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  |      Rashi is Simple Version 2.0                         |
  |      (C) Dr Hendel, Summer 2000                          |
  |       http://www.RashiYomi.Com                           |
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VERSE: Gn24-02b

Gn24-02 says >And Abraham said to his senior servant who ruled
        over everything he had, PLACE YOUR HAND ON MY THIGH...
        and I will administer an oath....<

RASHI
=====
There is no problem with the verse. However Rashi explains
>WHY< Abraham requested Eliezer place his hand on his thigh
while swearing.

Rashi points out that all serious oaths are taken while holding
something sacred like a Bible or Tefillin (Similar to what is
done in court today).  (See chapter 1 in the Rambam on the laws
of PLAINTIFF and DEFENDANT for a discussion of the SERIOUS and
NON SERIOUS oaths). Holding a holy object makes the oath more
serious to the swearer.

Therefore since the circumcisized organ was holy (because a
commandment was done with it) therefore Eliezer placed his
hand on Abrahams thigh.


THE POINT
=========
One need not be literal and say that Eliezer grabbed Abrahams
actual organ (and that the Bible euphemistically refers to
it as his >thight<). Rather it suffices to say that the
>thigh< is near that organ and therefore Eliezer placed
his hand on the thigh.


RASHI RULE USED: MORAL REASONS/LESSONS
---------------------------------------------------
WARNING: The following additional references may be too wordy
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Volume 8 Number 9


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