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#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2011, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#
      2. RASHI METHOD: WORD MEANING
      BRIEF EXPLANATION: The meaning of words can be explained either by
      • (2a) translating an idiom, a group of words whose collective meaning transcends the meaning of its individual component words,
      • (2b) explaining the nuances and commonality of synonyms-homographs,
      • (2c) describing the usages of connective words like also,because,if-then, when,
      • (2d) indicating how grammatical conjugation can change word meaning
      • (2e) changing word meaning using the figures of speech common to all languages such as irony and oxymorons.
      This examples applies to Rashis Nu20-25a
      URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rule1419.htm
      Brief Summary: GOD SAID TO MOSES, PERSUADE AARON. Rashi: Don't emphasize that he will die but e.g. emphasize that he will see the transfer of his Priesthood to his son while he is alive.

When Rashi uses, what we may losely call, the hononym method, Rashi does not explain new meaning but rather shows an underlying unity in disparate meanings. Rashi will frequently do this by showing an underlying unity in the varied meanings of a Biblical root.

In my article Peshat and Derash found on the world wide web at http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rashi.pdf. I advocate enriching the Rashi explanation using a technique of parallel nifty translations in modern English. Today's examples show this.

    The Heberw Biblical root Lamed-Kuph-Cheth has a fundamental meaning of taking. Hence this Biblical root can mean
  • to take [ a physical object ]
  • to marry [ In English we also speak about taking a woman! ]
  • to buy real estate [ even though you don't physically take the land we still use the Hebrew verb meaning to tak to indicate acquisition ]
  • to persuade [ to take with one's words rather than with one's hands. ]

Applying the above translation to Nu20-25a discussing the taking of Aaron for his death, we obtain Persuade Aaron and Eleazar his son and ascend Mount Hor. (1) Strip Aaron of his garments and dress Eleazar his son with them. (2) Then Aaron shall be gathered in [to his people] and die there. Hence the exquisite Rashi: The verse mentions two purposes to the ascent to Mount Hor: 1) The investiture of Eleazar as High Priest and 2) the death of Aaron. So Moses was not to persuade Aaron to die but rather he was to persuade Aaron to ascend Mount Hor to fulfills every father's dream: To see his son invested in his place during his lifetime! 


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