align-14


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#       10 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE             #
#                 August 2nd, 2001                        #
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    =============  HOT ITEMS ================================
   ENGLISH RASHI:       http://www.mnemotrix.com/metsudah
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   =========================================================

 GOALS
=====
This module studies the ALIGNMENT method in Rashi. In this
method 2 different verses are found to be ALMOST the same.
The verses are lined up and the minor differences between
them function as footnotes illuminating the text.


TODAYS UNIT
===========
In todays unit we review the alignment
--of 4 verses describing Jacobs wives
--of a parallel poetic structure in one verse

REFERENCE:
=========
Todays unit comes from the following postings

http://www.RashiYomi.Com/dt32-42a.htm
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h3n18.htm
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/dt46-19a.htm
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h1n4.htm


#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2001, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#




PARALLEL STRUCTURE OF DT32-42a
 

EXAMPLE 32: Dt32-42a BLOOD is parallel to BLOOD OF ENEMY
EXAMPLE 33: Dt32-42b FLESH is parallel to HEADS OF ENEMY

BACKGROUND
----------
Dt32-42 occurs in the HARKEN Poem, which occupies chapter Dt32
At the end of this poem after punishing the Jews for their
sins, God promises to punish the Jewish enemies who have hurt
the Jews.

THE TEXT
--------
The text, Dt32-42a, uses what is called a PARALLEL STRUCTURE:
The same theme is repeated twice in different words with
different nuances.For example, in the first stanza of this verse
it says MY ARROWS will get drunk with blood, while in the
2nd stanza it says MY SWORD will eat flesh.

THE RASHI
---------
Rashi simply points out the parallelism and shows how the
parallel phrases amplify meaning

The List
VERSE PHRASE1 PHRASE2 PHRASE3

Dt32-42a My arrows will get drunk from BLOOD
Dt32-42a from BLOOD OF CAPTIVES
Dt32-42a My sword will     eat ---- flesh
Dt32-42a from heads of the enemy
Differs *1 *2 *3


COMMENTS

*1
*2
*3 I rearranged the verses for clarity.The actual order
   in the text is

   ---------------------------------------------------------
   My arrows will get drunk from blood
   My sword- will ------eat ---- flesh
   ------------------------ from blood of captives
   ------------------------ from heads of enemies
   ---------------------------------------------------------

   Rashis main point is that the phrase BLOOD OF CAPTIVES
   on the first line is in apposition and parallel to BLOOD
   on the first line.
   similarly FLESH on the 2nd line is in apposition and
   parallel to HEADS OF ENEMIES on the 4th line. Such
   parallelism enriches understanding & appreciation of meaning.



ALIGNMENT OF VERSES DISCUSSING JACOBS WIFE
 

EXAMPLE 34: Gn46-19a

BACKGROUND
----------
Gn46 presents the list of Jacobs 12 chidren & 70 grandchildren
It also discusses which child belongs to which mother

THE TEXT
--------
There are 4 wives. In 3 of them it simply says that such
and such were born to such and such wife. BUT, by Rachel
it distinctively talks about the children of RACHEL,
JACOBS WIFE. Thus Rachel is the only wife that is called
JACOBS WIFE.

THE RASHI
---------
The fundamental thesis that emerges is that
---------------------------------
Rachel was Jacobs preferred wife
---------------------------------

Here is the LIST. The footnotes will explore how the
minor differences support Rashis fundamental thesis.

VERSE
PHRASE1
PHRASE2
PHRASE3
PHRASE4
PHRASE5

Gn46-15 ..Leah who bore to Jacob
Gn46-19 ..Rachel, WIFE OF JACOB who were born to Jacob
Gn46-18 ..Zilpah she bore   .. to Jacob
Gn46-25 ..Bilhah she bore   .. to Jacob
Differs *1 *2 *3 *4 *5


COMMENTS

*1 This difference is hidden (it cannot be displayed on one
   line).It has to do with the order in which items are listed
   Here is the order of listing of children and wives
   --------------------------------------------------------------
   ----------------------------------Child #1, Child #2, to Leah
   ----------------------------------Child #1, Child #2,to Zilpah
   ----------------------------------Child #1, Child #2,to Bilhah
   These are the children of Rachel: Child #1, Child #2,to Rachel
   --------------------------------------------------------------

   Thus with the other wives the text uses a CHILD-WIFE order
   By Rachel, however, it uses a WIFE-CHILD-WIFE order.
   The style seems to give greater prominence to Rachel which
   is consistent with Rashis fundamental thess

*2 Each wife is listed (no differences in this phrase)

*3 This is the main difference. Only Rachel is called THE
   WIFE OF JACOB. Rashis uses this exclusivity to prove that
   Rachel was the preferred wife of Jacob.

*4 Note the contrast: By the other wives birth of children
   is described with the active tense (GAVE BIRTH TO) while
   by Rachel the passive tense is used(WHO WERE BORN TO).

