The ‘23 version was more then-contemporary moral tale. The ‘56 version was a period piece drawing heavily from Jewish traditions.
Yes, I seem to recall the 1923 version jumping back and forth between Biblical times and modern-day. I think the 1929 “Noah’s Ark” also had a contempory element as well. But it’s been decades since I last viewed either. The films were probably still being influenced by the era-jumping pattern from “Intolerance.”
Most of the movie is about two brothers, one who obeys the Commandments and the other who sets out to break them all. Definitely a pre-Hayes Code kind of plot!