Chronicle vs. Composition - An Example from Sefer Bamidbar

Is the Tanach a chronicle or a composition? Does the Tanach merely list historical events, or is there a deeper message to be gleaned from the way it is written and organized? By examining the books of Shoftim and Bamidbar, we can gain a new understanding of Tanach as a composition. Each book has a prophetic agenda which teaches us a deeper lesson about the goal and message of the book, and understanding this message allows the reader to see the book in a whole new light.