align-48


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 GOALS
=====
This module studies the ALIGNMENT method in Rashi. In this
method 2 different verses are found to be ALMOST the same.
The verses are lined up and the minor differences between
them function as footnotes illuminating the text.

TODAYS UNIT
===========
Todays unit covers 3 days. In it we see how Rashi
uses ALIGNMENT to identify missing fill-ins in
some poetic verses.

REFERENCE:
=========
Todays unit comes from the following posting

http://www.RashiYomi.Com/dt32-22b.htm


#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2001, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#


USE OF ALIGNMENT TO FILL IN MISSING WORDS
 

EXAMPLE 110: Dt32-22b Rashi uses ALIGNMENT to fill in words
EXAMPLE 111: Dt32-22c Rashi uses ALIGNMENT to fill in words
EXAMPLE 112: Dt32-22d Rashi uses ALIGNMENT to fill in words
EXAMPLE 113: Dt32-23a Rashi uses ALIGNMENT to fill in words
EXAMPLE 114: Dt32-23b Rashi uses ALIGNMENT to fill in words
EXAMPLE 115: Dt32-25a Rashi uses ALIGNMENT to fill in words
EXAMPLE 116: Dt32-25b Rashi uses ALIGNMENT to fill in words

BACKGROUND
----------
Dt32-20:30 discusses the punishments that God will bring on
the Jewish people for worshiping idols and deserting him.

THE TEXT
--------
Some texts use the word THEM to explicitly identify the Jews
as the recipients of the punishments while other texts omit it
--------------------------------------------------------------
Dt32-21  I will anger             THEM    with a filthy nation
Dt32-22b A fire burns             -*1-    to the deeps
--------------------------------------------------------------

THE RASHI
---------
Rashi-is-Simple and fills in the missing words. The
justification for such fill-ins comes from the ALIGNMENT of
the verses.

THE LIST
--------
Continuing with the above example the text, Dt32-22b, reads
--------------------------------
A FIRE BURNS -*1- TO THE DEEPS
--------------------------------
Rashi adds the words AMONG THEM so that the text reads
-----------------------------------------
A FIRE BURNS AMONG THEM TO THE DEEPS
-----------------------------------------
The justification of this insertion is the fact that the other
verses in the list all mention a RECIPIENT of the punishment.
The following LIST contains similar examples. In each case Rashi
fills in a missing word explaining who was punished.

VERSE PHRASE1 WHOM? PHRASE2

Dt32-21 I will anger THEM with a no-nation
Dt32-21 I will anger THEM with a filthy nation
Dt32-22b A fire burns -*1- to the deeps
Dt32-22c it burns -*2- land & produce
Dt32-22d it burns -*3- FOUNDATION of mountains
Dt32-23a I will add troubles ON THEM 
Dt32-23b My arrows will be dumped ON THEM 
Dt32-24 carnivores will be sent ON THEM 
Dt32-25a outside --*4--- a sword will kill
Dt32-25b there will be fear in --*5--- rooms
Dt32-26 I thought to destroy THEM 
Dt32-26 to erase THEIR memory


COMMENTS

*1 AMONG THEM (A fire burns AMONG THEM to the deeps)

*2 THEIR (the fire burns THEIR land & produce)

*3 THEIR (the fire burns THEIR foundation on mountains)
   The reference here seems to be to the Capital city, the
   FOUNDATION of the nation, which was situated high on
   mountains *10

*4 THEIR PLACE(outside their place a sword will kill children)*11

*5 THEIR (there will be fear in their rooms)*12

LONGER FOOTNOTES

*10  Several supports can be made for the assertion that the
     capital,Jerusalem, is called the FOUNDATION AMONG MOUNTAINS
     ------------------------------------------------------------
     -- Ps125-2 JERUSALEM, MOUNTAINS SURROUND YOU
     -- Capitals were typically made in mountains
        (For pride & security)
     -- The CLIMACTIC structure of the sentence alludes to this
        --- the fire burns their DEPTHS
        --- the fire burns their BREADTH (Land and produce)
        --- the fire burns their HEIGHTS (Mountains cities)
     -----------------------------------------------------------

*11 The astute reader may notice that Rashi has done more than
    add the word THEIR. Rashi has added the phrase THEIR PLACE.
    But such an insertion can be justified by the ALIGNMENT with
    the 2nd verse half as follows
    -------------------------------------------------------------
    outside ----------      there will be swords killing children
    in      their rooms     there will be fear
    -------------------------------------------------------------

    Thus OUTSIDE is ALIGNED with IN THEIR ROOMS. As such it
    can mean OUTSIDE THEIR HOUSES or OUTSIDE THEIR CITY etc. I
    have therefore translated this as OUTSIDE THEIR PLACE.

