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#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#
VERSE: Nu13-22a
Nu13-22a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04


SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
One of Rashis 5 main tasks is to explain Grammar.
Rashi had a variety of vehicles to explain grammar.
For example Rashi could note the different nuances
of different grammatical modes. Rashi could also
explain how contrasting use of singular-plural implies
nuances.


EXAMPLE- PLURAL SINGULAR
-------------------------
The skillful use of singular-plural in Nu13-21:25
tells a punchy story

- Nu13-21 THEY (the spies) went up to Israel
- Nu13-21 THEY spied the land
- Nu13-22 THEY went up over various parts of Israel
- Nu13-22 HE went to Chevron
- Nu13-23 THEY came to various places
- Nu13-23 THEY Cut fruit of the land
- Nu13-23 THEY carried it away
- Nu13-25 THEY returned to Moses

Rashi: Only Caleb went to Chevron--apparently to
pray there that he should not be enticed by the
other spies to slander Israel

Note the force of the list--Rashi cannot be perceived
as homily---it is the simple meaning of the text.
ITEM DETAIL
RASHI RULE CLASS: GRAMMARr
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS PLURAL SINGULAR
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #9
SEE BELOW LIST003c
List of Plural-Singular In Spy story(Caleb alone prayed)
LIST003c
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04

List of Plural-Singular  In Spy story(Caleb alone prayed)
VERSE PLURAL SINGULAR TEXT OF VERSE
Nu13-21 THEY (the spies) went up to Israel
Nu13-21 THEY spied the land
Nu13-22 THEY went up over various terrain
Nu13-22a HE (Caleb)*1 went to Chevron
Nu13-23 THEY came to various places
Nu13-23 THEY Cut fruit of the land
Nu13-23 THEY carried it away
Nu13-25 THEY returned to Moses
COMMENTS
*1 Two observations:

CALEB is not mentioned in the verse
- But whoever it was, that person came to Chevron
- We know from Ju01-20 that Caleb inherited Chevron
- We know from Dt01-36 that God promised him the
land he stepped on
So it is reasonable that the HE refers to Caleb
At any rate the SINGULAR (vs the plural in all
the other verses) clearly shows that only ONE
person came to Chevron

We are not told WHY Caleb came to Chevron. But
Rashis observation
---------------------------------------------
He came to pray that he should not be enticed
by the slander of the other spies
---------------------------------------------
seems reasonable. After all
- Caleb did disagree with all the spies
- People frequently pray on graves for
strength to stand up to pressure

Notice, how in our explanation of Rashi, we have
separated
- the FORCING GRAMMATICAL RULE - HE vs THEY
- the REASONABLE SUPPOSITIONS-Caleb came to pray
This is fundamental in understanding Rashi.
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#