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VERSE: Gn48-04a

RASHIS COVERED: Gn48-04a Gn48-04b

============== JOSEPHS CHILDREN BECOME TRIBES ===================

BACKGROUND
----------
- Jacob had 11 children.
- All 11 had the status of tribes.
- The grandchildren then belonged to their tribes
- However Josephs 2 children each had the status of tribes.

THE METHOD
----------
We all tend to be conversational and not careful about
repeating phrases when we talk. The Bible does this also. For
example in Gn46-02 God says JACOB JACOB. Rashi says THE REPEATED
NAME SIMPLY DENOTES ENDEARMENT. The Talmud states THE BIBLE
SPEAKS IN HUMAN TERMS (and eg can repeat now and then)

But sometimes the Bible wants us to be picky on each word and
phrase. It can do this by using the ALIGNMENT METHOD. If two
verses are almost identical except for a few words then we
regard the differences as deliberate--in modern notation we would
use footnotes to indicate this type of emphasis.

THE REFERENCES
--------------
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/rules-01.htm discusses this FOOTNOTE
method.

http://www.RashiYomi.com/align-58.htm presents over 150
examples of Rashis on alignment.

THE VERSE
---------
By aligning 2 verses we see that God promised Jacob
3 distinct things after he left Laban (Gn35-11, Gn48-04)
-- A GROUP will come from you
-- MANY GROUPS will come from you
-- KINGS will come from you.
Again the justification of itemizing each item is because of
the ALIGNMENT which shows the repetition was deliberate.

THE INTERPRETATION
------------------
Who do these phrases refer to?
-- Clearly JOSEPH was a KING
-- Clearly BENJAMIN was born right after this prophecy;
   But Benjamin was a whole tribe and hence can be called
   a GROUP
-- We have left the phrase MANY GROUPS which refers to
   Josephs 2 children.
Based on this prophecy each of Josephs children were made into
tribes.

THE LIST
--------
The alignment of the two verses is below. As can be seen
the alignment points to a deliberate itemization of 3 items.
The footnotes clarify further
=================================================================
VERSE    PHRASE1                 PHRASE-2   PHRASE-3     PHRASE-4
======== ======================= =========  ============ ========
Gn35-11  Be Fruitful you-ll have a Nation   Many Nations Kings
Gn48-04a Be Fruitful you-ll have            ---- nations -----
Differs                          *1         *2           *3
RefersTo                         Benjamin   JoesChildren Joseph

Notes
-----
*1 Benjamin was the only child/tribe born after
   this blessing: Gn35-17 Jacob omits mention of
   this detail since Benjamin was not being discussed

*2 In other words Josephs 2 children who were Jacobs
   grandchildren have the status of Tribes (like
   Jacobs other children). The other grandchildren
   from the other children have the status of
   grandchildren not of tribes (Rashi Gn48-04b)

   I do not know why Jacob omitted the word MULTITUDE
   (KEHAL in Hebrew) when repeating the promise

*3 Rashi doesnt say this but it is obvious that
   Kings refers to Joseph.
================================================================

RASHI RULE USED: ALIGNMENT
---------------------------------------------------
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 12 Number 15


#*#*#*#*#  (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#