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      8. RASHI METHOD: DATABASES
      BRIEF EXPLANATION:Rashi makes inferences from Database queries. The precise definition of database query has been identified in modern times with the 8 operations of Sequential Query Language (SQL).

      This example applies to Rashis Nu15-31a
      URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rule1221.htm
      Brief Summary: Blasphemy/Idolatry is the only commandment described as DESPISING GODS WORD. And indeed Idolatry was the only coAugandment PERSONALLY given by God (not Moses).

We ask the following database queries: (1) How does the Bible describe sins as attacking God? (2) Can any commandments be said to be personally delivered by God (instead of Moses)? The reader is encouraged to perform the queries using a standard Biblical Konnkordance or search engine. These database queries yield the list below. The list justifies the following Rashi inference: (1) Of all commandments only idolatry/blasphemy is categorized as despising Gods word. (2) Of all commandments only the prohibition of idolatry/blasphemy can be categorized as given personally by God. The 2 lists below presents the results of the database query and show examples

Verse Commandment Description of sin abuse
Lv18-21 Offering Children to the Molech idolatry Desecration of God's name
Lv19-12 Swearing false oaths Descecration of God's name
Lv19-29 Raising your daughter as a prostitute Prostituting the land
Lv21-05 Violating Priest obligations Descecrating God's name
Lv22-02 Violating Priest Temple obligations Descecrating God's name
Gn17-13 Violating Circumcision Nullifying my convenant
Nu15-31 Idolatry / Blasphemy Despising the word of God; nullifying His commandment

As can be seen the normal rankout for violation of a serious commandment is descecrating God's name. The rankout despising God's word is only used by Idolatry / Blasphemy.

Verse Commandment From God or Moses? Grammatical Proof
Ex20-01,03 Idolatry, Commandments #1 & #2 God I am the Lord thy God;...You will have no other Gods in my presence
Ex20-07 False oaths, Commandment #3 Moses Don't bear God's name for nought...He will not forgive...
Dt05-12 Sabbath, Commandment #4 Moses Observe the Sabbath... as God commanded you
Dt05-16 Honoring parents, commandment #5 Moses Honor your parents ... as God commanded you

In the Decalogue table the inferences are based on whether God is referred to in the first vs 3rd person. I and my indicate a direct communication from God while as God commanded or he indicate something spoken by Moses in the name of God. We infer from this that God personally delivered the coAugandment prohibiting idolatry while the other commandments were given by Moses in the name of God.

Advanced Rashi: This example is a peach of a Rashi aptly illustrating the database method. Without the database method Rashi appears to be picky on words: The verse says For he despised God's word. And indeed we find that only the commandment prohibiting idolatry was personally spoken by God vs. Moses Such an approach to Rashi based on minutae is neither appealing nor convincing.

However the database method exposes a certain broadness to the Rashi. The phrase despising God's word is rare. The usual term to indicate violation of a serious commandment is descecrating God's name. This database observation allows us to focus on the uniqueness in the phrase despising God's word. Similarly the database study of the Decalogue clearly shows a difference between the 1st two commandments which were said in first person and the other commandments which were said in third person. Thus the database queries expose certain minutae as reflective of broader categories: There is emphasis on God's word since that phrase is never used and there is even more emphasis on God vs. Moses. This broader emphasis provided by the database queries allows us to fullly appreciate the Rashi comments as emanating from clearly intended nuances vs. picky minutae.


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