#######################################################
# 12 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE #
# Mar 22, 2010 #
# YEAR 11 of 12 #
# #
# VISIT THE RASHI YOMI ARCHIVES #
# ----------------------------- #
# HOME http://www.RashiYomi.Com #
# WEEKLY RASHI http://www.RashiYomi.Com/rule.htm #
# DAILY RASHI http://www.RashiYomi.Com/calendar.htm#
# #
# Reprinted with permission from WEEKLY RASHI, #
# (c) 1999-2010, RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President #
# Permission to reprint with this header PROVIDED #
# it is not printed for profit #
# #
#######################################################
|
#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2010, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#
Verse Dt31-26b states
Take this book of the law, and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of HaShem your G-d, that it may be there for a witness against thee.
Rashi explains this verse with a numerically labelled diagram
ARK 15 handbreadths = 2.5 Cubits
' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
' 9 | |
' | |
' | Two tablets(10 commandments) |
' 9 | 6 x 6 + 6 x 6 = 12 x 6 Sefer | 9 HANDBREADTHS = 1.5 cubits
Torah
' | 2 x 8 |
' | |
' 9 | |
' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Here is a rough overview of computations
- The ark was 1.5 x 2.5 cubits or 9 handbreadths by 15 handbreadths
- The 10 commandments were written on two tablets of stone
- Each tablet was 1 cubit x 1 cubit or 6 handbreadths by 6 handbreadths
- Hence two tablets were 12 handbreadths by 6 handbreadths
- The length of the ark had 15 handbreadths or 3 more than 12 handbreadths left over
- The boards were each half a handbreath in width so we have 3-2*1/2 = 2 handbreadths left over
- Similarly since the width of the boards were 1/2 handbreadth we have 9-2*1/2=8 handbreadths
- So after placing the two tablets in the ark we have space left for 2 x 8 handbreadths which is 8 x 32 inches
- We can argue that the Scroll of Torah Law occupied 8 x 32 inches and laid in the ark
- The diagram above illustrates this.
Advanced Rashi:There are many problems with the above approach.
- We still have room leftover on the
sides since the tablets were 6 handbreadths and there are 2-3
handbreadths left over (Some say the broken chips of the first
tablets are there).
- The above calculations follow the opinion that each cubit is 6 handbreadths.
There are opinions that each cubit was 5 not 6 handbreadths only
giving us 12.5 handbreadths length.
The major point to take
away is that Rashi interprets the verselet place the Torah
by the side of the ark to mean The Torah was placed in
the ark and there was room for it there. However there is much conjecture
in Rashi's diagram - albeit it is reasonable.
|
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2010, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
|