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  |      Rashi is Simple Version 2.0                         |
  |      (C) Dr Hendel, Summer 2000                          |
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VERSE: Gn14-14c


RULE: When talking about a group of people--
(a) You use a SINGULAR verb to indicate that the group acted as
    an organized whole under one leader
(b) You use a PLURAL verb to indicate that the group acted as
    a collection of individuals.

Hence in Gn14-14:15 we have the following sentences
------------------------------------------------------------------
  And HE (Singular) pursued till Dan
  And HE (Singular) divided--he and his servants--on them at night
  And THEY (PLURAL) smote them
  And THEY (PLURAL) pursued them till Dan
------------------------------------------------------------------

Thus both the PURSUING and DIVISION happened
in an organized manner(Singular verb). In other
words both Abraham and Eliezer his servant were
Generals that PURSUED and DIVIDED(Single verb).
The smiting and pursuit till Dan, then happened,
by each of the divisions(Plural)



EXAMPLES
--------

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In each of the following pairs we have a singular verb
indicating organization and a plural verb indicating an
ordinary group.
--------------------------------------------------------

VERSE    PLURAL/SINGULAR  CONTEXT
======== ===============  ==================
(Example 1)
3-23-15  Plural           Count the Omer
3-25-8   Singular         Count the Jubilee years*1

(Example 2)
Jud9-34  Singular         The General (Avimelech) arose
Jud9-34  Plural           His 4 CaptainS arise*2

(Example 3)
Gn14-14  Singular         And He pursued till Dan & Divided
Gn14-15  Plural           And THEY smote and THEY pursued


(Example 4)
2-19-2   Plural           Camp in Refidim
2-19-2   Singular         Come to Mount Sinai to receive Torah*3


(Example 5)
1Sam11-1 Singular         Saul and Yavesh Gilad Camp for war

NOTES
-----
*1 The Jubilee was counted by the court on behalf of the
community (hence the singular verb). The Omer was counted
by the whole community (no organization)


*2 These examples refer to a unified military effort under
one general(single verb) followed by a division of troop
(divide and conquer)(plural verb)


*3 The receipt of the Torah was done thru leadership(Moses)
The camping and other activities was done as a collection of
tribes.(In the main posting we show 4 levels of understanding
Rashi). An analysis of the Ex19-02 also shows variation in
singular plural

Ex19-02b
--------
(3a) The Jews JOURNEYED
        (PLURAL: Each tribe by itself)

(3b) They encamped to receive the Torah
        (SINGULAR: They received the Torah as an organized group)

(3c) Lv23-15 And you will EACH count 7 weeks 7 days @ week
        (PLURAL: Every individual has to count SEFIRAH)

(3d) Lv25-08 And (your courts) will COUNT 7 years 7 times (Jubilee)
        (SINGULAR: This counting is done by the courts)
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Volume 1 Number 11
Volume 4 Number 4


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