Literary Devices – Bereshit 48/0

Literary Devices – Bereshit 48

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Key Words

father and land Tanakh Lab demonstrates that the words that appear with greatest frequency in this chapter are av and eretz, reflecting the theme of the blessings given by a father to his descendants before his death and the passing on of the covenantal promise of land given the Avot to their descendants.     By clicking on the word “vayemaen” in Bereshit 48:19, one can see that the only other two times this precise form appears in Humash are in relation to Yaakov’s refusal to be comforted for Yosef’s loss and Yosef’s refusal to be seduced by Potiphar’s wife.  This word seems to be a key word of the Yaakov/Yosef narrative, reflecting the significance of their persistent allegiance to each other.  

Right and Left

• Relative to the rest of Sefer Bereshit and the rest of Tanakh, the words that appear with greatest frequency are “yamin” and “semol.” Yaakov’s crossing of his hands represents at least a partial resolution of the theme of rivalry between brothers that has run throughout Sefer Bereshit, as Yaakov (like his forefathers) bestows a greater blessing on the younger child but in this case, the two brothers accept their blessings without conflict.