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1. Investigating Structure 47
scepticism, and that scholars are too ready to assume that an intended
structure is there, and that our only task is to find it.
So far the results of this examination of specific studies have not
been too encouraging. The last example chosen, however, does give
some ground for hope that investigations into the literary structure of
a passage may proceed on surer foundations.
4. The Structure of Exodus 6.2-8 according to Auffret and Magonet 1
There are various examples of scholarly interaction that could have
been chosen. For example, J.A. Emerton's essay, 'An examination of
some attempts to defend the unity of the flood narrative in Genesis' 2
gives the reaction of an eminent scholar not normally associated with
structural studies to at least three treatments that make use of chiastic
structures, namely those of F.I. Andersen, G.J. Wenham and
Y.T. Radday. 3 Some of his arguments I should certainly endorse. For
example, he points to contrivance in dividing up into units and in
labelling them, although I think it is a pity that he seems only
concerned to defend the traditional documentary division into sources,
rather than to ask whether structural studies might throw some light
on the activity of the redactor(s) responsible for the text under
examination. His conclusion is worth quoting:
While chiasmus undoubtedly appears from time to time in the Hebrew
Bible, not all the examples that have been alleged stand up to detailed
examination. It would help the progress of Old Testament study if those
who believe that they have found instances were to be self-critical and
strict in their methods and to subject their theories to rigorous testing
before seeking to publish them. 4
1. P. Auffret, 'The Literary Structure of Exodus 6.2-8', JSOT 27 (1983),
pp. 45-64; idem, 'Remarks on J. Magonet's Interpretation of Exodus 6.2-8', JSOT
27 (1983), pp. 69-71; J. Magonet, The Rhetoric of God: Exodus 6.2-8', JSOT 27
(1983), pp. 56-67; idem, 'A Response to P. Auffret's "Literary Structure of Exodus
6.2-8" ', JSOT 27 (1983), pp. 73-74.
2. VT 27 (1987), pp. 401-20; VT 28 (1988), pp. 1-21.
3. F.I. Andersen, The Sentence in Biblical Hebrew (Janua Linguarum, Series
Practica, 231; Mouton: The Hague, 1974); G.J. Wenham, 'The Coherence of the
Flood Narrative', VT 28 (1978), pp. 336-48; Y.T. Radday, 'Chiasmus in Hebrew
Biblical Narrative', in Welch (ed.), Chiasmus in Antiquity, pp. 50-117 (90-100).
4. Emerton, 'Flood Narrative in Genesis', pp. 20-21.