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.
Bullets whether indicated through modern notation or through the
Biblical method of repeating keywords always indicate contrastive emphasis -
that is, each bullet is presumed to be a distinct item contrasted to the other
items on the list. Very often the bullets are also used to indicate that the entire
list is exhaustive of some spectrum.
This principle can be illustrated with verse Dt01-22
which discusses Moses' instuction to the spiees:
And you came near me every one of you, and said, We will send men before us, and they shall spy the land, and bring us word
- Of which road to go up on, [to avoid ambushes on crooked roads] and
- Of which cities to come to [for conquest.]
Advanced Rashi:
In summary Rashi sees the repeating keyword, of,
as indicating
bullets. The bullets in turn emphasize
a group of distinct concerns for spies: the
identification of the good roads and the identification
of the easy cities to conquer. As usual we have embedded
the Rashi comments in the above translation.
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