

Sometimes a key phrase is repeated at strategic points. Luke has woven these stories together to emphasize how Jesus is the Son of God, Israel’s Messiah, and humanity’s representative. However, his identity is contested because some people question, doubt, or even reject him.

Luke 3:21-22; Luke 3:23-38; Luke 4:1-13; Luke 4:14-32 (22 specifically); Luke 4:33-41.

Example 3: “Seeing” Saul, David, and Samuel in 1 Samuel 9-16

This example spans a longer stretch of narrative, but the repeated idea of “seeing” serves as the lead word that ties the individual events together

Saul is introduced as a man “choice and good, there was no man more good than him, from his shoulders up, he was taller than anyone from among all the people.”

1 Samuel 9:2

Saul is searching for his father’s lost donkeys, but he can’t find them. He goes to the town where the prophet Samuel lives, and we find a rare narrator’s note in the text. “Formerly, in Israel, when someone wanted to inquire of God, they would say ‘Hey, let’s go to a seer.’ Today’s prophet was in that day, called a seer.”

1 Samuel 9:9

*Extra emphasis on Samuel as “one who sees” (Hebrew ro’eh, from the root “to see” ra’ah).

Later, “When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, ‘this is the man who will direct my people.’”

1 Samuel 9:17

Later, when Samuel declares Saul as king over Israel, he tells the people, “Do you see this one whom the LORD has chosen, there is none like him from among all the people.”

1 Samuel 10:24

Saul totally fails as Israel’s king, and Samuel says, “You Saul have rejected the word of the LORD, so the LORD has rejected you as king.”

1 Samuel 15:26

Next, we’re introduced to young David, and his story opens with: “The LORD said to Samuel … ‘I have rejected Saul as king over Israel … I will send you to Jesse of Bethlehem, because from among his sons I have seen for myself a king.’” The CSB translates it chosen but it is the same root word for seen.

1 Samuel 16:1

Jesse brings seven of his eight sons before Samuel. “When Samuel saw Eliab the firstborn, he said ‘Surely, the anointed king of the LORD is before me.’ And the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not focus on his appearance [Heb. mar’eh from ra’ah “to see”] or at the height of his stature, for I have rejected him: for God does not see as humans see; for humans see with their eyes, but the LORD sees the heart.’”

1 Samuel 16:6-7

Narrative Analogy and Intertextual Linkage

Narrative Analogy and Intertextual Linkage Repeated theme words can unite a whole string of stories, but this kind of unifying technique can work in different ways. Sometimes entire stories or scenes are designed to repeat elements of other stories. This involves not only repeated words but parallel narrative patterns, themes, and sequences.

Side-by-side Narratives

Genesis 2-3 versus Genesis 4. In two groups, each group gets a text and the questions, answer the questions and compare notes at the end.

The human is given a significant choice for an unstated reason

2:16-17 ... from any tree of the garden you may eat, but from the tree of knowing good and evil you should not eat, because the day you eat from it you will surely die.

4:6 Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? Isn’t it the case that if you do good, you will be lifted up

The human is tempted by an animal (animal imagery)

3:1 Now the snake was more crafty than any creature of the field … and he said to the woman, “Did God really say not to eat from any tree in the garden?”

4:6 But if you don’t do good, sin is crouching at the door, and its desire is for you.

The human gives into temptation with destructive consequences

3:6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and desirable to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom … she took …

4:5, 8 And Cain was very angry … And Cain spoke to Abel his brother and while they were in the field Cain rose up against Abel his brother and murdered him

God shows up to ask a question

3:9 And God called out to the human, and said “Where are you?” 3:12 And God said to the woman, “What have you done?”

4:9 And God said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” 4:10 And God said, “What have you done?”

The human dodges the question

3:12 The human said, “The woman who you set with me, she gave to me and I ate.”

4:9 I don’t know! Am I my brother’s keeper?

The Curse is pronounced

3:14 God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed from every beast and from every creature of the field.” 3:17 Cursed is the ground because of you.

4:11 And now you are cursed from the ground ...

Working the ground will now be more difficult

3:17b ... in pain you will eat from the ground. 3:23 And God sent him from the garden of Eden to work the ground.

4:12 For you will work the ground, and it will no longer give its strength to you.

The human is banished from the divine presence

3:24 And [God] banished the human and he camped east of the garden of Eden.

