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#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2007, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#
      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 Nu16-01f/b>
      URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/nu16-01f.htm
      Brief Summary: a) Datan b) Aviram and c) On ...[ALL] from the tribe of Reuben.

A miscellaneous rule in Biblical grammar states that pronouns and adjectival phrases may refer back either to the immediately preceding noun, or, to a distant noun. There is an interesting difference here between modern English and Biblical Hebrew. Modern English considers it proper to only refer back to immediately preceding nouns. Hebrew is more liberal. It doesn't mind the possible ambiguity of referring back to a more distant noun as long as context makes it clear what is being referred to.

    Verse Nu16-01 discussing the Korach allies during his rebellion states
  • Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi,
  • with Dathan and
  • Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and
  • On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men;
The verse says On, the immediate precedent, was a Reubenite. It turns out that the adjectival phrase, sons of Reuben, applies equally to the distant references, Dathan and Abiram. This is explicitly stated in a cross-referenced verse Nu26-07-09 which states These are the families of the Reubenites;.... And the sons of Pallu: Eliab. And the sons of Eliab: Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. These are that Dathan and Abiram, the elect of the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against HaShem; Here the cross reference provides a context showing that the bolded adjectival phrase sons of Reuben refers to both the immediate and distant nouns.

    The scope of the reference can be made clearer with the following formatting:
    • Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath,
      • the son of Levi,
    • with Dathan and
    • Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and
    • On, the son of Peleth,
      • sons of Reuben, took men; 


#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2007, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#