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VERSE: Dt01-15f
RULE: The two Hebrew words STR vs SFT mean the following
(a) ShTR means POLICE
(b) ShFT means JUDGE
COMMENT
-------
Rashi frequently explains the difference between two words that
have almost identical meanings. We call this the RULE OF
SYNONYMS. Frequently such Rashis look TALMUDIC and HAIR
SPLITTING since most people don't have a fluency in the nuances
of Biblical Hebrew.
However in this verse Dt01-15f, most people DO understand the
difference between POLICE and JUDGE. This affords us a unique
opportunity to understand Rashi on multiple levels.
At the simplest level Rashi is simply giving us a TRADITION--
a dictionary meaning. But at the profound level Rashi is
teaching us the RULES BY WHICH MEANING MAY BE INFERRED.
In other words, the MEANING OF WORDS can be approached both
thru a method of TRADITION as well as thru a method of LOGIC
EXAMPLES
--------
THE SIMPLE APPROACH
-------------------
POLICE and JUDGE both are words denoting LEADERSHIP.
Many Verses have the phrase "POLICE and JUDGES"
Therefore Rashi is simply giving the dictionary meaning:
POLICE means POLICE while JUDGES means JUDGES. Compare
the following verses where JUDGE and POLICE simply
refer to types of LEADERS.
At the elementary level Rashi is using a method of TRADITION
VERSE TEXT WITH JUDGE and POLICE
-------- ---------------------------
Jos24-01 Elder Leaders Judge Police
Jos23-02 Elder Leaders Judge Police
1C23-04 Police Judge
1C26-29 Police Judge
Jos08-32 Elder Police Judge
Dt16-18 Judge Police
THE INTERMEDIATE LEVEL
----------------------
At the intermediate level we review OTHER meanings of the
roots involved. For example the root ShFT can refer both to
the ACTIVITY of Judging eg Ex18-22
the PEOPLE who are judges eg Dt01-16
Thus at the intermediate level we combine meaning
with SUPPORTIVE arguments based on the roots involved
THE ADVANCED LEVEL
------------------
At the advanced level we review the USAGE of these terms
in verses in which only one term occurs. This provides
further supportive arguments for the meanings suggested
In the following verses only the term POLICE occurs;
the term JUDGE does not occur. The translation POLICE fits
these verses; the translation JUDGE does not fit these
verses. Such an analysis while not providing a proof
of meaning nevertheless gives support for translation.
VERSE TEXT
----- ----
Dt20-05 Military POLICE remove unwanted soldiers before a war
Ex05-14 Jewish POLICE were held responsible by Egypt for workload
Jos1-10 POLICE prepare the entire nation for entry into Israel
Prv6-7 Learn from the ant who works hard without POLICE
COMMENT
-------
The root POLICE occurs only 2 dozen times in the Bible. The
above 4 examples (and similar verses) constitute about 40%
of the occurences of SHTR. In these examples the translation
SHTR=POLICE seems much better than SHTR=JUDGE. An analysis
like this enables us to guess at meaning EVEN if we did not
have a tradition.
THE PROFOUND LEVEL
------------------
At the profound level we DERIVE the meaning of SHTR=POLICE
not from tradition but from universal semantic rules.
According to Rashi (followed by Rav Hirsch) the meaning
of a 3 letter root can be obtained by breaking it up into
a 2 letter root and a one letter root which has meaning.
Let us illustrate:
* SHAL means TO ASK
* AL, the last two letters of shAL, means TO ME
* We conjecture that the one letter root
* SHIN, means TO FACILITATE, MAKE EASY*3
So we derive the semantic equation
* ASK(Shal) means FACILITATE(S) Coming to me(EL)
ROOT BEGINNING WITH Shn MEANS Shn=Facilitate Last 2 letters
----------------------- ----- -------------- ------------------
Ask(SAL) means Facilitate(S) (coming) to me(EL)
Breathe heavily(SAF) means Facilitate(S) breathing(AF)*1
Leftover (SAR) means Facilitate(S) being plucked(ARH)
Lofty(SFV) means Facilitates(S) being high(GVH)
StripTease(SGL) means Facilitates(S) uncovering(GLH)
Throw (SLC) means Facilitates(S) motion(LCH)
Insects (SRTz) means Facile(S) in running(RTz)
Spilling (SFCh) means Facilitates(S) dripping(PCH)
Flirting (SKR) means Facilitates(S) calling(KR) (men)
Police*2 (STR) means Facilitates(S) keeping in line(TR
NOTES
-----
*1 AF means NOSE. Breathing is activity of the nose.
*2 Compare the English idiom "keeping in line"
*3 Here is a cute mnemonic.
SHIN is a silibant
It is pronounced like the letter S, a hissing sound.
Thus the emphasis in SHIN is the expulsion of air--
Hence SHIN means "LIKE A BREEZE"--EASY, FACILITATED."
SUMMARY:
-------
Rashi appears to be giving a dictionary meaning:SHTR means POLICE
However support for Rashi can be obtained
*from the meaning of SHFT, to Judge, and hence SHFT=Judge
*from the usage of ShTR which denotes POLICE action
*from the semantic derivation of ShTR:
A Policeman is someone
who faciliates(S) staying in line(TR)
RULE USED: WORD MEANINGS
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Volume 7 Number 3
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Volume 7 Number 3