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Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2000 01:36:15 -0500 (EST)
From: Russell Hendel <  rhendel@mcs.drexel.edu>
Subject: Re: 'Tanin' And 'Snake'

In Bais Medrash Volume 2 Number 8 Samuel Kosofsky asks whether there are
other Hebrew roots that refer to several creatures.

The Master of nuances, Rav Hirsch gives the following (beautiful) example:
A double SAMECH root can refer to a (a) Horse (Ex 15:19) (b) A Bird (Jer
8:7) (c) a worm (Isa 51:8). In typical manner, Rav Hirsch explains that all
three of these animals MOVE FAST among creatures the same size

I believe Rav HIrsh's point was that the animals are judged as going
quickly relative to their capacity. A worm absolutely does not move fast.
But the SS worm moves fast relative to worms. Thus each creature is judged
by its 'level'.

Russell Jay Hendel; Phd ASA
Moderator Rashi Is Simple, http://www.shamash.org/rashi/

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