####################################################### # 12 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE # # August 3rd, 2003 # # Rashis 2120-2120 Of 7700 (27.6%) # # # # VISIT THE RASHI YOMI ARCHIVES # # ----------------------------- # # http://www.RashiYomi.Com/calendar.htm # # # # Reprinted with permission from Rashi-is-Simple, # # (c) 1999-2002, RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President # # Permission to reprint with this header PROVIDED # # it is not printed for profit # # # # WARNING: READ with COURIER 10 (Fixed width) FONTS# # # ####################################################### |
VERSE: Dt12-15a
RASHIS COVERED: Dt12-04a Dt12-05a Dt12-09a Dt12-11b
Dt12-13a Dt12-17a Dt12-19a Dt12-15a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03 | ||
Part 5 of a 6 part series SUCCINCT SUMMARY ---------------- Many of Rashis comments deal with dictionary meaning or grammar. Some Rashis however deal with overall paragraph structure. Recall that in modern writing we use such items as - indentation or - a line of space to indicate distinct paragraphs. Each paragraph has a distinct idea. The fact that a paragraph is a unified whole helps in reading and deciphering it because we know that its constituent sentences reflect the unifying theme. EXAMPLE ------- Dt12 has a natural 2 column 3 paragraph format. Here is a brief overview The first paragraph states that when the Jews come to Israel there is to be a unique place chosen by God where the temple will reside and the Jews will offer sacrifices there. The 2nd paragraph states that while the Temple is up(or afterwards for Jerusalem) Jews cannot offer private personal sacrifices on their private altars (Which everyone had in the wilderness). The 3rd paragraph states that just as sacrifices can only be offered in Jerusalem (The central temple location ) so too, the tithes and Priest gifts and 1st born can only be eaten there. These 3 paragraph themes are repeated in 2 columns. The 1st column talks about the period WHEN THE JEWS COME AND CONQUER THE LAND -- this refers to the Temple Tent of Shiloh which the Jews had during the 14 years of Conquest. The right hand column however speaks about the period WHEN THE JEWS HAVE NO MORE ENEMIES AND SECURELY DWELL IN THEIR LAND -- this refers to the Jerusalem Temple built by Solomon after King David had conquered the Philistines. The use of formatting facilitates easy reading of these natural groupings. To ease exposition we will study Dt12 over a 2 day period. Today we start with the basic idea that there are 2 columns one speaking about Temple DURING CONQUEST and the other speaking about temple AFTER CONQUEST. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: See Torah Temimah for an excellent and clear exposition on the whole idea of Unique Temple vs the personal private altars. | ||
ITEM | DETAIL | |
RASHI RULE CLASS: | BULLET/PARAGRAPHS | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS | BULLETS | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #26 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST106a | |
Verses in Dt12 form | 2 Column 3 paragraph format | |
------------------------ | --------------------------- | |
SEE BELOW | LIST106b | |
Verses in Dt12 form | 2 Column Format | |
------------------------ | --------------------------- | |
SEE BELOW | LIST106c | |
Verse pairs in Dt12 with | Do-X-but-Dont-do-Y format | |
------------------------ | --------------------------- | |
SEE BELOW | LIST106d | |
Place of Dt12-15 | In 2-column 3 par format | |
------------------------ | --------------------------- | |
SEE BELOW | LIST106e | |
List of Lists | connected with format Dt12 |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03 | |||
We examine Dt12-15 in the overall 2-column 3 paragraph format of Dt12. The overall structure suggests that Dt12-15 is speaking about permanantly blemished sacrifices*1 To help show the flow of sentences we indicate the function of each sentence clause (Is it a general statement, a contrasting statement, an exception, an exception to the exception (Except2)?) | |||
VERSE | FUNCTION | TEXT OF VERSE | |
Dt12-13 | GENERAL | Dont offer UP offerings anyplace you want | |
Dt12-14 | CONTRAST | Rather offer them in Jerusalem in Temple | |
Dt12-14 | CONTRAST | There, offer UPS and other offerings | |
Dt12-15 | EXCEPT | EXCEPT when you have the right to desire | |
Dt12-15 | EXCEPT | Then you can slaugher/eat anyplace | |
Dt12-16 | EXCEPT2 | PROVIDED you dont eat the blood | |
Dt12-17 | GENERAL | Dont eat tithes anyplace | |
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*1 The explicit Biblical text certainly doesnt seem to be talking about BLEMISHED SACRIFICES. Why then do we have the right (or obligation) to say that this is the SIMPLE STRAIGHTFORWARD MEANING OF THE TEXT? The answer is important for understanding the Rashi principle of BULLET / PARAGRAPHS / STRUCTURE. Indeed it is NOT the words or grammar that give rise to this interpretation. Rather the overall paragraph structure forces us to hear the verses this way. Indeed as the list shows, the entire paragraph is speaking about HOLY OBJECTS. We are told not to OFFER UP OFFERINGS in private altars but rather in Jerusalem. The next paragraph states we cant even eat Tithes anyplace. The Torah at Dt12-15 gives an exception (to the prohibition of eating anyplace) - WHEN YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO DESIRE But the only way we could desire to eat sacrifices is if some permanant blemish fell in them. The text certainly does not say this In fact I dont know why the text simply could not have explicitly said this. But the context forces us to seeks its meaning in the ONE EXCEPTION WHEN YOU CAN EAT SACRIFICES ANYPLACE. (Another example of such a use of logic to interpret a Biblical passage in a focused manner occurs in Ex22 Rashi interprets the 3 paragraphs on WATCHERS as follows -Paragraph beginning Ex22-06 speaks about a VOLUNTARY WATCHER - Paragraph beginning Ex22-09 speaks about PAID GUARD - Paragraph beginning Ex22-13 speaks about a LOAN OF OBJECTS (This is explicitly stated) What allows Rashi to interpret these 3 paragraphs in this manner? It is not the explicit Biblical text which is silent. Rather it is the overall structure which defines 3 levels of financial responsibility. It is then logical to assume that we speak about 3 levels of WATCHING INVOLVMENT (voluntary, paid, requested). At any rate while many questions remain we feel that CONTEXT offers one key to understanding this text and Rashi) |