Having recounted GenA's reversal of fortune at Kadesh Barnea, Moses now recounts Yahweh's decision concerning them. Though following naturally from the former, this recall is marked off by its own style and by its own structure, which is framed around the ban on Moses:
A. Yahweh's Response: "When Yahweh heard what you said,
he was angry" v34
B. Decision on the Past Generation: "Not one of this evil
generation shall see the good land" v35
C. Decision on One Faithful Scout: "Caleb . . . will see it" v36
D. Decision on Moses: "Even with me Yahweh was angry . . . 'You too shall not enter it'" v37
C'. Decision on another Faithful Scout: "Joshua . . . will
enter it" v38
B'. Decision on the Next Generation: "Your children . . .
who do not know good and evil . . . they will enter it" v.39
A'. Yahweh's Response: "As for you, turn around . . ."v40
Stylistically, this unit is also characterized by, as we shall see in the comments below, a series of alliterations and other types of repetitions that serve to emphasize the solemnity of Yahweh's response to GenA's rebellion.
Low Chai Hok
©Alberith, rev., 2021