SUCCINCT SUMMARY
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One of Rashis 10 main goals was the resolution of contradiction
We call this the RASHI RULE OF CONTRADICTION.

Rashi had three methods to resolve contradiction. If
the CONTRADICTION could be resolved by viewing the
contradictory verses as two aspects of the same item then
we we employ the the TWO ASPECTS method of resolution. If
the CONTRADICTION could be resolved by viewing the
contradictory verses as two stages of the same process then
we employ the TWO STAGES submethod. Finally if the CONTRADICTION
could be resolved by retranslating the verses using broader
or more literal meanings then we use the BROAH-LITERAL submethod.

Today we illustrate two Rashi methods of resolving contradiction.

The first example nicely illustrates resolution thru
TWO ASPECTS

EXAMPLE Dt01-25b
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Compare the contradiction in the following verses:
Dt01-25 states
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The spies returned a report stating: The Land is Good
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Nu13-32
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They released a report on the land they spied:
- the land we spied eats its inhabitants
- all residents are people of stature
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One verse states that the report stated that
the land was good while the other states that
the report stated that the land was bad. This
contradiction is resolved by viewing two
aspects of the report.

- The minority opinion of Caleb and Joshua
was that the land was good
- The majority opinion of the other spies
(which was the final report circulated) was
that the land was bad (Nu13-30:31)

So Dt01-25 in context is in effect saying
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There was a minority report that the land
was good. Had you wanted to trust in God
you had grounds on which to rely
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LIST510a below brings examples of contradictory
verse pairs resolved thru TWO ASPECTS

The following Rashi nicely illustrates the
resolution of CONTRADICTION thru TWO STAGES

EXAMPLE Dt01-22d
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Dt01-22 states
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And you came to and said: Let us send people
to spy out the land and return a report to us
on which way we should go and WHICH CITIES WE
SHOULD GO TO
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The phrase WHICH CITIES WE SHOULD CONQUER
contradicts numberous verses that Israel
would conquer the ENTIRE land. e.g. Nu33-52:53
states
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And you shall CONQUER ALL INHABITANTS OF THE
LAND .....and you shall CONQUER the land and
dwell in it
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Rashi resolves this CONTRADICTION using the
principle of TWO STAGES
- The Jews asked for a report from the spies
on which cities SHOULD BE CONQUERED FIRST--
that is, which cities had the least obstacles
for conquest.
- After an initial conquest they would go on
to conquer the rest of the land. The initial
conquest would presumably prepare them for
the more complex conquests.

LIST530a below gives other examples of CONTRADICTORY
verses resolved thru TWO STAGES.

List of verses with      Contradiction resolved by 2 cases