AYIN-VUV-DALET means AGAIN:#8 of 8 ########################################################### # 10 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE # # Nov 5, 2000 # # Rashis 388-388 Of 7800 (5.0%) # # # # Reprinted with permission from Rashi-is-Simple, # # (c) 1999-Present, Dr. Hendel # # http://www.RashiYomi.Com/ # # # #Permission to reprint with this header but not for profit# # # # VISIT THE RASHI YOMI ARCHIVES # # # # If you want to catch up on any Rashi Yomi postings # # Visit http://www.RashiYomi.Com/calendar.htm # # # # TO BUSY? Then just browse the BEIGE postings # # which are the SUMMARIES # # # # WARNING: READ with COURIER 10 (Fixed width) FONTS # # # ########################################################### -GRAND SUMMARY- OVERVIEW ======== In this module we study the meaning of the word AGAIN The Hebrew word >Ayin-Vuv-Daled< means >AGAIN<; it does not mean >MORE<. Since >Ayin-Vuv-Dalet< means >AGAIN< it follows that when we engage in Biblical interpretation of verses with >Ayin-Vuv-Dalet< we should always seek out >WHEN ELSE< what is being spoken about happened. TYPICAL EXAMPLE =============== For example Gn07-04b says >And I (GOD) will AGAIN give man 7 days to repent before bringing the flood<. The word >AGAIN< in fact refers to Gn06-03: >I will give man 120 years to repent< Thus indeed God gave man 2 time periods to repent and hence the word >AGAIN< This example shows our approach: We will bring a verse with AGAIN and then show some other verse that this AGAIN refers to. REFERENCES: ========== The following references contain the material covered http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h7n25.htm http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h8n1.htm http://www.RashiYomi.Com/calendar.htm The RASHI YOMI ARCHIVES RADACK vs RASHI: =============== To help appreciate Rashi we first review the Radacks understanding of the root >Ayin-Vuv-Dalet<. Radack lists 5 meanings. By contrast Rashi insists on the unifying meaning, >AGAIN<. By examing the verses that Radack brings for his 5 meanings we can gain a heightened appreciation of Rashi. The 5 meanings of the Hebrew root Ayin-Vuv-Dalet as brought down by the RADACK in his book ROOTS.(By contrast Rashi below seems to suggest that there is only one meanings, REPETITION, DOING SOMETHING AGAIN) ===================================================== MEANING TEXT OF VERSE WITH AYIN-VUV-DLT VERSE ======= =============================== ============== WHILE WHILE they were speaking to him Ester6-14 FOREVER There'll NEVER be a flood AGAIN Gn08-22 STILL The day is SILL big Gn29-07 AGAIN & God said to him AGAIN... Ex04-06 YOUTH You rode me from YOUTH Nu22-30 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: ================ Discussions in my Shomrey Emunah Rashi class helped crystallize and sharpen many of the ideas contained here #*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#* -GRAND SUMMARY- ---------------------------------------------------------------- In the following verses AYIN-VUV-YUD means AGAIN. EXAMPLE:God 1st appeared to Jacob when he went to Laban(Gn28-13 When Jacob returned >God AGAIN appeared to Jacob<(Gn35-09a) ----------------------------------------------------------------- VERSE TEXT WITH WORD >AGAIN< THE 1st TIME ======= =============================== ============== Gn35-09a God appeared AGAIN to Jacob*1 Gn28-13 Dt19-09a add AGAIN 3 other cities*2 Dt04-41 Lv27-20c He will not redeem it AGAIN*3 Lv27-20c Nu18-05a & there wont be a holocast AGAIN Nu17:11*4 Gn04-25b Adam knew his wife AGAIN*5 Gn04-01*5 Gn38-26a He didnt know her AGAIN*6 Gn38-15,Gn38-24*4 NOTES ===== *1 EXAMPLE: God 1st appeared to Jacob when he went to Laban(Gn28-13 When Jacob returned >God AGAIN appeared to Jacob<(Gn35-09a) *2 The first 3 refuge cities were separated by Moses. The next 3 cities were separated by Joshua. In the time of the Messiah >you will ADD AGAIN 3 cities< *3 We will explain this verse in a separate posting in a future issue. For now we just state the interpretation: >If a person DOES NOT REDEEM his sanctified field (but instead gives it to the temple) and if the temple sells it, then the original owner does not get a chance to REDEEM IT (FOR HIMSELF)AGAIN< *4 Thus as a punishment Korachs sin caused the holocast