The Bible like other works of literature may be organized into paragraphs. A paragraph can be indicated by formatting, for example by two blank lines surrounding the paragraph. Or, a paragraph, can be indicated a common theme to a group of sentences.

Each paragraph is a distinct unit with a common theme. Words in each paragraph can take on a distinctive meaning. This distinctive meaning, once established, persists throughout the paragraph. Todays examples illustrate this.

The Biblical paragraph Gn32-01:10 states And early ....Laban rose up, and kissed his sons ... And Jacob went on his way, and angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God’s camp; and he called the name of that place camps And Jacob sent angels before him to Esau his brother ...And he commanded them, saying, say... And the angels returned to Jacob, saying, We came to your brother Esau, and also he comes to meet you, and four hundred men with him. Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people who were with him,....into two camps ... And Jacob prayed.... I am not worthy.... for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I have become two camps Save me, ...

Rashi makes several comments: First Rashi observes that:
• The Hebrew word Mem-Lamed-Aleph-Caph can mean
  • messenger or
  • angel.
• But in the early part of the above paragraph the phrase Angels of God leaves no doubt that Mem-Lamed-Aleph-Caph means angel not messenger.
• Consequently using the paragraph rule, we interpret the word Mem-Lamed-Aleph-Caph as also meaning angel throughout the paragraph.

We have translated this whole paragraph this way. We emphasize that the driving force behind the Rashi comment Mem-Lamed-Aleph- Caph means angel not messenger, is the paragraph structure. In other words it is not the word meanings or the grammar that drives Rashi to so interpret but rather the paragraph unit.

The second Rashi comment focuses on the repeating phrase two camps or camps, throughout the paragraph. The underlined phrase at the end of the paragraph and now I have become two camps clearly indicates that the phrase two camps refers to
• The original camp of people with Jacob
• the camp of Angels that came to greet Jacob
This interpretation is also strengthened by the opening verses Angels of God came to Jacob...and he called the place, camps Here the plural camps has the same connotation as two camps.

Sermonic points: As long as Jacob dwelt with the wicked Laban, Angels of God would not meet with him. However, once he separated from his evil surroundings he was met by angels. Throughout the Bible we find similar instances where God revealed Himself to people after they divested themselves of their wicked surroundings. This emphasizes the spiritual value of living among friends with spiritual values.