Part 2 of a 6 part series

SUCCINCT  SUMMARY
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Most people think of DEFINITION and GRAMMAR when they
mention COMMENTARY. However the function of commentaries
is also to comment on relations with other verses.

One powerful OTHER VERSE method is the ALIGNMENT method.
We present five examples of ALIGNMENT in Nu30 the
chapter on vows

EXAMPLE 1
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The phrases used for people women vowing are
- in their fathers house
- in their husbands house
- while widow
- belong to a man
Rashi interprets BELONG TO A MAN as ENGAGED.

We must emphasize that  this  Rashi comment is not on
MEANING but rather on ALIGNMENT. By themselves, the
words BELONG TO A MAN could refer to a married woman.
However the contrast of the above alignment clearly
shows that BELONG TO A MAN is distinct from the others
and hence refers to engagement.

This is an important Rashi principle
(The use of ALIGNMENT vs MEANING)

EXAMPLE 2
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Two phrases are used to describe vows
- vows a vow
- her vows
Thus the phrase HER VOWS refers to preexisting vows

EXAMPLE 3
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AGE is  only mentioned by WOMEN IN THEIR  FATHERS
HOUSE. Hence a minor married woman must obtain annulment
from BOTH her father and husband

EXAMPLE  4
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There are 4 types of women (minor,widow,married,engaged)
Three of these mention the possibility of annulment
by husband or father. The widow case  has  no mention
of alignment. We conclude that widows must fulfill
their vows

EXAMPLE 5
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The  phrase VOWS A VOW OR PROHIBITS ON THEIR SOUL is
mentioned about 5 times. However once the phrase
A VOW THAT INFLICTS ONES SOUL in mentioned. This implies
that VOW-LAW is  eg only about things like FASTING.

Note again that it is the ALIGNMENT that creates this
emphasis.  Without the ALIGNMENT I would simply perceive
this phrase as an extra phrase without extra meaning.

Rashis Nu30-07a Nu30-08a. The following list shows an overview
of all of Nu30. The alignment shown in the SITUATION column
is (MINOR,WIDOW,MARRIED,BELONGED TO A MAN)
By itself the phrase BELONGS TO A MAN could mean marriage
It is the ALIGNMENT and the emphasis of CONTRAST that
motivates us to interpret BELONGS TO A MAN=ENGAGED. This use
of ALIGNMENT is an important RASHI principle.