Comprehensive Torah Weave Color Code Guide
Table of Contents
Introduction
The Torah Weave uses a sophisticated color coding system to highlight linguistic connections and structural patterns within the biblical text. This visual approach reveals the Torah's intricate design and helps readers discover meaningful patterns that might otherwise be missed.
This color system transforms our understanding of the Torah by making visible the complex network of linguistic connections that give the text its cohesion and meaning. The highlighting allows readers to see at a glance how different sections relate to each other and how themes develop throughout a unit.
The Three Types of Connections
The color coding system is organized into three main classes of connections:
| Connection Type | Description | Colors Used |
|---|---|---|
| Horizontal Links | Connections across columns in the same row | This Highlight, This Highlight, This Highlight |
| Vertical Links | Connections within a column | This Highlight, This Highlight |
| Boundary Links | Connections between the beginning and end of a unit | This Highlight, This Highlight, Light This Highlight |
Horizontal Links
There are two types of horizontal links:
Direct Parallels (This Highlight)
Direct parallels between all segments of a horizontal thread are highlighted by this color. This often points to the common theme of the thread. See Example 1 below.
Triadic Structure (This Highlight and This Highlight)
In a three-part thread, the Torah uses a visual logic where the conceptual middle is physically in the middle:
- This Highlight highlighting marks key words that appear in both the first and second segments.
- This Highlight highlighting marks key words that appear in both the second and third segments.
The result is that the middle segment contains words marked with both colors, visually demonstrating its role as the conceptual middle. See Example 2 below.
Vertical Links
Two types of vertical highlighting are employed:
Thread Continuity (This Highlight)
This Highlight highlighting indicates repeating words or phrases within multiple segments of a warp thread (column). This highlighting reveals how themes develop and continue within a column. See Example 3 below.
Internal Parallels (This Highlight)
Lime highlighting is used to mark parallels between parts of a single segment. See Example 4 below.
Boundary Links
Boundary links refer to connections between the opening and closing weft threads:
Closure (This Highlight)
This Highlight highlighting marks linguistic connections between the first weft thread and the last, creating an "envelope" that encloses the entire unit. See Example 5 below.
Chiastic Structure (This Highlight and Light This Highlight)
Chiastic structure creates an X-shaped pattern of connections:
- This Highlight highlighting indicates the half chiasm created by the connection between the upper left segment (first segment of first weft thread) and the lower right segment (last segment of last weft thread).
- Light This Highlight highlighting indicates the connection between the upper right (last segment of first thread) and lower left (first segment of last thread) half of the chiasm.
The Torah as a Visual Text
The Torah Weave highlighting system reveals that the Torah was designed with visual rather than purely oral logic. This is particularly evident in the placement of the conceptual middle in triadic structures:
- In oral logic, the synthesis comes last:
- Thesis
- Antithesis
- Synthesis
- In visual logic, the conceptual middle is physically in the middle position:
- First position
- Conceptual middle
- Third position
This principle applies not only to the parts within a thread but also to the threads themselves. A thread positioned between two other threads should be read as a conceptual middle connecting them. See Example 7 below.
Complete Example Units
Exodus Unit 4 (12:1-13:16)
The Passover, Exodus, and Consecration of Firstborn
Thread 1
| 1a | 1b |
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A 12:1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying: 12:2 'This month shall be unto you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you. 12:3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying: In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for a household; 12:4 and if the household be too little for a lamb, then shall he and his neighbour next unto his house take one according to the number of the souls; according to every man's eating ye shall make your count for the lamb. 12:5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year; ye shall take it from the sheep, or from the goats; 12:6 and ye shall keep it unto the fourteenth day of the same month; and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at dusk. 12:7 And they shall take of the blood, and put it on the two side-posts and on the lintel, upon the houses wherein they shall eat it. 12:8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 12:9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; its head with its legs and with the inwards thereof. 12:10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; but that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. 12:11 And thus shall ye eat it: with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste--it is the LORD'S passover. 12:12 For I will go through the land of Egypt in that night, and will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. 12:13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and there shall no plague be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. |
A 12:21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them: 'Draw out, and take you lambs according to your families, and kill the passover lamb. 12:22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side-posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. 12:23 For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side-posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. |
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B 12:14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial, and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. 12:15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; howbeit the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses; for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. 12:16 And in the first day there shall be to you a holy convocation, and in the seventh day a holy convocation; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done by you. 12:17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt; therefore shall ye observe this day throughout your generations by an ordinance for ever. 12:18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. 12:19 Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses; for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a sojourner, or one that is born in the land. 12:20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.' {P} |
B 12:24 And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever. 12:25 And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as He hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. 12:26 And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you: What mean ye by this service? 12:27 that ye shall say: It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, for that He passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when He smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses.' And the people bowed the head and worshipped. 12:28 And the children of Israel went and did so; as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. {S} |
Thread 2
| 2a | 2b |
|---|---|
