Chronological and Thematic Order/2

Chronological and Thematic Order

Exegetical Approaches

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Technical Displacement

At times, achronology in the text is a result of technical literary issues. In many cases, the majority and core of a given story is recorded in its proper chronological place and it is just one or two secondary components which are displaced. The displaced unit might be moved from elsewhere to join and thereby complete the central story ("להשלים את הענין") or it might be separated from the main narrative so as not to interrupt the story line ("לא להפסיק את הענין").  Alternatively, a minor facet of a story might be repeated out of order to guide the reader.

Introductions and Epilogues: "להשלים את הענין"

A subordinate component of a story might be moved from its proper chronological place so as to complete the central narrative. This might take the form of an introduction, epilogue, summation, or heading.

Introduction

An event which occurred earlier is displaced to serve as an introduction and provide necessary background to a later story.

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 – According to several commentators, Sarah had conceived before the story of Avimelekh (or in the middle of it) yet the words "וַי״י פָּקַד אֶת שָׂרָה" open Chapter 21 to fully introduce the birth.

Epilogue

A component of a story which is only to occur later is moved earlier to provide closure to the main unit.

Summary

An episode which occurred and was explicitly mentioned earlier in Tanakh is repeated in order to serve as a summary to a unit.

Headings

An event which is soon to be discussed in the text is mentioned already in the heading of the unit, letting the reader know what is to come.  This might take the form of a "כלל ופרט", a general formulation followed by details.

Prologues and Appendices: "לא להפסיק את הענין"

Secondary narrative components might be moved to form a prologue at the very beginning of a unit or an appendix at the end because placing them in their proper chronological place in the middle of the central unit would otherwise break the flow of the main narrative . The episode or topic which is displaced is either irrelevant to the main theme or message of the unit, of lesser import, or of a different literary character.

Prologues

An event is moved from its correct chronological place later in the text and placed at the very beginning of the unit where it will not disrupt the main topic.

Appendices

An episode is moved from its correct chronological place earlier in the narrative and placed at the very end of the unit where it will not disrupt the main topic.

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.]

Miscellaneous

Resumptive Repetition

Thematic 

Tanakh will often prefer thematic ordering over strict chronology.  When components of two independent stories overlap in time, it will tend to focus on each individually rather than constantly switching back and forth between the two. Within a given narrative, it might juxtapose related material even if this means not adhering to a historical timeline.  Material might be grouped according to protagonists, perspective, literary genres or other factors:

Figures

Personal vs. National

Homiletical Reasons

Defense of Avot

Message for Future