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    3. RASHI METHOD: GRAMMAR
    BRIEF EXPLANATION: Rashi explains verses using grammar principles, that is, rules which relate reproducable word form to word meaning. Grammatical rules neatly fall into 3 categories
    • (a) the rules governing conjugation of individual words,Biblical roots,
    • (b) the rules governing collections of words,clauses, sentences
    • (c) miscellaneous grammatical, or form-meaning, rules.
    This examples applies to Rashis Nu01-04a
    URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/nu01-04a.htm
    Brief Summary: FOR YOU adverbially connotes a PERSONAL aspect. Make FOR YOURSELF trumpets means Make for your personal use.

A miscellaneous rule in Biblical grammar states that the pronoun for himself when used in a sentence functions adverbially to indicate that the activity of the sentence was done for personal reasons.

    A good example of this occurs in Nu10-01:02 And HaShem spoke unto Moses, saying: Make for yourself two trumpets of silver; of beaten work shalt thou make them; and they shall be unto thee for the calling of the congregation, and for causing the camps to set forward. Rashi comments on the personal aspect of making the trumpets by providing three possible methods of personal aspect.
    • Make the trumpets for yourself--only you can use them.
    • Make the trumpets from your own funds
    • The trumpets are used for your assemblies

Another example occurs at Ex18-27 which concludes the chapter describing how Jethro recognized the superiority of the Jewish God over other gods. The verse, translated with the above rule, states And Moses let his father-in-law depart; and he went for personal reasons into his own land. Rashi comments on the adverbial phrase: For personal reasons: He returned to found his own personal society/club of people who believe in a monotheistic God. The club/society he founded is referenced in Ju04-11. which states Now the Kenite society, who was of the descendants of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, had separated himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent near the terebinth in Zaanannim, which is by Kedesh.

Advanced Rashi: We have only given two examples above. Over the next few weeks we will develop this theme by bringing in many more examples. Very often a Rashi method is not appreciated till you have examined many verses which, in diverse settings, apply the same rule.


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