The 10 RashiYomi Rules 
Their presence in Rashis on Parshat VaYeChi 
 Vol  2#11 - Adapted from Rashi-is-Simple  
Visit The RashiYomi Website : http://www.RashiYomi.Com/
 (c) RashiYomi Incorporated, Dr Hendel President, Jan 12 2005 
English and Hebrew translations of the Bible come mostly from the www.MECHON-MAMRE.org  translation with changes made by me 

The goal of this Weekly Rashi Digest is to use the weekly Torah portion to expose students at all levels to the ten major methods of commentary used by Rashi. It is hoped that continual weekly exposure to these ten major methods will enable students at all levels to acquire a familiarity and facility with the major exegetical methods.
  
FULL HOUSE THIS WEEK
ALL RASHI RULES ILLUSTRATED

IN THIS WEEKS RASHIs: Jacob's coffin bearers & the tribal states occupied similar positions!

1. RASHI METHOD: OTHER VERSES   
This example applies to Rashis Gn48-05b Gn48-06a 
URL Reference : (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gn48-05b.htm 

The other verse  method seeks to illuminate the contents of a target verse by cross referencing other verses which either 
•	(a) confirm the target text or 
•	(b) add details to it. Additionally the other verse  method can 
•	(c) shed light on word meaning. 

In the following verses the underlined passage states that Joseph's first two children shall be like Jacob's children, Reuven and Shimon. Verse Gn48-05:06 states   And now thy two sons, who were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh, even as Reuben and Simeon, shall be mine. And thy issue, that thou begettest after them, shall be thine; they shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance.   וְעַתָּה שְׁנֵי-בָנֶיךָ הַנּוֹלָדִים לְךָ בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, עַד-בֹּאִי אֵלֶיךָ מִצְרַיְמָה--לִי-הֵם:  אֶפְרַיִם, וּמְנַשֶּׁה--כִּרְאוּבֵן וְשִׁמְעוֹן, יִהְיוּ-לִי.  וּמוֹלַדְתְּךָ אֲשֶׁר-הוֹלַדְתָּ אַחֲרֵיהֶם, לְךָ יִהְיוּ; עַל שֵׁם אֲחֵיהֶם יִקָּרְאוּ, בְּנַחֲלָתָם.  To illuminate the meaning of the underlined passage Rashi could cite an other verse Nu01-05:10 which states    And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you: 
•	of Reuben, Elizur the son of Shedeur. 
•	Of Simeon, Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 
•	Of Judah, Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 
•	Of Issachar, Nethanel the son of Zuar. 
•	Of Zebulun, Eliab the son of Helon. 
•	Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim, Elishama the son of Ammihud; 
•	of Manasseh, Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.   
 וְאֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת הָאֲנָשִׁים, אֲשֶׁר יַעַמְדוּ אִתְּכֶם:
•	  לִרְאוּבֵן, אֱלִיצוּר בֶּן-שְׁדֵיאוּר.
•	  לְשִׁמְעוֹן, שְׁלֻמִיאֵל בֶּן-צוּרִישַׁדָּי. 
•	 לִיהוּדָה, נַחְשׁוֹן בֶּן-עַמִּינָדָב.
•	  לְיִשָּׂשכָר, נְתַנְאֵל בֶּן-צוּעָר.
•	  לִזְבוּלֻן, אֱלִיאָב בֶּן-חֵלֹן. 
•	 לִבְנֵי יוֹסֵף--לְאֶפְרַיִם, אֱלִישָׁמָע בֶּן-עַמִּיהוּד;
•	 לִמְנַשֶּׁה, גַּמְלִיאֵל בֶּן-פְּדָהצוּר.  

