#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
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| Rashi is Simple Version 2.0 |
| (C) Dr Hendel, Summer 2000 |
| http://www.RashiYomi.Com |
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VERSE: Dt20-03c
RASHIS COVERED: Dt20-03c Dt20-03d Dt20-03e Dt20-03f Dt20-03g
Dt18-01b Dt18-01c Dt18-01d Dt18-02a Dt18-02b
Dt16-19a Dt16-19b Dt16-19c Dt16-19d Dt16-19e
Dt16-20a
BACKGROUND:
----------
We have several times used the principle of CLIMAX.
According to this principle a sequence of 3 or more
phrases should be perceived as climactically developing
However I have also expressed the idea that any example
of CLIMAX can be understood as an instance of the Rabbi
Ishmael rules of style:
According to Rabbi Ishmael, if DETAILS are given first
FOLLOWED by a GENERALIZATION then we interpret the
DETAILS broadly and generalize them. In such a case
Rashi is learning what he does from the style NOT from
the grammar. (A similar comment applies to a style
of GENERAL PRINCIPLE---DETAILS---GENERAL).
I therefore present some examples below which are best
understood this way. I first state the rule and then
give the examples.
RULE
----
a) If 3 or more phrases can be organized as
--DETAILS 1st
--Followed by a GENERAL all inclusive category
then we interpert the details broadly to include all similar
cases. (This is called the Rabbi Ishmael style rule of
DETAIL-GENERAL)
b) Similarly if a collection of verses is organized as
--a General concept
--followed by several details
--followed by a repetition of the general concept
then we interpert the details broadly to include all similar
cases. (This is called the Rabbi Ishmael style rule of
GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL)
NOTE: There are differences between DETAIL-GENERAL and
GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL but these need not concern us at this
time.
EXAMPLES: (Of DETAIL--GENERAL styles)
--------
EXAMPLE 1
---------
1)Dt16-19:20 How to achieve a societal atmosphere of Justice?
How do you achieve "JUSTICE JUSTICE PURSUE"
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THE FOLLOWING ARE DETAILS
-------------------------
1a) Don't harass VERDICTS (eg make an innocent person guilty)
1b) Don't harass LITIGANTS(eg smile at one;be formal with other)
1c) Don't harass YOURSELF(eg taking bribes even for true verdicts)
THE FOLLOWING IS THE GENERAL IDEA
---------------------------------
1d) "Justice Justice Pursue" RASHI: A nice judicial atmosphere
NOTES:
-----
Dt16-19a "Don't distort justice" RASHI: Don't distort VERDICTS
Dt16-19b "Don't recognize people"RASHI: eg smile to 1;frown to 2nd
Dt16-19c:"Don't take Bribes" RASHI: Even for true verdicts
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Dt16-19d: "For bribes distorts sharp people
Dt16-19e: and distorts words of righteous people
*1
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*1 Thus we see that Bribes distort both
---sharpness AND
---FORMULATION of verdict (ie WORDS of righteous people)
(Eg You decided the verdict and someone then gives you a bribe
to decide the verdict along the lines you just decided!!
It is still prohibited to take the bribe as
eg you might not forumlate the verdict in a way that is
sympathetic to the loser OR
you might, in sentencing, be harsher than usual)
Dt16-20a "Justice Justice pursue"--
RASHI: A nice court and judicial atmosphere
NOTE:
----
rashi on Dt16-20a also follows the rule of
DOUBLE NOUNS (ie REPEATED NOUNS)
EXAMPLE 2
---------
2) Dt18-01:02 How do you achieve PRIESTLY-GODLY status
How do you achieve "GOD IS MY INHERITANCE"
----------------------------------------------------
2a) Exclusively participate in Godly Priestly Gifts
------Sacrifices (eg "Fire of God(Dt18-01)(Nu18-09)")
------Tithes, Terumah (eg Nu18-21:24)
2b) Don't participate in material gifts of God
------Conquest of Israel
------Conquest of Transjordan
------Religious wars
NOTES
-----
NOTE: This chapter has a GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL style
This style requires GENERALIZATION of details
GENERAL STATEMENTS--Priests don't inherit land
------------------
Dt18-01b "Priests have no portions" RASHI: In war
Dt18-01c "Priests have no inheritance" RASHI: In Israel
DETAIL STATEMENT--Priests do inherit sacrifices
----------------
Dt18-01d "Fires of God" RASHI: Sacrifices (Cf Nu18-09)
Dt18-01e "Gods inheritance" RASHI: Tithes (Cf Nu18-21:24)
GENERAL STATEMENTS--Priests don't inherit land
------------------
Dt18-02a "Priests have no inheritance" RASHI: In Transjordan
Dt18-02b "As God has told him(the priests)"RASHI:Nu18-21:24
NOTE: Our emphasis in the derivation has been on the
Biblical style of GENERAL:DETAIL:GENERAL which requires
generalization. That is we have not emphasized being
picky on repetition of phrases (such as FIRE OF GOD *and*
INHERITANCE OF GOD or the repeated THE PRIEST SHALL NOT
INHERIT). Rashi learns what he does from "the style" not
from the "problem". Please see posting Dt18-01c in this
issue (Volume 7 Number 11) which clearly explains the
difference in approach between Rabbi-Ishmael--Dr-Hendel
vs Dr-Leibowitz-Dr-Boncheck.
