#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
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| Rashi is Simple Version 2.0 |
| (C) RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President |
| http://www.RashiYomi.Com |
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VERSE: Dt34-01a
RASHIS COVERED: Dt34-01a Dt34-01b Dt34-01c Dt34-02a Dt34-02b
Dt34-02c Dt34-02d Dt34-03a Dt34-03b
======================= JEWISH HISTORY ==========================
VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
In Dt34-01:03 God shows Moses all of Jewish history. 10 deft
phrases and all of Jewish history is painted in pastel/Sombre
hues.In fact the verse says God showed Moses the WHOLE land(We
translate Kaph-Lamed as WHOLE one of the 4 meanings of ALL).
- God showed Moses 4 types of leadership: Leadership that
(a) came from martyrdom (b) that came thru outside help
(c) that came with miracles (d) that came with statehood.
- God showed Moses the 4 exilic terror beasts
- God then showed Moses the fulfillment of the oath to the
Patriarchs to give the Jews Israel and a Messiah.
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TODAYS RASHI RULE: CLIMAX
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: CLIMAX
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RULE
-------------------------
This is a peach of Rashi which exquisitely illustrates the
Rashi principle of CLIMAX. The principle of CLIMAX applies
when a verse repeats a theme 3 or more times. The CLIMAX
principle then suggests that
- there is a unifying principle or climax to these verses
- the repeated verse phrases BUILD UP to this climax
Like the sister Rashi goals of DICTIONARY MEANING,GRAMMAR
and CROSS REFERENCE, CLIMAX has INTRINSIC value as a Biblical
explanatory tool. CLIMAX in and of itself has the right to
twist the meaning of a phrase or word. Todays example
amply illustrates this.
STANDARD EXAMPLES FOR THIS RULE
--------------------------------
Dt34-01:03 uses the phrase THE LAST SEA. But the Bible
never elsewhere speaks about the LAST SEA.
We can try explaining this phrase thru other Rashi
methods such as DICTIONARY MEANING, GRAMMAR & CROSS
REFERENCES.
DICTIONARY MEANING does not reveal anything
since the word SEA and LAST are well known (But we
dont know what LAST SEA means).
Similarly GRAMMAR does not reveal anything peculiar.
We cannot infer meaning from GRAMMAR.
We can gain support from CROSS REFERENCES but these do
not prove any points. First note that the phrase LAST
SEA does not occur elsewhere in the Bible.
However several verses (Is02-02, Mic04-01, Dt04-30)
uses the word LAST to refer to the Messianic era.
Similarly Daniel07-02 uses the word SEA to refer to
the Messianic era.
But this does not PROVE anything. It is at best
anecdotal support. In other words it would be wrong
to EXPLAIN Rashi this way.
Why then does Rashi take the words THE LAST SEA
and twist them out of context and interpret them
as THE SEA OF THE LAST OF THE DAYS (The Messianic
Era). ANSWER: Because the climactic context requires
it.
Indeed the other 9 phrases in Dt34-01:03 CLEARLY refer
to the WHOLE OF JEWISH HISTORY--to its great leaders
like Samson, Gidon, Joshua, David--to the Messianic
Promises to the Patriarchs and to the rebuilding of
the temple.
AND it is precisely this context that demands and requires
that any remaining phrases fit into this historical theme
HENCE, and ONLY BECAUSE of this unifying theme, Rashi
interprets the LAST SEA as referring to the MESSIANIC
ERA (The SEA of the LAST OF DAYS).
Thus we see the principle of CLIMAX in its pristine
purity--the unifying theme of a collection of verses
requires that all its phrases be twisted (if necessary)
to fit this unifying theme. It is for this reason that I
have listed CLIMAX as an independent rule like the sister
rules of MEANING, GRAMMAR, and CROSS REFERENCE.
STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
---------------------------------
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/example9.htm
TODAYS LISTS
------------
We present 2 lists.
- 1st we present a list where each phrase in Dt34-01:03 is
linked to some OTHER VERSE, a CROSS REFERENCE, showing some
aspect of Jewish History connected with this phrase. For
example the verse says God showed Moses Dan--and in fact the
Great Judge Samson, came from Dan as is stated in Ju13-02
(See the Dan row below).
- Next we present a list showing the climactic nature
of Dt34-01:03. We show how the verses describe 4 types
of Jewish leadership followed by a description of the 4
exiles and the Messianic redemption.