    Finally Rashi bolsters these translations by a similar idiom
    in Jeremiah 9:2  DEATH HAS CREPT UP OUR WINDOWS (This is
    similar to FEAR LURKING IN ROOMS!)

*12 The interpretation of Dt32-25 that we presented above in the
    name of Rashi was based on the ALIGNMENT METHOD.Dt32-25 reads
    ------------------------------------------------------------
    OUTSIDE their places there will be swords killing children
    INSIDE their rooms there will be fear
    ------------------------------------------------------------

    Rashi however brings two other interpretations. We present
    each one and then discuss if it is natural

    INTERPRETATION #2
    -----------------
    -----------------------------------------------------------
    INSIDE THE ROOMS OF THEIR HEART CHAMBERS there will be fear
    which will result in heart attacks
    -----------------------------------------------------------

    DISCUSSION: This interpretation should be rejected since
    there are NO OTHER EXAMPLES IN THE BIBLE where the word
    ROOMS refers to CHAMBERS OF THE HEART.

    Of course the metaphor is REASONABLE (compare the English
    phrase HEART CHAMBERS) but as pointed out there are no
    further precedents in the Bible.

    I therefore think that Rashi brought this, not because
    he believed it, but rather as an exercise in the study
    of individual words and phrases. Since the other
    interpretation brought above is based on ALIGNMENT and
    SUPPORTING verses this other interpretation should be
    considered superior.

    Rashi frequently cites ATTEMPTS AT INTERPRETATION side by
    side with SERIOUS INTERPRETATIONS in order to expose the
    reader to a wide variety of methods.


    INTERPRETATION #3 (Rashi on Dt32-25c)
    -------------------------------------
    In the 3rd interpretation Rashi is actually dealing with
    a grammatical issue: namely the preposition used in the verse
    It does not say
    ---------------------------------------------------------
    ON the outsides there will be swords and
    IN the rooms there will be fear
    ---------------------------------------------------------

    Rather it says
    ----------------------------------------------------------
    FROM the outsides there will be swords and
    FROM the rooms there will be fear
    ----------------------------------------------------------

    If one looks at the main list one sees that the preposition
    FROM is not used (Typically ON or IN is used) If we look at
    the translation with the word FROM it almost sounds as if the
    verse was talking about the CAUSE of punishment(FROM DOING
    SUCH AND SUCH) rather than on WHOM the punishment was dealt.

    Rashi therefore suggests an interpretation based on CAUSE
    (And again this is based on the preposition FROM vs ON)
    -------------------------------------------------------------
    FROM the sins (of idolatry) that you did in the streets
    there will be a punishment of swords killing children; and
    FROM the sins (of idolatry) done in your ROOMS there will
    be fear among you
    -------------------------------------------------------------

    DISCUSSION: Is this interpretation reasonable or even
    superior to the first interpretation?

    First: The above interpretation is also based on an alignment
    of prepositions. Rashi is focusing on the preposition FROM
    vs ON/IN.

    Second there is Biblical support for talking about the SINS
    OF THE STREETS and the SINS OF THE ROOMS. Here are two
    verses with such phrases

    -------------------------------------------------------------
    (Jer11:13) For, the Jews, had as many gods as they had cities
    and as many altars to the Boseth god as they have STREETS
    -------------------------------------------------------------
    (NOTE The Hebrew word for STREET is OUTSIDE, the same word
    as occurs in Dt32-25

    -------------------------------------------------------------
    (Ez08-12) Have you seen, son of Man (Ezekiel) what the Jewish
    elders do in the dark, each person in the PRIVATE ROOMS
    because they think that God doesnt see, because they think
    that God left the land
    -------------------------------------------------------------

    True, we cannot bring a LIST of verses associating SIN with
    STREET and ROOM. THerefore this interpretation is not as
    strong as we would like it. Nevertheless since it is based
    on GRAMMATICAL ALIGNMENT (From vs ON) and on similar idioms
    in other verses, we consider it a reasonable interpretation
    that can compete with the first interpretation.

