Chronological and Thematic Order/2

Chronological and Thematic Order

Exegetical Approaches

This topic has not yet undergone editorial review

Literary Concerns

Tanakh often sacrifices chronological order for literary reasons, preferring thematic order over strict chronology. Rather than switching off between two stories just so as to adhere to a historical timeline, Tanakh will often prefer to finish one narrative unit before moving to another. At times, the displaced unit is secondary to the main narrative, while at other times both the chronological and achronological components might be of equal import.

Secondary to Main Unit

In many cases, the majority and main crux of a given story is recorded in its proper chronological place and it is just one or two secondary components of the story which are displaced.  The displaced unit might be moved to join and thereby complete the focal story ("להשלים את הענין") or it might be separated from it so as not to interrupt the main storyline ("לא להפסיק את הענין").

Introductions and Epilogues: "להשלים את הענין"

Prologues and Appendices: "לא להפסיק את הענין"

Of Equal Import

Homiletical Reasons