4:14 Behold, you have banished me from the face of the ground and from your presence. 4:16 And Cain settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden

Intentional comparisons between distant narratives

Intentional Comparisons Between Distant Narratives Sometimes the narrative comparison is prompted by an identical repetition in distant narratives, like the 40 days and nights of testing found throughout the biblical story. Through an obvious use of key word repetitions, biblical authors lead us to compare and contrast characters in order to advance the narrative argument. Sometimes the linkage is an identical action done by different characters.

Time and the number 40

Genesis 7:4 The first time is with Noah on the ark for 40 days and nights.

Exodus; Acts 7:30 Moses lives in the land of Midian for 40 years (inferred from the Exodus chronology, explicit in Acts 7:30).

Exodus 32 Israel waits for 40 days while Moses is on Mount Sinai.

Numbers 11-21 Israelite spies in the promised land (40 days) (Numbers 13) > Israel wanders in the wilderness (40 years).

1 Kings 19 Elijah wanders in the Sinai wilderness for 40 days.

Matthew 4 Jesus is tested in the wilderness for 40 days.

Identical Action with different characters

Aaron and the golden calf - Aaron took [the gold and jewelry] from their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool and made it into a molten calf; and they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” Exodus 32:4

King Jeroboam's golden calves and the split of the Israelite tribes - So the king consulted, and made two golden calves, and he said to them, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem; behold your gods, O Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt.” So he set one in Bethel and the other he put in Dan. 1 Kings 12:28-29

Others?

Abraham and Isaac (lying to Abimilech about wife being sister)

Sodom and Gomorrah and the people of Benjamin in Judges 19.

More?

Comparison by subtle repetition

Biblical authors often compare narratives and create patterns in subtle ways. To find a pattern, watch for embedded key words and images that link stories together. Take for example one of the main themes of the Bible, the complex and tragic human condition as people give into temptation over and over again

Temptation pattern, no.1

Adam and Eve

Genesis 3 CSB

Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” “No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman. “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. So the Lord God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.” Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.” So the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” So the Lord God said to the serpent: Because you have done this, you are cursed more than any livestock and more than any wild animal. You will move on your belly and eat dust all the days of your life. I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel. He said to the woman: I will intensify your labor pains; you will bear children with painful effort. Your desire will be for your husband, yet he will rule over you. And he said to the man, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘Do not eat from it’: The ground is cursed because of you. You will eat from it by means of painful labor all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow until you return to the ground, since you were taken from it. For you are dust, and you will return to dust.” The man named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living. The Lord God made clothing from skins for the man and his wife, and he clothed them. The Lord God said, “Since the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil, he must not reach out, take from the tree of life, eat, and live forever.” So the Lord God sent him away from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. He drove the man out and stationed the cherubim and the flaming, whirling sword east of the garden of Eden to guard the way to the tree of life.

From any tree in the garden you may eat, but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat from it, for on the day you eat from it you will surely die. Genesis 2:16-17 ...

and the woman saw that (כי ותרא (the tree was good (טוב (for eating, and that it was desirable (תאוה ( to the eyes (לענים ,(and the tree was desirable (נחמד ( for making wise (להשכיל ,(and she took (ותקח (from its fruit and she ate (ותאכל (and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate (ויאכל.( Genesis 3:6

Naked > Sin > Clothed ... and they heard the voice/sound (את וישמעו הקול (of Yahweh God walking in the garden, and they hid themselves (חבא... ( Genesis 3:8

And the man said, “The woman that you gave to be with me, she gave to me from the tree and I ate” [weak excuse, blame shifting] Genesis 3:12

What have you done? (עשית מה( Genesis 3:13 Because you listened to the voice of your wife ... Genesis 3:1.

Abraham and Sarai

The next story is about Abraham and Sarai, a husband and wife who also make a crucial decision related to God’s earlier word (here, of promise). (As we go, write down the main words/concepts that are repeated)

Genesis 16:1-7

Genesis 16:1–7 CSB

Abram’s wife, Sarai, had not borne any children for him, but she owned an Egyptian slave named Hagar. Sarai said to Abram, “Since the Lord has prevented me from bearing children, go to my slave; perhaps through her I can build a family.” And Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So Abram’s wife, Sarai, took Hagar, her Egyptian slave, and gave her to her husband, Abram, as a wife for him. This happened after Abram had lived in the land of Canaan ten years. He slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When she saw that she was pregnant, her mistress became contemptible to her. Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for my suffering! I put my slave in your arms, and when she saw that she was pregnant, I became contemptible to her. May the Lord judge between me and you.” Abram replied to Sarai, “Here, your slave is in your power; do whatever you want with her.” Then Sarai mistreated her so much that she ran away from her. The angel of the Lord found her by a spring in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur.

