####################################################### # 12 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE # # June 10th, 2002 # # Rashis 1465-1467 Of 7800 (18.8%) # # # # 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# # # ####################################################### |
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RASHIS COVERED: Nu13-18b Nu13-19a Nu13-19b VERY BRIEF SUMMARY ------------------ Nu13-18:20 relates Moses request to the spies to scout Israel -- Seek the LAND -- is it STRONG-WEAK, MANY-FEW -- Seek the LAND -- is it GOOD-BAD -- Seek the CITIES- are they FORTIFIED-OPEN -- Seek the LAND -- is it FAT-THIN Note the skillful use of KEYWORDS (LAND-CITY-LAND). They create an A-B-A pattern.The KEYWORD rule then suggests that this forms a paragraph. The Rabbi Ishmael Style rules then require that the WHOLE paragraph be interpreted around the middle clause: Are the cities FORTIFIED. Further details are presented below. ------------------------------------------------------ TODAYS RASHI RULE: BULLETS TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: THEME-DETAIL-THEME paragraph ------------------------------------------------------ BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RULE ------------------------- Some Rashis deal with GRAMMAR or MEANING. But other Rashis deal with STYLE. In modern writing we indicate style using BULLETS, BOLD, ITALICS, WHITE SPACE etc. The Biblical author did not use BULLETS or BOLD but had other vehicles to indicate GROUPING and EMPHASIS. One such vehicle was the skillful use of KEYWORDS. In particular if KEYWORDS are presented in an A-B-A pattern then the Biblical Author is indicating -- that the A-B-A verses form ONE UNIT(A paragraph) -- that A is the paragraph THEME while B are the paragraph DETAILS The reader is then requested to interpret the whole paragraph as a unified whole. EXAMPLE ------- In the VERY BRIEF SUMMARY we have shown that the 5 clauses in Nu13-18:20 have -- an A-B-A pattern (LAND CITY LAND) -- a central theme of FORTIFIED CITIES vs OPEN CITIES Rashi interprets all 5 clauses around this theme. | ||
| VERSE | GENERAL | DETAILS |
| See the LAND | Is it STRONG-WEAK | |
| ------------ | Is it SMALL-BIG | |
| See the LAND | Is it GOOD-BAD*2 | |
| See the CITIES*2 | FORTIFIED-OPEN*1 | |
| See the LAND | Is it FAT-THIN | |
| ------------ | Does it have a TREE | |
| COMMENTS | ||
*1 This was defended yesterday *2 Note how the keywords LAND vs CITY creates an A-B-A pattern In general the THEME-DETAIL-THEME form indicates that -- all the clauses are GROUPED together as one paragraph -- the DETAILS are generalized to conform to the theme. In other words the terms STRONG-WEAK or SMALL-BIG should be interpreted as WITH-FORTIFICATION vs WITHOUT. How?Rashi notes that a FORTIFIED CITY setup reflects a dependence on FORTIFICATION while an OPEN-CITY setup reflects dependence on the military might of the inhabitants. To be consistent I would therefore suggest that ALL the other pairs are interpreted in terms of fortresses. -------------------------------------------------------------- SMALL # PEOPLE <--> No need for Fortification GOOD=natural resources <--> No need for reserves to protect FAT LAND=Natural resources<--> No need for fortification -------------------------------------------------------------- In summary Moses asked the one theme -- Do the people tend towards FORTRESSES or OPEN CITIES But signs of OPEN cities include -- Small towns (Emphasize development not defense) -- Many resources (No need to protect them with fortresses) -- Rich fertile land(No need to protect them with fortresses) See Rashi Nu13-19b. I have generalized his approach to ALL the phrases | ||