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LEVITES SING/BEAR |
RASHIS COVERED: Nu04-47a Nu04-47b
VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
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The Bible describes the task of the levites using various words
such as CRAFTSMANSHIP, SERVICE, BEARING. An alignment of about
a dozen verses where these terms occur shows special emphasis
on two types of tasks: SERVICE/BEARING. By referring to other
Biblical verses we see that the Levites performed two primary
tasks-- SINGING ACCOMPANIMENT TO SACRIFICES and TRANSPORT-
BEARING OF THE TEMPLE on trips.Logically, it seems satisfactory
to connect BEARING=TRANSPORT; SERVICE=SINGING. The emphasis in
our approach is not on etymologies but rather on seeking other
verses supporting nuances.
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TODAYS RASHI RULE: ALIGNMENT
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: FURTHER NUANCES
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RULE
Many Rashis do NOT focus on an internal analysis of the verse.
There may be nothing bothering Rashi in THAT verse. The words
used may all be normal.
But when the given verse is compared with another verse--that
is, when the two verses are ALIGNED together-- we see blatant
differences.
The ALIGNED verses therefore suggest that these ALIGNED
DIFFERENCES were deliberately placed there to emphasize
certain nuances. The standard example will illustrtae this.
STANDARD EXAMPLE
Recall that the Moabite King BALAK was apprehensive about
Israel journeying throught its territory. It wanted Israel
banished. It hired a professional curse-man, Bilam who would
curse the Jews. Bilam however describes his job SLIGHTLY
differently. Here are the verses.
BALAK: Nu22-06 I will banish Jews FROM THE LAND
BILAM: Nu22-11 ...... banish Jews -------------
EXERCISE
To fully appreciate Rashi perform the following 2 exercises
- What is the minor difference between the aligned verses?
- What NUANCE do YOU think this implies?
RASHIS SOLUTION
BALAK only wanted Jews away from his land; his goals were
political. By contrast, BILAM wanted them DESTROYED. Hence...
BALAK wanted Jews BANISHED FROM THE LAND. But Bilam wanted
them BANISHED PERIOD (That is destroyed).
STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/align-58.htm
DAILY RASHI CALENDAR
http://www.RashiYomi.com/calendar1.htm
The ALIGNMENT series occurs between 7-28-01 and 10-10-01.
Here is todays list.
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| VERSE |
INITIAL LANGUAGE USED |
SECOND LANGUAGE USED |
| Nu04-03 |
Those who do CRAFTSMANSHIP*1 |
|
| Nu04-23 |
Those who SERVE SERVICE*1 |
|
| Nu04-24 |
to SERVE*1 |
TO BEAR*1 *2 |
| Nu04-30 |
to SERVE SERVICE |
|
| Nu04-35 |
for SERVICE |
|
| Nu04-39 |
for SERVICE |
|
| Nu04-47 |
to serve SERVICE-SERVICE |
and BEARING-SERVICE |
| Nu04-49 |
Every person in SERVICE*3 |
in BEARING |
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COMMENTS |
*1 Note the rich use of language. At least 4 terms are used
CRAFTSMANSHIP, SERVICE, SERVE-SERVICE, BEARING-SERVICE.
Yet as the above list shows there seems to be an emphasis
of TWO TYPES: SERVICE and BEARING. Thus the emphasis in
understanding Rashi should NOT be on attaching nuances to
every word--rather the emphasis should be on attaching
nuances to database justified nuances*10
*2 To BEAR means to CARRY. In fact eg Nu04 clearly mentions
that the Levites task was to carry the disassembled
ark during transport (See Nu04-01:16 or Nu04-21:28).
*3 There are similarly many Biblical chapters mentioning
the service of the levites by Song. eg 1Ch06. See
especially 1Ch06-17 which calls the LEVITE SINGING, SERVICE
We use here the Rashi technique of OTHER VERSES
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