SUCCINCT SUMMARY
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One of Rashis 6 main goals was to explain GRAMMAR similar to
the way modern textbooks explain GRAMMAR. We call this the
Rashi rule of GRAMMAR.
Although a major part of GRAMMAR deals with verb conjugation
there are other parts of grammar. Rashi in todays posting
deals with the SEQUENCE and ORDER of words in a sentence.
We call this the Rashi subrule of WORD ORDER. A great debt
is owed to the 19th century commentator, Malbim, who pointed
out both the power and simplicity of using word order to
explain Midrash.
EXAMPLE Gn42-03b
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The Biblical text states
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The brothers 10 went down to Egypt
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Rashi (paraphrased) states
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It does not say THE TEN BROTHERS
but rather THE BROTHERS TEN. A rule
of grammar states that when the
ADJECTIVE (TEN) goes after the
NOUN(BROTHERS) it connotes distinctness.
Hence we infer that the 10 brothers
went down in 10 distinct paths...that
is they entered the city not together
but thru 10 different city gates
------------------------------------
LIST071b below exhaustively examines the 3
possible reasons for NOUN-ADJ order in
sentences.
Another Rashi rule that will supplements the
above is the Rashi rule of WORD MEANING, when
Rashi attempts to present dictionary meaning.
An associated Rashi subrule is the SYNONYM
subrule--here, Rashi doesnt present dictionary
meaning but rather contrasts the nuances of
words with almost identical meaning.
In http://www.Rashiyomi.com/h22n6.htm,
in LIST955j we showed several Rashis where
- Tauv-Caph means CENTRALLY IN vs
- Beth which means IN.
Using this concept we can supplement the
above analysis. The Biblical text at Gn42-05a states
-----------------------------------------
Jacobs sons came CENTRALLY AMONG those
who sought food
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Rashi states
-----------------------------------------
They came CENTRALLY AMONG--they entered
thru 10 gates and acted inconspicuously
-----------------------------------------
Rashi here combines the inferences from
- brothers 10 vs 10 brothers
- Tauv-Vav-Caph vs Beth
The two ideas together teach us that
- the brothers came thru 10 gates
- and acted inconspicuously so as not
to attrac attention
We are not updating LIST955j which contains
examples of Tauv-Vav-Caph since an other
principle is in use at Gn42-05a
Finally we may further supplement the above
derivations using the Rashi rule of ALIGNMENT.
Here Rashi ALIGNS texts that are almost
identical word for word; the minor differences
between the two texts allow inferences of nuances.
We call this the Rashi subrule of NUANCE.
The Biblical text at Gn42-06 states
------------------------------------------------
Joe He is ruler over land
--- He is supplier to ALL people of the land
*1 *2 *3 *4 *5
------------------------------------------------
Notice how the second part of the verse emphasizes
the word ALL people (Difference #4). From this
subtle difference the Midrash Rabbah states
--------------------------------------------
Joseph kept auditors at all entry points;
Joseph kept track of EVERY person who
entered to obtain food
--------------------------------------------
The Midrash learns this from the word ALL. It
also makes sense. If you are dispensing food then
you want to make sure that no fraud takes place so
you must have a way of checking for duplicate requests.
Although this is logical the Midrash derives it
from the alignment.
Rashi at Gn42-12a states
-------------------------------------
Joseph told the brothers: You entered
thru 10 check points. I infer that
you are spies from the fact that you
hid your common identity
-------------------------------------
Here Rashi connects two ideas
- the inference that the brothers came
thru 10 gates which we infer from the
NOUN-ADJ order
- the inference that Joseph knew who
came thru each gate, which we infer
from the alignment of Gn42-06
LIST308j below summarizes this alignment.
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