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar. [Sarai speaks first]: “Go now into my female servant, perhaps I will be built up from her.” [Gen. 2:22: “and Yahweh God built the side which he took from the human into a woman, and he brought her to the man.”] Genesis 16:1-2

And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai [Gen. 3:17: God says to Adam, “because you listened to the voice of your wife”].

Genesis 16:2b And Sarai, the wife of Abram took Hagar the Egyptian her female slave ... and she gave her to Abram her husband as a wife [Gen. 3:6] and he went into her and she became pregnant and she saw that (כי ותרא (she was pregnant, and her mistress became less in her eyes.

Genesis 16:3-4 And Abram said to Sarai, “Look, your female slave is in your hand. Do to her what is good in your eyes (בעיניך טוב ( [Gen. 3:6].” Genesis 16:6

So Sarah oppressed her and Hagar fled from before her. And the angel of Yahweh found her by a spring of waters in the wilderness [Gen. 3:24]. Genesis 16:6b-7.

Aaron andthe Golden Calf

Exodus 32:1–7 CSB

When the people saw that Moses delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said to him, “Come, make gods for us who will go before us because this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!” Aaron replied to them, “Take off the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters and bring them to me.” So all the people took off the gold rings that were on their ears and brought them to Aaron. He took the gold from them, fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made it into an image of a calf. Then they said, “Israel, these are your gods, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!” When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of it and made an announcement: “There will be a festival to the Lord tomorrow.” Early the next morning they arose, offered burnt offerings, and presented fellowship offerings. The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to party. The Lord spoke to Moses: “Go down at once! For your people you brought up from the land of Egypt have acted corruptly.

Exodus 32:17–24 CSB

When Joshua heard the sound of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “There is a sound of war in the camp.” But Moses replied, It’s not the sound of a victory cry and not the sound of a cry of defeat; I hear the sound of singing! As he approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses became enraged and threw the tablets out of his hands, smashing them at the base of the mountain. He took the calf they had made, burned it up, and ground it to powder. He scattered the powder over the surface of the water and forced the Israelites to drink the water. Then Moses asked Aaron, “What did these people do to you that you have led them into such a grave sin?” “Don’t be enraged, my lord,” Aaron replied. “You yourself know that the people are intent on evil. They said to me, ‘Make gods for us who will go before us because this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!’ So I said to them, ‘Whoever has gold, take it off,’ and they gave it to me. When I threw it into the fire, out came this calf!”

And the people saw that (כי וירא (Moses delayed (שֵ ׁשֹב’ ,lit. “caused shame”) in coming down from the mountain, and the people gathered against Aaron and said to him, “Arise, make for us gods who will go before us before us, for this Moses the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.” Exodus 32:1 • The people do precisely the thing God prohibited them from doing: worshipping other gods and making idols (Exod. 20:1-6) // Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit. • “delayed” = lit. caused shame from שׁבו :the last time this root appeared in the story was Genesis 2:24: “and the two of them the man and woman were naked and were not ashamed (שׁבו“.(

And the people took their gold rings … and Aaron took from their hand, and fashioned it with a tool a golden calf … and Aaron saw and he built an altar before it and Aaron proclaimed, “A feast for Yahweh tomorrow!” And they woke early the next day and offered sacrifices and brought their offerings, and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and they rose up to play. [eating + sexual connotation // eating > nakedness > shame in Gen. 3:7] Exodus 32:3-6

And Yahweh said to Moses, “Go (ךֵ ְל ,(get down (ירד] “.(Yahweh’s first reaction to the rebellious act = Josh. 7:10] Exodus 32:7.

And Joshua listened to the sound/voice (קול את וישמע (of the people [Gen. 3:17 “because you listened to the voice”]. Exodus 32:17

Moses took the calf and he burned it with fire (שׁא + שרף = Josh. 7:15, 25). Exodus 32:20 (This will be a part of the Achan story)

What did this people do to you? (הזה העם לך עשה מה( Exodus 32:21

And Aaron said, “Don’t let my master’s anger burn! You know the people, they are in evil, and they said to me, ‘Make us a god …’ And I said, ‘Who has gold, take it off?’ and they gave to me and I cast it in the fire and out came this calf! [weak excuse, blame shifting = “the woman gave to me …” Gen. 3:12 // Sarai gave Hagar to Abram] Exodus 32:22, 24.