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A 12:29 And it came to pass at midnight, that the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the first-born of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the first-born of cattle. |
A 12:35 And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they asked of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment. 12:36 And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. And they despoiled the Egyptians. {P} |
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B 12:30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. 12:31 And he called for Moses and Aaron by night and said: 'Rise up, get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said. 12:32 Take both your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.' |
B 12:37 And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, beside children. 12:38 And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. |
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C 12:33 And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, to send them out of the land in haste; for they said: 'We are all dead men.' 12:34 And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading-troughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. |
C 12:39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual. |
Thread 3
| 3a | 3b |
|---|---|
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A 12:40 Now the time that the children of Israel dwelt in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. 12:41 And it came to pass at the end of four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the host of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. 12:42 It was a night of watching unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt; this same night is a night of watching unto the LORD for all the children of Israel throughout their generations. {P} |
A 13:3 And Moses said unto the people: 'Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place; there shall no leavened bread be eaten |
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B 12:43 And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron: 'This is the ordinance of the passover: there shall no alien eat thereof; 12:44 but every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof. 12:45 A sojourner and a hired servant shall not eat thereof. 12:46 In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth aught of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof. 12:47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. 12:48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land; but no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. 12:49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.' 12:50 Thus did all the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. |
B . 13:4 This day ye go forth in the month Abib. 13:5 And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which He swore unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month. 13:6 Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD. 13:7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee, in all thy borders. |
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C {S} 12:51 And it came to pass the selfsame day that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts. {P} |
C 13:8 And thou shalt tell thy son in that day, saying: It is because of that which the LORD did for me when I came forth out of Egypt. 13:9 And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thy hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the law of the LORD may be in thy mouth; for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt. 13:10 Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year. {P} |
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D13:1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 13:2 'Sanctify unto Me all the first-born, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast, it is Mine.' |
D13:11 And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanite, as He swore unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee, 13:12 that thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the womb; every firstling that is a male, which thou hast coming of a beast, shall be the LORD'S. 13:13 And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break its neck; and all the first-born of man among thy sons shalt thou redeem. 13:14 And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying: What is this? that thou shalt say unto him: By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage; 13:15 and it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the first-born of man, and the first-born of beast; therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the womb, being males; but all the first-born of my sons I redeem. 13:16 And it shall be for a sign upon thy hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes; for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.' {S} |
Exodus Unit 5 (13:17-15:21)
The Crossing of the Red Sea and Song of the Sea
Thread 1
| 1a | 1b | 1c |
|---|---|---|
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13:17 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said: 'Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt.' 13:18 But God led the people about, by the way of the wilderness by the Red Sea; and the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt. |
13:19 And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him; for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying: 'God will surely remember you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.' |
13:20 And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. 13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; that they might go by day and by night: 13:22 the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, departed not from before the people. {P} |
Thread 2
| 2a | 2b | 2c |
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A 14:1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 14:2 'Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn back and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal-zephon, over against it shall ye encamp by the sea. 14:3 And Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel: They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in. 14:4 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he shall follow after them; and I will get Me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD.' And they did so. 14:5 And it was told the king of Egypt that the people were fled; and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned towards the people, and they said: 'What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us? 14:6 And he made ready his chariots, and took his people with him. 14:7 And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over all of them. 14:8 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel; |
A the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians were marching after them; and they were sore afraid; and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD. 14:11 And they said unto Moses: 'Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to bring us forth out of Egypt? 14:12 Is not this the word that we spoke unto thee in Egypt, saying: Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it were better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.' 14:13 And Moses said unto the people: 'Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will work for you to-day; for whereas ye have seen the Egyptians to-day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 14:14 The LORD will fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.' {P} |