The bolded phrases in Nu01 explain the underlined phrases in Gn48-05:06
•	each son of Jacob has tribal status 
•	the 2 grandson's of Jacob thru Joseph have tribal status 
•	no other grandson's of Jacob have tribal status 

2. RASHI METHOD: WORD MEANINGS / new meanings 
This example applies to Rashis Gn50-15b 
URL reference :(c) http://www.RashiYomi.com/gn50-15b.htm  

The word meaning  method seeks to present dictionary meaning. Rashi uses 10 vehicles to infer word meaning. A major word meaning submethod is the Special Connective Word method.  All languages have special connective words--e.g. because, also, nevertheless--which facilitate connecting sentence parts. Rashi frequently focused on one special connective word and gave its meanings.

Rashi explains that the Hebrew connective word Lamed Vav לו has three distinct meanings. 

Oh! (interjective expression of gratitude and surprise): The following verses illustrate this usage 
•	Verse Gn30-34 states   And Laban said: 'Oh!, that it may be according to thy word.'   וַיֹּאמֶר לָבָן, הֵן:  לוּ, יְהִי כִדְבָרֶךָ.  
•	Verse Gn17-18 states   And Abraham said unto God: 'Oh that Ishmael might live before Thee!'   וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָהָם, אֶל-הָאֱלֹהִים:  לוּ יִשְׁמָעֵאל, יִחְיֶה לְפָנֶיךָ.   

If:  The following verses illustrate this usage: 
•	Verse Nu22-29 states   And Balaam said unto the ass: 'Because thou hast mocked me; if I had a sword in my hand, I would  kill thee now.'   וַיֹּאמֶר בִּלְעָם לָאָתוֹן, כִּי הִתְעַלַּלְתְּ בִּי; לוּ יֶשׁ-חֶרֶב בְּיָדִי, כִּי עַתָּה הֲרַגְתִּיךְ.  
•	Verse Dt32-29 states   If they were wise, they would understand this, they would discern their latter end.   לוּ חָכְמוּ, יַשְׂכִּילוּ זֹאת;    

Perhaps:  The following verses illustrate this usage: 
•	Verse Gn50-15 states   And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said: 'Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and will fully requite us all the evil which we did unto him.'   וַיִּרְאוּ אֲחֵי-יוֹסֵף, כִּי-מֵת אֲבִיהֶם, וַיֹּאמְרוּ, לוּ יִשְׂטְמֵנוּ יוֹסֵף; וְהָשֵׁב יָשִׁיב, לָנוּ, אֵת כָּל-הָרָעָה, אֲשֶׁר גָּמַלְנוּ אֹתוֹ.  

Rashi points out that the meaning perhaps of  לו only occurs once in the Bible. The word לו itself occurs 21 times in the Bible. 

3. RASHI METHOD: GRAMMAR / conjugation 
This example applies to Rashis  Gn50-23a Gn49-24c
URL reference :(c) http://www.RashiYomi.com/gn49-24a.htm  

The grammar  method seeks to apply and teach Hebrew grammar.  One part of grammar deals with transformation of verbs, nouns and adjectives. For example to bud is a verb derived from the noun bud. It means to create buds.

The following verses illustrate the technique of new word meanings arising from grammatical shifts in word function. When a verb is formed from a noun it can mean 3 things 
•	It can mean to remove the object designated by the noun. For example, to dust. 
•	It can mean to create the object designated by the noun. For example, to flower.
•	It can mean to use the object designated by the noun. For example, to hammer. 

