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VERSE: Gn48-12a

RASHIS COVERED: Gn48-12a Gn48-12b Gn48-13a Gn48-14a

================ THE BLESSING OF JOSEPHS CHILDREN ================

BACKGROUND
----------
Gn48-10:15 describes how Jacob blessed his two grandchildren

THE TEXT
--------
The text looks contradictory. Here are some sample verses
 ----------------------------------------------------------------
 Gn48-10 Joseph BROUGHT THE CHILDREN NEAR for kisses & hugs
 Gn48-14 Joseph took them off his lap & BROUGHT THE CHILDREN near
 ----------------------------------------------------------------

But they were already near? Why does he bring them near again?
This is not a terrible contradiction. But it reads strangely;
he brings them near...does a few things and bring them near!!??!

THE RASHI
---------
Rabbi Ishmaels 13th rule governs CONTRADICTIONS (or more
precisely) verses that appear CONTRADICTORY. In url
http://www.RashiYomi.COm/ri-14.htm
we have outlined 5 methods to resolve contradictory verses

Quite simply: One method is to interpret the verses as 2
different parts of the same process.

THE LIST
--------
To illustrate the resolution of the contradiction we use the
television concept of SCENES. We divide the Biblical text into
4 scenes. So for example

* In the 1st scene Josephs children are sitting on his lap
  AND FROM ON HIS LAP he brings them near to get kisses and hugs

* In the 3rd scene Josephs children are off his lap & STANDING.
  Joseph then brings the children near for a blessing

So there are 2 BRINGING NEARS OF THE CHILDREN corresponding to
the 2 different scenes.

Rashi doesnt do anything profound on these verses. Another
perspective is that Rashi is simply FILLING IN the text to
make it read smoothly. What Rashi contributes is the setting &
description of each of the distinct scenes

Here is the list. The scenes are CAPPED
==================================================================
SCENE VERSE    WHAT HAPPENED
===== ======== ===================================================
#1    Gn48-10  JACOB IS SITTING ON A COUCH CHAIR
#1    Gn48-10  JOSEPH IS SITTING OPPOSITE HIM
#1    Gn48-10  JOSEPHS CHILDREN ARE SITTING ON HIS LAP
#1    Gn48-10  Joseph leans forward to let Jacob kiss & hug them
#1    Gn48-11  Jacob says: I never expected to see you;
#1    Gn48-11  Jacob continues: But God has shown me your children
----- -------- ---------------------------------------------------
#2    Gn48-12a JOSEPH TAKES HIS CHILDREN OFF HIS LAP
#2    Gn48-12b Joseph bows to his father (in gratitude)
----- -------- ---------------------------------------------------
#3    Gn48-13a JOE PLACES EPHRAIM ON RIGHT SIDE & MENASHEH ON LEFT
#3    Gn48-13a So Ephraim is on Jacobs Left, Menasheh on Right
#3    Gn48-13a So when Jacob stretches his right hand
#3    Gn48-13a then it will fall on Menasheh
#3    Gn48-13a Joseph then brings them to Jacob for a blessing
----- -------- ---------------------------------------------------
#4    Gn48-14a BUT JACOB CROSSES*1 HIS HANDS SO
#4    Gn48-14a his right hand is on Menasheh

NOTES
-----
*1 If Abe faces Bob and
   Abe places his right hand
   on Bobs right shoulder
   and Abe places his left hand
   on Bobs left shoulder
   then Abes hands will be criss-crossed like an X*10

----------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES --------------------------------

*10 Rashi brilliantly points out that even though
   in this verse SICAYL means CROSSED
   nevertheless there is no need to give SICAYL a
   second meaning which contradicts all other usages

   Every other time SICAYL occurs it refers to THINKING
   and PLOTTING. So here too we would translate the verse as
   -----------------------------------------
   he PLOTTED with the placing of his hands
   -----------------------------------------

   PLOTTING in this verse means CROSSING THEM.

   What Rashi gains by this is that there is a UNIFIED
   MEANING TO SICAYL. Those who translate SICAYL as
   THINK, and CRISS-CROSS inject two disparate meanings
   where they arent needed.
====================================================================

RASHI RULE USED: RabbiIshmael
---------------------------------------------------
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 14


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