LIST690a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04
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List of Rashis explaining algebra/geometry
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VERSE
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Item Spreadsheet is used for
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lv05-16b.htm
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Total payment=100% of improper benefit+20% fine*10
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ex38-07b.htm
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Altar had a)boards around it b) hollow in center
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ex06-16a.htm
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Complete spreadsheet of 430 years in Egypt
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gn49-26d.htm
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your fathers blessings greater than my fathers
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dt21-17a.htm
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How to give 1st-born double *1
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ex38-24b.htm
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Computation of relative value of Biblical currency
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nu03-39b.htm
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Accounting of Levite children
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nu31-26a.htm
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Division of booty in war
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gn05-32b.htm
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Computation of relative ages of Noachs children
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gn25-20a.htm
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Proof that Rivkah was 15 when she married Isaac
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COMMENTS
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*1 Many people are familiar with the concept of the
FORMULA PLUG IN. That is a problem is solved by a
formula which you plug into.
But some problems intrinsically cannot (initally)
be solved by a formula. Instead you have to
formulate the problem algebraically and solve;only
then do you have the formula.
In other words these problems are solved by
the EQUATION vs the FORMULA
Thus the statement that the eldest gets double
suggests the following model.
- Suppose the are B brothers
- Suppose 1 of them is eldest
- The Fathers total assets are T (Total)
- Let A be the amount each brother inherits
We have no formula for A
- Then each of the B-1 brothers obtains A
- The eldest obtains double, 2A.
- Together this exhausts the Fathers estate, T
Hence we have (B-1)A + 2A = (B+1)A = T
This gives rise to the formula A = T / (B+1)
An example is a father with 100,000 and 4 children
- T=100,000
- B=4
- So each child take T/(B+1) = 100000/5 = 20,000
- Eldest takes 2*20000=40000
- Other 3 take 20000
- Total distribution =3*20000+40000=100000
See Rambam Inheritance Chapter 2
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LONGER FOOTNOTES
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*10 Several comments are worth mentioning here
FIRST we clarify how the Bible takes percentages
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- The 20% is 20% of total and hence refers to 25%
For example if a person ate $20 worth of temple meat
then he pays $5 fine + $20 of benefit = $25.
- So $5 = 5/25 = 20% of total payment
- But $5 = 5/20 = 25% of amount improperly benefited
SECOND we cite the Sifrah (explained by Malbim)
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Malbim explains that
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Most sentences in Hebrew use a VERB-NOUN order
Therefore a NOUN-VERB order always indicates emphasis
Since the verse says
- [WHAT HE SINNED] SHALL BE PAYED vs
- PAY [WHAT HE SINNED]
the emphasis is on WHAT HE SINNED.
From this we infer that
- he must pay to the Temple group he sinned against
- if he sinned against the wood group (eg he used
temple wood for a fire) he pays to the temple group
in charge of wood
If he sinned against the lamb group (eg he ate
a temple lamb) he pays to the temple group in
charge of lambs
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It is therefore conceivable that Rashi-s original text
read
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He pays what he benefited and the 20% fine TO THAT
[PORTION OF] THE TEMPLE
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In other words the word THAT may have fallen from
Rashi giving the erroneous impression that all
he was saying was that the Temple gets TOTAL+20% FINE
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