#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
-----------------------------------------------------------
| Rashi is Simple Version 2.0 |
| (C) RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President |
| http://www.RashiYomi.Com |
| PERMISSION to reprint WITH this header if NOT for profit |
------------------------------------------------------------
VERSE: Dt32-05a
RASHIS COVERED: Dt32-33a Dt32-33b Gn01-21a Ex07-10a
============= TANIM means LONG SLENDER ANIMAL ==================
VERY BRIEF SUMMARY:
-------------------
The Hebrew root TANIM occurs only about 2 dozen times in the
Bible. The TANIM is a type of LIVING CREATURE. To determine
its meanings we examine the lists of verses where it occurs
From these verses we see that TANIM refers to SNAKES,
WATER ANIMALS, ANIMALS THAT NURSE, ANIMALS KNOWN FOR THEIR
SWALLOWING. It would thus appear that TANIM can refer to
SNAKES, CROCODILES, & WHALES. The common denominator is ANY
LONG SLENDER LIVING BEING---this is also hinted at by RADACK
in his book ROOTS. Similarly Rashi interprets each verse
consistent the context.
----------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE: WORD MEANINGS
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: ALL ASPECTS
----------------------------------------
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RULE
-------------------------
Rashi has 6 main goals in his commentary. One of these
goals was to simply explain the meaning of words the
same way a dictionary explains the meaning of words.
In explaining the meanings of words Rashi might
-- explain an unknown word
-- explain the differences in nuances between 2 synonyms
-- explain the meaning of a whole phrase
-- explain a unifying feature of one root with several meanings
In doing the above Rashi had recourse to use
-- 13 different methods of inferring meaning
-- 8 different methods of naming objects
Thus the reader of Rashi can adopt
-- an elementary stance--just find out the meaning
-- an advanced stance----discover how meaning is inferred
We suffice in this brief introduction of providing
-- the main 2 methods of inferring meaning(ROOTS,OTHER VERSES)
-- resources for the more advanced student
STANDARD EXAMPLE
----------------
Perhaps the easiest example is to infer meaning from
context. Thus Dt28-27 states
------------------------------------
God will strike with EGYPTIAN BOILS
hemmorhoids psoraisis(GARAV CHARES)
that cannot be cured
------------------------------------
NOTE: Throughout this posting I speak about BOILS & PSORAISIS.
But this is to specific. I actually mean ANY SKIN disease which
resembles these. Thus BOILS could also refer to CARBUNCLES and
PSORAISIS could also refer to ECZEMA etc. In other words I refer
to CLASSES of SKIN DISEASES. However to avoid the long winded
phrase PSORAISIS-LIKE DISEASES I will simply suffice with
the term PSORAISIS
STUDENT EXERCISES
-----------------
Suppose you didnt know the meaning of GARAV & CHARES
-- What would you GENERALLY infer from the context
-- What specific DETAILS could you infer
-- Could you apply this to Lv21-20
-- Could you infer more details from Ex09-09
RASHIS SOLUTION
---------------
GENERALLY: I could infer that GARAV & CHARES are
diseases. Indeed it speaks about God STRIKING
and there being NO CURE
DETAILS: You can infer that this was an INCURABLE
disease (because the verse says THAT CANT BE CURED)
APPLICATION: Since Lv21-20 also speaks about GARAV
and YALEFETH I would assume that BOTH Garav and
YALEFETH are diseases.
FURTHER DETAILS: Ex09-09 speaks about Egyptian Boils
The verses states that the BOILS SPROUTED WITH FLOWS.
I therefore infer that these BOILS were PUSSY on
the outside.
The above solutions were not just Rashis. They are
brought down in the Talmud (Becoroth 41). This shows
that this type of analysis far from being mundane
and routine is classified as TALMUDIC ANALYSIS. It is
therefore worthy of study of any person.
Although Rashi explanations are sometimes approached from
the point of view of authority, in relation to word meanings
it is useful to use logic. Indeed modern research shows that
50% of our vocabulary arises, not from being TAUGHT A MEANING,
but rather from INFERRING a meaning from context. It is
therefore a proper procedure to use in studying the Bible.
STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
---------------------------------
A short reference for the 6 Rashi rules may be found at
http://www.RashiYomi.com/rules-01.htm
A summary of Rashi explanations of words may be found at
http://www.RashiYomi.com/words.htm
A summary of the 13 methods of inferring meaning occur at
http://www.RashiYomi.com/means-32.htm
A summary of the 8 methods of naming items occurs at
http://www.RashiYomi.com/naming-8.htm
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 gather (a) related verses and (b) related
roots. You can then have the studnets analyze
these verses. The students should perform the
4 exercises listed above on the verses presented
The students can then compare their analysis with that
of Rashis. This leads to greater appreciation of Rashi.
TODAYS LIST
-----------
We present several verses mentioning TANIN but give
different characteristics.*10
=================================================================
VERSE TANIN means VERSE-2 CHARACTERISTICS OF TANIN MENTIONED
======== ============ ======== ==================================
Gn01-21 Big Fish Gn01-20 Swarming in SEAS
Ex07-10 snake Ex07-15 The stick that became a SNAKE
Lam04-03 Whales? Lam04-03 The Whales NURSE their young
Jr51-34 Crockodile? Jr51-34 SWALLOWS like a CROCKODILE
Isa27-01 Leviathan Isa27-01 Straight & Crooked Snake*2
NOTES
-----
*1 cf Ps74-13 God Broke the heads of the crockodiles (viscious
enemies) on the waters or
Ez29-03 God will be on you Pharoh, the GREAT CROCKODILE
that RESTS on waters.
Crockodiles are known for their strong jaws; they also
are known for resting on waters for their prey with their
heads above the waters.
*2 This verse refers to TANIM, STRAIGHT SNAKE and
CROOKED SNAKE. Thus this verse would justify translating
TANIM as ANY LONG SLENDER OBJECT.
Radack makes a similar comment in his book ROOTS.*10
---------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES -------------------------
*10 Some acknowledgements are in order here
- We restarted my Shomrey Emunah Rashi class.
The above question on TANIN was asked Harry Rashbaum
- In formulating an answer I benefitted from Radack.
Radack does mention the LONG SLENDER hypothesis.
Radack ALSO gives additional details (Eg TANIN means
SNAKE on LANG but BIG FISH IN WATER).
- I have left these further details out. In doing so
I was motivated by the insights of an Anonymous
dermatologist at Shomrey who suggested that a way
out of many Torah-Biological contradictions was
to assume that the Torah was not being that specific
In other words, science tends to define individual
species while the Torah is perceived as only
describing a general form.
- My Shomrey Emunah class will further analyze this
in coming weeks. More insights will be posted as
email questions.
- Finally I should translated, in light of the above
list Dt32-33
---------------------------------------------
Their (punishment) wine is made of snake venom,
--- the poison of cruel snakes
---------------------------------------------
=================================================================
RASHI RULE USED: WORD MEANINGS
---------------------------------------------------
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 14 Number 4
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 14 Number 4