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VERSE: Dt07-07a

RASHIS COVERED: Dt07-07a Dt07-07b Dt11-23b Dt09-01a
                Dt11-14a Dt11-23a

==================== CONTRADICTIONS =============================

VERY BRIEF SUMMARY:
-------------------
Rashi compares contradition in nuance between Dt07-07,DT07-23
 ------------------------------------------------------------
 Dt07-07 God did not chose you because of your BIG POPULATION;
 rather the Jews are the SMALLEST among nations
 ------------------------------------------------------------
 ----------------------------------------------------------
 Dt07-23 God will help you conquer nations MIGHTER than you
 ----------------------------------------------------------
Rashi resolves the contradiction by stretching meaning:
Jews are SMALL in NUMBER but GREAT in STRENGTH/HUMILITY

---------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE:     RABBI ISHMAEL
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE:  MEANING
---------------------------------------

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE RULE and SUBRULE
-----------------------------------------
Very frequently 2 Biblical verses appear to contradict each
other. There are 5 ways to resolve these conflicts. The resolved
contradictions are considered the meaning of the text. In the
reference below we outline 5 methods of resolving contradiction:
The two verses can be speaking about
-- 2 DIFFERENT ASPECTS of the same item
-- 2 DIFFERENT STAGES of the same process
-- BROAD vs RESTRICTIVE meaning of a word
-- 2 DIFFERENT MODALITIES of the same law(MAY vs MUST)
-- 2 etymologies of the same word
The standard example clearly illustrates this. The method
of contradiction is one of the 13 basic style rules presented
by Rabbi Ishmael


STANDARD EXAMPLE
----------------
Compare the following two verses
 ----------------------------------------------------
 Dt15-17 ...And the slave shall work FOREVER
 Lv25-10 ...And the slave shall work till the JUBILEE
 ----------------------------------------------------

EXERCISES:
----------
- Can you see the contradiction?
- Can you resolve this contradiction by twisting the
  meaning of one of the words

RASHIS SOLUTION
---------------
- The contradiction lies in the CAP words. Does the
  slave WORK FOREVER or till the JUBILEE

- Quite simple we can translate FOREVER restrictively
  to mean a LONG TIME instead of literally FOREVER.
  Then the 2 verses -- requiring working till JUBILEE
  and A LONG TIME--complement each other.

STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
---------------------------------
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/ri-14.htm

Or you can visit the old Rashi calendar at

http://www.RashiYomi.com/calendar1.htm

The 14-set Rabbi Ishmael series occurs at
the bottom since the Daily Rashi series BEGAN with
the Rabbi Ishmael series in Mar-May 2000.

Read these original Daily Rashi postings and
become inspired by the Daily Rashi idea.

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 two verses in the first two columns
of each row.

The student is then instructed to perform the two
exercises listed above--
-- find the contradictions and
-- try and resolve them thru twisting the words

The students solution can then be compared with Rashis.
This leads to greater appreciation of Rashi.

TODAYS EXAMPLE
--------------
We bring the examples from the above reference where
contradiction is resolved by TWISTING MEANING (BROAD
or RESTRICTIVE). We add at the bottom the verses in
todays posting. Further details are brought in the
footnotes.
=================================================================
VERSE-1 VERSE-2 WHY 2   HOW THE TWO TEXTS ARE COMBINED
======= ======= ======= =========================================
Dt15-17 Lv25-10 Meaning Slaves work FOREVER=A LONG TIME=TILL 50
Lv07-09 Lv07-10 Meaning The PRIEST=PRIESTs DIVISION,get sacrifice
Lv04-03 Lv04-03 Meaning Young ADULT Bullock= BEGINNING ADULTHOOD
Dt07-07 Dt11-23 Meaning Jews are SMALL in #;GREAT in STRENGTH*10
Dt07-07 Dt09-01 Meaning Jews are SMALL in #;GREAT in STRENGTH*11

NOTES
-----

---------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES ------------------------

*10 We make three points here.

