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VERSE: Gn32-17a

RASHIS COVERED: Gn32-17a Gn32-17b Gn32-17c

========================== Gn32-17a ============================

SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
One of Rashis 10 main goals is to indicate paragraph
structure. The modern author can indicate paragraph
structure thru either
- indentation or
- white space: blank lines surrounding the paragraph.

The Bible indicates paragraph structure by three methods.
One method is a DETAIL-THEME style--that is
- a collection of DETAIL sentences are provided
- followed by a concluding UNIFYING THEME sentence.

When this structure occurs we perceive the DETAIL-THEME
unit as the equivalent of a modern paragraph. A consequence
of this UNIFIED PARAGRAPH perception is the explaining
of all DETAIL sentences as ILLUSTRATING the UNIFYING
THEME sentence.

Example Gn32-17a Gn32-17b Gn32-17c
----------------------------------
Biblical paragraph Gn32-17:21 states as follows
-----------------------------------------------
And Jacob delivered the animals to the hand of his servants,
- DETAIL: every drove by themselves; and said to his servants,
- DETAIL: Pass over before me, and
- DETAIL: put a space between drove and drove.
.....
And say you moreover, Behold,
your servant Jacob is behind us.
- THEME: FOR JACOB SAID I WILL APPEASE ESAUV WITH
  THE PRESENT THAT GOES BEFORE ME....
-----------------------------------------------

Rashi's sole goal in explaining the above passage is
- to INTERPRET each DETAIL
- as REFLECTING the THEME.

Here is another way to look at the Rashi goal
- We understand the DETAILS--every drove of animals was
  by itself, there were spaces between the droves etc
- We also understand the THEME--that Jacob wanted to
  appease Esauv
- But we don't yet understand HOW the Details CONTRIBUTE
  to the theme. It is this which Rashi explains. Here
  are the Rashi comments

----------------------------------------------------
- DETAIL: every drove by themselves; and said to his servants,
----------------------------------------------------
Rashi
---------------------------------------------
The DISTINCT animal droves gives an impression
of greater diversity making the present more appealing
---------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------
- DETAIL: Pass over before me, and
-----------------------------------
Rashi
---------------------------------
So Esauv sees the present a day or
two BEFORE he sees me....by the time
he sees me he is in a good mood because
of the gift
---------------------------------

---------------------------------------
- DETAIL: put a space between drove and drove.
---------------------------------------
Rashi
--------------------------------------
The SPACES between droves create an
ILLUSTION of SPACIOUSNESS making the present
more appealing
--------------------------------------

In summary: Rashi's sole contribution is to
- show how each DETAIL--the DISTINCT droves,
the droves PRECEDING Jacob's appearance, and
the SPACES between the droves
- contributes to making the gift more appealing
- which facilitates Jacobs THEME--the APPEASEMENT
  of Jacob.

I believe this is a TYPICAL example of the
DETAIL-GENERAL method. I also believe that
the paragraph model that we advocate clarifies
these Rashis. The serious student should therefore
carefully study this example.

LIST455a below presents this argument.
==============================================================
ITEM                     DETAIL
======================== =====================================
RASHI RULE CLASS:        STYLE
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS      DETAIL-GENERAL
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #25
SEE BELOW                LIST455a
List of clauses in       Gn32-17--Do such & such;appease Esauv
==============================================================

======================= LIST455a =========================
List of clauses in Gn32-17--Do such & such;appease Esauv
==========================================================
Type    Text of verse                Contribution to THEME
======= ============================ =====================
DETAIL  Distinct droves of animals   appears more diverse
DETAIL  Animals 1st; me 2nd;         Gift makes good mood
DETAIL  Spaces between animal droves Appears motr spacious
-----   ---------------------------  --------------------
THEME   Let me APPEASE Esauv         by appealing gift*1

NOTES
-----
*1 We understand
   - the DETAILS-- Distinct droves; spaces between droves
   - the THEME---- Jacob wanted to APPEASE Esauv
   But we don't necessarily understand
   - the CAUSAL connection between the DETAILS and THEME
     HOW do the DETAILS contribute to the THEME

   Rashi's sole goal is to explain this CAUSAL connection
   For example SPACES between droves of animals creates
   an  APPEARANCE OF SPACIOUSNESS, making the gift more
   APPEALING and hence having a higher probability of
   APPEASING Jacob.
==========================================================
---------------------------------------------------
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Volume 31 Number 18


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