Consecutive chapters:4 methods:#2 of 9 ########################################################### # 10 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE # # Jul 17, 2000 # # Rashis 146-148 Of 7800 (1.9%) # # # # Reprinted with permission from Rashi-is-Simple, # # (c) 1999-Present, Dr. Hendel # # http://www.RashiYomi.Com/rashi # # # #Permission to reprint with this header but not for profit# # # # WARNING: READ with COURIER 10 (Fixed width) FONTS # ########################################################### In this unit we will explore the 2 dozen Rashis studying "consecutive paragraphs". Why does it happen that 2 consecutive Torah paragraphs come one after the other. It turns out there are 3 methods by which Rashi explains consecutive Torah paragraphs. In this issue we explore the 2nd such method. After reviewing the 1st method, presented in the last issue we describe the 2nd method with a clear example METHOD 1: The 1st chapter is a CAUSE of the 2nd chapter ------------------------------------------------------- EXAMPLE:The chapter on the Nazaarite who abstains from wine (Nu06) is written right after the chapter on the Temple rite for the women suspected of adultery(Nu05). This teachers us the obvious lesson that whoever sees a women who has to go thru the adulterous wife ceremony(which is very humiliating) will be so shocked that they will become a Nazaarite and abstain from wine. In other words the adulterous wife ritual CAUSES nazaaritism(Nu06-02a) METHOD 2: The 1st chapter is a MERIT ENABLING the 2nd ----------------------------------------------------- EXAMPLE: The chapter on going to war (Dt20) is written AFTER the chapter on court procedures (Dt19). This teaches the obvious fact that a just judicial system will be a MERIT that enables us to win wars(Rashi on Dt20-01a) #*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# EXAMPLES -------- ------------------------------------------------------------ METHOD 2: In the following Rashis the event mentioned in the 1st chapter is a MERIT enabling the event mentioned in the 2nd chapter ------------------------------------------------------------ # VERSE TOPIC IN 1st CHAPTER TOPIC IN 2nd CHAPTER ==== ======== ======================== ===================== (05) Dt20-01a Judicial process Laws of War*1 (07) Nu20-02a Miryams death And there was no water*1 (08) Gn21-01a Egypt had chidren Sarah had a child*2 NOTES ----- *1 EXAMPLE 5: Dt20-01a In the merit of our following "Judicial process" we will be able to "win wars" EXAMPLE 6: Nu20-02a Similarly after Miryams death there was no water. Thus we learn that in the merit of "Miryam" the Jews had water *2 EXAMPLE 7: Gn21-01a A close examination of the BIblical text shows a past perfect "And God punished Avimelech and his household" "And Abraham prayed for Avimelech & his household" "But God HAD ALREADY VISITED Sarah with a child" In other words Sarah had already had a child. Why then was this chapter simply not put in its proper place? The Bible deliberately juxtaposes "sarah having a child" with "Abraham praying for Avimelechs household to have a child" to teach us "That whoever is a kind person and prays for others will have their own needs met first" This this is an example of 2 paragraphs coming one after the other because one is a merit that enables the 2nd. #*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#