    FIRST POINT
    -----------
    The verse never says that the Jews are strong. Rather the
    verse states
    -----------------------------------------
    you will conquer nations GREATER than you
    -----------------------------------------

    Rashi however points out
    -----------------------------------------------
    What is the point of saying GREATER THAN YOU
    unless the Jews were themselves GREAT (so
    that other nations might be GREATER). You
    would not praise a great nation as being
    GREATER THAN SOME WEAK NATION
    -----------------------------------------------

    Thus Rashi points out that we may legitimately infer
    that the JEwS ARE GREAT from the phrase CONQUER
    NATIONS GREATER THAN YOU

    SECOND POINT
    ------------
    The next point deals with the difference between
    PSHAT and DERASH (SIMPLY MEANING vs HOMILETIC MEANING)

    Dt07-07 states
    -----------------------------------------------
    Not from your BIGNESS from all nations did God chose you
    Because you are the SMALLEST of all nations
    -----------------------------------------------

    The SIMPLE MEANING of this VERSE BY ITSELF is that
    - the JEWS are SMALL IN SIZE
    - God therefore did not chose them because of BIGNESS

    The reason Rashi deviates from the simple meaning of
    the text is because THERE IS ANOTHER VERSE which
    thru contradiction DEMANDS that the simple meaning
    (by itself) be overridden.

    Dt09-01 and Dt11-23 both speak about
    ------------------------------------------------------
    the Jews conquering nations GREATER & STRONGER THAN THEM
    -------------------------------------------------------

    Rashi points out that the phrase STRONGER THAN YOU
    implies that the Jews themselves must have STRENGTH
    (Otherwise why compare great nations to weaklings).

    THis other verse creates a CONTEXT---the CONTEXT of
    the Torah states that Jews are STRONG. Therefore
    -- Jews are not SMALL in STRENGTH
    -- Jews may be small in NUMBERS but since they are
       great in strength there is no real reason to
       point this out

    Now we understand Rashi. In context
    -- SMALL in NUMBERS
    -- SMALL in strength
    have no relevance.
    So Rashi selects a meaning of SMALL that is consistent with
    context
    -- SMALL in SELF EVALUATION --humble.

    I think the above analysis clearly shows the difference
    between meaning BY ITSELF and meaning IN CONTEXT. I also
    think it shows that the meaning in context is the INTENDED
    meaning of the text.

    THE THIRD POINT
    ---------------
    I have defended the Rashis on Dt07-07a using Rabbi Ishmaels
    contradiction methods. Rashi finds further support for
    his interpretation of Dt07-07a using the method of
    SUPPORTIVE VERSES I can also find support using the method
    of similar words.

    SUPPORTIVE VERSES: Rashi presents the following list
    showing lack of humility among non-jews vs humility
    in Jews
    -------------------------------------------------------
    VERSE       TEXT OF VERSE SHOWING LACK OF HUMILITY
    ----------- -------------------------------------------
    Gn18-27     I am dust and ashes (Abraham)
    Ex16-08     Who are we (Moses and AAron)
    ----------- -------------------------------------------
    Isa14-14    I am like a God (Nevuchadnesar)
    Isa36-20    What god can defeat me (Sancheriv)
    ----------- -------------------------------------------

    SIMILAR WORDS: We give below words which simultaneously
    denote PHYSICAL vs SPIRITUAL bigness. The point here
    is not that small DOES mean humble but rather that
    small CAN mean humble (and hence the method of
    contradictory verses may require a non-standard
    translation)


    --------------------------------------------------------
    WORD       PHYSICAL MEANING         NON-PHYSICAL MEANING
    ---------- ------------------------ --------------------
    SMALL      LITTLE                   HUMBLE
    BIG        eg. TALL                 POLITICALLY IMPORTANT
    SMALLEST   LITTLE                   IMMATURE(Gn09-24a)
    --------------------------------------------------------
=================================================================

RASHI RULE USED: RabbiIshmael
---------------------------------------------------
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 22


#*#*#*#*#  (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 14 Number 22