How Rashi uses dataabase methods:#2 of 3 ########################################################### # 10 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE # # July 11th, 2001 # # Rashis 852-852 Of 7800 (10.9%) # # # # VISIT THE RASHI YOMI ARCHIVES # # ----------------------------- # # http://www.RashiYomi.Com/calendar.htm # # # # Reprinted with permission from Rashi-is-Simple, # # (c) 1999-2001, RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President # #Permission to reprint with this header but not for profit# # # # WARNING: READ with COURIER 10 (Fixed width) FONTS # # # ########################################################### ========= SPECIAL FEATURE ==================== This unit shows the difference in approach DR HENDEL vs THE YELLOW BOOK (Shaaray Aaron) ALSO Please visit my RASHI-WORD SUMMARY at http://www.Rashiyomi.com/words.htm ============================================== GOALS: ------ We have completed the previous units. The GRAND SUMMARIES will be up Sunday.Today we start a short unit. We show how DATABASE methods can help resolve an impossible Rashi that contradicts many verses. TODAYS UNIT ----------- We present the basic methodology of understanding Rashis from Databases and apply it to Gn15-05a. Today we review the nuances of the root TZFEH and complete our analysis of the differences between this email group and the YELLOW BOOK REFERENCE: ---------- This module comes from the following reference in the Rashi-is-Simple series. http://www.RashiYomi.Com/gn15-05a.htm http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h10n21.htm #*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2001, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*# ==== THEOSAURUS OF SEE: Some words mean WATCH,SPY,GAZE ==== The synonym (Theosaurus) Database ------------------------------------------- The key to understanding Gn15-05a is to review synonyms of the word TO SEE. Standard Theosaurii (SYNONYM databases) yield the following entries as synonymous with TO SEE: --------------------------------------------------- LOOK EXAMINE SCRUTINIZE GAZE APPRAISE GLANCE STARE ASCERTAIN SPY WATCH ASSESS SURVEY OVERLOOK SCAN OBSERVE ---------------------------------------------------- Let us now apply this to Gn15-05a THE RASHI ON Gn15-05a ------------------------------------------------------ Rashis approach is that it is a mistake to simply translate a variety of Hebrew roots -- such as NBaT, ShKaF, SeVeH, RaAH, TzaFeH -- as TO SEE. Rashis contribution is that NEBAT doesnt just mean to see, but rather NEBAT means TO ASSESS. By selecting the right SYNONYM of seeing (assessment) Rashi makes a contribution to our understanding of meaning. And Rashi does this by reviewing the SYNONYM DATABASE for TO SEE. FURTHER INSIGHTS ON THIS VERSE ------------------------------ Footnote *1 below outlines the difference in approach between Dr Hendel and the Yellow book. This is based on the unit we did yesterday Let us now look at the Rashis for synonyms of TO SEE. The footnotes provide verse support for our translations. The following list shows the SYNONYMS that best translate the Hebrew roots. We also cite Rashi as well as indicate what database queries support his claim. ============================================================ ROOT SYNONYMS OF TO SEE RASHI DBase-1 DBase-2 ===== ======================== ======== ======== ======== RaAH To see NeBT To assess/examine Gn15-05a verses*1 TzFeH To scan/survey/overview Gn31-49a Words*3 TzFeH To scan/survey/overview Ex16-31b Words*3 NOTES ===== *1 THE YELLOW BOOK --------------- The use of the Theosaurus (Synonym) Database also shows that it is a mistake to create arbitrary distinctions that have no backup in the theosaurus database of synonyms. So for example if Rashi citing a midrash Rabbah states that -------------------------------------------------------- the Hebrew root NeBAT means looking from above to below -------------------------------------------------------- then we must reject this as a literal meaning. Consistent with this rejection we see that --The Midrash Rabbah Commentary,MaHarzu rejected that God tool Abraham off the planet(so he could see from Above below)since EVEN MOSES & ELIJAH didnt leave the planet. --The Gur Aryeh commentary (Cited by the YELLOW BOOK) finds a contradictory verse (where NBT is from below to above) --Yesterday we brought MANY verses where NEBAT involves seeing from BELOW UP. Furthermore the translation ASSESS is better suited to most of these verses. ------------------------------------------------------- 1King19-06 He ASSESSED & above his head was a cookie Nu21-09 ASSESS the copper snake(it is inanimate)&live Ps34-06 I ASSESS to God--I stream to him my prayers Isa22-11 You make defences but dont ASSESS the Maker Gn15-05 ASSESS your heavenly (vs earthly) merit -------------------------------------------------------- --Furthermore using the SYNONYM database we see that NEBAT is better translated, not as TO SEE, but rather as TO ASSESS. (So God simply asked Abraham to assess his heavenly merit vs his earthly merit).(This was discussed yesterday) Bottom line: The yellow book only cites one commentary Gur Aryeh. It does not cite the Maharzu. It also does not cite the many verses where NEBAT means to look upward. The yellow book does not seek an adequate resolution of the contradiction between the midrash rabbah and the verses that contradict it (Which the Maharzu commentary does do) Finally the real difference in approach between me and the yellow book, is that no attempt is made to consult the synonym database and arrive at the translation that NEBAT means TO ASSESS. The idea of approaching Rashi thru semantic models from synonyms in other languages was first advocated in my Tradition Article, PESHAT and DERASH, WINTER 1980. *3 In the previous examples we brought support for Rashi from the verse database. In this example we bring support for Rashi from the WORD DATABASE-- that is from the database of words with similar roots. Here are some other words with root TzFeH. We claim the underlying unifying meaning is a ------------------------------------------------- MOTION that OVERLAYS A LARGE SURFACE AREA WITHOUT DWELLING TO MUCH ON ANY ONE SPOT. ------------------------------------------------- Hence we have ---------------------------------------------------- TzaPiCith -- The honey wafer -- OVERLAYED with honey TziPuy------ An OVERLAY of say wood Hope ------- To OVERLAY a large terrain of time and focus on the distant future Prophecy --- To OVERLAY a large terrain of time and see the distant future WatchTower - Enables someone to OVERSEE a large amount of terrain ---------------------------------------------------- Hence we have translated TzFEH as OVERVIEW/SCAN/SURVEY (We used Radack, Book of Roots for this list--this books provides us with the ROOT-WORD database) ============================================================ #*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2001, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#