CHIASM, 1 SAMUEL 12:19-23
Explaining the Chiasm
Verses 19 and 23 share a phrase: hitpalel baad–“pray for your sake” or when followed by abadeka, “pray for (the sake of) your servants.” The theme here, therefore, is praying for others. Verses 20 and 21 also share a common word, sur, meaning to “turn from” or “depart.” What then does it mean to pray for someone else? Samuel provides an answer to this question, but perhaps not quite what many would have expected.
