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From: Russell Hendel <rhendel@mcs.drexel.edu>
Date: Sun, 27 Jun 1999 15:56:14 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: The Three cantillation versions on Ex 20:2

Perry Zamek (mj28n92) asks about Breuer's article that explains the
3 possible cantillations on Ex20:2). There are 3 grouping issues:
A) The actual VERSES listed in the Torah
B) The actual PARAGRAPHS listed in the Torah
C) The breakdown of the TEN COMMANDMENTS

A brief summary is as follows

A) SOF PASOOK--Because Ex20:2 is a verse by itself (in the so called
        lower cantillations)
B) A RVIAH--Because Ex20:2-Ex20:6 forms ONE paragraph in the Torah
C) ETHNACH--because (c1) Ex20:2 is the 1st commandment while
        Ex20:3-Ex20:6 is the 2nd commandment; (c2) it is not cantillated
        as a SOF POSOOK because it is not a separate paragraph. Thus
        the ETHNACH combines the multiplicity of commandments (commandment
        1 and 2) with the singleness of paragraphs.

Russell Jay Hendel;Phd ASA; http://www.shamash.org/rashi/