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  -----------------------------------------------------------
  |      Rashi is Simple Version 2.0                         |
  |      (C) Dr Hendel, Summer 2000                          |
  |       http://www.RashiYomi.Com                           |
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VERSE: Gn48-20b


RULE:
====
The Torah frequently uses a >DETAIL-THEME< style. That
is, it will first state some >DETAILS< and then state a
GENERAL >THEME SENTENCE<. The Torah uses this
>DETAIL-THEME< method to indicate a >PARAGRAPH<
unit. This >PARAGRAPH UNIT< then justifies reinterpretation
of all >DETAILS< as >FITTING INTO THE THEME<.

This rule of style was known to Rabbi Ishmael and is called
the >DETAIL-GENERAL< style.It justifies reinterpretation
of the >DETAILS< as paradigmatic and more general.

A good comprehensive set of examples may be found at the
following reference.


REFERENCE: http://www.RashiYomi.Com/example7.htm


FURTHER EXAMPLE
===============
Gn48-14:20


BACKGROUND
----------
The Bible is describing how the Patriarch Jacob blessed
his grandchildren. In a series of verses Jacob repeatedly
gives more importance to EPHRAIM even though MENASHEH was
the first born while EPHRAIM was the 2nd born.



THE VERSES
----------
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Gn48-14---DETAIL------Jacob places RIGHT hand on 2nd born son
Gn48-19---DETAIL------Jacob says 2nd born son will be greatest
Gn48-20---DETAIL------GENERIC BLESSING:God make you like Eprhaim.
Gn48-20---GENERAL--JACOB PLACED EPHRAIM(2nd BORN) BEFORE MENASHEH
-----------------------------------------------------------------

THE RASHI
---------
The above unit is treated as a whole paragraph:
In other words the various details---the placing of hands,
the social greatness, and the order in the blessing indicate
the more >GENERAL< Theme that EPHRAIM was greater than
Menasheh.

So Rashi-is-Simple---he simply gives other good examples of
this general theme that Ephraim, the 2nd born, takes
precedence over Menasheh, the 1st born. Here are two other
examples where this precedence occurs


*Ephraim precedes Menasheh in the Tribal Flag order(Nu02-18:20)
*Ephraim precedes Menasheh in the gifts of the princes(Nu07-48:54)




COMMENT
=======
The above analysis makes Rashi Simple and straightforward.
It is not necessary to eg state that Something was BOTHERING
RASHI (a la Dr Boncheck) or that Rashi had a A PROBLEM (a la
Dr Leibowitz). In other words Rashi is not deriving anything
because the Bible >unnecessarily repeated something a certain
number of times<.

  Indeed, Biblical interpretation is not
  a >counting game<. Rather Rashi derives
  what he does from rules of >style<---the
  style requires generalization and hence Rashi
  generalizes.


RASHI RULE USED: EXAMPLE7
---------------------------------------------------
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 24


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