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#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2009, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#
    7. RASHI METHOD: FORMATTING
    BRIEF EXPLANATION:Inferences from Biblical formatting: --bold,italics, and paragraph structure.
    • Use of repetition to indicate formatting effects: bold,italics,...;
    • use of repeated keywords to indicate a bullet effect;
    • rules governing use and interpretation of climactic sequence;
    • rules governing paragraph development and discourse
    This examples applies to Rashis Dt11-21b
    URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w34n7.htm
    Brief Summary: a)TO you and b) To your descendants have I given this land.

This example continues rule #4, alignment, also continued in rule #5 contradiction.

We have explained in our article Biblical Formatting located on the world wide web at http://www.Rashiyomi.com/biblicalformatting.pdf, that the Biblical Author indicated bullets by using repeating keywords.

That is, if a modern author wanted to get a point across using bullets - a list of similar but contrastive items - then the Biblical Author would use repeating keywords. Today's verse illustrates this principle.

    Verse Gn13-15 discussing the giving of Israel to the Jews states For all the land which you see,
    • to you will I give it, and
    • to your seed forever.
    The bold word to functions as a bullets as shown. The bulleted structure in turn emphasizes that both Abraham and his descendants would receive Israel. Without the bulleted structure I would have interpreted the sentence stylistically, not as emphasizing Abraham and his descendants, but simply using the phrase you and your descendants to indicate the Jews, without special emphasis on Abraham. Rashi adds: [But, despite the above emphasis, we find that Abraham, did not inherit Israel during his lifetime.] Hence we infer that Abraham will be resurrected and inherit Israel.

    Advanced Rashi: We have examined the Rashi Dt11-21b using three Rashi rules.
  • Rule #7, Format: The bulleted structure of Gn13-15 shows an emphasis that both Abraham and his descendants inherit Israel;
  • Rule #4, Alignment: But some verses mention you and your descendants while other verses mention your descendants (will inherit Israel). This alignment is an alternative confirmation that both Abraham and his descendants inherit Israel;
  • Rule #5, Contradiction: Some verses only mention that Abraham will inherit Israel while other verses only mention that Abraham's descendants will inherit Israel. Finally some verses mention that both Abraham and his descendants will inherit Israel. We resolve the contradiction by not interpreting the verses exclusively - both Abraham and his descendants inherit Israel. Finally we point out that an alternate resolution of the contradiction focuses on the delivery of Israel:
    • the Jews were delivered Israel in this world while
    • Abraham was delivered Israel after the resurrection. 


#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2009, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#