RASHIS COVERED: Gn05-32a YEFETH was oldest of Noachs 3 children
Gn09-24a Gn10-21b


VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
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Surprisingly there are 7 verses which seem to discuss the
order of Noachs children. Most of the verses seem to say
that SHAYM was oldest. And yet CHAM who was the middle son
is called in one verse the YOUNGEST--or, does the
word used mean MOST IMMATURE(vs YOUNGEST).
One way to settle this is to use the OFFICIAL LIST OF
GENEALOGIES in chapter Gn10 which lists YEFETH first, CHAM
2nd and SHYAM 3rd. The confusion of these contradictory
approaches is also neatly solved by use of a simple spreadsheet!
The spreadsheet shows the correct order:Yefeth,Cham,Shaym!

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TODAYS RASHI RULE:       SPREADSHEETS
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE:    SPREADSHEETS
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RULE
-------------------------
Most Rashis are straightforward application of standard
principles of meaning such as DICTIONARY MEANING OF WORDS
or GRAMMAR or even STYLE & POETRY.

However sometimes Rashi must derive an item not by the
straightforward meaning of a word but rather by
- an intricate argument
- taking several steps
- each step of which is forced and logical (Eg arithmetic)

We refer to such a long-drawn out argument with many steps
each of which is logical and forced by the name SPREADSHEET
since very often these Rashis can be compactly illustrated
by means of a step by step accounting of items as is done
in spreadsheets.

One simple example would be the citation of many verses to
infer the relative value of currencies (eg the relative
value of nickels, dimes, quarters etc). Such a derivation
is LOGICAL but COMPLICATED AND OBSCURE.

STANDARD EXAMPLE
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Todays example is about as good as any other.

STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
---------------------------------
Besides being advanced the SPREADSHEET rule is rare.
There are not that many examples. We list here other
verses that illustrate it. The interested reader can
always check at the RashiYomi RULE page at
http://www.RashiYomi.com/by-rule.htm (Navigate to SPREADSHEET)

Here are some good individual examples. Visit
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/...
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ex38-24b.htm  Computation of relative value of Biblical currency
nu03-39b.htm  Accounting of Levite children
nu31-26a.htm  Division of booty in war
gn05-32b.htm  Computation of relative ages of Noachs children
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http://www.RashiYomi.com/by-rule.htm (Navigate to SPREADSHEET)

TODAYS LIST
-----------
Yesterday we presented 7 verses and show how they
MIGHT indicate contradictory orders to Noachs children.
Footnotes clarify the points.

Today we present a simple 2 column spreadsheet below
proving that the correct interpretation is that
SHAYM is the oldest