Gen 1:1-3; *smikhut or not?

[Jason]

Thank you, Jason. My objective is not really to argue for this particular interpretation, but to learn more about Hebrew narrative syntax. Are there other comparable examples of Biblical Hebrew narrative syntax where a waw-consecutive verbal phrase is preceded by an initial noun-phrase or phrases that are not subordinate to the waw-consecutive primary verbal clause?

I'm not sure what you're asking. I would assume that the beginning of Ruth would meet your criteria, but I'm not certain.

וַיְהִ֗י בִּימֵי֙ שְׁפֹ֣ט הַשֹּֽׁפְטִ֔ים וַיְהִ֥י רָעָ֖ב בָּאָ֑רֶץ וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ אִ֜ישׁ מִבֵּ֧ית לֶ֣חֶם יְהוּדָ֗ה לָגוּר֙ בִּשְׂדֵ֣י מוֹאָ֔ב ה֥וּא וְאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ וּשְׁנֵ֥י בָנָֽיו׃

The beginning of the expression establishes a time, and the story actually begins with the vav-consecutive וַיֵּ֫לֶךְ. Is this what you're talking about?

וַיְהִ֗י בְּהַֽעֲל֤וֹת יְהוָה֙ אֶת־אֵ֣לִיָּ֔הוּ בַּֽסְעָרָ֖ה הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וַיֵּ֧לֶךְ אֵֽלִיָּ֛הוּ וֶֽאֱלִישָׁ֖ע מִן־הַגִּלְגָּֽל׃

Here, the וַיְהְי phrase establishes time also and the narrative begins with the vav-consecutive וַיֵּ֫לֶךְ.

וַיְהִ֗י כִּשְׁמֹ֨עַ֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ חִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ וַיִּקְרַ֖ע אֶת־בְּגָדָ֑יו וַיִּתְכַּ֣ס בַּשָּׂ֔ק וַיָּבֹ֖א בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃

Vav-consecutive following an infinitive construct with a prefixed kaf.

It isn't odd for the vav-consecutive to follow a temporal marker like this.