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.
A current example from this week's Parshah occurs
in Nu13-01:02 discussing God's allowance to Moses
to send spies to scout out Israel before the Jewish
conquest: The verses state
And HaShem spoke unto Moses, saying:
Send for yourself men, that they may spy out the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel; of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a prince among them.'
Rashi explains: God told Moses Send for yourself - in
other words, God allowed Moses to send spies to scout Israel
before conquest,if he wanted to. That is, the spying was at
Moses personal discretion.
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