Biblica - Vol 90 (2009) Willis, Timothy M., Blasphemy, Talion, and Chiasmus: The Marriage of Form and Content in Lev 24,13-23 (2009)

The verbal divine response to a case of blasphemy/cursing of God is presented as a lengthy chiasmus in Lev 24,13-23. One aspect of this that has gone unnoticed is how the structure suggests that blasphemy is a more serious offense than murder. This observation shows how the pericope fits well thematically in Lev 18-26, where there are repeated examples of the divine self-declaration formulas (I am the Lord…) and references to holiness.