These Rashi comments involve 5 Rashi rules. The reader
can read each rule separately, or, read in the following sequence: Rule #3,
Rule #4, Rule #5, Rule #7, Rule #8. By viewing the Rashi's from many perspectives
we obtain a more wholistic view.
In the grammatical rule we have shown that the Bible refers to the sin-offering
described in Nu14-23:26< as both a violation of one sin and all sins.
Here we pursue this contradiction. Instead of examining the text of this one sin offering
we align this text with the texts of other sin offerings.
The table below presents an aligned extract of verses or verselets
in
Nu14-23, Lv04-02
Both verses/verselets
discuss
sin offerings - offerings brought for inadvertent sins.
The alignment justifies the Rashi assertion that
The sin offering discussed in Nu14-23 is brought for one sin
that is simultaneously all sins. We interpret this as the sin of
idolatry, since the idolatry sin violates the fundamental tenet of faith
and is akin to denial of the whole Torah. Here we use the two aspects method
of resolving contradictions since the numerical aspect of idolatry
is a singular sin while its impact is the totality of sins.
Verse
|
Text of Verse
|
Rashi comment
|
Nu14-23
|
And if you have erred, and not observed all these commandments, which the Lord has spoken to Moses
|
The sin offering discussed in Nu14-23 is brought for one sin
that is simultaneously all sins. We interpret this as the sin of
idolatry, since the idolatry sin violates the fundamental tenet of faith
and is akin to denial of the whole Torah. Here we use the two aspects method
of resolving contradictions since the numerical aspect of idolatry
is a singular sin while its impact is the totality of sins.
|
Lv04-02
|
Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do one of them;
|
Advanced Rashi:
In the above table we aligned the sin offering mentioned in Numbers with one sin
offering mentioned in Leviticus. Actually there are many sin offerings mentioned in Leviticus
and they all use almost identical language and speak about one sin that is being
done (Cf. Lv04-02, Lv04-13, Lv04-22, Lv04-27 which show that sin offerings are always
formulated in terms of one sin.)
|