#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (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: Dt27-09b

RASHIS COVERED: Dt32-48a Dt31-02c Dt29-03b Dt26-03c Dt01-10a
                Dt29-12c Dt06-06b Dt11-13c Dt26-16a Dt07-11a
                Dt27-09b



BACKGROUND:
----------
Certain Biblical verses use the word TODAY--for example, "Do
the commandments that I command you TODAY".What is the
significance of the TODAY style?


RULE:
----
The word TODAY can indicate one of 5 meanings
a) It can indicate something being done in 'broad daylight'
b) It can indicate that something happened exactly today
c) It can emphasize a special day like an Anniversary
d) It can take on a new meaning--something special (like a 'star'
e) It can indicate freshness and newness


EXAMPLES:
--------

----------------------------------------------------------
  In the following 5 examples*1 the phrase
  IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS DAY denotes something being done
  in BROAD DAYLIGHT
----------------------------------------------------------


1) Gn07-13-----Noach came into the ark IN BROAD DAYLIGHT
   RASHI: The people of his generation wanted to stop him
   So God put on a show of force--'Noach came in BROAD
   DAYLIGHT to the ark and no one stopped him'


2) Ex12-51----The Jews left Egypt in BROAD DAYLIGHT
   RASHI: The Egyptians wanted to stop the Exodus. So God
   put on a show of force--'The Jews left in BROAD DAYLIGHT'

3) Dt32-48a--God ordered Moses to die in BROAD DAYLIGHT
   RASHI: The people wanted to 'stop God' from taking Moses
   on the grounds that he had done so many miracles for them
   Therefore God took him away in Broad daylight


4) Lv23-21 The holidays must be celebrated in Broad daylight
   (APPLICATION OF RASHIS METHODS TO SIMILAR VERSES: Since
   all Jews will be in Jerusalem, the borders will be unguarded
   and the non-Jews will want to attack. Therefore God gives
   a show of force and protects the Jews(cf the explicit
   statement in Ex34-24).

5) Gn17-23 Abraham circumcised himself in BROAD DAYLIGHT
   (APPLICATION OF RASHIS METHODS TO SIMILAR VERSES:
   Abraham was afraid that the nations he had just
   conquered (Gn14) would attack him and his household while
   he was recovering from circumcision (see Gn34-24:25 for a
   similar tactic). Hence God put on a show of force and had
   him circumcise in broad daylight.


NOTES
-----
*1 Rashi only cites the 1st 3 examples. There are actually 5.
   We have taught numerous times that Rashi uses
   workbook methods. Therefore we apply this translation
   to all 5 examples



----------------------------------------------------------
  In the following verses TODAY means EXACTLY today
----------------------------------------------------------

6) Dt31-02c I am 120 years old TODAY
   RASHI: It was his BIRTHDAY

7) Dt29-03b It is just TODAY that you know God protects you
   RASHI: The following {LIST} of verses shows a sequence
   of events that happened on that day

   {LIST}
   VERSE   EVENT ON THAT DAY
   -----   -----------------
   Dt29-03 You know TODAY that God protects you
   Dt29-09 You stand before God TODAY to receive the convenant
   Dt30-16 I give you TODAY the choice of GOOD vs EVIL
   Dt31-02 I am 120 years old TODAY; Joshua is taking over
   Dt31-24 Moses gives a copy of the Torah to the Levites

   So Rashi conjectures that when the people saw Moses giving
   a copy of the Torah to the Levites (to protect) they
   complained and said 'What about us..we need a copy also'

   Hence Moses responded...Now (that you have asked for a copy
   also) you understand that God is **your** God


----------------------------------------------------------
  In the following verses TODAY refers to a SPECIAL DAY
  like an ANNIVERSAY
----------------------------------------------------------


8) Dt26-03c I tell to God, THIS DAY, that we are in Israel
   RASHI: THIS DAY----Like an anniversay day, once a year,
   at Passover time we commemorate how God took us out of Egypt


----------------------------------------------------------
  In the following verses TODAY takes on a new meaning
  The word TODAY means something BRIGHT & SPARKLING (like
  the brightness of a day)
----------------------------------------------------------

  {LIST} {Words denoting LIGHT and also something BRIGHT}

  WORD   MEANING OF LIGHT       MEANING OF SPECIAL
  ----   ----------------       ------------------
  Bright Bright light           Intelligent
  Star   Light in sky           Outstanding person
  Beam   Beam of light          Beaming smile
  Dazzle Dazzling light         Outstanding performance
  TODAY  Daylight vs night      Outstanding person


9) Dt01-10a You are THE DAY like multiple bright Stars
   RASHI: You **must** interpret this verse as stated (that
   THE DAY indicates something special like the word STAR
   in English) Indeed in the very next verse Moses blesses
   them that they should multiply--so the meaning of this
   verse couldn't be that they are plentiful but rather
   that despite their numbers, each Jew shined like a DAY
   or Star


10) Dt29-12c God took you to make you a "THE DAY" to him
    RASHI: Although it is possible that this verse means
    that God took you TODAY to be his nation nevertheless
    it just stated TODAY twice in the previous 2 verses.
    Hence it is preferable to interpret this occurence
    as THE DAY (like the English word STAR).

    Furthermore (not in Rashi) there is a "pause" after
    the word THE DAY indicating that it is the end of
    a sentence "God has made you THE DAY".


----------------------------------------------------------
  In the following verses TODAY means FRESH*1
----------------------------------------------------------

11) Dt06-06b The FRESH commandments I give you
12) Dt11-13c The FRESH commandments I give you
13) Dt26-16a The FRESH commandments I give you
14) Dt07-11a The FRESH commandments I give you*2
15) Dt27-09b Hear Jews, you are REFRESHED as a nation to God


NOTES
-----
*1 There are two possible etymologies for this meaning

   As we just explained TODAY functions like the words
   BRIGHT, DAZZLING, STAR and hence can indicate something
   Fresh.

   Alternatively as we just explained TODAY can denote a
   special day like an ANNIVERSARY which could then
   metaphorically mean a SPECIAL day.

   In either case the idea that TODAY=FRESH is definitely
   a new meaning.

   Note further that I interpret Rashis phrase "The word
   TODAY means that you should regard it as if it was given
   today" to mean "TODAY means FRESH"


*2 Rashi on this verse says "The commandments that I command
   you TODAY TO DO"---TO DO today; TO RECEIVE REWARD tomorrow
   in the next world".

   However as can be seen from our ONE DOZEN examples, TODAY
   never means IN THIS WORLD!!

   Thus I think it preferable to classify this usage of TODAY
   as meaning FRESH.

   As to Rashis (explicit) statement "TODAY TO DO; TOMORROW
   TO RECEIVE REWARD" I suggest this is a reference to how
   people who serve God from love (Dt07-09:11) serve God
   FRESHLY--they do the commandments out of love and don't
   seek reward.

   I realize that one can make a LIST and show that this is
   the only verse where it says TODAY TO DO. However as
   I have pointed out, of the dozen or so usages of DAY we
   have none that mean THIS WORLD (Furthermore such a meaning
   would be inconsistent with the other usages).

   It would appear that further investigation must be made
   into this rashi (TzaRiCh Iyun).
---------------------------------------------------
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Volume 7 Number 12


#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
Volume 7 Number 12