    In my opinion the reason Rashi gave both interpretations is
    that he really prefers this last one but it is easier to
    defend the 1st one.




#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2001, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#

USE OF ALIGNMENT TO FILL IN MISSING WORDS
EXAMPLE 110: Dt32-22b Rashi uses ALIGNMENT to fill in words EXAMPLE 111: Dt32-22c Rashi uses ALIGNMENT to fill in words EXAMPLE 112: Dt32-22d Rashi uses ALIGNMENT to fill in words EXAMPLE 113: Dt32-23a Rashi uses ALIGNMENT to fill in words EXAMPLE 114: Dt32-23b Rashi uses ALIGNMENT to fill in words EXAMPLE 115: Dt32-25a Rashi uses ALIGNMENT to fill in words EXAMPLE 116: Dt32-25b Rashi uses ALIGNMENT to fill in words BACKGROUND ---------- Dt32-20:30 discusses the punishments that God will bring on the Jewish people for worshiping idols and deserting him. THE TEXT -------- Some texts use the word THEM to explicitly identify the Jews as the recipients of the punishments while other texts omit it -------------------------------------------------------------- Dt32-21 I will anger THEM with a filthy nation Dt32-22b A fire burns -1- to the deeps -------------------------------------------------------------- THE RASHI --------- Rashi-is-Simple and fills in the missing words. The justification for such fill-ins comes from the ALIGNMENT of the verses. THE LIST -------- Continuing with the above example the text, Dt32-22b, reads -------------------------------- A FIRE BURNS -1- TO THE DEEPS -------------------------------- Rashi adds the words AMONG THEM so that the text reads ----------------------------------------- A FIRE BURNS AMONG THEM TO THE DEEPS ----------------------------------------- The justification of this insertion is the fact that the other verses in the list all mention a RECIPIENT of the punishment. The following LIST contains similar examples. In each case Rashi fills in a missing word explaining who was punished.
VERSE	PHRASE1	WHOM?	PHRASE2
Dt32-21	I will anger	THEM	with a no-nation
Dt32-21	I will anger	THEM	with a filthy nation
Dt32-22b	A fire burns	-*1-	to the deeps
Dt32-22c	it burns	-*2-	land & produce
Dt32-22d	it burns	-*3-	FOUNDATION of mountains
Dt32-23a	I will add troubles	ON THEM
Dt32-23b	My arrows will be dumped	ON THEM
Dt32-24	carnivores will be sent	ON THEM
Dt32-25a	outside	--*4---	a sword will kill
Dt32-25b	there will be fear in	--*5---	rooms
Dt32-26	I thought to destroy	THEM
Dt32-26	to erase	THEIR	memory


