ACH means USUALLY:#6 of 6
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# 10 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE #
# May 16, 2000 #
# Rashis 45-49 Of 7800 (0.5%) #
# #
# Reprinted with permission from Rashi-is-Simple, #
# (c) 1999-Present, Dr. Hendel #
# http://www.shamash.org/rashi #
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#Permission to reprint with this header but not for profit#
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# WARNING: READ with COURIER 10 (Fixed width) FONTS #
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In this series we review the meanings of the Hebrew word
>ACH
This word occurs about 40 times in Chumash.
Its main two meanings are
>ACH = USUALLY
>ACH = MOST OF
A person completing this module will have the skill competencies
necessary to UNDERSTAND and even REPRODUCE standard Talmudic
interpretations of ACH.
In this issue we study unusal uses of
>ACH
We will see verses where the following meanings hold
>ACH = PROBABLY (a meaning similar to USUALLY)
>ACH = PERIODICALLY(Like USUALLY)
>ACH = EVEN THOUGH (Denotes exception)
The examples are presented below. Immedidately beneath them are 3
summarizing lists containing
>All 17 Rashis that we have reviewed commenting on ACH
>A list of the 2 main meanings of ACH and the unusual meanings
>A list showing how each meaning of ACH relates to the concept
of EXCEPTION (we also compare ACH=USUALLY to RAK=ONLY)
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1999 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
EXAMPLE 14 Gn20-12a
==========
In this example
>ACH = EVEN THOUGH
Abraham is explaining to Avimelech why he said that Sarah, his wife,
was really his sister. Abraham explains
>Gn20-12a
>She is indeed my fathers (grand) daughter
>EVEN THOUGH(ACH) she is not my mother's (grand) daughter
>RASHI:
>Abraham's point was that under Noachide law
>A person can marry his fathers daughter(paternal
>sister) but he cannot marry his mother's daughter
>(maternal sister).(Cf Rambam Kings 9:5)
>A further subtlety is that Sarah, Abraham's wife was
>not his
>Father's daughter(sister)
>but rather his Grandfather's daughter(niece)
Rashi defends this linguistic interchange of
>Father's daughter=Grandfather's daughter
by citing other examples where linguistically relatives are
mismatched. Here are a few examples
>These people Is called In verse But is really
============= ========== ======== ==============
>Lot+Abraham brothers Gn12-08 Uncle Nephew
>Ruel Father Ex02-18 Grandfather(Nu10-29)
>Moses Father Nu03-01 Teacher
>Prophets Children 2King2-3 Students
>Sarah Sister Gn20-12 Niece
EXAMPLE 15: Nu31-23c
==========
>Nu31-23c
>Utensils dippable in fire
>should be fired to become purified
>(EVEN THOUGH (ACH) they have to be immersed in
>Kosher Mikvah Water also)
>and
>utensils not dippable in fire
>should be placed in water and become purified
>RASHI:
>In this verse the word
>ACH = EVEN THOUGH
In other words to become pure
>Utensils dippable in fire NEED BOTH
>Immersion in fire
>Immersion in water
>Utensils not dippable in fire only need
>Immersion in water
Thus the verse should be translated
>Utensils dippable in fire should be
>immersed in fire
>EVEN THOUGH(they're immersed in water)
>Utensils dippable in water should (only be)
>dipped in water
EXAMPLE 16: Gn34-23a
==========
>Gn34-23a
>Let us be nice to them PERIODICALLY (ACH)
>& we can live together
>RASHI:
>Chmor said 'Let us be nice to them
>in THIS MATTER'(Circumcision &/or religion) and they
>will then live with us
In other words Chmor was suggesting that to get on the good
side of the Jews the City of Schem would have to adopt
circumcision. I suggest that Rashi derived the
acceptance of circumcision by the entire city of Schem
from the translation
>ACH = PERIODICALLY
So the verse would be translated
>Let us PERIODICALLY be nice and circumcise
(ie If they accept circumcision then since children
are born all the time they would PERIODICALLY circumcise
(Note: The word PERIODICALLY is like the word USUALLY
(but is less frequent))
EXAMPLE 17: Nu01-49a
==========
>Nu01-49a
>You will PROBABLY(ACH) not have to take a census of
>the Levites
>RASHI:
>A primary purpose of the census was to inform the Jews
>how many people they lost in the various sins (Such as
>the
>(a) Golden Calf (Levites didn't participate(Ex32-26)
>(b) Sin of the spies (Levites didn't participate(Nu13-4:15)
>(c)*Sin of Moabites Prostitutes(Levites didn't participate)
>Since the Levites didn't sin and weren't expected to sin
>therefore it was
>PROBABABLE(ACH) that they didn't have to be censused
>(I think the implication is that had they sinned it
>would have been required to count them)
Note how PROBABLY and USUALLY have almost the same meaning.
>USUALLY = MOST OF THE TIME (in the past)
>PROBABLY= MOST OF THE TIME (in the future)
*Note:The argument that the Levites did not sin with the prostitutes
----- of Moab was advanced by Rav Hirsch based on 3 points
(a) A comparison of the census BEFORE and AFTER the prostitute
sin (Nu02 vs Nu26) shows that while OVERALL the Jewish
population changed only by 1/2% nevertheless the
population of Shimon dropped close to 70%. Furthermore
many other tribes gained!! (This implies that the
most of the 24,000 people who died in the prostitute-sin
plague probably came from Shimon (Nu25-09).)