A 14:19 And the angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud removed from before them, and stood behind them; 14:20 and it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud and the darkness here, yet gave it light by night there; and the one came not near the other all the night. 14:21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all the night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 14:22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 14:23 And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 14:24 And it came to pass in the morning watch, that the LORD looked forth upon the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of cloud, and discomfited the host of the Egyptians. 14:25 And He took off their chariot wheels, and made them to drive heavily; so that the Egyptians said: 'Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.' {P} |
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B for the children of Israel went out with a high hand. 14:9 And the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon. 14:10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh |
B 14:15 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Wherefore criest thou unto Me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward. 14:16 And lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thy hand over the sea, and divide it; and the children of Israel shall go into the midst of the sea on dry ground. 14:17 And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall go in after them; and I will get Me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. 14:18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten Me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.' |
B 14:26 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Stretch out thy hand over the sea, that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.' 14:27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 14:28 And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, even all the host of Pharaoh that went in after them into the sea; there remained not so much as one of them. 14:29 But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. |
Thread 3
| 3a | 3b | 3c |
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A 14:30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea-shore. 14:31 And Israel saw the great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians, and the people feared the LORD; and they believed in the LORD, and in His servant Moses. {P} |
A 15:6 Thy right hand, O LORD, glorious in power, Thy right hand, O LORD, dasheth in pieces the enemy. 15:7 And in the greatness of Thine excellency Thou overthrowest them that rise up against Thee; Thou sendest forth Thy wrath, it consumeth them as stubble. 15:8 And with the blast of Thy nostrils the waters were piled up--the floods stood upright as a heap; the deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea. 15:9 The enemy said: 'I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.' 15:10 Thou didst blow with Thy wind, the sea covered them; they sank as lead in the mighty waters. |
A till Thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over that Thou hast gotten. 15:17 Thou bringest them in, and plantest them in the mountain of Thine inheritance, the place, O LORD, which Thou hast made for Thee to dwell in, the sanctuary, O Lord, which Thy hands have established. 15:18 The LORD shall reign for ever and ever. 15:19 For the horses of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought back the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel walked on dry land in the midst of the sea. {P} |
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B 15:1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spoke, saying: I will sing unto the LORD, for He is highly exalted; the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea. 15:2 The LORD is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation; this is my God, and I will glorify Him; my father's God, and I will exalt Him. 15:3 The LORD is a man of war, The LORD is His name. 15:4 Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath He cast into the sea, and his chosen captains are sunk in the Red Sea. 15:5 The deeps cover them--they went down into the depths like a stone. |
B 15:11 Who is like unto Thee, O LORD, among the mighty? who is like unto Thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? 15:12 Thou stretchedst out Thy right hand--the earth swallowed them. 15:13 Thou in Thy love hast led the people that Thou hast redeemed; Thou hast guided them in Thy strength to Thy holy habitation. 15:14 The peoples have heard, they tremble; pangs have taken hold on the inhabitants of Philistia. 15:15 Then were the chiefs of Edom affrighted; the mighty men of Moab, trembling taketh hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan are melted away. 15:16 Terror and dread falleth upon them; by the greatness of Thine arm they are as still as a stone; |
B 15:20 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. 15:21 And Miriam sang unto them: Sing ye to the LORD, for He is highly exalted: the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea. {S} |
How Colors Reveal Meaning in the Torah
Now that you've seen the Torah units with their color coding, let's explore what these patterns reveal about the text's structure and meaning:
1. The Torah as a Visual Text
The color patterns reveal that the Torah was composed with visual logic that may not be immediately apparent to readers. The highlighting makes visible connections that are built into the structure of the text but might be missed in regular reading.
2. Complementary Narratives
The This Highlight horizontal connections reveal how narratives in different columns complement each other. In Exodus Unit 4, we see divine instructions paired with human implementation. In Exodus Unit 5, we see Egypt's defeat contrasted with Israel's salvation.
3. Progressive Development
The This Highlight and This Highlight triadic connections in Exodus Unit 5 demonstrate how ideas progress across three columns. This reveals a sophisticated narrative structure where concepts evolve through multiple stages.
4. Thematic Continuity
The gold vertical connections in both units show how themes develop within a column. In Unit 4, we see the recurring theme of teaching children about the exodus in future generations. In Unit 5, we see the progression of God's guidance from the pillar of cloud to the parting of the sea.
5. Literary Framing
The This Highlight closure and This Highlight chiastic patterns create elegant frames around each unit, connecting beginnings and endings. In Unit 5, "war" at the beginning connects to God's identity as "a man of war" later, showing how the narrative comes full circle.
6. Key Motifs
The lime internal parallels highlight repeated phrases that form key motifs. In Unit 4, the recurring phrase "by strength of hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt" creates a unifying theme of divine power.
Reading the Torah Weave
The Torah Weave color system transforms how we read the Torah by making its literary design visible. By seeing the colored patterns, readers can:
- Recognize structural units that might not follow chapter divisions
- Identify thematic connections between passages that might seem unrelated
- Appreciate literary artistry that's built into the text's structure
- Understand the progression of ideas across seemingly separate narratives
- See the text as a unified whole rather than disconnected episodes
The colored patterns reveal that the Torah is a carefully crafted literary work with sophisticated design elements that enhance its meaning. What might appear to be simple repetition or disconnected passages in a regular reading becomes a cohesive, intricately woven tapestry when viewed through the Torah Weave color system.
