####################################################### # 12 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE # # MAY 24 th, 2006 # # Rashis 3557-3560 Of 7700 (46.2%) # # # # VISIT THE RASHI YOMI ARCHIVES # # ----------------------------- # # http://www.RashiYomi.Com/thismon.htm # # # # Reprinted with permission from Rashi-is-Simple, # # (c) 1999-2004, RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President # # Permission to reprint with this header PROVIDED # # it is not printed for profit # # # # WARNING: READ with COURIER 10 (Fixed width) FONTS# # # ####################################################### |
#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2005, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#
VERSE: Nu22-29b
RASHIS COVERED: Nu22-29b Nu22-34b Nu22-04a Nu22-22b
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||
One of Rashis 10 major methods is the CONTRADICTION method. Rashi had 3 methods to resolve CONTRADICTORY BIBLICAL TEXTS - the two texts reflect 2 STAGES on 1 process - the two texts reflect 2 ASPECTS of 1 state - the two texts use BROAD-LITERAL interpretation EXAMPLE 1: Nu22-04a MOAB enemies of MIDYAN ------------------------------------------- Nu22-04a states that ---------------------------------- Moab sent emissaries to Midyan to request help from what they perceived as a Jewish threat ---------------------------------- But Gn36-35 speaks about the ------------------------ WAR in the field of MOAB ------------------------ Rashi resolves this using the principle of STAGES 1) Initially MOAB and MIDYAN were enemies 2) To combat the Jews they overcame their hatred EXAMPLE 2: Nu22-22b HARASS to PROTECT ------------------------------------- Nu22-22 states ----------------------------------- The Angel went down to HARASS him because he was going to curse with Moab to curse the Jews ----------------------------------- But Nu22-33:34 states --------------------------------- Bilam stated I didnt know an Angel opposed me; if it is wrong to curse the Jews I will not go --------------------------------- Rashi resolves this also using the principle of stages 1) Initially the Angel HARASSED him 2) His goal was to HARASS him to prevent him from going to SIN So even though he used harassment as an instrument his goal was MERCY(prevention of sin) EXAMPLE 3: Nu22-34a KNOWS GOD (LIAR!) ------------------------------------- In Nu22-34a Bilam states ----------------------------------- I didnt know you (Angel) were in the path (But my donkey did know) ----------------------------------- But Comically, in Nu24-16 Bilam states -------------------------------------- The person who knows the thoughts of God -------------------------------------- Rashi comments on this comic contrast - He knows the thoughts of God - But doesnt know what his donkey knows! In other words Rashi resolves this contradiction thru interpreting the two texts with different degrees of literal-broadness - Nu22-34 Bilam didnt know is interpreted literally - Nu24-16 Bilam knows God is interpreted as a lie This resolves the contradiction. A more technical description of this contradiction is IRONY which is a common literary technique. EXAMPLE 4: Nu22-29b HIRED TO KILL BY CURSE! ------------------------------------------- A similar interpretation by irony resolves the following two contradictory verses - In Nu22-05:06 Balak requests Bilam to kill the JEWS BY CURSE ---------------------------------- Please curse this nation this nation that I may expel them from my land ---------------------------------- - But in Nu22-29 Bilam states, while angry at his donkey ------------------------------------- You (Donkey) sported with me; if I had a sword I would kill you ------------------------------------- Rashi comments on the irony ------------------------------------- - His donkey he can only kill with a sword - but he is hired to kill the Jewish people by curse ------------------------------------- Again the irony is resolved using stages - we give a literal interpretation to the statement that (only) if he had a sword he would kill his donkey - we give a wishful interpretation to the desire to kill the Jews by cursing. LIST530a gives examples of CONTRADICTIONS resolved thru 2 stages LIST520a gives examples of CONTRADICTIONS resolved thru BROAD LITERAL | ||
ITEM | DETAIL | |
RASHI RULE CLASS: | CONTRADICTION | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS | TWO-STAGES | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #15 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST530a | |
Verse pairs illustrating | 2 stages to a process | |
---------------------- | --------------------------------- | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS | BROAD-LITERAL | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #17 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST520a | |
A list of verse pairs | with BROAD-LITERAL usage |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | |||
A list of verse pairs with BROAD-LITERAL usage | |||
VERSE-1 | VERSE-2 | HOW THE TWO TEXTS ARE COMBINED | |
Nu22-34a | Nu24-16 | Claimed to know God but donkey knew more*4 | |
Nu22-29b | Nu22-05 | Asked to curse Jews but cant kill donkey*3 | |
Lv07-19c | Dt12-27 | All PURE PEOPLE whom the owner DESIGNATESeat | |
Lv06-22a | Lv06-19 | All MALE PRIESTS who COULD OFFER may eat*2 | |
Ex21-06 | Lv25-10 | Slave works FOREVER = Till 50th Jubilee year | |
Ex11-08a | Ex12-30 | Your SERVANTS=ROYAL PRESENCE shall expel me | |
Ex12-19a | Ex13-07 | Prohibits bread in your HOUSE/BORDERS=DOMAIN | |
Dt15-17 | Lv25-10 | Slaves work FOREVER=A LONG TIME=TILL JUBILEE | |
Lv07-09 | Lv07-10 | The PRIEST=DIVSION OF PRIEST,gets sacrifice | |
Lv04-03 | Lv04-03 | A Young ADULT Bullock = BEGINNING ADULTHOOD | |
Lv10-02 | Lv10-05 | Died from FIRE=SPIRITUAL FIRE*1 | |
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*1 Hence the fire did not burn their clothes The idea that the FIRES mentioned in Dt05 or Ex20 was the FIRE OF PROPHECY vs REAL FIRE is supported by many verses and themes (Dt05-21). There are other Biblical supports for this idea but this will suffice for now.*10 *2 Also echoed in Rashi Lv07-07b (OFFERING PRIEST means PRIESTS WHO COULD OFFER) *3 Thus the request to kill the Jews is seen as a WISH (BROAD interpretation)not as something real *4 That Bilam didnt know what his donkey knew is interpreted literally. That he claimed to know Gods thoughts is considered a LIE(Broad, non- literal interpretation). | |||
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*10 It does not detract from the greatness of the miracle of revelation that the FIRE means FIRE OF PROPHECY. For Judaism does not view Gods greatness in His ability to make a mountain smoke with Fire. Rather Judaism views Gods greatness in His ability to make people burn with Spiritual Prophecy |