This example uses two Rashi methods,
the alignment method and the meaning method.
The special word method deals with the
few dozen special words that exist in all languages.
Familiar examples are also, when, that, because, only,
this,.... Rashi's job, when he comments on a special connective
words, is to list the varied nuances and usages of the word.
The most famous example is the Hebrew word Kaph Yud
which can mean because, that, when, perhaps, rather, if.
Sometimes Rashi explicitly gives all meanings of a connective
word as happens with Kaph Yud while at other times
Rashi does not give all meanings at once. In such a case the
student must gather all the meanings together from various
places.
Today we deal with the special connective word
this, Zayin-Aleph-Tauv. The word this
always indicates an unspecified emphasis. This unspecified emphasis
will clarify the application of the alignment discussed immediately
below.
The table below presents an aligned extract of verses or verselets
in
Nu08-24a, Lv21-17
Both verses/verselets
discuss
requirements of people - priests, levites - serving in the Temple.
The alignment justifies the Rashi assertion that
One verse says that blemished priests may not serve.
One verse says that young/old levites may not serve.
There are 3 approaches to interpreting this alignment.
Approach 1 - Shared: Both priests and levites
are prohibited from serving if they are either blemished or young/old.
Approach 2 - Additive: Priests may not serve if blemished.
Levites may not serve if blemished or young/old.
Approach 3 - Contrastive: Priests may not serve if blemished.
Levites may not serve if young/old.
The true approach: The true approach is given by the
special connective word, this, introducing the Levite law.
In other words This law only applies to the
Levites but not to the priests. Hence the alignment is interpreted
contrastively - blemishes only invalidate Priests while age only invalidates Levites.
Verse
|
Text of Verse
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Rashi comment
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Nu08-24a
|
This is it what concerns the Levites: from 25 years
old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service
of the Tent of Meeting;
|
One verse says that blemished priests may not serve.
One verse says that young/old levites may not serve.
There are 3 approaches to interpreting this alignment.
Approach 1 - Shared: Both priests and levites
are prohibited from serving if they are either blemished or young/old.
Approach 2 - Additive: Priests may not serve if blemished.
Levites may not serve if blemished or young/old.
Approach 3 - Contrastive: Priests may not serve if blemished.
Levites may not serve if young/old.
The true approach: The true approach is given by the
special connective word, this, introducing the Levite law.
In other words This law only applies to the
Levites but not to the priests. Hence the alignment is interpreted
contrastively - blemishes only invalidate Priests while age only invalidates Levites.
|
Lv21-17
|
Speak to Aaron, saying, Whoever he is of your seed
in their generations who has any blemish, let him
not approach to offer the bread of his God.
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Advanced Rashi: Special note should be made of the possible three approaches
to interpreting the alignment. Indeed we do find alignments
whose interpretation uses the shared approach,
the additive approach or the contrastive approach. There is no reason, a priori, to chose
one over the other. A position of this email group is that interpretations are not politically
motivated but rather grammatically motivated. That is the Bible indicated through special words,
phrases and styles which approach should be emphasized. In this case the introductory word
this is what applies to the Levites emphasizes a contrastive approach - this
law only applies to the Levites, not to the Priests. We believe that this observation is one of
the most important contributions of this email newsletter.
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