Examples of Color Coding Patterns
Example 1: Direct Parallels (This Highlight)
In Exodus Unit 4, God's instruction to "take to them every man a lamb, according to their fathers' houses" (12:3) is paralleled by Moses telling the elders to "Draw out, and take you lambs according to your families" (12:21), showing how divine command is faithfully transmitted to the people.
The This Highlight horizontal connections in Thread 1 reveal how God's detailed instructions (left column) are faithfully transmitted by Moses to the people and then carried out (right column). This pairing shows the covenant relationship where divine commands lead to human obedience.
Example 2: Triadic Structure (This Highlight and This Highlight)
In Exodus Unit 5, Moses says "The LORD will fight for you" (14:14) in the middle column, and later the Egyptians realize "the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians" (14:25) in the right column, creating a connection that demonstrates how God's promised action becomes reality.
Thread 2 of Exodus Unit 5 demonstrates the full triadic color pattern with This Highlight highlighting connecting columns 1 and 2 (Pharaoh's and Israel's desire for Egyptians to keep serving them) and This Highlight highlighting connecting columns 2 and 3 ("The LORD will fight for you" and "the LORD fighteth for them"). This creates a progression showing how Egypt's rejection, Israel's fear, and God's action form a complete narrative arc.
Example 3: Thread Continuity (This Highlight)
In Exodus Unit 5, "the pillar of cloud" appears multiple times throughout the third column (13:21, 14:19, 14:24), showing God's continuous guidance through the journey and the battle.
In Exodus Unit 4, the This Highlight vertical connections in the right column (3b) emphasize the future teaching of the exodus to children in the promised land, showing how the event becomes tradition through phrases like "when thy son asketh thee" and "thou shalt tell thy son."
Example 4: Internal Parallels (This Highlight)
In Exodus Unit 4, the repeated phrase "by strength of hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt" (13:9, 13:14, 13:16) creates a unifying theme of divine power that emphasizes God's role in the exodus. This repetition creates a powerful refrain that underscores divine intervention.
Example 5: Closure (This Highlight)
In Exodus Unit 5, the mention of "war" (13:17) at the beginning connects with God as a man of "war" (15:3) near the end, showing how God's protection from war becomes His warfare on behalf of Israel.
The This Highlight closure pattern in Thread 1 of Exodus Unit 5 creates an envelope structure with the term "war" in 1a and the promise that "God will surely remember you" in 1b. This highlights how God's leadership protected Israel from war by redirecting them, fulfilling His promise to remember them.
Example 6: Chiastic Structure (This Highlight)
In Exodus Unit 4, "This month (12:2) and…Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; " in 12:15 connect with "Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD" in 13:4, forming a chiastic frame that establishes the calendar significance of the exodus events.
In 12:28 "And the children of Israel went and did so; as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they returns as "Thus did all the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they" in 12:50. This encloses the unit with the Israelites obedience.
The chiasm thus integrates the framework of nature, through the calendar, with the covenantal relationship between Israel and their deity.
Example 7: Visual Logic in Triadic Structures
In Exodus Unit 5's Thread 2, the middle column shows Israel's fear and Moses' reassurance as the conceptual middle between Egypt's pursuit (left column) and God's deliverance (right column). This creates a progression: threat → crisis → resolution, with the crisis as the physical middle of the narrative.
Thread 3 of Exodus Unit 5 shows multiple meaningful patterns:
- The This Highlight shows horizontal connections of "hand"/"hands" across all three columns contrast Egypt's defeated hand with God's victorious hand.
- The This Highlight shows connections between "like a stone" in columns 1 and 2 create a powerful image of the Egyptians sinking "like a stone" and the surrounding nations becoming as still "as a stone" in fear.
- The This Highlight closure pattern connects "war" in 15:3 with "The LORD is a man of war" in 15:13, showing how God's warfare resulted in redemption.
Conclusion
The Torah Weave color coding system transforms our reading of the Torah by making visible the sophisticated literary patterns that organize the text. These patterns are not merely decorative but reveal profound theological and narrative connections that might otherwise remain hidden.
Reading the Torah as a Woven Text
By attending to the highlighted patterns, we can:
- Recognize how themes develop across different parts of a unit
- Appreciate the literary craftsmanship of the text
- Understand how narrative details connect to larger theological messages
- See how the Torah communicates through visual as well as verbal means
The color patterns invite us to read the Torah not just as a sequence of verses but as an intricately woven tapestry where every thread contributes to the whole design.