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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:
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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:
--------
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In the following 5 examples*1 the phrase
IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS DAY denotes something being done
in BROAD DAYLIGHT
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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
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In the following verses TODAY means EXACTLY today
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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
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In the following verses TODAY refers to a SPECIAL DAY
like an ANNIVERSAY
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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
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In the following verses TODAY takes on a new meaning
The word TODAY means something BRIGHT & SPARKLING (like
the brightness of a day)
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{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".
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In the following verses TODAY means FRESH*1
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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