SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
One of Rashis 5 main goals is to explain meaning the same
way a dictionary explains meaning. One method of explaining
meaning is to NAME BY FORM/APPEARANCE---thus for example
the PENTAGON names an INSTITUTION by its FORM while the
UN (United Nations) names it by its FUNCTION
Example 1 Dt32-04a
-----------------------------------------------------
The phrase
-------------------------
PROTRUDED hunger
-------------------------
means either
-----------------------------------------
BLOATED from hunger
-----------------------------------------
or
-----------------------------------------
Kwashiorkor (PROTRUDING bones from hunger)
-----------------------------------------
or
-----------------------------------------
Excess hair protrusions from hunger(Rashi)
[people who are starving initially develop
lots of hair]
-----------------------------------------
We have deliberately supplemented Rashi's explanation
with alternate explanations to emphasize that Rashi
is making the inference from SIMILARITY IN FORM
(PROTRUSIONS=hair, Bloating, bones)
EXAMPLE 2 Dt32-24d Dt32-24e
-------------------------
Similarly the phrase
--------------------
war-ing flames
--------------------
means
--------------------
waring DEMONS
--------------------
since DEMONS have the appearance of FLAMES.
(Note: The verse indicates PROGRESSION since
it is normal for starving people to hallucinate
attack by demons--see LIST451b for further details)
EXAMPLE 3 Dt32-24g
------------------
Finally
---------------------------
the VIOLENCE OF DUST CRAWLERS
---------------------------
refers to
---------------------------
the VENOM of SNAKES
---------------------------
Here SNAKES are named by their form(CRAWL ON DUST)
EXAMPLE 4 Dt32-14L
------------------
Cheth-Mem-Resh means to CHURN (eg my stomach CHURNS)
and hence it refers to the intoxicated feeling of
STRONG WINE. Here the INTOXICATION is named by
its form---the drinkers thinks the world is CHURNING
LIST813a below presents many examples/Rashis of words
named by FORM/APPEARANCE.
SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
Rashi frequently made inferences based on the Biblical STYLE. We
call this Rashi Rule the RABBI ISHMAEL STYLE rule.
A powerful style rule was the painting of a verse in a
CLIMACTIC DEVELOPMENT manner. We call this the RASHI SUBRULE of
CLIMAX
EXAMPLE Dt32-24
---------------
Dt32-24 has the following clear CLIMACTIC structure
-------------------------------------------------------------
-- [HUMAN] BLOATED from hunger
-- [HUMAN] [Hallucinations of] flaming
[war-ing] flames [demons] (Dt32-24c)
-- [HUMAN] bitter sudden death (Dt32-24d, Dt32-24e)
-- [ANIMAL] EVEN tame animals bite (Dt32-24f)(From hunger)
-- [non-Hunger] Venomous bites of
DUST-CRAWLERS=SNAKES (Dt32-24g)
-------------------------------------------------------------
Notice the PROGRESSION
- HUMAN suffering (hunger, hallucination, sudden death)
- ANIMAL (EVEN tame animals bite)
- NON-HUNGER (Snakes continue to bite)
Within the HUMAN suffering we also see a progression
- HUNGER
- HALLUCINATIONS
- DEATH
Some Rashi comments were motivated by the PROGRESSIVE CONTRAST
For example
------------------
ANIMALS BITE
------------------
is interpreted by Rashi to mean
-------------------
EVEN Tame animals bite
-------------------
The proper understanding of this verse requires combining
- the NAMING by form
- INTERPRETATION using CLIMAX
See LIST451b below which summarizes this argument.
SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
One of Rashi's 10 major methods is the
explanation of meaning similar to the
goal of a dictionary. Rashi had 10 vehicles
by which to explain meaning. A particularly
straightforward method to explain meaning
is the VERSE-NAMING method--here the meaning
of a Biblical root is ascertained by reviewing
many verses with this root.
EXAMPLE 1 Dt32-24d Dt32-24e
---------------------------
Finally the Hebrew root Kuph-Teth-Beth means
- being cut off (Rashi)
- being cut off SUDDENTLY (Radack)
Notice how Radack beautifully supplements Rashi.
We can justify Rashi/Radack by examining the
only 4 verses in the Bible that use this
root.
-----------------------------------------------
Dt32-24d
Dt32-24e hunger,hallucinations BITTER SUDDEN DEATH
Is28-02 torrential hail SUDDEN TORNADOES(Cutting winds)
Ho14-13 ...the SUDDEN DEATH of hell
P091-06 ...from a SUDDEN DEATH plundering the noon
----------------------------------------------------
Note that the translation SUDDEN DEATH vs DEATH
(Radack vs Rashi) would equally fit all the verses.
LIST811i below summarizes this interpretation.
EXAMPLE 2 Dt32-14e
-------------------
Cheth-Mem-Aleph means cream
I think this is particularly
clear from the following verses
-----------------------------------------------
Is07-22 from an abundance of milk people will eat CREAM
P055-22 his CREAMY lips(speech) is SLICK
Pr30-33 CREAM is SQUEEZED MILK
Gn18-08 he took the CREAM and MILK he made ...
Dt32-14 the CREAM of cattle and the FAT of sheep
------------------------------------------------
LIST811j summarizes this.
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