#######################################################
# 12 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE #
# Jul 11, 2009 #
# YEAR 10 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) 1999-2009, RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President #
# Permission to reprint with this header PROVIDED #
# it is not printed for profit #
# #
#######################################################
|
#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2009, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#
The table below presents
two contradictory verses / verselets.
Both verses speak about
God's reward of those who serve him.
The underlined words highlight the contradiction.
One verse says
God rewards to thousands of generations,
while the other verse states
God rewards to only one thousand generations.
We see the contradiction---which is it?
Does God reward to thousands or only one thousdand generations.
Rashi simply resolves this contradiction using the
2 aspects
method:
As can be seen from the above verses God rewards and shows mercy
(a) To those who love him for thousands of generations
(b) To those who only serve Him (from fear) to only 1 thousand generations.
Summary
|
Verse / Source
|
Text of verse / Source
|
God rewards (service from love) to thousands of generations
|
Ex20-06
|
And showing mercy to thousands of those who love me, and keep my commandments.
|
God rewards (service from fear/watch) to only one thousand generations
|
Dt07-09
|
Know therefore that the Lord your God, he is God, the faithful God,
who watches (a) the covenant and mercy to those who love him and
(b) to those who keep his commandments (from fear) to a thousand generations;
|
Resolution:
|
2 Aspects
|
As can be seen from the above verses God rewards and shows mercy
- (a) To those who love him for thousands of generations
- (b) To those who only serve (from fear) to only 1 thousand generations.
|
Advanced Rashi: It might seem slightly arbitrary and picky that we emphasize
proximity of words in these verses: to thousands of generations to those who love Him and watch
his commandments vs. watches the convenant and treaty ....to those who watch his commandments
to one thousand generations. Actually it is not the word order that is driving the interpretation
of this Rashi. Rather this Rashi comment is driven by the contradiction. Resolution of a contradiction
frequently does not even require a verse! Rather the force of the contradiction in and of itself
encourages breaking up the applicability of the verses to two cases based on logic. The proximity of thousands vs. thousand to those who love him vs. those who watch his commandments is
an afterthought that supports this distinction. It is not the driving force of the Rashi comment. Such
a perspective on Rashi makes it more palatable.
|
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2009, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
|