#*#*#*#  (C) 2000-2006, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#
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VERSE: Dt33-23c

==================== Dt33-23c =======================

SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
One of Rashis 10 main tasks is to explain
Grammar the same way modern Hebrew books
explain grammar.

Particularly important is the explanation
of grammatical conjugation. Rashi had a
special method of teaching conjugation--
Rashi taught grammar using the method of
NEAR MISSES in which he either juxtaposes

(a)two grammatical forms which
differ in only one small detail or

(b)two identical forms which however differ
in meaning.

Such NEAR MISSES help reinforce the various
rules of grammar.

EXAMPLE Dt33-23c
----------------------
The Hebrew root Yud-Resh-Shin means TO INHERIT
The following conjugations
have the following meanings:
   - Ye-Ra-SHAH (Accent on last syllable) means
     I WISH THAT YOU *WILL* INHERIT

   - Ye-RA-shah (Accent on first syllable) means
     I AM PLEASED TO *ORDER* YOU TO INHERIT

Hence Rashi translates Dt33-23c
------------------------------------------
Naftali's land is satiated with pleasantness
He is filled with the blessings of God
- Go: Inherit the Sea and South
------------------------------------------

In passing we have from time to time indicated
that Rashi's primary goal was not a commentator
but a Masorite, someone whose task is to preserve
the Biblical text. Rashi perceived commentary not
as an end but rather as a means to preserve the
Biblical text. The Rashi at Dt33-23c is one of
those rare instances where Rashi makes this explicit
------------------------------------------------
This point about the relationship between the
command and accent-on-last may be found in the
Great Mesorah list of commands with accents on the
last syllable
-------------------------------------------------

LIST701a presents other conjugations whose meaning
would change if one vowel would change
======================================================
ITEM                     DETAIL
======================== =============================
RASHI RULE CLASS:        GRAMMARr
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS:     ROOT CONJUGATION
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #9
SEE BELOW                LIST701a
List of verb forms with  Meaning changes from 1 vowel
======================================================

====================== LIST701a ======================
A list of verb forms with Meaning changes from 1 vowel
======================================================
VERSE    Hebrew THE FORM      EMPHASIS IN FORM
======== ====== ============= ========================
Gn11-07c NoVeLH Kamatz Shva   Let us CONFUSE them*6
Ex13-17a NoCHoM Kamatz KAMATZ Lead THEM*1
Dt07-23a HoMoM  Kamatz KAMATZ Crush THEM*2
Ex19-18a oSHoN  Kamatz PATACH Smoke(NOUN)*3
Ex13-22a YaMooS Kamatz SHURUK To move A THING*4
Gn49-04d PaXaZ  PATACH patach Fiz(NOUN)*5
Dt33-23c YeRaSH Accent LAST   COMMAND: Inherit*7

NOTES
-----
*1 NoChoM (Kamatz Kamatz) means to LEAD THEM
   NoChaM (Kamatz Patach) means to LEAD

   The final MeM indicates the direct object
   (LEAD THEM) with the Kamatz Kamatz
   punctuation

*2 HoMoM (Kamatz Kamatz) means to CRUSH THEM
   HoMaM (Kamatz Patach) means to CRUSH

   The final MeM indicates the direct object
   (CRUSH THEM) with the Kamatz Kamatz
   punctuation

*3 oShoN (Kamatz Kamatz) is SMOKE (A noun)
   oSHaN (Kamatz Patach) is TO SMOKE(Verb)


*4 YoMooSH means IT MOVE (Active tense)
   YoMeeSH means SOMEONE MOVES IT(Causative tense)

   My favorite reference for root conjugations
   is the Appendix of the Ibn Shoshan Dictionary
   Table 6 presents the conjugation of the
   1-vuv-3 roots which illustrates the contrast
   between YoMooSH and YoMeeSH

*5 PaCHaZ means FIZ(Noun)
   PoCHaZ means TO FIZ(Verb)

   The verse describes Reuvens personality as
   FIZZING like water, denoting his impetuousness
   in acting out of zeal without thinking of
   consquences or implication. Hence he lost the
   birthright

*6 Active, Past,Singular,3rd person for Nun-2-3
   verbs is No-Ve-Lah

   Active, FUTURE, PLURAL, 1st person for 1-2-2
   roots No-Ve-Lah--the added terminal HEY
   indicates INTENT vs DEFINITIVENESS*10

   Here the superior translation is
   -------------------------------------------
   Let us confuse their language
   -------------------------------------------

*7 - Ye-Ra-SHAH (Accent on last syllable) means
     I WISH THAT YOU *WILL* INHERIT

   - Ye-RA-shah (Accent on first syllable) means
     I AM PLEASED TO *ORDER* YOU TO INHERIT*11

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

*10 Radack seems to think Na-Ve-Lah is Passive
    Rashi uses the rule that INTENT vs DEFINITE
    is indicated by a TERMINAL HEY at the end of
    the word. Thus
    - NaVoL=we WILL confuse their language
    - NaVLH=we INTEND to confuse their language

*11
In passing we have from time to time indicated
that Rashi's primary goal was not a commentator
but a Masorite, someone whose task is to preserve
the Biblical text. Rashi perceived commentary not
as an end but rather as a means to preserve the
Biblical text. The Rashi at Dt33-23c is one of
those rare instances where Rashi makes this explicit
------------------------------------------------
This point about the relationship between the
command and accent-on-last may be found in the
Great Mesorah list of commands with accents on the
last syllable
-------------------------------------------------
======================================================
---------------------------------------------------
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 31 Number 3


#*#*#*#  (C) 2000-2006, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#
Volume 31 Number 3