The original order of pesikta de-rav kahana

Determining the original order of the text of Pesikta de-Rav Kahana has plagued scholars since its discovery and reconstruction. This question is not merely technical; rather, it relates to the very essence of the work. The fact that multiple full and partial textual witnesses of the Pesikta have been discovered has not brought this question to its resolution, for these witnesses present the Pesikta in three significantly different orders. This article analyses the textual evidence supporting the order of the text found in these three different versions of the Pesikta. The article also takes into consideration the conceptual consequences of these findings on the nature and essence of the Pesikta. The article concludes by arguing in favour of the order found in one of these versions and with an explanation of the processes that led to the creation of the other two orders.