SUCCINCT SUMMARY:
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One of Rashis 5 main functions is to explain meaning the same
way a dictionary explains meaning. We call this the Rashi rule
of WORD MEANING.
Rashi had 10 vehicles to explain meaning. Sometimes Rashi
would give a UNIFYING theme to disparate meanings of the same
root---we call this the Rashi subrule of UNIFIED MEANING.
EXAMPLE: Root Aleph-Vav-Hey means DESIRE
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- Hence Dt12-20: When you DESIRE to eat meat
- Hence So01-05: I am sun-tanned and DESIRABLE
- Hence Nu34-10a: The EXPANSES of the land will be from..to..
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Rashi on these verses simply explains the meanings of words
which we have placed in CAPS.
Note that, in Nu34-10a the word EXPANSES is translated by
other commentators as BOUNDARIES. But Rashi correctly
translates it as ExPANSES which emphasizes not only the
BOUNDARIES but the inside and full expanse of territory.
Note that Rashi uses the subrule of UNIFIED MEANING since
the FEELING of DESIRE leads to the ACT of EXPANSION. Similarly
the passive form of DESIRE is being DESIRABLE.
LIST863p below summarizes these 3 meanings of root
Aleph-Vav-Hey as well as the unifying theme.
We now explain another WORD MEANING subrule of Rashi. Sometimes
Rashi would etymologically explain meaning based on FORM,
FUNCTION or other attributes. We call this the Rashi subrule
of 8 METHODS OF NAMING.
EXAMPLE: Hey-Vav-Resh-Yud named by FORM or FUNCTION
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For example, in identifying the FEELING of desire with
the ACT of expansion Rashi uses the rule of NAMING BY FORM--
that is, the feeling of desire takes the form of expansion.
Many words are named by either FORM or FUNCTION--for example
the PENTAGON is named by FORM while the U.N. is named by
FUNCTION (The FUNCTION of the U.N. is to UNITE the NATIONS
of the world)
In Gn49-26d Rashi explains the meaning of the Hebrew word
Hey-Vav-Resh-Yud to mean PARENTS. Hence PARENTS are named
by their FUNCTION since the root of Hey-Vav-Resh-Yud is
Hey-Resh-Hey which means TO CONCEIVE. Thus PARENTS are
the CONCEIVERS.
LIST810b below presents many examples of meaning by FORM
LIST815a below presents many examples of meaning by FUNCTION
To fully understand Gn49-26d we must bring another Rashi
rule, the rule of ALIGNMENT. Rashi sometimes infers nuances
and meanings from the ALIGNMENT of almost identical phrases.
The minor differences in these phrases sheds light on nuances
We call this the Rashi subrule of NUANCES.
EXAMPLE Gn49-26d
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The Biblical text states
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The blessings of your [Joseph's] father [Jacob] are
greater than the blessings of my PARENTS [Hey-Vav-Resh-Yud]
[since Jacobs blessings are] till the EXPANSES [Aleph-Vav-
Hey] of mountains of the world
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Rashi does a variety of things on this verse some of which
we have seen above. Here are three Rashis on this verse
Some of the Rashis are paraphrased
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The Hebrew word Hey-Vav-Resh-Yud means PARENTS
---those who CONCEIVED (Hey-Resh-Hey) me
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Rashi here uses the method of NAMING BY FUNCTION
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Tauv-Aleph-Vav-Tauv means EXPANSES
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Rashi here uses the method of UNIFIED MEANING
as well as the method of NAMING BY FORM (the
FEELING of desire is equated with the act of EXPANSION)
A third Rashi states as follows:
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Why does Jacob say that his blessings are greater
than the blessings of Abraham and Isaac. Because
- Abraham was blessed: THE LAND YOU SEE WILL BE YOURS
- Isaac was blessed: I WILL GIVE YOU THIS LAND(Israel)
- Jacob wsa blessed: YOU WILL EXPAND NORTH,SOUTH,EAST,WEST
Hence we see that Jacob and Jacob alone received an
unbounded blessing while the other patriarchs received
fixed territories. For this reason Jacob says that
his blessings surpass the blessings of his PARENTS
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LIST308k below summarizes this alignment and gives sources.
I use the term SPREADSHEETS to refer to the Rashi rule by
which COMPLICATED verses are simplified. The term ALGEBRA
refers to the subrule whereby certain items in verses are
equated resulting in simplification.
Here is another way of saying it: The Rashi rule and subrule
of SPREADSHEETS-ALGEBRA refers to Rashis attempt-s to CLARIFY
and SIMPLIFY a COMPLICATED verse by pointing out certain
IDENTITIES, EQUATIONS and RELATIONS. These identities,
equations and relations simplify matters.
EXAMPLE Gn49-26a
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The background is a scene where Jacob speaks to his son Joseph
The Biblical text states
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The blessings of YOUR FATHER are more powerful
than the blessings of MY FATHERS [since your
fathers blessings extend] to the expanses of
the mountains of the earth
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Rashi paraphrased, lists a sequence of equations
which simplifies the text. Recall again that
Jacob was speaking to Joseph
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YOUR FATHER = Me = Jacob
MY FATHERS = Isaac and Abraham
Hence the verse should read
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The blessings of JACOB are more powerful
than the blessings of ISAAC and ABRAHAM
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
--------------------------------------------
Here Rashi uses the Technique of SPREADSHEETS
since he simplifies the phrase YOUR FATHERS
BLESSINGS ARE MORE POWERFUL THAN MY FATHERS
BLESSINGS to the simpler phrase JACOBS BLESSINGS ARE
MORE POWERFUL THAN THE BLESSINGS OF ISAAC AND
ABRAHAM
LIST690j below summarizes this spreadsheet pattern.
LIST690a presents other Rashis where the SPREADSHEET rule
is used.
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