Parallels in Torah

Abstract

The wealth of information contained in the Torah is comprised of several layers of meaning. One of the most fundamental ways to analyze this information is the parallel. A close analysis of the Torah demonstrates the existence of significant textual and thematic parallels between its many narratives. Not only are these parallels present, but their depth is so striking that they beg the question of whether the parallels themselves deserve further analysis. In this paper, I argue that not all parallels in the Torah are equal. Rather, one can construct three distinct categories of Torah parallels: elementary, contrast, and building. Since each type of parallel has its own unique features and goals, the Torah employs the appropriate category based on context to convey its powerful messages