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Certain Biblical paragraphs are stated in a Theme-Development form.
In other words a broad general idea is stated first followed by the development
of this broad general theme in specific details.
The Theme-Detail form creates a unified paragraph and
consequently the law only applies to the enumerated details but
not to other cases.
Today's example illustrates
this as shown below.
Verse Nu03-06a is written in a General-Detail
form:
- General: Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that
- Detail: They may minister unto him.
Notice the word that which indicates the
transition in the general-detail form. The Rabbi
Ishmael style rules require that such a sentence
be interpreted restrictively.
Levites help the priests only by serving and
ministering to them (e.g. by singing songs of praise
during the Temple service); but not e.g. by offering sacrifices.
Rashi derives this restrictive interpretation from the Detail
clause - that they may minister unto him - which restricts
the general clause Bring the tribe of Levi near and set them
before Aaron the priest. Here is still another way of looking at it.
The general clause by itself means that the Levites help
Priests in all matters, including offering sacrifices, singing
songs of praise etc.
However because the general clause is followed by a detailed clause I therefore interpret the verse to mean that only by ministering - that is singing songs of praise - do the Levites serve
the Priests.
Advanced Rashi: Actually the word minister is a bit more general. Besides
singing Psalms during the Temple service the Levites assist in a variety of other ways. For example,
the Levites assisted with ritual slaughter of the sacrifices. In this posting we have only touched
on the basic idea that the assistance the Levites give the Priests is restricted. We have not fully
explored how it is restricted. A more thorough analysis would require reviewing many Biblical
texts where the Levite methods of assisting the Priests are listed.
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