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#       10 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE             #
#                 August 2nd, 2001                        #
#          Rashis 884-886 Of 7800 (11.4%)                 #
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#  (c) 1999-2001, RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President     #
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   =============  HOT ITEMS ================================
   ENGLISH RASHI:       http://www.mnemotrix.com/metsudah
   THE WHITE PAPERS:    http://www.RashiYomi.Com/white.htm
   =========================================================

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
VERSEPHRASE1PHRASE2PHRASE3
Dt32-42aMy arrowswill get drunkfrom BLOOD
Dt32-42afrom BLOOD OF CAPTIVES
Dt32-42aMy swordwill eat---- flesh
Dt32-42afrom 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..Leahwho boreto Jacob
Gn46-19..Rachel,WIFE OF JACOBwho were bornto Jacob
Gn46-18..Zilpahshe bore ..to Jacob
Gn46-25..Bilhahshe 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 #*#*#*#*#