EXAMPLE 3 Dt20-03
---------
3) Dt20-03 What should you not be afraid of in a war
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3a) One should not be afraid of enemy TRANSPORT ability
3b) One should not be afraid of enemy WEAPONS
3c) One should not be afraid of enemy COMMUNICATIONS
3d) One should not be afraid of enemy TROOP MORALE
NOTES
-----
*1 The Rashis on Dt20-03 list 4 components to a war
Dt20-03c The 4 words in the verse correspond to 4 fears
Dt20-03d "Dont be soft hearted" RASHI: From HORSE TRAMPLING
Dt20-03e "Dont be afraid" RASHI: From sheild clapping
Dt20-03f "Dont be hurried(?anxious)" RASHI: From horn blasts
Dt20-03g "Dont be shattered" RASHI: From Troop cries
Rashi does NOT derive these components from the words in
Dt20-03 but rather from the explicit statements in
Dt20-01. Here is the correspondence between Dt20-01
and Dt20-03
{LIST1} {The left column contains the 4 words of fear in
Dt20-03. The next column contains the Rashis on
these words followed by the associated military
concept. As can be seen the Rashi does NOT
correspond to the words (eg why should HORNS
make you feel HURRIED while HORSES make you
feel SOFT HEARTED). However the words in Rashi
do correspond to the words in Dt20-01 (Eg HORSES
corresponds to HORSES). Thus we have usage of
the technique of other verses}
Words in Rashi on Military Words in
Dt20-03 Dt20-03 Concept Dt20-01
------- -------- -------- ---------
soft hearted From Horses Transportation Horses
Fear From Shields Weapons Chariots
Hurried From horns Communications Nation
Shattered Troop crys Troop morale More than you
RASHI NOT BEING PICKY ON WORDS
------------------------------
Again Rashi is NOT being picky on words.
EXAMPLES (Of how Rashi was not being picky on words)
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1)SOFT HEARTED denotes any lack of steadfastness or inability
to stand and stick to something(eg 2Ch13-07 "Rechavan was
young and soft hearted (and couldn't stand up to Yaravam)"
So there is no correspondence between SOFT HEARTED and CRY
OF HORSES
2)The Hebrew word CHAFAZ means "HURRIED" as in Ex12-11 "Eat
the passover HURRIEDLY" or 2S4-4 "They hurried to leave and
..he fell, laming him" Why then should HORN BLASTS be
associated with a feeling of HURRIEDNESS (Anxiety)
3)The Hebrew word ARATZ seems to mean SHATTERED (physically
or emotionally) as in Isa10-33 ("Twigging a tree with a
TREE SHATTERER"). Why then should TROOP CRIES be associated
with SHATTERED.
4) There is no CLIMACTIC DEVELOPMENT in this verse
eg. Dt01-29 says "Dont be SHATTERED or AFRAID"
vs Dt31-06 says "Dont be AFRAID or SHATTERED"
So neither of these words (SHATTERED vs AFRAID) is worse than
the other. (This corresponds to the principle that MORE
important items are ALWAYS listed first while EQUAL items are
sometimes listed in either order (see
http://www.rashiYomi.com/nu27-01b.htm)
RASHI USES RABBI ISHMAEL RULES OF STYLE
---------------------------------------
Dt20-01:04 has a GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL style as follows
GENERAL: When you go to war dont be afraid GOD IS WITH YOU
DETAILS: Dont be SOFT, AFRAID, HURRIED, SHATTERED
GENERAL: For GOD IS WALKING WITH YOU
In accordance with the Rabbi Ishmael Rules of style we are
required to interpret this sequence of verses by GENERALIZING
the details. That is we **should** include all items of fear.
Thus the essential driving force of Rashi is Rabbi Ishmaels
requirement of generalization.
We now understand why Rashi listed the 4 components of war:
TRANSPORT, WEAPONS, COMMUNICATION, TROOPS. Rashi was saying
don't be afraid of ANYTHING.
Rashi is further supported by the rather good correspondence
between Dt20-01 and these 4 concepts (HORSE-CHARIOT-NATION-MANY)
corresonds well (but not perfectly) to (TRANSPORTATION(horse)-
WEAPONS(Chariot)-COMMUNICATION(?nation)-TROOPS(Many))
RULE USED: CLIMAX
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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 7 Number 11
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
Volume 7 Number 11