|
BLESSING |
RASHIS COVERED: Gn12-02a Gn12-02b Gn12-02c Abraham,is a blessing
VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
Gn12-02 uses a DETAIL-GENERAL style. God promises Abraham
- DETAIL- I will make you a great NATION
- DETAIL- I will BLESS YOU
- DETAIL- I will give you a GREAT NAME
The Bible then gives an all-inclusive statement
- GENERAL-You will be a (source of) BLESSING
The Rabbi Ishmael Style rules require that we generalize
the details to fit into the general statment. Accordingly
Rashi explains the 3 details as 3 essential components of
blessing--PEOPLE (nation), MONEY, REPUTATION (Great name)
-------------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE: THE RABBI ISHMAEL STYLE RULES
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL STYLE
-------------------------------------------
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RULE
-------------------------
Some Rashis deal with GRAMMAR or MEANING. But other Rashis
deal with STYLE. The Great Talmudic Sage Rabbi Ishmael,
laid down 3 style rule classes which divide into a dozen
or so rules.
Today we deal with the DETAIL-GENERAL or
GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL style. In this style the verse
first states something specifically and then repeats
the requirement generally.
The Rabbi Ishmael Style rules then demand that the
specific details be partially generalized. This requirement
of generalization is not because of grammar or meaning or
even because some word in the verse is extra: Rather, it
is a requirement of style.
STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
---------------------------------
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/example7.htm
You can also revu the whole Rabbi Ishmael style
series at http://www.RashiYomi.com/ishmael.htm
Finally you can visit the Daily Rashi calendar at
http://www.RashiYomi.com/calendar1.htm The Rabbi Ishmael
series occured during August and September 2000.
|
| TEXT OF VERSE Gn12-02 |
ITEM |
BLESSING IN |
| I will make you a great NATION |
Many children |
PEOPLE*1 |
| I will bless you |
Many assets/money |
MONEY*2 |
| I will make great your NAME |
Big name |
REPUTATION*1 |
| ------------------------------ |
------------------ |
------------ |
| And you will be a blessing |
Source of blessing |
BLESSING*3 |
|
|
|
|
COMMENTS |
*1 I think it is clear that
-NATION refers to blessings in PEOPLE
-NAME refers to blessings in REPUTATION
*2 The astute reader will note that the Biblical phrase
I WILL BLESS YOU does NOT necessarily only mean MONETARY
blessing.
However, the reason that this phrase is interpreted as
MONETARY blessing is because of the DETAIL-GENERAL style
which requires that we PERCEIVE the DETAILS of the verse
as INDICATING THE COMPONENTS of the GENERAL rule.
The components of NAME , PEOPLE are clear.
Rashi therefore fills in the remaining component as MONEY
He does this NOT because of the meaning of the words but
rather because of the requirements of the style.
*3 The statement BE A BLESSING is similar to the description
of Joseph: Gn39-05
-From the time that Joseph was appointed over his house
-his master was blessed by God
A similar concept is related about Jacob who was a source
of blessing for Laban (Gn30-30)
-Even though your sheep were small in number before hand,
-nevertheless, God has blessed you by my sheparding
This is the GENERAL concept of BEING A BLESSING to someone
From this general concept we see 3 details
-- blessings in assets
-- blessings in people
-- blessings in reputation
|