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  |      Rashi is Simple Version 2.0                         |
  |      (C) Dr Hendel, Summer 2000                          |
  |       http://www.RashiYomi.Com                           |
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VERSE: Gn32-08a

RASHIS COVERED: Gn32-08a Gn32-09b



{LIST}
Rashi uses the principle of CLIMACTIC DEVELOPMENT OF VERSES. Here
is the Biblical text
=================================================================
VERSE                           EMPHASIS
=====                           ========
And Jacob feared (from Esauv)   He was afraid he'd be murdered
And Jacob was distressed*1 *2   Should he be defensive/agressive
He divided the camps into 2                             *2
If one camp goes,Ill save other We will fight with the 2nd camp*2

NOTES
=====
{LIST}
*1 The phrase >Distresses him< can be used to indicate not FEAR
   but a difficult decision between unpleasant ALTERNATIVES
   For example
   =============================================================
   VERSE   EVENT                 THE CHOICES CAUSING THE DISTRESS
   =====   =====                 ================================
   2S24-14 Punishment of David   He was given 3 choices
   2S13-2  Amnons sickness       To abstain Or Rape
   2S30-6  Davids army angry     To desert them or fight for them
   Lv18-18 Man with 2 wives*a    Which one should he chose
   Gn32-08 Esauv coming to Jacob Start with attack;or wait & see

   NOTES
   =====
   *a That is the word DISTRESSOR refers to a CO-WIFE
      apparently because the two women fight over who
      will have him
{END LIST}




*2 Our point is, that the CLIMACTIC development is dictating
   meaning.

   By contrast the Chizkuni, a major commentator on Rashi tried
   to find nuances in the word >DISTRESSED< vs the word
   >FEAR<. In other words the Chizkuni tried to suggest that
   it was the >NUANCES< of the words >DISTRESS< and >FEAR<
   that caused Rashi to interpret the word >DISTRESSED< as
   meaning >Should I fight or defend--how should I approach
   Esauv<

   We suggest that Rashi inferred this meaning from the
   CLIMACTIC progression of the verses. It is the verses
   that EXPLICITLY state that >If Esauv hits one camp then
   the other one will be saved<.

   So Rashi interpreted this to mean that Jacob chose a semi-
   defensive stand: He divided his camps and decided to wait
   to attack 2nd not first and only on destruction of the
   other camp.

   (This possibly has relevance to the situation
   today in Israel--defensive vs aggressive stand--but we
   refrain from making any further political statements
   However we explicitly note that former premier Golda
   Meirs statement >We will forgive those who have killed
   us but will not forgive those who made us murder< is
   taken almost verbatim from this Rashi and Midrash Rabbah
   Again the point is that Jacob preferred to risk losing
   50% of his population rather than INITIATE an offensive
   position).

   For those trained in war note that had Jacob chosen to
   take an offensive stand he would say have divided his
   army into 4 camps(which is an OFFENSIVE position). The
   2 camp position is more a defensive position since
   there is greater vulnerability
{END OF LIST}


RASHI RULE USED: EXAMPLE9
---------------------------------------------------
WARNING: The following additional references may be too wordy
However they frequently contain additional information & lists
The hyperlinks only work on the main website

Volume 8 Number 13


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