All of the details of the legal-system, both in general and in particular, follow the rules and hierarchical, ordered ways of administering the world that G-d set in place for the era in which the rule of law would reign 1.
As our sages expressed it, “the world is judged in the course of four periods of time” (Rosh Hashana 16a) 2, “the king enters into judgment first 3, before stark retribution is aroused” (Ibid.), “crops are mentioned as they’re judged in two stages” 4 (Ibid.), “there are differences 5 depending on whether it’s before the case is adjudged or after” 6 (Ibid. 18a), and the like 7.
Footnotes:
1 As Ramchal pointed out numbers of times (see for example Da’at Tevunos 128), the temporal world was created to function in ordered stages, depending on circumstances. But there will be a time when all of that will be undone to be replaced by a metaphysical world beyond chronology and order.
- Rather than all at once.
- And others follow rather than all entering at once.
- And others follow rather than all once.
- Of outcome.
- Rather than at one and the same time.
- Also see Rosh Hashanah 17b-18a and Niddah 70b.