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VERSE: Dt12-15a
RASHIS COVERED: Dt12-04a Dt12-05a Dt12-09a Dt12-11b
Dt12-13a Dt12-17a Dt12-19a Dt12-15a
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
LIST106d
(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
COMMENTS
*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)
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