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VERSE: Dt16-21a
RASHIS COVERED: Dt16-21a Lv26-01a Ex20-03a
======================== IDOL WORSHIP PROHIBITION ==============
VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
By aligning the various idol prohibitions in the Torah
we see that the Torah prohibited all aspects of idol involvement.
-- Dont OWN idols (Ex20-03)
-- Dont MAKE idols (Ex20-03)
-- Dont WORSHIP idols (Ex20-03)
-- Dont MANUFACTURE idols (Ex34-19)
-- Dont MAKE idols (For others) (Lv26-01)
Because of this context, when the Torah prohibits making tree
idols Rashi assumes the same comprehensiveness of prohibition
--that is we shouldnt PLANT, OWN, WORSHIP tree idols
----------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE: ALIGNMENT
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: FURTHER NUANCES
----------------------------------------
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RULE
-------------------------
Many Rashis do NOT focus on an internal analysis of the verse.
There may be nothing bothering Rashi in THAT verse. The words
used may all be normal.
But when the given verse is compared with another verse--that
is, when the two verses are ALIGNED together-- we see blatant
differences.
The ALIGNED verses therefore suggest that these ALIGNED
DIFFERENCES were deliberately placed there to emphasize
certain nuances. The standard example will illustrtae this.
STANDARD EXAMPLE
----------------
Recall that the Moabite King BALAK was apprehensive about
Israel journeying throught its territory. It wanted Israel
banished. It hired a professional curse-man, Bilam who would
curse the Jews. Bilam however describes his job SLIGHTLY
differently. Here are the verses.
-----------------------------------------------
BALAK: Nu22-06 I will banish Jews FROM THE LAND
BILAM: Nu22-11 ...... banish Jews -------------
-----------------------------------------------
EXERCISE
--------
To fully appreciate Rashi perform the following 2 exercises
- What is the minor difference between the aligned verses?
- What NUANCE do YOU think this implies?
RASHIS SOLUTION
---------------
BALAK only wanted Jews away from his land; his goals were
political. By contrast, BILAM wanted them DESTROYED. Hence...
BALAK wanted Jews BANISHED FROM THE LAND. But Bilam wanted
them BANISHED PERIOD (That is destroyed).
STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
---------------------------------
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/align-58.htm
This summary may be a bit too terse. You can browse the
57 postings leading up to by going to
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/align-1.htm
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/align-2.htm etc.
Or you can visit the Rashi Yomi Calendar at
http://www.RashiYomi.com/calendar1.htm
This calendar presents a day by day listing of Rashis.
The ALIGNMENT series occurs between 7-28-01 and 10-10-01.
Todays posting was previously analyzed at
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/lv19-03b.htm
HOW TO USE THESE LISTS FOR SCHOOL PROJECTS
------------------------------------------
You can use the LISTS referenced above for
school projects. Here is how. If you are a
teacher then you can present the two aligned
verses and ask the students to perform the
following exercises
-- What are the minor differences between the verses
-- What nuances do they imply
The students can then compare their analysis with that
of Rashis. This leads to greater appreciation of Rashi.
TODAYS LIST
-----------
We align the verses prohibiting idol worsihp and examine the
nuance of each one. Using this list we see a deeper meaning
to the Rashi comments on the verse of making tree-idols.
================================================================
VERSE NUANCE EXACT TEXT OF VERSE
======== ======================== ==============================
Ex20-03a OWN Thou shall not have idols
Ex20-03a MANUFACTURE (for self) Thou shall not make idols*1
Ex20-03a WORSHIP Dont bow down to them
Lv26-01a MANUFACTURE(for others*2 ..if sold to non-jew;Dont make
-------- ------------------------ ------------------------------
Dt16-21a all the above Dont PLANT*3 idolatrous trees
NOTES
-----
*1 See http://www.Rashiyomi.com/lv19-03b.htm for the original
posting on this subject with added support from the Malbim
An obscure statement in Rashi is explained in the footnotes*10
*2 In the posting mentioned in footnote#1 we also brought Ex34-17
---------------------
Dont make molten gods
---------------------
Molten objects tend to be made more in manufacturing
proceses rather than for personal use
*3 In context, Rashi now makes more sense. It is not the nuances
of the word PLANT, but rather, the fact that idolatry
prohibitions (for idols) refer to the whole idolatry process
-- manufacture, purchase, ownership, worship. Hence by
analogy the prohibitions on idolatrous trees also refer to
the whole process. I think the LIST above gives greater depth
to the Rashi.
-------------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES ---------------------
*10 Rashi makes two points.
First Rashi points out that the entire chapter Lv25 is
written in a climactic fashion
------------------------------------------
Lv25-25:28 Sale of PROPERTY
Lv25-29:34 Sale of HOUSES
Lv25-35:38 LOANING money
Lv25-39:46 Sale of ONESELF (to jews)
Lv25-47:55 Sale of ONESELF (to non-jews)
------------------------------------------
Hence in context, Lv26-01
-----------------
Dont make idols
-----------------
is interpreted to mean
----------------------------------------
Dont make idols while sold to a non-jew
----------------------------------------
Rashis second point elaborates on the first point
Rashi gives examples showing how you might want
to imitate oa non-jewish boss
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VERSE TEXT OF VERSE RASHIS COMMENTS
-------- ----------------- -----------------------------
Lv26-01 Dont make idols RASHI: The way your boss does
Lv26-02 Dont violate Sbth RASHI: The way your boss does
Lv26-02 Fear the temple RASHI: Dont commit adultery
--------------------------------------------------------
All the Rashi commentators seek the connection between
-----------------------
fearing the temple
----------------------
and
-----------------------
committing adultery
-----------------------
I would simply suggest that FEAR THE TEMPLE refers to
Nu05---the SUSPECTED ADULTEROUS WIFE CEREMONY.
In other words, even though you are under the aegis
of a non-jew, you should still fear Temple ceremonies
which would uncover and punish adultery
==================================================================
RASHI RULE USED: ALIGNMENT
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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 25
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 14 Number 25