#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
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| (C) Dr Hendel, Summer 2000 |
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VERSE: Dt24-10a
RASHIS COVERED: Dt24-10a Gn03-13a Dt32-18a Gn32-33a Ex22-24a
COMMENT:
=======
This posting is an excellent opportunity on how to use the
method of UNIFIED MEANINGS. I warmly suggest everyone interested
in advanced Biblical research to read it.
RULE
====
The fundamental meaning of >Nun-Shin-Hey< is >to get someone
invovled in something<.
APPLICATION
===========
This root is traditionally translated in 3-4 ways. We now list
these 3-4 methods and show how they reflect the idea of >getting
involved in something<
Before beginning we note that RADACK in his book ROOTS, lists
the meanings of >Nun-Shin-Hey< and >Nun-Shin-Tauv< separately.
It would appear that Rashi may hold there to be one root. Either
way the meanings of the two roots are related and we will treat
them together.
MEANING 1-TO LOAN
=========
In the causative tense >NSH< means to >LOAN<. Actually
Rashi on Dt24-10a says it means >To create a LIEN on somebody<
This views >LOANING< as getting INVOLVED with someone monetarily
Similarly Ex22-24a says >Dont treat someone you loaned money to,
like a lender<. Rashi explains >Dont ask him for repayment if
you know he doesnt have any money<. Hence, we could translate the
verse as >If you loan someone money then dont get him involved
with you< that is, dont pester him when he has no money.
At this point we havent proven our assertion that >NSH< means
>cause to get involved<. Rather we have shown that the idea
of >LOANING< is similar to the idea of >causing someone to get
involved with you<
MEANING 2-TO STOP
=========
The rare root form >Nun-Shin-Tauv< means to >STOP< to >CEASE<.
This rare form only occurs twice in the Bible. (Rashi seems to
take the root as >Nun-SHin-Hey< in both places).
Thus RADACK interprets Isa19-05 as > the water will STOP from
the Nile<.
However we prefer the following translation: >the water from
the Nile will be LOANED (NSH!) for other projects and GET
INVOLVED in other projects (till their is no water left)<
In other words the emphasis is not that the water
will cease, but rather the emphasis is that the water will be
used for other purposes till their is none left. Thus the
>Ceasing< is a CONSEQUENCE of it being used but not the PRIMARY
meaning of the word >NSH<.
In our modern world of >overusing< resources I am sure there is
sympathy for this suggested interpretation: that the Nile will
be used till there is no more water.
At this point we begin to see the drama of finding a UNIFIED
MEANING. For indeed, the word >STOP or CEASE< is the usual
translation. But by connecting this word with the meaning
>LOAN< we give a more focused specificity to >HOW IT STOPS<
MEANING 3-FORGET
=========
The usual meaning of >NSH< is to >FORGET<.
We suggest that >NSH< doesnt refer to any type
of forgetting but rather to forgetting that happens because
you get sidetracked and involved in something else. Let us
look at a few examples
EXAMPLE 3a: Gn03-13a >The snake made me FORGET the prohibition
---------- of eating from the tree and I ate<
But Rashi on Gn03-01c points out that this was not any forgetting
Rashi says that >the snake occupied her with a long conversation
so that she could get sidetracked<
So indeed, Gn03-13 is referring to a >FORGETTING< that comes from
being >INVOVLED IN SOMETHING ELSE< Equivalantly it refers to a
>FORGETTING< that comes from >LOANING< your attention to another
matter.
EXAMPLE 3b: Gn41-51 (Rashi comments on this on Gn32-33a)
---------- >And Joseph called his sons name FORGET because
God has made me FORGET my aggravation & my family<
But we suggest that the following translation is more poignant
>And Joseph called his sons name INVOLVED because
God has made me INVOLVED in saving the world
from famine so that I dont have time to think
about my aggravation and family<
This last translation was particularly emphasized by Rav Hirsch
who in his commentary asks >Would Joseph really claim that he
FORGOT his family...it is rather more logical to say that he
was INVOLVED in other matters<
EXAMPLE 3c: Dt32-18a
----------- >You have FORGOTTEN the ROCK (God) who has given
birth to you<
But we suggest that a better translation is >You have made
God OCCUPIED with punishing you so that He does not have
time to do you favors< (Rashis translation)
Thus we indeed see that Rashi prefers an emphasis, not on
forgetting but rather on forgetting AS A CONSEQUENCE OF BEING
INVOLVED IN OTHER MATTERS.
MEANING 4: Gn32-33a
---------
The Hebrew >Gid HaNaSheH< means >the dislocated tendon(sinew?)<
This seems consistent with the meanings >STOPPED< or >FORGOTTEN<
It is as if the sinew STOPPED functioning or FORGOT its purpose
But we suggest that like many exercise injuries, a better
translation is, >the OVERUSED tendon<. In other words in
the process of wrestling the tendon was stretched and stretched
and used and used till it dislocated. In other words this tendon
>GOT INVOLVED< or was >LOANED< out to too many activities.
Again, we have not proven our point but rather only showed
a consistency with our suggested translation.
SUMMARY:
========
{LIST}
The standard translation of the Hebrew root >NSH< (and/or >NST)
has 4 meanings (a) Forgot (b) Loan (c) Stop (d) Dislocated.
This is the approach of the RADACK in his book of Roots.
By contrast, Rashi, suggests a unified meaning which emphasizes
that the FORGETTING and CEASING and DISLOCATION is a
>CONSEQUENCE< of being OVERLY INVOLVED in other activities. Thus
Rashi gives a more specific translation
================================================================
VERSE MEANING TEXT OF VERSE USING CONCEPT OF involved with
===== ======= ============================================
Dt24-10a Loan Create a LIEN on his property*1
Ex22-24a Loan Dont pester him if you know he doesnt have*2
Isa19-05 Cease People will LOAN Nile water till its empty*3
Gn41-51 Forget God got me involved in something else*4
Gn03-13a Forget*5 Snake got me involved in long talk(& I forgot
Dt32-18a Forget*6 You anger God &get him invovled in punishment
Gn32-33a Dislocated The Sinew was OVERUSED till it dislocated*7
NOTES
=====
*1 Rashis language: Note the emphasis on CREATING A LIEN (getting
involved vs giving and loaning)
*2 Rashis langauge:Again note the emphasis on getting him
involved
*3 My suggestion. Note the picturesque specificity.
*4 Rav Hirschs suggested interpretation. The forgetting
was a consequence of being involved in something else
*5 Rashis suggestion on Gn03-01
*6 Rashi. Note that this differs from the sifsay Chachamim who
erroneously thinks Rashi is referring to another root: TShSh
The way we have explained it, Rashi was still using the
root NSH. But: The emphasis in NSH is not forgetting/stopping
but rather getting invovled in another activity that leads
to forgetting/stopping. Indeed God did not forget us---rather
He was involved in punishment and could not simultaneously
focus on helping us.
*7 A standard cause of DISLOCATION is OVERUSE (You loan the
muscle/tendon out too much till it gets dislocated)
{END OF LIST}
COMMENT
=======
For those who want to learn the technique of UNIFIED MEANING
this is an excellent posting. For we never come out and PROVE
our case. Nor do we come out and show Rashi saying it explicitly
Rather we
--suggest a unified explanation
--show hints of this explanation in Rashi and other commentators
--show how it gives greater specificity
Thus the decision to believe this UNIFIED EXPLANATION becomes
more subjective than objective. Hence this is an excellent
posting for those who want to study methodology
RASHI RULE USED: UNIFIED MEANING
---------------------------------------------------
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Volume 8 Number 16
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
Volume 8 Number 16