Here are some verses where these noun-verb transformations take effect. 
•	To Worm (to create worms):  Verse Ex16-20 states   Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it wormed worms, and rotted; and Moses was wroth with them.   וְלֹא-שָׁמְעוּ אֶל-מֹשֶׁה, וַיּוֹתִרוּ אֲנָשִׁים מִמֶּנּוּ עַד-בֹּקֶר, וַיָּרֻם תּוֹלָעִים, וַיִּבְאַשׁ; וַיִּקְצֹף עֲלֵהֶם, מֹשֶׁה.  
•	To Ash the altar (to remove the ashes):  Verse Nu04-13 states   And they shall ash the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon.   וְדִשְּׁנוּ, אֶת-הַמִּזְבֵּחַ; וּפָרְשׂוּ עָלָיו, בֶּגֶד אַרְגָּמָן.  
•	To children (to create children):  Verse Gn50-23 states   And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation; the sons of Machir the son of Manasseh were also childrened upon Joseph's knees.   וַיַּרְא יוֹסֵף לְאֶפְרַיִם, בְּנֵי שִׁלֵּשִׁים; גַּם, בְּנֵי מָכִיר בֶּן-מְנַשֶּׁה--יֻלְּדוּ, עַל-בִּרְכֵּי יוֹסֵף.  
•	To gold the hand (to place gold rings on the hand):  (That is to use gold on the hand in the standard manner--by wearing rings.) Verse Gn49-24 states   But his bow abode firm, and his hands were golded [he became prime minister] by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, from thence, from the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel,   וַתֵּשֶׁב בְּאֵיתָן קַשְׁתּוֹ, וַיָּפֹזּוּ זְרֹעֵי יָדָיו; מִידֵי אֲבִיר יַעֲקֹב, מִשָּׁם רֹעֶה אֶבֶן יִשְׂרָאֵל.  

4. RASHI METHOD: ALIGNMENT
This example applies to Rashis  Gn49-11d 
URL reference :(c) http://www.RashiYomi.com/gn49-11b.htm 

The alignment  method seeks to extract nuances from the minor differences in the alignment  of two almost identical verses. The contrast of the two almost identical verses points either to a) two cases , b) several nuances , or c) an equality of the verses which leads to an understanding in meaning . 

The alignment in the following verse  Gn49-11 which states   Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; 
•	he washeth his garments in wine, and 
•	his sutho in the blood of grapes;   אֹסְרִי לַגֶּפֶן עִירֹה, וְלַשֹּׂרֵקָה בְּנִי אֲתֹנוֹ;
•	 כִּבֵּס בַּיַּיִן לְבֻשׁוֹ,
•	 וּבְדַם-עֲנָבִים סוּתֹה
suggests two parallelisms. First we see that wine is parallel blood of grapes. Second we see that clothing is parallel to סותו. This alignment suggests that the meaning of סותו is clothing/garments. 

Rashi does not say anything more. However sometimes we can enrich our understanding of Rashi by applying further techniques. In this particular verse the alignment is used by Rashi to indicate the meaning of the Hebrew word. 

However there are other methods of ascertaining word meaning. For example, although, as pointed out by Rashi, the word סותו only occurs once in the Bible its possible roots סית סות occur many times; these roots mean to seduce. The idea of garment + seduce suggests possibly nightgowns, lingerie, robes(Stone translation). 

In other words the idea is put forth that in the Messianic era women will wash their nightgowns, lingerie, and robes in wine to add scent and intensify their relationships with their husbands. 

5. RASHI METHOD: CONTRADICTION 
This example applies to Rashis Gn50-16b
URL reference :(c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gn50-16b.htm

 The contradiction  method seeks to derive Biblical content by assuming a resolution to contradictory  verses. Rashi had 3 main methods to resolve contradiction: The two contradictory verses could be speaking about a) two stages  of one process, b) two aspects  or attributes of one entity, or c) the contradictory verses could be resolved assuming a broad or literal interpretation  of the words causing the contradiction. 

Note the contradiction in the following verses: 
•	Verse Gn50-16:17 states   And they sent a message unto Joseph, saying: 'Thy father did command before he died, saying please forgive your brothers....:   וַיְצַוּוּ, אֶל-יוֹסֵף לֵאמֹר:  אָבִיךָ צִוָּה, לִפְנֵי מוֹתוֹ לֵאמֹר.  
•	Verse Gn49-05:07 states     Simeon and Levi are brethren; weapons of violence their kinship. Let my soul not come into their council; unto their assembly let my glory not be united; for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-will they houghed oxen. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce, and their wrath, for it was cruel; I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.      .    שִׁמְעוֹן וְלֵוִי, אַחִים--כְּלֵי חָמָס, מְכֵרֹתֵיהֶם.  בְּסֹדָם אַל-תָּבֹא נַפְשִׁי, בִּקְהָלָם אַל-תֵּחַד כְּבֹדִי:  כִּי בְאַפָּם הָרְגוּ אִישׁ, וּבִרְצֹנָם עִקְּרוּ-שׁוֹר.  אָרוּר אַפָּם כִּי עָז, וְעֶבְרָתָם כִּי קָשָׁתָה; אֲחַלְּקֵם בְּיַעֲקֹב, וַאֲפִיצֵם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל. 

