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  |      Rashi is Simple Version 2.0                         |
  |      (C) Dr Hendel, Summer 2000                          |
  |       http://www.RashiYomi.Com                           |
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VERSE: Gn48-08a


RULE: The word "SEE" in this chapter must be interpreted as
PROPHETICALLY see--it cannot be interpreted as PHYSICALLY SEE.
To prove this we 1st note some CONTRADICTIONS in the chapter
We then present an INTERPRETATION of the CHAPTER.


CONTRADICTION 1
---------------
Gn48-10 Jacob COULD NOT see Josephs children
Gn48-14 Jacob COULD     see them well enough to switch hands


CONTRADICTION 2
---------------
        JACOB COULD NOT SEE IN THE FOLLOWING VERSES
        -------------------------------------------
Gn48-08 Jacob did not recognize Joseph's children
Gn48-10 Jacob's eyes were heavy from age and he couldn't see

        JACOB COULD SEE IN THE FOLLOWING VERSES
        ---------------------------------------
Gn48-14 Jacob switched hands on the children
Gn48-19 Jacob knew that Ephraim would be greater than Menasheh*1

NOTES
-----
*1 Note how this verse emphasizes that "seeing" was "prophetic seeing"
   How else could Jacob know that Ephraim would be greater


INTERPRETATION OF CHAPTER
-------------------------
Gn48-01 Joseph brought his children to Jacob
Gn48--08 But Jacob prophetically saw bad children coming
         out of them and asked why he should bless them
Gn48-09 Joseph protests that they are 'his children' and worthy
        of Blessing
Gn48-10 Jacob, because of all his tribulations could not prophetically
        see everything (and hence had to be told by Joseph). Jacob
        then kisses Josephs children.
Gn48-14 Jacob switches hands on the children (Right hand on the
        younger and left hand on the oldest)
Gn48-15 Jacob blesses them
Gn48-17 Joseph protests that the eldest should get the right hand
Gn48-19 Jacob explains that the younger child will be greater*2


NOTES
-----
*2 Rashi associates this greatness with Joshua (who came from
   Ephraim) Recall that Joshua brought the Jews into Israel,
   helped them conquer it and teach them Torah.However it is
   not necessary to be that detailed. Rashis main point is that
   Jacob knew these things prophetically. To understand the verse
   it is not necessary to know how much detail Jacob was aware of
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Volume 1 Number 6


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