(b) The Jewish prince who publicly defiantly had relations
before the whole community (and was murdered) was
from the Tribe of Shimon (Nu25-14)
(c) As shown above the Levites did not sin in
>The sin of the Golden calf
>the sin of the spies
====================== ACH means USUALLY or MOST =================
{LIST1} {Rashis giving various meanings to
The Hebrew word ACH which denotes some kind of MOSTNESS such as
USUALLY = MOST of the time
MOST = MOST parts of an object
There are is a rare meaning
FREQUENTLY = MANY times
There is a related idiom ACH LO with the word LO which means
EVEN THOUGH. Thus e.g. the sentence
I WILL TAKE A WALK EVEN THOUGH(ACH LO) IT IS RAINING could be
seen related to the sentence I USUALLY DONT (ACH LO!) TAKE
A WALK WHEN IT IS RAINING (BUT TODAY I WILL)
===================================================================
VERSE TEXT EXCEPTION
======== ============================ =============================
Ex31-13b USUALLY observe Shabbaths But offer Sabbath Sacrifices
Lv23-27a USUALLY receive atonement no atonement on man-man sins
Lv23-39 USUALLY offer sacrifices Not if holiday falls on Sbbth
Lv27-28a Vows USUALLY go To GOD But not if Vowed to priest
Nu01-49a USUALLY a census not needed Provided they dont sin
====================================================================
====================== ACH means USUALLY or MOST =================
{LIST1} {Rashis giving various meanings to
The Hebrew word ACH which denotes some kind of MOSTNESS such as
USUALLY = MOST of the time
MOST = MOST parts of an object
There are is a rare meaning
FREQUENTLY = MANY times
There is a related idiom ACH LO with the word LO which means
EVEN THOUGH. Thus e.g. the sentence
I WILL TAKE A WALK EVEN THOUGH(ACH LO) IT IS RAINING could be
seen related to the sentence I USUALLY DONT (ACH LO!) TAKE
A WALK WHEN IT IS RAINING (BUT TODAY I WILL)
===================================================================
VERSE TEXT EXCEPTION
======== ============================ =============================
Nu31-22a MOST of utensil is purified BUT 1st scrape off rust
Dt12-22a MOST of animal can be eaten BUT not the fat
Nu26-55 MOST people inherit thru lot But not Caleb and Joshua
Dt16-15 Be happy MOST OF the Holiday But not the first evening
Gn29-14a You're MOSTLY like a relative You can work a month for free
Gn23-13a Take MOST of my offer Market value vs above market
Gn27-30a Esauv came as MOST of Jacobs' exit was completed
====================================================================
====================== ACH means USUALLY or MOST =================
{LIST1} {Rashis giving various meanings to
The Hebrew word ACH which denotes some kind of MOSTNESS such as
USUALLY = MOST of the time
MOST = MOST parts of an object
There are is a rare meaning
FREQUENTLY = MANY times
There is a related idiom ACH LO with the word LO which means
EVEN THOUGH. Thus e.g. the sentence
I WILL TAKE A WALK EVEN THOUGH(ACH LO) IT IS RAINING could be
seen related to the sentence I USUALLY DONT (ACH LO!) TAKE
A WALK WHEN IT IS RAINING (BUT TODAY I WILL)
===================================================================
VERSE TEXT EXCEPTION
======== ============================ =============================
Nu12-02 Only Moses FREQUENTLY speaks to God
Gn34-23a Lets be nice to them FREQUENTLY/PERIODICALLY
====================================================================
====================== ACH means USUALLY or MOST =================
{LIST1} {Rashis giving various meanings to
The Hebrew word ACH which denotes some kind of MOSTNESS such as
USUALLY = MOST of the time
MOST = MOST parts of an object
There are is a rare meaning
FREQUENTLY = MANY times
There is a related idiom ACH LO with the word LO which means
EVEN THOUGH. Thus e.g. the sentence
I WILL TAKE A WALK EVEN THOUGH(ACH LO) IT IS RAINING could be
seen related to the sentence I USUALLY DONT (ACH LO!) TAKE
A WALK WHEN IT IS RAINING (BUT TODAY I WILL)
===================================================================
VERSE TEXT EXCEPTION
======== ============================ =============================
Gn20-12a Fathers (grand) daugher EVEN THOUGH not my mothers
Nu31-23c Requires FIRE PURIFICATION EVEN THOUGH water also needed
===================================================================
{LIST2} {Summary of meanings of
>ACH = EXCEPTION}
MEANING EXAMPLE RELATION TO EXCEPTION
======= ======= =====================
Usually Usually observe Shabbath Not for sabbath offerings
Most of Most of Noach remained Not part bitten by lion
Most Be happy MOST of holiday Not on first night
Resemble Your like a relative But not completely
Frequently*2Be nice frequently toThem Only in religious matters
Probably PROBABLY no census needed But not definitely
Even though*1
{LIST3} {The difference between the ACH and RAK words
>ACH = MANY EXCEPTIONS, MANY EXAMPLES
>RAK = ONLY = ONLY ONE EXAMPLE}
MEANING OF HOW MANY EXAMPLES
ACH COULD THERE BE HOW MANY EXCEPTIONS
============== ================================ ===================
Usually 80%, 90% 20%, 10%
Most of 80-90% of object 10-20% of object
Most 80-90% of unit 10-20% of unit
Resemble 80-90% agreement in attributes 10-20% disagreement
Frequently 40-60% 60-40%
Probably Expect in future 60-80% of time 40-20%
Only 1 example Rest are exceptions
Even though*1
FOOTNOTES
---------
*1 We should explain the meaning of the expression
>EVEN THOUGH
For example if I say
>I will take a walk EVEN THOUGH it is raining
Then this means that
>USUALLY when it rains I do not take a walk
>BUT this time I ***will*** take a walk
In other words
>EVEN THOUGH = Against a background of USUALLY doing opposite
*2 We have assumed that the translation
>FREQUENTLY
>PERIODICALLY
are close in meaning.
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1999 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*