It seems reasonable to take the underlined phrases in Gn49-06 to refer to the attempted murder of Joseph. But then we see the contradiction: If Jacob, in Gn49-06, cursed Shimon and Levi for attempting to murder Joseph then why, in Gn50-16, is he asking for their forgiveness. 

Rashi resolves this contradiction using the concept of modality. 
•	The curse in Gn49-06 is true. 
•	By contrast the request for forgiveness in Gn50-16 is a lie. 
In other words the other brothers created a white lie after Jacob's death and asked Joseph to forgive Shimon and Levi even though there father had not ordered this. Rashi notes the moral principle that it is permissable to white-lie for the sake of bringing peace. 

6. RASHI METHOD : STYLE
This example applies to Rashis  Gn49-04b 
URL reference :(c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/dt06-06a.htm 

The Rabbi Ishmael Style  rules are usually thought of as applying to technical legal matters. However in a broader sense they apply to paragraph styles. The fundamental focus of the Rabbi Ishmael style rules is to precisely delineate the relationship between paragraph themes  and development details : 
•	 Are the details examples  of a general theme , or, do the details  exhaust the paragraph theme? In other words 
•	should the examples  and details be interpreted literally and exclusively or should they be interpreted broadly and generally?  
Still another way of looking at style is that it answers the question: 
 How should the paragraph theme  and details / examples  be integrated? 

The basic idea of the general-detail method is that the general meaning of the first clause is exhausted by the details of the second clause. This is illustrated by the following verses and Rashis:

•	Verse Nu03-06 states   'Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.  And they shall guard the [Temple] watch....הַקְרֵב, אֶת-מַטֵּה לֵוִי, וְהַעֲמַדְתָּ אֹתוֹ, לִפְנֵי אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן; וְשֵׁרְתוּ, אֹתוֹ.   
•	Verse Ex01-11 states   Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh store-cities, Pithom and Raamses.   וַיָּשִׂימוּ עָלָיו שָׂרֵי מִסִּים, לְמַעַן עַנֹּתוֹ בְּסִבְלֹתָם; וַיִּבֶן עָרֵי מִסְכְּנוֹת, לְפַרְעֹה--אֶת-פִּתֹם, וְאֶת-רַעַמְסֵס.  RASHI:  Thus the taxes consisted of labor to build cities 
•	Verse Nu05-12:13 states   Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them: If any man's wife go aside, and act unfaithfully against him,  and a man lie with her carnally... דַּבֵּר אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם:  אִישׁ אִישׁ כִּי-תִשְׂטֶה אִשְׁתּוֹ, וּמָעֲלָה בוֹ מָעַל	. 
•	Verse Gn45-23 states   And to his father he sent as follows:  ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she-asses laden with corn and bread and victual for his father by the way.   וּלְאָבִיו שָׁלַח כְּזֹאת, עֲשָׂרָה חֲמֹרִים, נֹשְׂאִים, מִטּוּב מִצְרָיִם; וְעֶשֶׂר אֲתֹנֹת נֹשְׂאֹת בָּר וָלֶחֶם וּמָזוֹן, לְאָבִיו--לַדָּרֶךְ.  
•	Verse Gn49-04 states   Unstable as water, thou will not have the excellency; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it--he went up to my couch.    פַּחַז כַּמַּיִם אַל-תּוֹתַר, כִּי עָלִיתָ מִשְׁכְּבֵי אָבִיךָ; אָז חִלַּלְתָּ, יְצוּעִי עָלָה.   

