Masoretic Text Divisions as a Pedagogic Device: The Case of וארא (Exodus 6:2) (original) (raw)

This paper examines how chapter divisions compare with the parashiyyot, the weekly Synagogue lectional readings and in particular with one test case, parashat וארא. The origin of chapter divisions is traditionally associated with Stephen Langton (13th century). The original impetus of the chapter divisions seems to have been to divide the text into units of sense and into divisions of reasonable length. Chapters often signal time breaks (often introduced by וַיְהִי “and it came to pass”) and many begin with expressions such as (יֹּאמֶר/וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה “The Lord said/spoke to Moses”). When the chapter divisions ignore the Masoretic divisions of petuchot and setumot, particularly those in close proximity to the beginning of a chapter, this must be the result of a different exegesis. The test case analyzed here of parashat Wa’era’ is an example of a Masoretic sectional division which does not correspond with the beginning of a chapter. It is argued that the Masoretic division is to be preferred over the chapter division. Firstly, because the Masoretic division enables the previous parashah to end on a note of hope and encouragement. Secondly, it allows the new parashah to highlight God’s reaffirmation of the בְּרִית between God and the patriarchs. Thirdly, the Masoretic division respects the distinctiveness of the literary unit which starts at verse two of chapter six and continues to verse eight. Finally, the Masoretic division avoids two problems which is produced by the current chapter division. It avoids the problem of the repetition of God speaking in two successive verses without Moses replying, and it avoids the problem of God speaking with two different names.