in Nu17:11. Now God asks for symbols so that there should not be another KORACH HOLOCAST *5 Last issue we argued that the word AGAIN meant that Adam had increased desire for this wife. Harry Rashbaum from my Shomrey Emunah Rashi class suggested the following simpler explanation: 5a >Adam knew his wife AGAIN<-after a long period of separation! This is consistent with the Midrashim (brought by Rashi) that Adam separated from his wife (which explains the 130 year gap between his wives births) 5b By contrast it is not the word AGAIN but rather it is the comparison of Gn04-25b and Gn04-01 that teaches us that Adam had greater desire. (I neglected to give credit last time to the MHARZU on BRESHIT RABBAH who suggested this approach of comparison of verses). {LIST5} Comparison and alignment of Gn04-01 and Gn04-25 ================================================ VERSE *a *b ======= ========= ============== ===== Gn04-01 Adam knew his wife Chava Gn04-25 Adam knew his wife again NOTES ===== *a Notice how one verse mentions his wife by name, Chava,while the other verse just says his wife. There are a variety of views of marriage in the Talmud (brought down in Shir Hashirim Rabbah)--is the love more intense at the beginning or end of marriage? Rashi simply points out that one verse refers to >CHAVA his wife< while the other verse refers to >his wife<. Thus one situation is more intimate (And you can read which ever view of marriage you prefer into the verses). *6 The weirdest explanations of this Rashi have occured. The simple meaning is >HE DID NOT KNOW HER AGAIN<. Recall that the Biblical word >KNOW< can EQUALLY MEAN >SEXUALLY KNOW< or >PUNITIVELY KNOW<(Like the English phrase>TEACH HIM A LESSON<) Rashi simply points out that Judah had done both to her. In Gn38-15 he had relations with her(Hence the interpretation >He did not know her sexually AGAIN<) In Gn38-24 he tried to burn her(not necessarily kill her;but punish her or,as we say in English,>teach her a lesson<.(Hence the interpretation >He did not know her punitively AGAIN<) ---------------------------------------------------------------- In the following verses >AYIN-VUV-YUD< denotes >REPETITION< vs >MORE< or >ANYMORE<. EXAMPLE: Gn08-10 and Gn08-12 says that >Noach waited AGAIN 7 days before sending out the Dove to see if water had disappeared< Rashi says the emphasis is on REPETITION: >Just as Noach waited 7 days for the 2nd and 3rd sending so too did he wait 7 days at the 1st sending< ----------------------------------------------------------------- VERSE TEXT OF VERSE WITH AGAIN WHAT WAS REPEATED ======== =============================== ================= Gn08-08a Waited 7 days AGAIN*1 waiting 7 days Gn07-04b Ill AGAIN give 7 days to repent 2 chances to repent*2 Gn29-30a Jacob will work 7 years AGAIN*3 Double crossed again Dt31-02a I can't go out AGAIN (To war)*4 Moses won several wars NOTES ===== *1 Noach waited 7 days before the 2nd and 3rd sending of the Dove (Gn08-10, Gn08-12). We infer he waited 7 days for the first sending of the dove (>He waited AGAIN<) *2 Thus Gn06-03 says that man was given 120 years to repent before the flood. Gn07-04 says that man was AGAIN given time to repent (another 7 days) (These interpretations are according to Rashi) *3 Jacob was double crossed on his pay for his 1st seven years of work for Laban (Gn29-25). We infer that Jacob was double crossed in his second set of 7 years of work This is explicitly stated in Gn31-07 *4 Moses had successfully (with Gods help) won several wars (Cf Dt02 and Dt03). Dt31 clearly states that Joshua will now lead the people. We infer that Moses could not lead the people in war >AGAIN< since Joshua will(cf Dt31-03:04) ---------------------------------------------------------------- In the following verses >AYIN-VUV-YUD< denotes >REPETITION< vs >STILL< EXAMPLE: Nu19-13c doesn't just mean >he is STILL impure< but rather means >he is impure AGAIN<. The emphasis on >AGAIN< implies that the removal of impurity is an >All or nothing< deal. Hence, if he dipped in water but not on the proper days then it is not the case that he is >partially impure< but rather he is >fully< impure >AGAIN< ----------------------------------------------------------------- VERSE TEXT OF VERSE WITH AGAIN WHY THE EMPHASIS ======== ================================ ====================== Nu19-13c the toomah is in him AGAIN*1 Fully impure Gn45-28a I have alot: Joe lives AGAIN*2 He is still a prophet Gn19-12a AGAIN:Who else is here:Get out*3 They'd argued all night Gn35-10a You wont be accused AGAIN*4 You were accused once NOTES ===== *1 The verse does not say >He is STILL impure< but rather >He is impure AGAIN<. The emphasis is that EVEN if he ritually immersed he is still FULLY impure until he can immerse on both the 3rd and 7th day. (Without the REPETITION I might have thought that a person could achieve a state of partial impurity) *2 The verse does not just say >Joe is STILL alive< but rather >Joe lives AGAIN<. The emphasis on repetition refers to the fact that Joseph is still a prophet and still interpreting dreams *3 Recall that Abraham had tried to defend the city of Sedom from destruction. Similarly Lot probably wanted to save it from destruction and hence showed the angels hospitality. But after Lot could only appease the city from raping his guests by offering his daughters it was clear that the city could not be defended: The verse state >AGAIN: Who else do you have here< This shows they had been arguing all night. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: This simple translation of the verse comes from Ruth Shain in my Shomrey Emuah Rashi class: >AGAIN: Who else do you have here in Sedom: Get out!< Thus the >SIMPLE< translation of the verse emphasizes that they had argued again and again. [Note this footnote and corresponding row in the LIST were changed after the actual posting was made] *4 Jacobs name means >DOUBLE CROSS<. Esauv explicitly stated >He DOUBLE CROSSED me(Esauv) twiced< (Gn27-36). Now God promises that >After what you have been thru no one will ever call you DOUBLE CROSS again< ---------------------------------------------------------------- In the following verses >AYIN-VUV-YUD< denotes >STILL<--CONTINUATION IN TIME EXAMPLE: Gn29-07a says >The day is STILL big<. In other words >the day is BIG(long) now< and >the day will be BIG AGAIN< and >the day will be big AGAIN<. Thus >STILL< denotes >AGAIN and AGAIN< in time. ----------------------------------------------------------------- VERSE TEXT OF VERSE WITH THE WORD >STILL< ======== ==================================== Gn08-22a The season cycle will STILL exist*1 Gn29-07a the day is STILL big*2 Ex02-03a she couldn't STILL hide him*3 Lv25-51a if there are STILL more years*4 Ex17-04a STILL a little & they will stone me*5 Gn46-29c And he STILL cried*6 NOTES ===== *1 (Rashi) Despite the flood the world will still have 6 seasons every year. *2 (Rashi) Whether you are self employed or work for someone else it is not yet time to rest since the day is STILL big I suppose the point of this Rashi is how Jacob made a conversation opener. Jacobs statement could be seen as an attempt to >HELP< them (>You can earn alot more<). It could also be an attempt to show theft (>You are depriving your employers of needed work<). By being ambiguous Jacob did not yet play his cards since he didn't know whom he was dealing with. Ambiguity is essential in a coversation opener. *3 Rashi gives a reason why she couldn't hide him: If Moses was born at 6 months then his mother could hide him for 3 months since no one expected a baby yet. But at 9 months she could no longer hide him. *4 Rashi simply shows the conputation for the >STRAIGHT LINE< method. REDEMPTION of workers slaves and fields is strictly proportional to the number of years left to the Jubilee. *5 >STILL a LITTLE< means >IN A LITTLE BIT< and is a idiom with a special meaning. *6 Rashi explicitly states that >There was ALOT of crying< COMMENT: We bring down the interesting Sifrah/Sifray on Nu18-05a which cites 4 verses with the phrase >NOT AGAIN< (Gn09-11, Nu18-05a, Nu18-22, Lv17-07). The >AGAIN< in these verses is cross referenced. COMMENT: I have brought down the Rashi-Radack controversy But I have not yet shown its deeper root. As we shall see there are several controversies between Rashi and other Rishonim on meaning.>RASHI ALWAYS EMPHASIZES A UNIFIED APPROACH AND IT IS THIS EMPHASiS ON UNITY WHICH CAUSES THE CONTROVERSY BETWEEN RASHI AND OTHER RISHONIM< #*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*