=================================================================
VERSE-1 TEXT OF VERSE CROSS REFERENCE ON VERSE TEXT VERSE-2
======== ============== ================================= =======
Dt34-01a The WHOLE land All of Jewish History(Good/Bad)
Dt34-01b Dan Samson Saved Jews Ju13-02
Dt34-01c Dan Dan worshipped idols Ju18-30
Dt34-02a Naftali Barak Devorah Defeat Midyan Ju04-04
Dt34-02b Ephraim Joshua brings Jews to Israel Joshua
Dt34-02b Menasheh Gidons defeat of Midyan Amalayk Ju06-11
Dt34-02c Judah The Kingdom of Judah 2Samuel
Dt34-02d The End Sea*1 The 4 Terror Beasts of the Exile Dn07-02
Dt34-03a The South The burial of the patriarchs Nu13-25
Dt34-03b The Plains The Temple built in Jordan Plains 1K07-46
NOTES
-----
*1 We have to be careful here about the logic
The text of the verse, Dt34-02d speaks about
----------- ------------------
the END SEA or THE SEA OF THE END
----------- ------------------
Dan07-02 speaks about
-------------------------------------------------------
The 4 exilic terror beasts that come from the great SEA
-------------------------------------------------------
This refers to the 4 types of evil nations that plague
the Jews throughout Jewish history
On the other hand Is02-02, Michah04-01, Dt04-30 speak
about the Messianic era as
----------------
the END of days
----------------
Putting it all together we see that THE SEA OF THE END
could easily refer to the SEA DEALIING WITH THE END
OF DAYS, the Messianic era.
However this defense by OTHER VERSES is far fetched.
A more solid defense is by the principle of CLIMAX
which is presented in the next list
===========================================================
======================= JEWISH HISTORY ==========================
In this second list we show how the dozen or so phrases of
Dt34-01:02 paint the entire picture of Jewish history. In
particular we show how each of the tribes mentioned in
the verses DAN NAFTALI EPHRAIM etc refer to types of
leadership (whether those leaders that established states,
or those leaders that achieved victory thru miracles or
sacrifice or other leaders) Special attention is given
to the phrase LAST SEA which because of the climactic
context refers to the messianic era.
=================================================================
Dt34 ITEM RELATED EVENTS Type of Leadership
============== ===================== ==========================
The WHOLE land All of Jewish History Emphasis on ALL-TOTALITY*1
-------------- --------------------- --------------------------
Dan Samson Saved Jews Saved but died
Naftali Barak Defeats Midyan Saved with outside help
Ephraim Joshua Saved with great miracles
Menasheh Gidon defeats Midyan Saved with great miracles
Judah The Kingdom of Judah Established a state
-------------- --------------------- --------------------------
The End Sea The 4 Terror Beasts The Exile*2
The South Patriarch burial The oath to the Patriarchs
The Plains Temple construction The Messiah/Temple oath
-------------- --------------------- --------------------------
NOTES
-----
*1 See http://www.RashiYomi.com/all-18.htm
One of the 5 meanings of ALL is the TOTALITY.
Se we would translate Dt34-01 as WHOLE vs ALL
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And God showed Moses THE WHOLE of Jewish History
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*2 We can now critically review Rashi interpretation of
THE SEA OF THE END as THE MESSIANIC ERA
- this interpretation is NOT based on WORD MEANINGS/NUANCES
- this interpretation is NOT based on GRAMMAR
- this interpretation is SUPPORTED by OTHER VERSES
but not BASED on them
- this interpretation IS based on the overall CLIMACTIC
structure of the verses which speaks about the TOTALITY
of Jewish history
Since the ENTIRE verses speak about Jewish history it
is therefore justified to interpret this phrase with
a non-standard meaning so as to refer to Jewish history
Note that an intrinsic assumption in our defense is that
Dt34-01:03 should be interpreted POETICALLY instead
of as PROSE. (All CLIMAX verses are interpreted
POETICALLY since in a few brief phrases they describe
the totality of a situation). Hence we are justified
in using poetic license and stretching the meaning
of phrases.
I believe this to be the most cogent defense of Rashi
as simple meaning
================================================================
RASHI RULE USED: CLIMAX
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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 10
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 15 Number 10