In each of the above verses all Rashi does is connect the 2 underlined parts of the sentence: The afflict burdens in Ex01-11 refers to the enslavement to build cities; similarly the unfaithfulness in Nu05-12:13 refers to the carnal lying with an other man; similarly Reuven's unstability mentioned in Gn49-04 refers to his defilement of his father's couch.

7. RASHI METHOD : Formatting
This example applies to Rashis  Gn50-13a 
URL reference :(c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gn50-13a.htm
  
For this week's formatting example see rule #9, spreadsheets.

8. RASHI METHOD: DATABASES
This example applies to Rashis Gn47-29c 
URL reference :(c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gn47-29z.htm 

The database  method seeks to discover biblical ideas using the methods of modern database theory and sequential query language (SQL). The Talmudic sages and Rashi were totally familiar and frequently used all aspects of modern database theory. 

Today we ask the query: How are oaths affirmed? ? The query returns the 6 results listed below. 

A revu of oaths taken in the Bible shows that they are expressions of seriousness. Hence they are typically accompanied by symbolic affirmations. Here are some examples 
•	Oath of peace affirmed by a party : Verse Gn26-30:31 states   And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink. And they rose up betimes in the morning, and swore one to another; and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.   וַיַּעַשׂ לָהֶם מִשְׁתֶּה, וַיֹּאכְלוּ וַיִּשְׁתּוּ.  וַיַּשְׁכִּימוּ בַבֹּקֶר, וַיִּשָּׁבְעוּ אִישׁ לְאָחִיו; וַיְשַׁלְּחֵם יִצְחָק, וַיֵּלְכוּ מֵאִתּוֹ בְּשָׁלוֹם.  
•	Oath of separation affirmed by symbolic stone border : Verse Gn31-52:53 states   This heap of stones be witness, and the pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm. The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us.' And Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.   עֵד הַגַּל הַזֶּה, וְעֵדָה הַמַּצֵּבָה:  אִם-אָנִי, לֹא-אֶעֱבֹר אֵלֶיךָ אֶת-הַגַּל הַזֶּה, וְאִם-אַתָּה לֹא-תַעֲבֹר אֵלַי אֶת-הַגַּל הַזֶּה וְאֶת-הַמַּצֵּבָה הַזֹּאת, לְרָעָה.  אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם וֵאלֹהֵי נָחוֹר, יִשְׁפְּטוּ בֵינֵינוּ--אֱלֹהֵי, אֲבִיהֶם; וַיִּשָּׁבַע יַעֲקֹב, בְּפַחַד אָבִיו יִצְחָק.  
•	Oath of territorial respect affirmed by symbolic taking of possesions : Verse Gn21-30:31 states   And he said: 'Verily, these seven ewe-lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that it may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.' Wherefore that place was called Beer-sheba; because there they swore both of them.   וַיֹּאמֶר--כִּי אֶת-שֶׁבַע כְּבָשֹׂת, תִּקַּח מִיָּדִי:  בַּעֲבוּר תִּהְיֶה-לִּי לְעֵדָה, כִּי חָפַרְתִּי אֶת-הַבְּאֵר הַזֹּאת.  עַל-כֵּן, קָרָא לַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא--בְּאֵר שָׁבַע:  כִּי שָׁם נִשְׁבְּעוּ, שְׁנֵיהֶם.  
•	Oath of power of attorney affirmed by surrender of hand : Verse Gn24-02:03 states   And Abraham said unto his servant, the elder of his house, that ruled over all that he had: 'Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh.  And I will make thee swear by the LORD... וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָהָם, אֶל-עַבְדּוֹ זְקַן בֵּיתוֹ, הַמֹּשֵׁל, בְּכָל-אֲשֶׁר-לוֹ:  שִׂים-נָא יָדְךָ, תַּחַת יְרֵכִי.  
•	Oath of power of attorney affirmed by surrender of hand : Verse Gn47-29:31 states   And the time drew near that Israel must die; and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him: 'If now I have found favour in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt. ...And he said: 'Swear unto me.' And he swore unto him  וַיִּקְרְבוּ יְמֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל, לָמוּת, וַיִּקְרָא לִבְנוֹ לְיוֹסֵף וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ אִם-נָא מָצָאתִי חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ, שִׂים-נָא יָדְךָ תַּחַת יְרֵכִי; וְעָשִׂיתָ עִמָּדִי חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת, אַל-נָא תִקְבְּרֵנִי בְּמִצְרָיִם.  

