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b-hebrew - Re: Genesis 33:4 (seven dots)

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  • From: "Jonathan D. Safren" <yonsaf AT beitberl.ac.il>
  • To: NBTP <nbtp AT sil.org>
  • Cc: Biblical Hebrew <b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: Genesis 33:4 (seven dots)
  • Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 15:35:24 +0200


According to Genesis Rabbah (a collection of Aggadic Midrashim),R.
Shim'on ben Elazar said: Any dotted words have a deeper significance.
[my free rendition]
Esau's pities were aroused at that hour and he kissed him with al his
heart.
R. Yannai said to him: If so, why is {the word} dotted on top? This
teaches that he did not come to kiss (n$q) him but to bite (n$k) him,
but our father Jacob's neck became like marble and that wicked one's
[Esau's] teeth were dulled. And how would you understand "and they
cried" [in the same verse]? One [Jacob} cried on the other's neck, while
the other cried because of his teeth!


Other midrashim concur in that the dots imply that the verse has a
deeper meaning.

So also Rashi. Ibn Ezra does not accept the midrashic interpretation,
stating that Esau cried with all his heart.
Yours,
--
Jonathan D. Safren
Dept. of Biblical Studies
Beit Berl College
Beit Berl Post Office 44905
Israel





  • Genesis 33:4 (seven dots), NBTP, 05/23/2000
    • <Possible follow-up(s)>
    • Re: Genesis 33:4 (seven dots), Jonathan D. Safren, 05/23/2000

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