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#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2007, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#
      2. RASHI METHOD: WORD MEANING
      BRIEF EXPLANATION: The meaning of words can be explained either by
      • (2a) translating an idiom, a group of words whose collective meaning transcends the meaning of its individual component words,
      • (2b) explaining the nuances and commonality of synonyms-homographs,
      • (2c) describing the usages of connective words like also,because,if-then, when,
      • (2d) indicating how grammatical conjugation can change word meaning
      • (2e) changing word meaning using the figures of speech common to all languages such as irony and oxymorons.
      This examples applies to Rashis Nu26-10a
      URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/nu21-08a.htm
      Brief Summary: Rashi paraphrased states: NUN-SAMECH = motion with resistance: a) Flee b) Raise c) (Raised) National flag d) Test (Raise rank)

    Background:
    • Synonyms refer to two words with basically one meaning while
    • homographs refer to one word with two (or more) meanings.
    Rashi frequently shows an underlying unifying thread to the disparate meanings of the homograph. Today's example illustrates this.

    The Biblical Hebrew root, Nun-Samech, (Nays), has a underlying unified meaning of
      Motion against resistance: Hence this root can mean either
    • Fleeing: Motion from a resistance in the horizontal direction
    • Raising: Motion against gravity, resistance in the vertical direction
      Flag: An item that is generally raised
    • Testing / Challenging: Like the English metaphor, this refers to a task that raises ones social rank.

    In modern Hebrew Nun-Samech means miracle. But there are only two Biblical verses where this interpretation is possible and in both of them Rashi translates Nun Samech as meaning a symbol, like a flag, indicating a challenging historical event which symbolizes a future national calling. The two verses with their translation and Rashi's are as follows:
  • Ex17-15: And Moses built an altar, and God, called the name of it my flag: (Rashi: God is not the object of the verse - Moses called the altar 'God is my flag' - but rather the subject of the verse (indicated by the pausal accent between God and the altar) - the verse means that God called this altar my flag - that is, my symbol and calling for a future war against Amalayk in each generation.)
  • Nu26-10a: and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died; what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men, and this [the destruction of the 250 rebellors] became a flag-like-sign [to prevent future rebellions against the priesthood.] 


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