Joshua and Achan

Notice how the battle of Jericho in Joshua 6 is designed according to the Genesis 1 pattern with a six day cycle and a seventh day of rest. Afterwards, we have the first divine command given in the promised land, and the first story of sin (Josh. 6:18-19). Achan looks at forbidden gold, desires it, and takes it. One individual acts in lack of faith and brings ruin upon many others.

Joshua gives warning to the people: Joshua 6:18-19 “Only watch yourselves, don’t take any of the dedicated plunder, lest you take from the dedicated plunder and place it in the camp of Israel … and bring trouble (עכר (to it. All the silver and gold and articles (כלים (of bronze and iron are holy to Yahweh.

Joshua 7:1 CSB

The Israelites, however, were unfaithful regarding the things set apart for destruction. Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was set apart, and the Lord’s anger burned against the Israelites.

Joshua 7:10–25 CSB

The Lord then said to Joshua, “Stand up! Why have you fallen facedown? Israel has sinned. They have violated my covenant that I appointed for them. They have taken some of what was set apart. They have stolen, deceived, and put those things with their own belongings. This is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. They will turn their backs and run from their enemies, because they have been set apart for destruction. I will no longer be with you unless you remove from among you what is set apart. “Go and consecrate the people. Tell them to consecrate themselves for tomorrow, for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There are things that are set apart among you, Israel. You will not be able to stand against your enemies until you remove what is set apart. In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe the Lord selects is to come forward clan by clan. The clan the Lord selects is to come forward family by family. The family the Lord selects is to come forward man by man. The one who is caught with the things set apart must be burned, along with everything he has, because he has violated the Lord’s covenant and committed an outrage in Israel.” Joshua got up early the next morning. He had Israel come forward tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was selected. He had the clans of Judah come forward, and the Zerahite clan was selected. He had the Zerahite clan come forward by heads of families, and Zabdi was selected. He then had Zabdi’s family come forward man by man, and Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was selected. So Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and make a confession to him. I urge you, tell me what you have done. Don’t hide anything from me.” Achan replied to Joshua, “It is true. I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I did: When I saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from Babylon, five pounds of silver, and a bar of gold weighing a pound and a quarter, I coveted them and took them. You can see for yourself. They are concealed in the ground inside my tent, with the silver under the cloak.” So Joshua sent messengers who ran to the tent, and there was the cloak, concealed in his tent, with the silver underneath. They took the things from inside the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites, and spread them out in the Lord’s presence. Then Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the cloak, and the bar of gold, his sons and daughters, his ox, donkey, and sheep, his tent, and all that he had, and brought them up to the Valley of Achor. Joshua said, “Why have you brought us trouble? Today the Lord will bring you trouble!” So all Israel stoned them to death. They burned their bodies, threw stones on them,

But the sons of Israel committed treachery with the dedicated plunder, and Achan, the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, he took from the dedicated plunder. Joshua 7:1

And Yahweh said to Joshua, “Get up, go.” [Yahweh’s first reaction = Exod. 32:7 “go, get down!”] Joshua 7:10

Israel has sinned, and they have broken my covenant which I commanded them, and also they have taken from the dedicated things and stolen, and also they have lied and placed it in their baggage [lit. articles בכליהם.[ Joshua 7:11.

In the morning then you shall bring near by your tribes. And it shall be that the tribe which the LORD captures by lot shall come near by families, and the family which the LORD takes shall come near by households, and the household which the LORD captures shall come near man by man … So Joshua arose early in the morning and brought Israel near by tribes, and the tribe of Judah was captured. He brought the family of Judah near, and he captured the family of the Zerahites; and he brought the family of the Zerahites near man by man, and Zabdi was captured. He brought his household near man by man; and Achan, son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, was captured. [Lots are cast so that a tribe/clan/family/patriarch/individual are captured(לכד (and then brought near (קרב[.( Joshua 7:14-17

Joshua says to Achan, “what have you done?” [(עשית מה // (Exod. 32:21 // Gen. 3:14.] Joshua 7:19

Achan says to Joshua, “And I saw among the plunder a cloak of Shinar, a good one (טוב ,(and 200 shekels of silver, and a tongue of gold [= golden calf] its weight being 50 shekels, and I desired them (חמד (and I took them, and behold, they are hidden in the ground in the midst of my tent.” Joshua 7:21

And Joshua sent messengers and they ran to the tent, and behold, the silver was hidden underneath the tent. Joshua 7:22

And all Israel … burned him with fire [שׁא + שרף = Exod. 32:20]. Joshua 7:25

How are we seeing the parallel stories advance the narrative?

How does this help us understand the overall story as a unified story that leads to Jesus?