Chronological and Thematic Order/2

Chronological and Thematic Order

Exegetical Approaches

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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"

A subordinate component of a story might be moved either forward or backwards to complete the main narartive. This might take the form of an introduction, summation or epilogue.

Introductions – An event which occurred earlier is displaced in order to serve as an introduction and provide necessary background to a later story or law

Bereshit 4:1 – According to Rashi, the birth of Kayin and Hevel took place already in the Garden of Eden, before the expulsion. It is mentioned afterwards, in Chapter 4, only because it is necessary to understand the continuation of the Kayin and Hevel story.

Bereshit 21:1

Prologues and Appendices: "לא להפסיק את הענין"

In several instances, earlier events are moved to form an appendix at the end of a unit or a prologue at the beginning because placing the story in its proper chronological place would otherwise break the flow of the main narrative . The episode or topic which is displaced is irrelevant to the main theme or message of the unit, of lesser import, or of a different literary character:

Bereshit 25:1-6 – According to Shadal, Avraham's marriage to Keturah occurred before Sarah's death, and not where it is found. Since the story is tangential to the main narrative which focuses on the formation of Am Yisrael, it is put as an appendix to the Avraham stories rather than in its proper chronological place. [For elaboration and dissenting opinions, see Avraham's Many Wives.]

Of Equal Import

Figures

Personal vs. National

Homiletical Reasons

Defense of Avot

Message for Future