9. RASHI METHOD : SPREADSHEETS
This example applies to Rashis  Gn50-13a 
URL reference :(c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gn50-13a.htm

We say that Rashi uses the spreadsheet  method on any clarification of a verse that is in addition to its meaning. This 

Rashi will very often take a verse whose meaning is already understood and add a consequence to the verse. This consequence does not illumine a comparison with any other verse but simply illustrates further something understood. We call this the spreadsheet method since spreadsheets are very often used to derive consequences of otherwise understood data.  The spreadsheet method is also used when either a) Rashi gives an algebraic or computational explanation of a difficult verse or b) Rashi presents geometric diagrams to clarify the meaning of the verse. Any of these three methods: a) actual spreadsheets b) geometric diagrams or c) additional consequences of a verse is called the spreadsheet method. 

This week's example of the spreadsheet technique also uses rule #7 formatting above.

Note the underlined passages in the following innocent looking verses Verse Gn50-12:13 states  And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field, for a possession of a burying-place, of Ephron the Hittite, in front of Mamre.   וַיִּשְׂאוּ אֹתוֹ בָנָיו, אַרְצָה כְּנַעַן, וַיִּקְבְּרוּ אֹתוֹ, בִּמְעָרַת שְׂדֵה הַמַּכְפֵּלָה:  אֲשֶׁר קָנָה אַבְרָהָם אֶת-הַשָּׂדֶה לַאֲחֻזַּת-קֶבֶר, מֵאֵת עֶפְרֹן הַחִתִּי--עַל-פְּנֵי מַמְרֵא.  Verse Nu02-02 states   'The children of Israel shall pitch by their fathers' houses; every man with his own standard, according to the signs; a good way off shall they pitch round about the tent of meeting.   אִישׁ עַל-דִּגְלוֹ בְאֹתֹת לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם, יַחֲנוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל:  מִנֶּגֶד, סָבִיב לְאֹהֶל-מוֹעֵד יַחֲנוּ.  

The following amazing comment is made by Rashi: Jacob commanded his sons on the death bed that they should bear his coffin in a prescribed fashion. Thus certain children were on the north side of the coffin, certain children were on the east side etc. This arrangement of children is identical with the arrangement by which the tribes camped. In other words the same children who camped e.g. on the east side also bore Jacobs coffin on the east side. This fact explains the following two verse phrases 
•	The sons bore Jacob in his coffin as he commanded them [on his deathbed] 
•	The children of Israel camped by the signs [that is the signs Jacob had given them on his deathbed 

This Rashi comment looks most remarkable. But this Rashi is an example of application of the formatting technique of the ordered list. We combine this formatting technique with the spreadsheet technique, rule #9. In the spreadsheet below we present 
•	the order by which Jacob blessed his children 
•	the order by which the Jews camped and
•	an attribute for which the heads of the tribe, or the tribe itself, was known.