   There is a subtle nuance here. The PRIMARY FUNCTION
   of the other wives was to bear children and hence the
   active tense is used. By contrast Rachels PRIMARY
   FUNCTION is to be Jacobs wife--her bearing children
   is INCIDENTAL to her being a wife which **is** her
   primary job(and hence the passive tense).

   NOTE: This is only a nuance. The main proof comes
   from footnote #3. But this nuance does support Rashis
   fundamental thesis.

*5 This phrase is the same in all 4 wives


#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2001, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#

PARALLEL STRUCTURE OF DT32-42a
EXAMPLE 32: Dt32-42a BLOOD is parallel to BLOOD OF ENEMY EXAMPLE 33: Dt32-42b FLESH is parallel to HEADS OF ENEMY BACKGROUND ---------- Dt32-42 occurs in the HARKEN Poem, which occupies chapter Dt32 At the end of this poem after punishing the Jews for their sins, God promises to punish the Jewish enemies who have hurt the Jews. THE TEXT -------- The text, Dt32-42a, uses what is called a PARALLEL STRUCTURE: The same theme is repeated twice in different words with different nuances.For example, in the first stanza of this verse it says MY ARROWS will get drunk with blood, while in the 2nd stanza it says MY SWORD will eat flesh. THE RASHI --------- Rashi simply points out the parallelism and shows how the parallel phrases amplify meaning The List
VERSE	PHRASE1	PHRASE2	PHRASE3
Dt32-42a	My arrows	will get drunk	from BLOOD
Dt32-42a			from BLOOD OF CAPTIVES
Dt32-42a	My sword	will eat	---- flesh
Dt32-42a			from heads of the enemy
Differs	*1	*2	*3


COMMENTS
1 2 *3 I rearranged the verses for clarity.The actual order in the text is --------------------------------------------------------- My arrows will get drunk from blood My sword- will ------eat ---- flesh ------------------------ from blood of captives ------------------------ from heads of enemies --------------------------------------------------------- Rashis main point is that the phrase BLOOD OF CAPTIVES on the first line is in apposition and parallel to BLOOD on the first line. similarly FLESH on the 2nd line is in apposition and parallel to HEADS OF ENEMIES on the 4th line. Such parallelism enriches understanding & appreciation of meaning.

ALIGNMENT OF VERSES DISCUSSING JACOBS WIFE
EXAMPLE 34: Gn46-19a BACKGROUND ---------- Gn46 presents the list of Jacobs 12 chidren & 70 grandchildren It also discusses which child belongs to which mother THE TEXT -------- There are 4 wives. In 3 of them it simply says that such and such were born to such and such wife. BUT, by Rachel it distinctively talks about the children of RACHEL, JACOBS WIFE. Thus Rachel is the only wife that is called JACOBS WIFE. THE RASHI --------- The fundamental thesis that emerges is that --------------------------------- Rachel was Jacobs preferred wife --------------------------------- Here is the LIST. The footnotes will explore how the minor differences support Rashis fundamental thesis.
VERSE	PHRASE1	PHRASE2	PHRASE3	PHRASE4	PHRASE5
Gn46-15		..Leah		who bore	to Jacob
Gn46-19		..Rachel,	WIFE OF JACOB	who were born	to Jacob
Gn46-18		..Zilpah		she bore ..	to Jacob
Gn46-25		..Bilhah		she bore ..	to Jacob
Differs	*1	*2	*3	*4	*5


COMMENTS
1 This difference is hidden (it cannot be displayed on one line).It has to do with the order in which items are listed Here is the order of listing of children and wives -------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------Child #1, Child #2, to Leah ----------------------------------Child #1, Child #2,to Zilpah ----------------------------------Child #1, Child #2,to Bilhah These are the children of Rachel: Child #1, Child #2,to Rachel -------------------------------------------------------------- Thus with the other wives the text uses a CHILD-WIFE order By Rachel, however, it uses a WIFE-CHILD-WIFE order. The style seems to give greater prominence to Rachel which is consistent with Rashis fundamental thess 2 Each wife is listed (no differences in this phrase) 3 This is the main difference. Only Rachel is called THE WIFE OF JACOB. Rashis uses this exclusivity to prove that Rachel was the preferred wife of Jacob. 4 Note the contrast: By the other wives birth of children is described with the active tense (GAVE BIRTH TO) while by Rachel the passive tense is used(WHO WERE BORN TO). There is a subtle nuance here. The PRIMARY FUNCTION of the other wives was to bear children and hence the active tense is used. By contrast Rachels PRIMARY FUNCTION is to be Jacobs wife--her bearing children is INCIDENTAL to her being a wife which is her primary job(and hence the passive tense). NOTE: This is only a nuance. The main proof comes from footnote #3. But this nuance does support Rashis fundamental thesis. *5 This phrase is the same in all 4 wives