#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
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| Rashi is Simple Version 2.0 |
| (C) RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President |
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VERSE: Dt28-05a
RASHIS COVERED: Dt28-06a Dt28-05a Dt28-05b
======================= GODS BLESSINGS ==========================
VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
Some Rashis are not based on dictionary meaning or even grammar.
Rather they are based on the PERCEIVED CLIMACTIC STRUCTURE of
the verses. Reviewing the blessings of Dt28-02:06 we see
the following climax
- GENERAL STATEMENT: God will bless you
- 1st STAGE: Blessings in city/field------Blessings in PLACE
- 2nd STAGE: Blessings in fruit,children--Blessings in LIFE
- 3rd STAGE: Blessings in storage---------Blessings in TIME
- 4th STAGE: Blessings in this-next world-Blessings in EXISTENCE
It is the overall climactic structure that reshapes meaning
----------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE: CLIMAX
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: CLIMAX
----------------------------------------
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RULE
-------------------------
Briefly speaking the CLIMAX rule applies when
the Bible repeats an idea in similar language
3 or more times. The CLIMAX rule views these
repeating phrases as forming a Biblical PARAGRAPH.
The CLIMAX rule first identifies the UNIFYING TOPIC
idea of this paragraph.
The CLIMAX rule then shows how this basic TOPIC idea
is DEVELOPED over a series of STAGES.
The CLIMAX rule justifies its assertions, not by
grammar or meaning, but rather by the EXPECTATION
THAT A PARAGRAPH OF REPEATING PHRASES MUST BE SHOWING
DEVELOPMENT. The grammar and meaning are at most
supportive - they are never proofs. The standard example
illustrate this.
STANDARD EXAMPLE
----------------
The clearest example of a CLIMAX RASHI is Dt19-11
---------------------------------------
When a person HATES his friend
and he AMBUSHES him
and CONFRONTS him
and he LETHALLY HITS HIM and he dies
...then the murderer will be tried and dies
---------------------------------------
STUDENT EXERCISES
-----------------
- Find the TOPIC IDEA (or the UNIFYING idea) in
the above 4 phrases
- Show how the list of CAPPED verbs describes
HOW IT HAPPENS--that is it shows a progression
of STAGES that naturally leads to murder.
- In describing this succession of stages you
may have to stretch the meaning of some words.
Justify this using CLIMAX
RASHIS SOLUTION
---------------
ANSWERS TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS:
- The TOPIC IDEA is MURDER. The above paragraph
is describing a MURDER
- The 3 stages that naturally lead to murder are
-- HATRED
-- PARANOIA-noticing every action of the hated person
-- CONFRONTATION-disagreeing with actions of the hated
When you have such a setup: Continual confrontation
coupled with a lack of privacy rooted in hatred--there
eventually erupts a fight which can lead to death.
COMMENTS: Note how we re-translate the word AMBUSH
to refer to a general atmosphere of SPYING AND NOTICING
the hated person. But AMBUSH does NOT mean SPYING and
NOTICING. That is Rashi has used POETIC LICENSE--he
has STRETCHED the meaning of the word AMBUSH to include
all spying and noticing.
The justification for this stretch of meaning is the
CLIMAX prinicple which allows and even requires us to
stretch some meanings in repeated Biblical
phrases in order that the paragraph conform to a succession
of stages. In other words, CLIMAX takes precedence over
dictionary meaning and even grammar---the need to see the
paragraph unified and developed justifies these
reinterpretations.
The understanding of this principle--that CLIMAX, not
the dictionary, justifies poetic license will help
clarify the simplicity in many Rashis.
STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
---------------------------------
A standard reference for Rashis using climax may
be found at http://www.RashiYomi.com/example9.htm
Also visit the Rashi calendar at
http://www.RashiYomi.com/calendar1.htm
The CLIMAX series was presented from Mid August 2000
to Mid September (Xampl-1 thru Xampl-22 on the
calendar).(Or directly go to
http://www.RashiYomi.com/xampl-1.htm
http://www.RashiYomi.com/xampl-2.htm....
It is summarized at Xampl-36.
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/xampl-36.htm
(NOTE: We there regard CLIMAX as an example of the
Rabbi Ishmael DETAIL-GENERAL principle. The Topic
sentence becomes the GENERAL STATEMENT (MURDER).
