#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
-----------------------------------------------------------
| Rashi is Simple Version 2.0 |
| (C) RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President |
| http://www.RashiYomi.Com |
| PERMISSION to reprint WITH this header if NOT for profit |
------------------------------------------------------------
VERSE: Dt13-01b
RASHIS COVERED: Dt13-01b Dt12-13a Dt12-19a
========================= WATCH..MAKE IT YOUR BUSINESS ============
VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
-------------------
One of Rashis main tasks is to explain the meaning of words
the same way a dictionary does. Sometimes Rashi takes a word
WHOSE MEANING is KNOWN and carefully delineates its nuances.
The Hebrew root Shin-Mem-Resh means to WATCH. Rashi however
explains that it would parallel the English idiom MAKE IT
YOUR BUSINESS. Rashi in fact gives 4 NUANCES to watch
-- Assign a JOB to someone (Their business)--Nu03-07
-- Create vocational (business) standards (Rabbinic fences)
-- TRAIN--make it your business--so you know how to do it
-- Do not avoid it---Make it your business (Dt12-19a)
-------------------------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE: WORDS
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: UNIFYING MEANING
-------------------------------------------------------
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RULE
-------------------------
One of Rashis main tasks is to explain the meaning of words
the same way a dictionary explains words. Rashi may
-- explain the meaning of an unknown word
-- explain the meaning of an unknown phrase(each of
whose words are understood but together they are
not understood)
-- classify/enumerate the meanings of special words
-- explain special nuances of words
-- distinguish the nuances of different synonyms
-- show an underlying unifying meaning of many-meaning roots
STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
---------------------------------
The RashiYomi Dictionary page--http://www.RashiYomi.com/words.htm
Previous analysis of WATCH--http://www.Rashiyomi.com/watch-6.htm
A posting on WATCH--http://www.RashiYomi.com/nu03-07a.htm
TODAYS LIST
-----------
Here is the list of about a dozen Rashis on the root
Shin-Mem-Resh which Rashi translates as MAKE IT YOUR BUSINESS
A careful examination of Rashi shows 4 principal meanings which
are indicated in the list below (TRAIN, JOBS, FENCES, AVOID)
=================================================================
VERSE MAKE IT YOUR BUSINESS to... MEANING of Sh-M-R
=============== ============================== ==================
Nu03-07a*1 Have this as your job OFFICE APPOINTMENT
------------ ------------------------------ ------------------
Dt11-22a*2 ....to do the commandments Training-learning
Lv22-31b*2 ....to do the commandments Training-learning
Dt04-06a*2 ....to do these commandments Training-learning
Dt12-28a*2 ....to do these commandments Training-learning
------------ ------------------------------ ------------------
Gn26-05b*3 ....to do my biddings Rabbinical fences
Lv18-30a*3*4 ....to do these laws Rabbinical fences
Lv26-03b*4 ....to walk in my ways & do Rabbinical fences
Ex12-17a*5 ....to make the MATZOH Rabbinical fences
Lv22-09a*3*6 ...to follow the TERUMAH laws Rabbinical Fences
------------- ----------------------------- ------------------
Dt13-01b*8*7 ...WATCH to DO Do and Dont
Dt12-13a*7 ...not to offer outside temple Do and Dont
Dt12-19a*7 ...not to avoid the Levites Do and Dont
------------- ------------------------------ ------------------
NOTES
-----
*1 We consider this the MAIN Rashi on Sh-M-R
*2 Note how all these verses state WATCH & DO
WATCH=LEARN
DO =ACTION
*3 Note the double verb in the actual Biblical text
--WATCH the WATCH
Such a phrase has the same type emphasis as MAKE
IT YOUR BUSINESS
*4 The principle of CLIMACTIC interpretation applies here
Both verses are interpreted in a climax of 3 stages
(Rashi explicitly points this out on Lv26-03)
*5 Although Rashi only gives an EXAMPLE here
----------------------------------
avoid the Matzoh becoming puffy
----------------------------------
He nevertheless concludes with a GENERAL approach
(Watch ALL commandments (by making fences))
*6 Although Rashi applies this verse specifically to Terumah,
(See Sifsay Chachamim who points out that this is in context)
nevertheless TERUMAH is surrounded with a rich rabbinic
lore of fences (such as 'washing the hands before a meal')
This confirms or is consistent with our thesis
*7 Rashi on these 3 verses interprets WATCH as indicating
DONTS beside the DOs. Thus for example Dt12-18:19 states
------------------------------------------------------
You will eat before God...you ..your children & the Levite
...Make it your business not to avoid the Levite
-------------------------------------------------------
Thus
-------------------------------------
Eat before God....you...& the Levite
-------------------------------------
is a positive commandments
While
---------------------------------------------
make it your business not to avoid the Levite
---------------------------------------------
is a negative commandment *10
*8 Rashi clarifies here what he means by DO and DONT
---------------------------------------------------
The DONT implied by the root WATCH is not a traditional
DONT which gets lashes
----------------------------------------------------
In other words the word WATCH simply has a NUANCE of
AVOIDANCE without it being technically classifed as
a DO NOT. This is consistent with our thesis.
---------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES ---------------------
*10 Some of these Rashis occur on 2 consecutive verses
one of which requests some type of action while the
other requests an avoidance -- for example
-----------------------------------------------------
You will eat before God...you ..your children & the Levite
...Make it your business not to avoid the Levite
-------------------------------------------------------
While this supports and strengthens our thesis, we
have not used this as the Rashi rule since this double
verse structure does not occur on all verses.
By contrast the UNIFIED MEANING approach of S-M-R
occurs in about a dozen Rashis and is consistent. Hence
we consider UNIFIED MEANING as the rule.
==============================================================
RASHI RULE USED: UNIFIED MEANING
---------------------------------------------------
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 23
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 14 Number 23