COMMENTS
1 AMONG THEM (A fire burns AMONG THEM to the deeps) 2 THEIR (the fire burns THEIR land & produce) 3 THEIR (the fire burns THEIR foundation on mountains) The reference here seems to be to the Capital city, the FOUNDATION of the nation, which was situated high on mountains 10 4 THEIR PLACE(outside their place a sword will kill children)11 5 THEIR (there will be fear in their rooms)12
LONGER FOOTNOTES
10 Several supports can be made for the assertion that the capital,Jerusalem, is called the FOUNDATION AMONG MOUNTAINS ------------------------------------------------------------ -- Ps125-2 JERUSALEM, MOUNTAINS SURROUND YOU -- Capitals were typically made in mountains (For pride & security) -- The CLIMACTIC structure of the sentence alludes to this --- the fire burns their DEPTHS --- the fire burns their BREADTH (Land and produce) --- the fire burns their HEIGHTS (Mountains cities) ----------------------------------------------------------- 11 The astute reader may notice that Rashi has done more than add the word THEIR. Rashi has added the phrase THEIR PLACE. But such an insertion can be justified by the ALIGNMENT with the 2nd verse half as follows ------------------------------------------------------------- outside ---------- there will be swords killing children in their rooms there will be fear ------------------------------------------------------------- Thus OUTSIDE is ALIGNED with IN THEIR ROOMS. As such it can mean OUTSIDE THEIR HOUSES or OUTSIDE THEIR CITY etc. I have therefore translated this as OUTSIDE THEIR PLACE. Finally Rashi bolsters these translations by a similar idiom in Jeremiah 9:2 DEATH HAS CREPT UP OUR WINDOWS (This is similar to FEAR LURKING IN ROOMS!) *12 The interpretation of Dt32-25 that we presented above in the name of Rashi was based on the ALIGNMENT METHOD.Dt32-25 reads ------------------------------------------------------------ OUTSIDE their places there will be swords killing children INSIDE their rooms there will be fear ------------------------------------------------------------ Rashi however brings two other interpretations. We present each one and then discuss if it is natural INTERPRETATION #2 ----------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- INSIDE THE ROOMS OF THEIR HEART CHAMBERS there will be fear which will result in heart attacks ----------------------------------------------------------- DISCUSSION: This interpretation should be rejected since there are NO OTHER EXAMPLES IN THE BIBLE where the word ROOMS refers to CHAMBERS OF THE HEART. Of course the metaphor is REASONABLE (compare the English phrase HEART CHAMBERS) but as pointed out there are no further precedents in the Bible. I therefore think that Rashi brought this, not because he believed it, but rather as an exercise in the study of individual words and phrases. Since the other interpretation brought above is based on ALIGNMENT and SUPPORTING verses this other interpretation should be considered superior. Rashi frequently cites ATTEMPTS AT INTERPRETATION side by side with SERIOUS INTERPRETATIONS in order to expose the reader to a wide variety of methods. INTERPRETATION #3 (Rashi on Dt32-25c) ------------------------------------- In the 3rd interpretation Rashi is actually dealing with a grammatical issue: namely the preposition used in the verse It does not say --------------------------------------------------------- ON the outsides there will be swords and IN the rooms there will be fear --------------------------------------------------------- Rather it says ---------------------------------------------------------- FROM the outsides there will be swords and FROM the rooms there will be fear ---------------------------------------------------------- If one looks at the main list one sees that the preposition FROM is not used (Typically ON or IN is used) If we look at the translation with the word FROM it almost sounds as if the verse was talking about the CAUSE of punishment(FROM DOING SUCH AND SUCH) rather than on WHOM the punishment was dealt. Rashi therefore suggests an interpretation based on CAUSE (And again this is based on the preposition FROM vs ON) ------------------------------------------------------------- FROM the sins (of idolatry) that you did in the streets there will be a punishment of swords killing children; and FROM the sins (of idolatry) done in your ROOMS there will be fear among you ------------------------------------------------------------- DISCUSSION: Is this interpretation reasonable or even superior to the first interpretation? First: The above interpretation is also based on an alignment of prepositions. Rashi is focusing on the preposition FROM vs ON/IN. Second there is Biblical support for talking about the SINS OF THE STREETS and the SINS OF THE ROOMS. Here are two verses with such phrases ------------------------------------------------------------- (Jer11:13) For, the Jews, had as many gods as they had cities and as many altars to the Boseth god as they have STREETS ------------------------------------------------------------- (NOTE The Hebrew word for STREET is OUTSIDE, the same word as occurs in Dt32-25 ------------------------------------------------------------- (Ez08-12) Have you seen, son of Man (Ezekiel) what the Jewish elders do in the dark, each person in the PRIVATE ROOMS because they think that God doesnt see, because they think that God left the land ------------------------------------------------------------- True, we cannot bring a LIST of verses associating SIN with STREET and ROOM. THerefore this interpretation is not as strong as we would like it. Nevertheless since it is based on GRAMMATICAL ALIGNMENT (From vs ON) and on similar idioms in other verses, we consider it a reasonable interpretation that can compete with the first interpretation. In my opinion the reason Rashi gave both interpretations is that he really prefers this last one but it is easier to defend the 1st one.