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      5. RASHI METHOD: CONTRADICTION
      BRIEF EXPLANATION:Rashi resolves contradictory verses using 3 methods.
      • (5a) Resolution using two aspects of the same event
      • (5b) Resolution using two stages of the same process
      • (5c) Resolution using broad-literal interpretation.
      This example applies to Rashis Gn36-24b
      URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w33n5.htm
      Brief Summary: Zibeon committed incest with his mother who gave birth to Anah. Thus Zibeon and Anah had a common mother and were brothers even though Zibeon was Anah's father.

The table below presents presents two contradictory verses. Both verses speak about The relationship of two people name Zibeon and Anah. The underlined words highlight the contradiction. One verse says These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who inhabited the land; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah, [They were both sons of the same person implying they were brothers;] while the other verse states And these are the children of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah--this is Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness, as he fed the asses of Zibeon his father. Which is it? Was Anah the son of Zibeon or his brother? Rashi simply resolves this using the 2 Aspects method (and some simple adult humor). Zibeon was the older brother. He had an affair with his mother and the child was Anah. Hence he was the father of Anah. However since he and Anah had a common mother he was also his brother.

Summary Verse / Source Text of verse / Source
Zibeon and Anah are brothers. Gn36-20 These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who inhabited the land; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah, [They were both sons of the same person implying they were brothers.]
Anah was Zibeon's son. Gn36-24 And these are the children of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah--this is Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness, as he fed the asses of Zibeon his father.
Resolution: 2 Aspects Zibeon was the older brother. He had an affair with his mother and the child was Anah. Hence he was the father of Anah. However since he and Anah had a common mother he was also his brother.

Sermonic Points: Although Rashi resolved this through some simple adult humor there are nevertheless serious implications. For just as Anah was illegitimate he went out and experimented with creating wild-mules (animals from two species). The resulting animals were known for their wildness. Here Rashi explores the consequences of illegitimacy. It encourages wild experimentation without regard to the possible wild consequences of this experimentation. By contrast, normal people will think first about consequences. 


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