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 indicates bold, italics, underline by using
repetition. In other words if a modern author wanted to emphasize
a word they would either underline, bold or italicize it. However when the Biblical
author wishes to emphasize a word He repeats it. The effect - whether
thru repetition or using underline - is the same. It is only the
means of conveying this emphasis that is different.
Verse Gn43-20b
discussing
the descent of Jacob's children to Egypt
states
and said: 'Oh my lord, we came down down at the first time to buy food.
Note the repetition indicated by the underlined words.
This repetition creates an unspecified emphasis. Rashi
comments
Two descents are connoted: a) a physical descent to
Egypt and b) a social descent - they use to provide others and are now
are dependent.
Rashi of course conjectures that the second descent was social but such an interpretation
of the unspecified emphasis seems reasonable.
Advanced Rashi: The dialogue teaches us political etiquette.
By emphasizing that they themselves were providers it made it more unlikely that
they would stoop to theft since they were distinguished and responsible people.
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