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VERSE: Dt32-20b

RASHIS COVERED: Dt32-20b Dt32-21c

======================== Dt32-20b ============================

SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
One of Rashis 10 main goals is the explanation of
meaning the same way a dictionary explains meaning.
We call this the Rashi method of WORD MEANING.

Rashi had 10 vehicles by which to explain words.
Rashi frequently explains not, word meaning, but rather
phrase meaning. That is each particular word in the
phrase may have a known meaning but the collection of
words  together form a NEW IDIOMATIC MEANING.
We call this the NEW MEANING or the IDIOM SUBMETHOD.

EXAMPLE 1: Dt32-20b
-------------------
Dt32-20b states
-----------------------------------
They [the Jews] have enraged Me [God]
with a NO-NATION ....
-----------------------------------

Rashi translates
---------------------------------
NO-NATION means a DESPICABLE NATION
---------------------------------

Rashi in fact brings verse support that
the nations involved were considered
despicable.

EXAMPLE 2: Dt32-21c
-------------------
Dt32-21c states
-----------------------------------------
They [The Jews] are a TURNING-GENERATION
-----------------------------------------

Rashi interprets this similar to the
English Idiom TURN-A-COAT
------------------------------------------
TURNING Generation means a DOUBLE-CROSSING
generation---that is, a generation that
TURNS every piece of good that God
does to us as something bad
------------------------------------------

LIST854x below presents other examples of Biblical idioms.
==================================================================
ITEM                     DETAIL
======================== =========================================
RASHI RULE CLASS:        WORD MEANINGS
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS      NEW MEANINGS
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #7
SEE BELOW                LIST854x
List of                  Biblical idioms(eg FROM DAYS DAYS=YEARLY)
==================================================================


======================= LIST854x ================================
List of Biblical idioms..eg FROM DAYS DAYS=YEARLY
LIST854x continues  LIST854d LIST854z LIST854y
=================================================================
VERSE    BIBLICAL PHRASE         TRANSLATION           NOTES
======== ======================= ===================== ==========
Dt32-20b NO-NATION               DESPICABLE nation
Dt32-21c TURNING generation      TURN-A-COATS
Dt17-09a PRIEST-LEVITES          Priests or Levites    *6
-------  -------------------     --------------------- -----
Dt13-13b when you hear a RUMOR   TO BE SAID over&over  *5
Ex35-04a God commandsTo TRANSMIT TO BE SAID over       *5
Nu12-13b Prayed/Demands RESPONSE TO BE SAID back       *5
Nu27-15b Prayed/Demands RESPONSE TO BE SAID back       *5
Ex20-01c God said:Asked RESPONSE Affirm will keep      *5
-------  -------------------     --------------------- -----
Dt12-28b Do the MORAL & PROPER   Spiritual/Social good *4
Dt12-28c Do the MORAL & PROPER   Spiritual/Social good *4
-------  -------------------     --------------------- -----
Nu26-54a MOUTH OF LOTTERY        Closed Jar Lottery    *3
Nu21-20c HEAD OF THE CLIFF       TOP of the CLIFF      *2
Nu13-20b DAYS OF GRAPE 1st FRUIT GRAPE HARVEST SEASON
Nu13-32a Land EATS INHABITANTS   PLAGUE RIDDEN LAND
Lv25-23b Dont STICK THE SALE     Dont sell PERMANANTLY No redeem
Lv26-17a PLACE FACE*1            Total attention/focus to punish
Lv13-12a HEAD to FOOT   Whole body
Gn37-26b COVER BLOOD             conceal MURDER

NOTES
-----

*1 Rashi, Lv26-17h points out that the phrase
   -------------
   PLACE MY FACE
   -------------
   means
   --------------
   FULL ATTENTION
   --------------
   whether
   - for good, to reward
   - for bad, to punish.

*2 NOTE: The Hebrew word HEAD can mean both
 - BEGINNING
 - TOP
   However in this verse
 - the HEAD OF THE CLIFF contrasts with
 - the VALLEY in MOAB
   Hence HEAD means TOP

*3 A MOUTH LOTTERY refers to a lottery where you stick your
   hand in and select an item WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SEE THE
   ITEMS (In an open-box lottery you can see what you are
   picking even though you see backs of cards. In a MOUTH
   LOTTERY the box is covered except for a small MOUTH).
   The MOUTH LOTTERY is more secure and fairer.
   Hence the Rashi

   The name MOUTH LOTTERY is because the box has only
   a small mouth preventing you from seeing what is
   inside.
   ---------------------------------------------------
   MOUTH LOTTERY means that the LOTTERY speaks and says
   this belongs to so and so
   ---------------------------------------------------

   Of course, Rashi did not believe that LOTTERIES speak.
   Rather Rashi refers to the SECURITY and FAIRNESS of
   the lottery. In other words
   - MOUTH LOTTERY refers to a small MOUTH on LOTTERY box
     (not to a physical voice on the box)
   - Since the MOUTH LOTTERY is secure it is AS IF it
     screams and points to a correct fair choice

*4 Rashi is NOT explaining the meaning of the INDIVIDUAL WORDS
   - GOOD
   - PROPER
   Indeed, GOOD can mean SOCIALLY GOOD also (See Gn26-29)
   Therefore we have interpreted this Rashi as an example
   of the IDIOM method.

*5 These five examples show various idiomatic meanings of
   the INFINITIVE of the verb TO SAY: TO SAY can mean
   - TO SAY BACK: Request for response
   - TO SAY OVER: To Transmit
   - TO SAY OVER AND OVER: Rumor
   See LIST955m for a separate summary

*6 Thus in Dt18-01
   -------------------------------------
    The PRIEST-LEVITES shall not inherit
    from the conquest of Israel
   -------------------------------------
   the phrase PRIEST-LEVITES means
   PRIESTS OR LEVITES.

   Another occurrence of this phrase
   occurs in Dt17-18.

   In Dt17-09a Rashi does state
   ------------------------------------
   The PRIESTS who are no longer Levites
   ------------------------------------

    But I understand this to mean
   ------------------------------------
   PRIESTS by itself means PRIESTS but
   not Levites while LEVITES by itself
   could mean LEVITES but not Priests--
   PRIEST LEVITES means PRIESTS OR LEVITES*10
   -------------------------------------

--------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES -----------------------------

*10 Dt17-09 states
    ---------------------------------------
    [If you have a legal question then]
    ask the PRIEST-LEVITES, the Judges of
    the day
    ---------------------------------------

    The law PREFERS that the great Sanhedrin
    court in Jerusalem consist of PRIESTS.
    Levites are a second choice (and Israelite
    scholars are a third choice).

    So it appears that Rashi's comment
    --------------------------------------
    Priests but not Levites
    --------------------------------------
    is literal.

    But in Dt18-01 the prohibition of inheriting
    conquested Israelie land applies to EITHER
    Priests OR Levites.

    Similarly I would interprtet Dt17-09 to mean
    that EITHER Priests or Levites should preferably
    be on the Great Sanhedrin. That is the Biblical
    law.

    But Rabbinically---since Priests are more
    involved with the Temple there is a preference
    for Priests to be elected to the great court
    vs. Levites. This preference however is rooted
    in logic not in the verse. The IDIOM, PRIEST-LEVITES
    means PRIESTS or LEVITES as shown.
================================================================
---------------------------------------------------
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Volume 27 Number 16


#*#*#*#  (C) 2000-2005, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#
Volume 27 Number 16