#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
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| Rashi is Simple Version 2.0 |
| (C) RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President |
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VERSE: Dt03-23c
==================== Moses Spoke to God 5 times ===============
VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
Throughout the Torah God gave Moses commandments to Give to
the Jews. Several dozen Biblical paragraphs present these
commandments. A typical paragraph begins
----- And God spoke to Moses FOR SAYING(to others)
A database query of all dialogs BETWEEN God and Moses with
a request FOR A SAYING shows that in 5 cases Moses spoke
to God FOR SAYING(ie FOR SAYING back to him...for a request)
Apparently these were important requests and Moses so to speak
DEMANDED a RESPONSE from God (hence the phrase FOR SAYING).
(Appropriate comments are made Moses DEMANDING a response)
------------------------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE: DATABASE
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: QUERIES
------------------------------------------------------
BRIED DESCRIPTION OF RULE and SUBRULE
-------------------------------------
Very roughly speaking modern Database theory has
rigorously defined the concept of a database query.
- A DATABASE is a collection of TABLES
- Each TABLE how ROWS and COLUMNS
- A DATABASE query is simply a REQUEST for a VIEW
--1-- The VIEW may RESTRICT the ROWS of a TABLE
----- Only ROWS meeting certain CRITERIA will be returned
--2-- Or the VIEW may JOIN tables on a common field
--3-- Or the VIEW may RESTRICT certain columns
--4-- THe VIEW may COMBINE or INTERSECT other views
- The above 4 methods are the basic methods of VIEWS
The challenge in each case is to rigorously DEFINE the
vIEW. The language for doing this is called SQL, the
STANDARD QUERY LANGUAGE. This is all straightforward
as the standard example shows
STANDARD EXAMPLE
----------------
Todays example is an excellent example
We work with the DATABASE (FILE) of all Biblical
verses. From this database we seek a VIEW.
We only want verses that
-1- CONTAIN A SPEAKING VERB--like SAY,SUPPLICATE,SCREAM..
-2- INVOLVE the SPEAKERS, GOD and MOSES
-3- Require a response (to each other or to others)
To VIEW this VIEW we can use a CD ROM and SEARCH ENGINE
-1- We require verbs meaning SPEAKING. So we look for words
(SPEAK or SAY or SUPPLICATE or SCREAM or....)
-2- We SEEK the words GOD and MOSES in the verse
(GOD TO MOSES or MOSES TO GOD)
-3- We wish responsive action so we seek the words
FOR SAYING (LAYMOR)
Any standard CD ROM (Such as the BAR ILON or DAVKA
CD ROM) can perform this search in either English or
Hebrew. The result is the VIEW of DIALOGS between
Moses and God. ONLY 5 of the verses in the view
however, involve DIALOG FROM Moses to GOD with a
request for a RESPONSE. They are listed in the LIST
below.
STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
---------------------------------
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rules-01.htm
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/database.htm
In the first few pages of this DATABASE article I posit
the assumption that Rashi-s primary goal was to be
a Masorite--to preserve the Biblical text. A primary
method of doing this was to take note of DATABASE
rarities. We can now succinctly formulate this using
database theory.
HOW TO USE THESE LISTS FOR SCHOOL PROJECTS
------------------------------------------
You can use the LIST below for school projects.
Here is how: If you are a teacher then you
can present the verses in the list and then
ask the students to make a CD ROM search that
will give this view.
The challenge to the students is to come up
with the right QUERY.
For example a student might look for all
verses with MOSES SPEAKING TO GOD.
This is only partially correct since the
student left out the the word FOR SAYING.
Similarly the student should have used
several words for SPEAKING (like SUPPLICATE
etc).
Thus the above exercises sharpen the students
search ability.(The goal is not to have the
student get the right answer-- the goal is
to get the student to practice and think)
Such database queries lead to greater appreciation
of Rashi.
TODAYS EXAMPLE
--------------
The list of 5 verses with
-- Moses and TO GOD are mentioned
-- a speaking verb (SAY, SUPPLICATE etc)
-- a request for a response (FOR SAYING)
are given in the list below.The footnotes further elaborate
on the database method.
================================================================
VERSE VERB OF SPEECH USED CONTENT OF REQUEST
=========== ========================= ==========================
Ex06-12 Moses SAID to God Jews are tired;wont listen
Nu27-15*1 Moses SAID to God Please appoint a leader
Nu12-13*1*2 Moses SCREAMED to GOd Please cure Miriam
Dt03-28*1*2 Moses SUPPLICATED to God Let me enter Israel
Ex17-04 *2 Moses SCREAMED to God Jews angry;will stone me;
NOTES
-----
*1 The Sifrah-Sifray cites the above 5 verses where Moses
spoke to God. Shockingly however, Rashi states
--------------------------------------------
There are 3 places where Moses prayed to God
--------------------------------------------
Thus the Rashi commentators have to defend Rashis picking
3 vs 5 verses.*10
There are two possible resolutions. The Sifsay Chachamim
citing the Raam explains
-----------------------------------------------------
In the above 5 cases only the 3 marked with footnote
#1 show actual prayer. The other 2 cases are not
PRAYERS but STATEMENTS.
-----------------------------------------------------
Thus Rashi adds to the Sifrah
by pointing out that of the 5 cases of Moses speaking
to God 3 are prayers.
For another approach see footnote #2
*2 The Sifrah-Sifray cites the above 5 verses where Moses
spoke to God. Shockingly however, Rashi states
--------------------------------------------
There are 3 places where Moses prayed to God
--------------------------------------------
Thus the Rashi commentators have to defend Rashis picking
3 vs 5 verses.*10
There are two possible resolutions. My approach is
-----------------------------------------------------
Of the 5 cases only 3 of them use verbs of SUPPLICATION
or SCREAMING (These are marked with footnote #2). The
other 2 cases used the traditional verbs to speak
------------------------------------------------------
Thus Rashi adds to the Sifrah by classifying the
verbs used in these 5 cases of supplication by Moses
-------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES ------------------------
*10 My own opinion is that the Proper approach to studying
Rashi is to gather all 5 verses where MOSES SPOKE TO GOD
(usually GOD SPOKE TO MOSES).
The fact that 3 of them involve PRAYER vs SPEECH is
secondary. The main fact is that
- usually God Spoke to Moses
- but in 5 cases Moses spoke to God
This is the PRIMARY FOCUS of RASHI /SIFRAH
It is also important to study the 5 cases and become
aware that only 3 of them involve words of SUPPLICATION
but this is a secondary point.
By focusing on the PRIMARY GOAL OF RASHI we obtain
a more intuitive approach to Rashi and make Rashi
more accessible to people.
================================================================
RASHI RULE USED: DATABASES
---------------------------------------------------
WARNING: The following additional references may be too wordy
However they frequently contain additional information & lists
The hyperlinks only work on the main website
Volume 14 Number 19
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 14 Number 19