#######################################################
#       12 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE         #
#                    Nov 19, 2011                     #
#                    YEAR 12 of 12                     #
#                                                     #
#           VISIT THE RASHI YOMI ARCHIVES             #
#           -----------------------------             #
#         HOME   http://www.RashiYomi.Com             #
# WEEKLY RASHI   http://www.RashiYomi.Com/rule.htm    #
#  DAILY RASHI   http://www.RashiYomi.Com/calendar.htm#
#                                                     #
#  Reprinted with permission from WEEKLY RASHI,       #
#  (c) 1999-2011, RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President #
#   Permission to reprint with this header PROVIDED   #
#          it is not printed for profit               #
#                                                     #
#######################################################


#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2011, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#
      8. RASHI METHOD: DATABASES
      BRIEF EXPLANATION:Rashi makes inferences from Database queries. The precise definition of database query has been identified in modern times with the 8 operations of Sequential Query Language (SQL).
      This example applies to Rashis Gn44-33a
      URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w34n25.htm
      Brief Summary: Judah referred to Benjamin as the KID - he hoped Joseph would let him go and take him as a replacement

We ask the following database query: How is Benjamin relationally referred to? The reader is encouraged to perform the query using a standard Biblical Konnkordance or search engine. This database query yields the list below. The list justifies the following Rashi inference: Benjamin had 10 children. He was an adult. The brothers refer to him as the youngest and sometimes as our younger brother. However Judah refers to him as the kid. Judah was trying to belittle Benjamin so as to get Joseph to accept him, Judah, as a replacement and let Benjamin go back to his father. The list below presents the results of the database query.

Verse Verse speaks about Reference to Benjamin
Gn42-13 Brothers speak to Joseph about family The youngest
Gn42-20 Joseph requests Benjamin be brought to him your younger brother
Gn44-23 Judah summarizes Joseph's requests Your younger brother must be with you
Gn44-26 Judah summarizes dialog with his father We can't go down unless our younger brother is with us
Gn44-20 Judah, in his conversation with Joseph summarizes the brother's request to Joseph young child
Gn44-30,32 Judah in his conversation with Joseph states his request to Joseph lad

    Advanced Rashi: The above list could be built up more (There are about a dozen verses). This Rashi takes place in 3 stages: Our point is one of methodology.
  • Rashi had this database output.
  • Rashi notices that Judah in his conversation with Joseph refers to Joseph as a child/lad while other references are youngest, younger brother.
  • Rashi then conjectures a reasonable explanation to the difference. Judah wanted to replace Benjamin so Benjamin could go back. To persuade Joseph Judah refers to Benjamin as the kid so as to impress Joseph that he isn't getting that much if Benjamin stays.

This is typical of the database method.


#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2011, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#