SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
One of Rashis 5 main goals is to indicate paragraph
structure. One method of paragraph
structure is to use the CLIMAX method to infer meaning
That is, the ASSUMED CLIMACTIC development of a paragraph
theme forces inference of meaning from the paragraph structure
EVEN if the individual words dont justify this.

EXAMPLE 1: Nu09-22a
-------------------
Nu09-20:22 has the GENERAL theme that the CLOUD of GLORY
could stay ANY LENGTH OF TIME and then depart.
This GENERAL theme is developed as follows:

GENERAL Nu09-20 The cloud could stay ANY NUMBER OF DAYS

DETAIL  Nu09-21 - the cloud could stay..TWELVE HOUR PERIOD
DETAIL  Nu09-21 - or it could stay......DAY AND NIGHT
DETAIL  Nu09-22 - or if the cloud stays TWO DAYS
DETAIL  Nu09-22 - or .................. A MONTH
DETAIL  Nu09-22 - or .................. DAYS

Rashi: The CLIMACTIC development
- 12 hours
- 24 hours
- 2 days
- Month
- DAYS
clearly shows that the word DAYS means a YEAR (Even
though DAYS by itself normally does not mean a YEAR)

Here Rashi infers meaning from PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE
and CLIMACTIC development (but not from the meaning
of the words involved).

This is a fundamental principle! Understand it.

LIST455a below summarizes this argument.

EXAMPLE 2: Gn24-55a Gn24-55b
----------------------------
The Biblical text states
-----------------------
Please, let the girl stay with us
- a DAY = YEAR
- or TEN = TEN MONTHS
-----------------------

Rashi: The identification of DAY=YEAR and TEN=TEN MONTHS
is based on the principle of (ANTI-)CLIMAX which states that
first you request something big and then REDUCE your
request.

LIST455b below summarizes this argument.

EXAMPLE 3: Dt28-56a Dt28-57a
----------------------------
Dt28-56 states
--------------------------------------------------
The delicate woman shall have a bad eye
-A- on her husband
-B- on her chidren
-C- on the afterbirth that comes from her legs
-D- on new borns
since she will have to eat them (From lack of food)
---------------------------------------------------

Rashi noticed that the (A)-(D) seem to progress
- from Husband
- to   NewBorns
Accordingly Rashi interprets (A)-(D) using the principle
of CLIMAX
-------------------------------------------
-A- on her husband------------RASHI: Her husband
-B- on her chidren------------RASHI: Her BIG chidren
-C- on the afterbirth
that comes from her legs--RASHI: Her YOUNG children
-D- on new borns--------------RASHI: Newborns
-------------------------------------------

The driving force behind this Rashi interpretation
is not the individual words but rather the
general climactic structure.

LIST455c below summarizes this argument.

List of time periods in  Nu09-20:22