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  |      Rashi is Simple Version 2.0                         |
  |      (C) Dr Hendel, Summer 2000                          |
  |       http://www.RashiYomi.Com                           |
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VERSE: Dt15-19b

RASHIS EXPLAINED: Ex21-28a Ex21-17a Ex22-21a Ex22-30b
                  Dt22-23a Dt23-11a Dt13-07f Dt15-19b
                  Dt25-04a


BACKGROUND:
-----------
In this volume, volume 7, of Rashi is Simple, we are presently
reviewing Rabbi Ishmael's Biblical rules of interpretation. Our
basic position is that Rabbi Ishmael's 13 rules of Biblical
interpretation govern EXAMPLES. Thus when learning the Chumash
you have to know
--Rules of GRAMMAR
--Rules of LOGIC
--Rules of STYLE & NUANCES
--Rabbi Ishmael's rules of EXAMPLES



The simplest illustration of Rabbi Ishmael's rules occurs
in Ex21-28a which states
  "When the OX of an adult gores the ox of another person
   ...then payment shall be made (for damamges)"
A literal reading of the text would suggest that payment
is ONLY made if an OX did the goring. Of course, the law
is that you make payment if ANY animal of yours did damage.




In other words, the EXAMPLE, OX, is generalized to mean
any ANIMAL. Rashi on the tractate Pesachim 6 explicitly
states the rule





RULE:
-----
Every Biblical example of a law SHOULD be generalized
(unless otherwise indicated).*1




EXAMPLES
--------
(1) Ex21-28a When an OX gores..then pay damages
    RASHI: The law applies when ANY animal gores
    The Bible used 'OX' since that was a typical animal owned

(2) Ex21-17a A FEMALE witch should not be allowed to live
    RASHI: The law applies to ANY witch--male or female
    The Bible used 'FEMALE' witch since most witches were
    women

(3) Ex22-21a If you hurt an ORPHAN or WIDOW I(God)will punish you
    RASHI: God will punish you if you cause anguish to ANY person
    The Torah used 'ORPHAN/WIDOW' since these people are usually
    picked on.


(4) Ex22-30b A DISEASED ANIMAL in a FIELD should not be eaten
    RASHI: ALL DISEASED ANIMALS should not be eaten. The
    Torah used 'diseased animals in a FIELD' because that
    is typically where they are typically found

(5) Dt22-23a '..& he found her IN THE CITY & raped her...'
    RASHI:The laws of rape apply even if he raped her in the
    HOUSE. The Torah used 'in the CITY' because that is where
    rapes typically happen


(6) Dt23-11a 'A man who is Not Pure from a NOCTURNAL emission'
    RASHI: These laws apply to ANYONE who has an emission.
    The Torah used 'NOCTURNAL emission' because that is the
    typical time they occur.


(7) Dt13-07f When someone seduces you IN PRIVATE to worship idols
    RASHI: These laws apply even if the seduction was in public
    The Torah used 'IN PRIVATE' because that is the normal way
    seduction takes place (steathily)

(8) Dt15-19b Don't WORK with 1stborn of OX,
             Don't SHEAR 1stborn SHEEP
    RASHI:It is also prohibited to WORK with the 1stborn of SHEEP
    or to SHEAR the hide of an OX. But the Torah used 'WORK..OX'
    and 'SHEAR..SHEEP' because this is the typical usage.


(9) Dt25-04a Don't muzzle an OX while it works
    RASHI: It is prohibited to muzzle ANY ANIMAL while it works
    The Torah used 'OX' because this is the typical animal owned



NOTES
-----
*1 This rule appears strange and contradicts the usual notion
   that every 'letter and word' in the Bible has SOME meaning
   Actually though Rabbi Ishmael had a dictum that
   the Bible uses human style--it prefers a good example, like
   "ox" to an abstract concept like "animal".
---------------------------------------------------
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 7 Number 4


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