The phrases preceding this general statement are seen
as the DETAILS of murder (HATE, AMBUSH, CONFRONTATION).
The Rabbi Ishmael style rules require us to GENERALIZE
these details. Hence the word AMBUSH which has a
specific meaning is generalized by Rashi to refer to
any SPYING and persistent noticing. Thus Rabbi Ishmael
justifies the POETIC LICENSE used by Rashi. These are
two different perspectives describing the same thing.)
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 use the above resources
to display verses with repeating phrases.
You can then have the students do the 3 exercises
listed above:
(a) Find the Topic sentence
(b) Describe the Development in stages
(c) List deviations from standard meanings.
The students can then compare their analysis with that
of Rashis. This leads to greater appreciation of Rashi.
TODAYS EXAMPLE
--------------
We present the CLIMACTIC list in Dt28-02:06. Footnotes further
clarify the nature of the climax. It is the climactic nature
that justifies Rashis nuances of meaning--Rashi did not derive
these meanings from other verses or grammar--Rather Rashi
asserted these meanings because CLIMAX required them.
=================================================================
VERSE VERSE TEXT--Blessings in PLACE IN CLIMACTIC STRUCTURE
======== ========================= ==============================
Dt28-02 God will bless you General introduction
Dt28-03 Blessings in CITY/FIELD Blessings in PLACE
Dt28-04 Children,fruit,livestock Blessings in LIFE(Offspring)*1
Dt28-05 liquid/solid storage*2 Blessings in TIME (Storage)*3
Dt28-06 ..you comings/goings Blessings in EXISTENCE*4 *11
NOTES
------
*1 That is the blessing to increase fruit, children, & livestock
is a general blessing to increase living items
*2 Rashi uses OTHER VERSES (Ex12-34 and Dt26-02) to suggest
that the Hebrew words used MISHAR and TENEH refer to
storage devices of dry and moist goods respectively. This
is also supported by the CLIMACTIC STRUCTURE *10
*3 To STORE something is to PRESERVE IT OVER TIME.
*4 Here is the main point: We cannot infer the meaning of
COMING & GOING from other verses. However,the climactic
structure suggests
- you will have SPACE (City/fields)
- you will have LIFE (Offspring)
- you will have TIME (Preservation)
The next stage (the climax) would be happiness in both
this world (SPACE-LIFE-TIME) and the NEXT WORLD.
The focal point of Rashi is to adopt an explanation that
makes Dt28-02:06 flow in a CLIMACTIC manner.
---------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES -----------------------
*10
Both words in this verse occur very infrequently in the Bible
Ex12-34 suggests that MISHAR is KNAPSACK to keep food
--------------------------------------------
The Jews fled Egypt with their MISHAR tied
on their clothes on their shoulders
--------------------------------------------
This would suggest that MISHAR refers to some type of
knapsack to keep (food) items.
The Hebrew root ShAR means LEFTOVER and so the
MISHAR could be where LEFTOVER food is kept.
Similarly Dt26-02 sheds light on TENEH as a storage device
---------------------------------------------------
And you will take the fruit in a TENEH up to Jerusalem
-----------------------------------------------------
Further proof comes from the
the CLIMACTIC structure of the above chapter: For
after having ample SPACE, and PRODUCING OFFSPRING,the
next step is TO PRESERVE AND MAINTAIN the fruit and
animals produced.
The above shows that MISHAR and TENEH are STORAGE
DEVICES designed to keep FRUIT & ANIMALS.
Based on Ex12-34 and Dt26-02 Rashi adds the nuance that
- MISHAR stores DRY goods (Like Flour) (Dt28-05a)
- TENEH stores MOIST goods (Like Fruit) (Dt28-05b)
*11 There are other verses left in the chapter. I would suggest
that
- Dt28-02:06 refers to PERSONAL blessings
- Dt28-07:10 refers to NATIONAL BLESSINGS AMONG OTHER NATIONS
Thus eg Dt28-07 refers to defeat of enemies
Similarly Dt28-09 refers to being HOLY (relative to other
nations). We would suggest that Dt28-08 refers to blessings
in fruit for purposes of EXPORT/IMPORT.
These other verses will be the subject of future postings
=================================================================
RASHI RULE USED: CLIMAX
---------------------------------------------------
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 15 Number 7
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 15 Number 7