LIST110a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04
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List of phrases in Nu23-08:11;JEWS CANT BE DESTROYED*10
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THEME
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DETAILS
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SUPPORT
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NO DESTROY
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How can I curse If God hasnt
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*1
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NO DESTROY
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Instigate? If God Hasnt
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*2
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NO DIMINISH
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FOUNDERS(Patriarchs)were this way
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*3
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NO DIMINISH
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LEADERS were this way
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*4
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NO DIMINISH
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They are a no-herd nation
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*5
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NO DIMINISH
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They dont care about numbers
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*5
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NO STRIFE
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They dont mind pettiness
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*6
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NO STRIFE
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They separat if they dont get along
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*7
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NO STRIFE
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If only I could die properly
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*8
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NO STRIFE
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If only I could die like them
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COMMENTS
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*1 The main proof that the Jews cant be cursed comes from
- Gn27-33 (Although Jacob fooled Isaac nevertheless
Isaac affirmed his blessings of Jacob--HE WILL BE BLESSED)
The above is a main proof: Further supportive proofs
from nuances inferred from alignment may be found in
LIST306d and LIST306c
*2 Nu25-01:09 shows how Bilam INSTIGATED God against the
Jewish people by getting them to sin sexually. That Bilam
instigated this is clear from Nu25-07:08 and Nu31-08 and
Micha-06:05. However God controlled himself and refused
to destroy the Jewish people *11
*3 Several Jewish leaders were known for THEIR SMALL NUMBERS
- Jacobs children overthrew a city despite being
outnumbered (Gn34-30)
- Abraham defeated a whole alliance with only 318 men
(Gn14-34) and believed that his descendants would one
day inhabit the world (Gn15-05)
*4 Several secondary Jewish leaders were known for their
winning against numerical odds
- Joseph was totally helpless in Egypt, a prison mate,
but became Vice President (Gn41-14)
- When Judah had difficulties with his brothers he
left them (Gn38-01) only to return and save the
day (Gn44-18:34)
- Moses with no help (from people)
saved the Jews from Egypt
5 See the proofs mentioned in footnotes #3 and #4.
The clearest statements that Jews dont depend on
numbers occur at
- Dt07-07 God did not chose you because of your
multitude but rather because of his love of the
Patriarchs
- Is31-01 Isiah rebukes the Jews for making an alliance
with the numerically stronger Egypt
- Is37 describes how Chizkiyahu thru Prayer defeated
the numerically stronger Assyria*14
*6 The THEME of this
verse is that JEWS LIVE and DIE PROPERLY--hence,
it would be CONSISTENT with this theme if the
verse describes how Jews dont mind pettiness (Since
pettiness leads to argument and strife).
Notice here how the interpretation of the verse is
derived not from the words but from the basic theme*12
*7 Again we derive meaning from the basic theme not
the words. The theme of the verse is HOW JEWS LEAD
UPRIGHT LIVES. Consistent with this theme would be
the idea that if two tribes dont get along with each
other then they dont live together.
This idea: That people who fight should live
separately was introduced by the Patriarch Jacob
and implemented by Moses who assigned each tribe
to a separate FLAG and place*13
*8 Rashi focuses on the alignment of these last two phrases
The alignment EXPLAINS the meaning of the phrases
- if only I could die a proper death, THAT IS, die like
Jews See LIST343g
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LONGER FOOTNOTES
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*10 Recall that POETRY is not read like PROSE
- PROSE is read by linking WORDS to SENTENCES to PARAGRAPHS
- POETRY is read by converting THEMES to SENTENCES to WORDS
That is in poetry you start with the IDEA and develop it.
The interpretation of the poem is not based on the actual
words used but rather on the intended idea.
The THEME of this poem is JEWS CANT BE DESTROYED
This main theme is DEVELOPED by showing that the Jews
- cant be cursed
- cant be hurt by diminishing their numbers
- cant be hurt thru self strife and inner fighting
Each DEVELOPED idea is detailed in the footnotes
*11 A famous cryptic Aggadah (AZ 4 and Sanhedrin 105) states
that Bilam could compute the exact moment that God lost
his temper which lasted 1/53848th of a second.
It is of course rediculous, preposterous and blasphemous
to say that God is governed by time. Rather the reference
in the Agaddah is that God loses his temper when people
sin sexually---Bilam knew how to instigate people
sexually and turn God against them.
The number 53848 refers to
- 8 The circumcision day--the circumcision organ is used
in sexual sin
- 4 The Hebrew word for 4 means copulate (Getting down
on all fours!)
- 53 Numerologically means GARDEN and refers to the
GARDEN of EDEN where man lived without sin.
Thus Bilam knew how to turn God against people by making
them sin(Leave paradise and sin with that organ)
Nevertheless, God controlled Himself and didnt destroy
the Jewish people
*12 The actual text of the verse states
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Who can count the DUST of Jacob
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Rashi interprets this to refer to the numerous commandments
that avoid dust (Like sprinkling with the dust of
the red cow or covering slaughtered blood with dust)
But recall the basic principle of poetry. The words
dont determine meaning; rather the theme determines
meaning.
Hence if the theme is THEY LEAD PROPER LIVES then
it would be proper to interpret this detail to mean
THEY ARE NOT PETTY (e.g. they dont mine commandments
which involve ashes and dust).
As long as you focus on the main THEME the Rashi
appears as reasonable and logical
Rashi does give a second explanation
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Who can count the multitudes (dust) of the Jews
Who can account for their marital lives
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Such an interpretation WHILE CONSISTENT WITH THE
WORDS, is not consistent with the final phrase
of the verse---OH THAT I COULD DIE LIKE THE JEWS
In other words, Bilam yearns for a life where
- he could tolerate pettiness
(i.e. doing commandments of DUST)
- he could avoid living with people he didnt
get along with
It is for this reason that Rashi interpreted
the verse the way he did. Again: The principle
of poetry requires that interpretation follow
NOT the words but the general theme!
*13 For a full explanation of this idea see
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gn50-13a.htm
which explains the famous COFFIN-FLAG midrash.
Note: The actual verse speaks about COUNTING
THE FOURS OF ISRAEL. Rashi interprets FOUR
poetically to refer to the FOUR SIDES OF THEIR
ENCAMPMENT (So people who didnt get along avoid
each other). Rashi so interprets (FOUR as MEANING
FOUR SIDES) because in poetry (unlike Prose)
it is the THEME that drives word meaning (not
vice versa). Hence since the theme is that Jews
get along with each other therefore Rashi interprets
the Biblical word FOUR to refer to the FOUR SIDED
encampment.
*14 Rashi gives slightly different details
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- When Jews are hurt they arent completely destroyed
- When Jews rejoice they dont invite nonjews
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However a careful reading of Rashi and the verse shows
that the main emphasis is that JEWS DONT CARE ABOUT
NUMBERS. There are many ways to develop this theme
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