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VERSE: Dt33-17a
RASHIS COVERED: Dt33-17a Dt33-17b Dt33-17c Dt33-17d
Dt33-17e Dt33-17f Dt33-17g Dt33-17h
======================== Dt33-08a ==============================
SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
Some Rashi comments deal with FORMATTING.
Modern authors FORMAT using such techniques as
BULLETS, PARAGRAPHING, BOLD, ITALICS and UNDERLINE.
The Biblical Author achieved these effects but thru
different means.
For example a modern author might hilight distinct
items using BULLETS. The Biblical Author hilights
distinct items using REPEATING KEYWORDS.
We call this the Rashi rule of FORMATTING with the Rashi
subrule of KEYWORDS AS BULLETS
Rashi could also infer from the general PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE
(without any keywords). We call this the the Rashi rule of
FORMATTING with the Rashi subrule of PARAGRAPHS.
The use of the FORMATTING principle is especially common
in POETIC passages. In a poetic passage, EVEN if there
is no repeating keyword, each stanza represents a separate
distinct item. We have advocated the following method for
understanding BIBLICAL POETIC PASSAGES
- Identify those stanzas whose meaning is understood
- Identify the UNIFYING meaning of the WHOLE passage
- Identify the STAGES of this UNIFYING meaning
- Read these identified STAGES into the text of each STANZA
Note that unlike
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- PROSE where we first identify the
word / grammer meanings and then
determine the meaning of the whole
- in POETRY the meaning of the whole comes
first and then determines the meaning of the
individual stanzas and their words/grammar.
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Many people react negatively to this approach
since we are READING MEANING into the words
to fit our theory of the WHOLE. However this
is the nature of POETRY in all languages.
The important thing in a poetic interpretation is to
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- identify clearly every general THEME
- then try to ASSOCIATE as many EXAMPLES as possible
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Again many people react negatively to this. The
important point to remember is that Rashi is not
- EXHAUSTING/IDENTIFYING the meaning
of the verse with his comments
- but ILLUSTRATING the meaning of the verse
We call this the ILLUSTRATION-EXHAUSTION principle.
If one takes the Rashi comments as ILLUSTRATIONS
one will have a richer appreciation of Rashi.
EXAMPLE Dt33-17
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Rashi interprets Dt33-17 as
- speaking about the greatness of the Josephine tribes
- they had LEADERSHIP, BEAUTY, and MILITARY might
As usual Rashi ILLUSTRATES (but does not exhaust) the
meaning of the verses with EXAMPLES from OTHER VERSES
- LEADER: The ELDEST of OXEN--e.g. A LEADER known for PRODUCTIVITY
e.g. Joshua was Josephine and LEAD the conquest of Israel
- BEAUTY: BEAUTY is HIS-----------------e.g.
e.g. Joshua received the BEAUTY and LUSTRE of PROPHECY (Nu27-20)
- MILITARY: He possesses RAM horns
- - With these horns he conquers the ENDS OF THE EARTH
(Rashi: e.g. Joshua conquered Israel with alliances
to many lands--Rashi cites Jr03-19; I would supplement
with Ez38-12. Also note that the Book of Joshua is filled
with references to foreign alliances--e.g. Jo10-33,Jo11-01:08)
- - These conquests are the 10,000s conquered by Ephraim
(e.g. Joshua, an Ephraimite conquered many nations)
- - These conquests are the 1000s of Menasheh
(e.g. Gideon conquered the 2 kings mentioned in Ju08-10)
LIST108m below summarizes this PARAGRAPH structure
with copious footnotes
==================================================================
ITEM DETAIL
======================== =========================================
RASHI RULE CLASS: BULLETS
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #26
SEE BELOW LIST108m
PARAGRAPH structure of Dt33-17 a)Leader b)Beauty c)Military
=================================================================
======================= LIST108m ====================================
PARAGRAPH structure of Dt33-17 a)Leader b)Beauty c)Military
=====================================================================
THEME Biblical Text OTHER VERSES/Comments
======== ==================================== =======================
Leader The ELDEST*1 of OXEN*2 Ox=Productivity-Pr14-04
Beauty BEAUTY is his Nu27-20 Joshua*3
Military His HORNS are RAM HORNS*4
Conquest With them he conquers END OF EARTH Jr03-19,Ez38-12*5
Conquest These [conquests] are Eprhaims 10000
Conquest These*7[conquests] are Menashes 1000 Ju08-10*8
NOTES
-----
*1 - Rashi SEEMS to interpret ELDEST as meaning KING
- I would use the ILLUSTRATION vs EXHAUSTION principle
Rashi is ILLUSTRATING that ELDEST can refer to
GENERAL LEADERSHIP illustrated by Kingship
Rashi further ILLUSTRATES Josephine Kingship with Joshua
who led the Jews in the conquest of the 31 kings.
Some typical examples of Joshua's conquests are mentioned
in Jo10-33 and Jo11-01:08.
*2 Rashi takes OX as meaning STRENGTH. I would be more specific
and identify it with PRODUCTIVITY. The justification for
the identification
-------------------------------------------
OX = STRENGTH = PRODUCTIVITY
-------------------------------------------
occurs in Pv14-04 (This cross reference is due to R Hirsch)
*3 Joshua, a Josephine, had the beauty of Prophecy.
*4 (Rashi) Ram Horns are known for beauty
*5 Joseph never conquered END OF EARTH=distant countries.
Rashi conjectures an intepretation using his example
of Joshua a Josephine. Recall:Joshua conquered the
non-Jewish kingdoms residing in Israel WHO MADE
alliances with nations from all over the world (END OF EARTH)
Rashi cites Jr03-19 but I find Ez38-12, -- WHO DWELLS ON
THE BELLY OF THE LAND (Center of the world) -- a clearer
reference.
Finally we note that the book of Joshua contains numerous
references to foreign alliances (e.g. Jo10-33, Jo11-01:08)
*6 The whole book of Joshua is filled with conquests For some
typical examples see Jo10 and Jo11. The word 10,000 is
NOT mentioned in Joshua...thus Joshua's conquests are seen
as a possible and reasonable illustrations of Dt33-17.
*7 Note the repeating keyword THESE. We contend that
repeating keywords create a Bullet atmosphere. The bullets
emphasize that both Josephine tribes -- Ephraim/Menasheh--
were known for their conquests.
*8 Gideon was an Ephraimite and conquered two kings in a war
The word 1000 is NOT metioned in Gideons war. Thus Gideon's
conquests are seen as possible and reasonable illustrations
of Dt33-17.
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Volume 31 Number 2
#*#*#*# (C) 2000-2006, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#
Volume 31 Number 2