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#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2012, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#
      9. RASHI METHOD: NonVerse
      BRIEF EXPLANATION: The common denominator of the 3 submethods of the NonVerse method is that inferences are made from non textual material. The 3 submethods are as follows:
      • Spreadsheet: Rashi makes inferences of a numerical nature that can be summarized in a traditional spreadsheet
      • Geometric: Rashi clarifies a Biblical text using descriptions of geometric diagrams
      • Fill-ins: Rashi supplies either real-world background material or indicates real-world inferences from a verse. The emphasis here is on the real-world, non-textual nature of the material.
      This example applies to Rashis Ex38-24a
      URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w33n11.htm
      Brief Summary: 1 KKR=3000 SKL. 603550*1/2 SKL= 100 KKR (300000 SKL) + 1775 SKL.

Verse Ex38-24:26 discussing the aggregate amount of silver gathered for the temple states And the silver of those who were counted of the congregation was a 100 Kikar, and a 1775 shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary; A bekah for every man, that is, 1/2 a shekel, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, for every one who went to be counted, from twenty years old and upward, for 603,550 men.

    This most beautiful Rashi uses the principles of solving linear equations to derive the number of shekels per kikar. The three basic principles of solving linear equations are
  • The Simplication Principle: First eliminate parenthesis by performing all necessary computations till all you have left in the equation are numbers and variables.
  • The addition Principle: One can subtract or add equal amounts from each side of the equation;
  • The Multiplication Principle: One can divide or multiply equal amounts from each side of the equation.

Rashi: Using these two principles we can use the above verses to calculate as follows:
Rule How applied Equation
Original Equation Citation 1/2 603,550 Shekel = 100 KiKar + 1775 Shekel
Simplication Multiply 1/2 x 603,550 301,775 Shekel = 100 KiKar + 1775 Shekel
Addition Principle Subtract 1,775 300,000 Shekel = 100 KiKar
Multiplication Principle Divide by 100 3,000 Shekel = 1 Kikar

Advanced Rashi: Rashi can't really be fully understood without the rules of elementary algebra. This example hi-lights the need for including non-verse methods such as the spreadsheet method in our list of rules.

We note that Rashi supplies additional historical information such as the fact that each Kikar contains 120 Maneh with each Maneh containing 25 shekel. However the maneh is not a Biblical unit of currency. However interesting Rashi's additional comment is we confine ourselves in this email newsletter to Torah-itic commentary.


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