The table below presents
two contradictory verses / verselets.
Both verses speak about
fixing the Priestly mask on the head.
The underlined words highlight the contradiction.
One verse says
place the mask upon the turban
while the other verse states
place the mask opposite the turban
We see the contradiction---which is it?
Is the mask placed upon or opposite the turban?
Rashi simply resolves this contradiction using the
2 aspects
method:
The mask was secured by two threads - one went around
the head in back while the other went over the head.
Hence one thread was opposite the turban while
the other thread was on on the turban. A diagram
and explanatory legend are presented below.
Summary
|
Verse / Source
|
Text of verse / Source
|
Priestly Mask is upon the turban
|
Ex28-37
|
And you shall put it on a blue lace,
that it may be upon the turban;
opposite the turban it shall be.
|
Priestly mask is opposite the turban
|
Ex28-37
|
And you shall put it on a blue lace,
that it may be upon the turban;
opposite the turban it shall be.
|
Resolution:
|
2 Aspects
|
The mask was secured by two threads - one went around
the head in back while the other went over the head.
Hence one thread was opposite the turban while
the other thread was on on the turban. A diagram
and explanatory legend are presented below.
|
The following diagram clarifies
(A)
(A)/----------------|
/ | (B) |(A)
mask/ Priest Head |
\ | (B) | Back of Priest's head
eyes \ |
(A)\ | (B) |(A)
\---------------|
(A)
- The Priest Mask was above the eyes
- Thread A went around the Priest Head and tied in back
- Thread B went over the Priest's Head and tied to thread A
- --------------------------------------------------------
- Consequently, the Mask was secured with two threads A and B
- Thread A was opposite and beneath the turban around the head temples.
- Thread B went over the head; it was above and on the turban
Hence we see that there are two aspects to the Priestly
Mask/Turban relationship. There is a mask-thread on the Turban and
there is a mask-thread around the Turban.
Advanced Rashi: The above Rashi requires two techniques:
The Contradiction technique and the spreadsheet technique.
|