----------------------------------------------------------
 Jacob's blessing Gn49 Order of Camping Nu02 Attribute 
---------------------  --------------------- --------- 
(1) Reuven             South camp            Sinner
(2) Shimon             South camp            Sinner 
(3) Levi               Middle camp*          Sinner 

(4) Judah              East camp             Scholar 
(5) Zevulun            East camp             Scholar 
(6) Yissachar          East camp             Scholar 

(7) Dan                North camp            Judge 
(8) Gad                South Camp*           Judge 
(9) Asher              North Camp            Judge 
(10)Naftali            North Camp            Judge 

(11)Joseph             West camp             Holy Temple 
(12)Binyamin           West Camp             Holy Temple 
---------------------------------------------------------- 

Rashi observed the following 
•	The order of blessings in Jacob's blessings 
•	is almost identical to the groupings in the campings 
•	and is consistent with the attributes of the tribes. 

Here is a breakdown of the camp sides and the attributes of the tribes who lived there 
•	East side=Scholarship: All 3 tribes were known as scholars, teachers and lawmakers. The following verses confirm this Verse 1C12-33 states   And of the children of Issachar, men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.    וּמִבְּנֵי יִשָּׂשכָר, יוֹדְעֵי בִינָה לַעִתִּים, לָדַעַת, מַה-יַּעֲשֶׂה יִשְׂרָאֵל--רָאשֵׁיהֶם מָאתַיִם, וְכָל-אֲחֵיהֶם עַל-פִּיהֶם.    Verse Ju05-14 states   Out of Ephraim came those... that handle the marshal's staff.   מִנִּי אֶפְרַיִם, ...מֹשְׁכִים בְּשֵׁבֶט   Verse Gn49-10 states   The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, as long as men come to Shiloh; and unto him shall the obedience of the peoples be.   לֹא-יָסוּר שֵׁבֶט מִיהוּדָה, וּמְחֹקֵק מִבֵּין רַגְלָיו, עַד כִּי-יָבֹא שִׁילֹה, וְלוֹ יִקְּהַת עַמִּים.  
•	West side=Holiness: Benjamin had the temple built in his portion of Israel. Joseph is known for abstaining from Potiphar. Hence the people on the west side symbolized holiness. 
•	South side=sinners: The following verses show that Reuven, Shimon and Levi were sinners. The sinners dwelt on the south side. Verse Gn49-03:07 states    Reuben, thou art my first-born, my might, and the first-fruits of my strength; the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power. Unstable as water, have not thou the excellency; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it--he went up to my couch.  Simeon and Levi are brethren; weapons of violence their kinship. Let my soul not come into their council; unto their assembly let my glory not be united; for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-will they houghed oxen. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce, and their wrath, for it was cruel; I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.      .  רְאוּבֵן בְּכֹרִי אַתָּה, כֹּחִי וְרֵאשִׁית אוֹנִי--יֶתֶר שְׂאֵת, וְיֶתֶר עָז.  פַּחַז כַּמַּיִם אַל-תּוֹתַר, כִּי עָלִיתָ מִשְׁכְּבֵי אָבִיךָ; אָז חִלַּלְתָּ, יְצוּעִי עָלָה.   שִׁמְעוֹן וְלֵוִי, אַחִים--כְּלֵי חָמָס, מְכֵרֹתֵיהֶם.  בְּסֹדָם אַל-תָּבֹא נַפְשִׁי, בִּקְהָלָם אַל-תֵּחַד כְּבֹדִי:  כִּי בְאַפָּם הָרְגוּ אִישׁ, וּבִרְצֹנָם עִקְּרוּ-שׁוֹר.  אָרוּר אַפָּם כִּי עָז, וְעֶבְרָתָם כִּי קָשָׁתָה; אֲחַלְּקֵם בְּיַעֲקֹב, וַאֲפִיצֵם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל.  However the following verse shows that Levi repented Verse Ex32-26 states    then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said: 'Whoso is on the LORD'S side, let him come unto me.' And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him Since Levi repented he "moved" from the south side to the center with the Temple.
•	North side=Judges: All people living on the North side were Judges to Israel. For example Asher gave birth to Serach who lived forever and helped prevent a civil war during the Sheva rebellion 2Sam20-16:22. Dan gave birth to the most famous of all the Judges, the legendary Samson, who saved the Jews from the Philistines Ju13,14,15,16. Naftali gave rise to Barak whom with Devorah the prophetess conquered many Jewish enemies Ju4,5. Gad may have been the ancestor of Gad the personal prophet of King David 1C21-09 who frequently judged and rebuked him. However, since Gad defected from Israel (the Gaddites chose to live with the Reubenites outside Israel Nu32) therefore, Gad was placed with the sinners on the south side.

