RASHIS COVERED:Dt34-02d LAST SEA=THE MESSIANIC ERA(LAST OF DAYS)

VERY BRIEF SUMMARY

In this second list continued from yesterday
we show how the dozen or so phrases of
Dt34-01:02 paint the entire picture of Jewish history.
Each of the tribes mentioned in
the verses DAN NAFTALI EPHRAIM etc refer to types of
leadership (whether those leaders that established states,
or those leaders that achieved victory thru miracles or
sacrifice or other leaders) In this introduction we explain
why Rashi translates the phrase LAST SEA as MESSIANIC ERA

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RASHI RULE

This is a peach of Rashi which exquisitely illustrates the
Rashi principle of CLIMAX.  The principle of CLIMAX applies
when a verse repeats a theme 3 or more times. The CLIMAX
principle then suggests that
- there is a unifying principle or climax to these verses
- the repeated verse phrases BUILD UP to this climax
Todays example illustrates how the CLIMAX principle, by itself
can change meaning (the same way grammar & the dictionary do)

STANDARD EXAMPLES FOR THIS RULE

Dt34-01:03 uses the phrase THE LAST SEA.

We 1st attempt to explain this phrase thru other Rashi
methods such as DICTIONARY MEANING, etc

- DICTIONARY MEANING does not reveal anything
The words SEA and LAST are well known (But the
the phrase LAST SEA does not occur in the Bible).

- GRAMMAR does not reveal anything peculiar.

- We can gain support but not proof
from CROSS REFERENCES

SEA: Daniel07-02 uses the word SEA to refer to
the Messianic era.

LAST: Several verses (Is02-02, Mic04-01, Dt04-30)
uses the word LAST to refer to the Messianic era.

This suggests that LAST SEA=MESSIANIC ERA. But this
is only a possibility; not a proof
It would be wrong to EXPLAIN Rashi this way.

- The reason Rashi take the words THE LAST SEA
and twist them out of context to mean
THE SEA OF THE LAST OF THE DAYS (The Messianic
Era) is because the CLIMACtic context requires
it.

Indeed the other 9 phrases in Dt34-01:03 CLEARLY refer
to the WHOLE OF JEWISH HISTORY--to its great leaders
like Samson, Gidon, Joshua, David--to the Messianic
Promises to the Patriarchs and to the rebuilding of
the temple.

THEREFORE, This context demands
that any remaining phrases also fit into this historical theme

HENCE, and ONLY BECAUSE of this unifying theme, Rashi
interprets the LAST SEA as referring to the MESSIANIC
ERA (The SEA of the LAST OF DAYS).

In summary the principle of CLIMAX states that
a unifying theme of a collection of verses
requires that all its phrases be twisted (if necessary)
to fit this unifying theme. It is for this reason that I
have listed CLIMAX as an independent rule like the sister
rules of MEANING, GRAMMAR, and CROSS REFERENCE.