Simeon Chavel identifies a distinct story-type in the Torah, the "oracular novella," its contours and poetics, historical background, and use. A very short story of human quandary resolved by divine law, the oracular novella depicts an incident or set of circumstances in Israel, oracular inquiry by Moses, and instruction by Yahweh. The Torah has four such stories, all in the Priestly source, about cursing Yahweh (Lev 24:10-23), Pesa? deferral (Num 9:1-14), woodgathering on the Sabbath (Num 15:32-36), and inheritance by daughters (Num 27:1-11). All four dramatize themes in the divine speeches...