This Rashi embodies a highly modern principle. During World War II psychologists had to make sure that troops worked well together. They developed personality similarity tests. They found that there was higher efficiency and less fights when people with similar likes and dislikes worked together. This principle was first enunciated by the Patriarch Jacob in order to facilitate peace among the tribes and prevent another Joseph incident from happening.

10. RASHI METHOD : SYMBOLISM
This example applies to Rashis  Gn49-22a Gn49-22b
URL reference :(c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gn49-22a.htm 

The symbolism method seeks to extract meaningful inferences from the symbolism of the biblical text.  The concept of symbolic interpretation is very involved. A good, compact, clear reference explaining when symbolism can be used and how to apply it may be found in my article Genesis 1 speaks about the creation of prophecy not the world which you can find at http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gen-1.htm . Today we explore the symbolism in Gn49-22a Gn49-22b  which describes fruitful trees on a lake. 

Verse Gn49-22 states   Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine by a fountain; its branches run over the wall.   בֵּן פֹּרָת יוֹסֵף, בֵּן פֹּרָת עֲלֵי-עָיִן; בָּנוֹת, צָעֲדָה עֲלֵי-שׁוּר.  

This verse uses a technique of double symbolism. This verse can equally be interpreted to apply to 
•	the human / thought sphere 
•	the plant / physical sphere 
The same words refer simultaneously to both spheres and echo simultaneously complementary themes. 

Rashi explains that The Hebrew word Pay Resh Tauv פרת comes from the word Pay Resh Yud פרי fruit.  Rashi further explains that the Hebrew word Ayin Yud Nun עָיִן refers to a lake  However the rules of symbolism allow us to interpret these terms either by form or function 

If we interpret by function the verse means that Joseph is a fruitful, productive person. This obviously refers to his successful, fruitful, and productive interpretation of dreams. Verse Gn41-39 states   And Pharaoh said unto Joseph: 'Forasmuch as God hath shown thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou.   וַיֹּאמֶר פַּרְעֹה אֶל-יוֹסֵף, אַחֲרֵי הוֹדִיעַ אֱלֹהִים אוֹתְךָ אֶת-כָּל-זֹאת, אֵין-נָבוֹן וְחָכָם, כָּמוֹךָ.  

However we can equally interpret the verse by form. A well known symbol of romance is the tree on the lake since 
•	the tree with its upright position is a male symbol 
•	the lake with its circular form is a female symbol 
•	the water with its shimmering quality is a symbol of the emotions of love. 
Hence Joseph is a tree on a lake means Joseph is good looking and virile--capable of being very fruitful. This attribute of Joseph is also confirmed scripturally in verse Gn39-06 which states   And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and, having him, he knew not aught save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was of beautiful form, and fair to look upon.   וַיַּעֲזֹב כָּל-אֲשֶׁר-לוֹ, בְּיַד-יוֹסֵף, וְלֹא-יָדַע אִתּוֹ מְאוּמָה, כִּי אִם-הַלֶּחֶם אֲשֶׁר-הוּא אוֹכֵל; וַיְהִי יוֹסֵף, יְפֵה-תֹאַר וִיפֵה מַרְאֶה.  

In summary the verse uses one set of words to achieve a double connotation: Joseph is both good looking physically and fruitful in his thinking. The single word פרת simultaneously symbolizes both! 

Conclusion

This week's parshah contains examples of all Rashi rules. Visit the RashiYomi website at http://www.Rashiyomi.com/ for further details and examples.