#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
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VERSE: Ex04-10b
RASHIS COVERED: Ex04-10b Ex05-07c Ex21-29a Ex04-08a Gn16-02c
======================== Ex04-10b ==============================
SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
One of Rashis 5 main goals is to explain meaning the same
way a dictionary explains meaning. We call this the Rashi
rule of WORD MEANINGS
Rashi had 10 vehicles to explain meaning. Rashi frequently
explained the new idiomatic meanings of phrases of words--that
is, the collection of words has a new meaning that is distinct
from the sum of meanings of the individual words. We call this
the RASHI SUBRULE of NEW MEANINGS (We could also call this the
Rashi subrule of IDIOMS)
EXAMPLE Ex04-10b
----------------
The verse states
-------------------------------
Moses said to God: I am not a
man of words ... because I am
HEAVY OF TALKING
--------------------------------
Rashi comments
-----------------------------------
The phrase HEAVY OF TALKING is an
idiom meaning STUTTERER
-----------------------------------
Hence Rashi would interpret the verse
as follows
-------------------------------
Moses said to God: I am not a
man of words because I am
a STUTTERER
--------------------------------
LIST854z below presents a list of Biblical
idioms.
EXAMPLE Ex05-07c
----------------
The verse states
--------------------------------------
...Let them work...dont give them
stubble but keep the brick building
LIKE YESTERDAY LIKE THREE DAYS AGO
--------------------------------------
Rashi comments
----------------------------------
The phrase LIKE YESTERDAY LIKE THREE
DAYS AGO is an IDIOM meaning LIKE
THEIR FORMER HABITS
----------------------------------
Hence Rashi would interpret the verse
as follows
--------------------------------------
...Let them work...dont give them
stubble but keep the brick building
LIKE THEIR FORMER HABITS OF PRODUCTION
--------------------------------------
EXAMPLE Ex21-29a
-----------------------
The verse states
---------------------------------
...but if the ox was a gorer
LIKE YESTERDAY LIKE THREE DAYS AGO
and it was warned ... then the
ox is stoned
---------------------------------
Rashi comments
----------------------------------
The phrase LIKE YESTERDAY LIKE THREE
DAYS AGO is an IDIOM meaning LIKE
ITS FORMER HABITS (of goring)
----------------------------------
Hence Rashi would interpret the verse
as follows
---------------------------------
...but if the ox was a gorer
LIKE ITS FORMER HABIT of goring...
and the ox was warned,
then the ox is stoned
---------------------------------
Actually the literal rendition of Rashi is
------------------------------------------
- gorer YESTERDAY = a second case
- like THREE DAYS AGO = a third case
This shows that if the ox had gored
three times it has the status of a GORER;
if it gored less than three times it has
the status of an ordinary ox
------------------------------------------
I believe that Rashi simply interprets
LIKE YESTERDAY LIKE THREE DAYS AGO as LIKE ITS
FORMER HABIT the same way he interpreted it on
Ex05-07c. However Jewish law gives a numerical
interpretation to LIKE HIS FORMER HABIT OF GORING
to mean IF HE GORED AT LEAST THREE TIMES.
That is we interpret Rashi using the principle
of STAGES: In STAGE 1 we interpret
- LIKE YESTERDAY LIKE THREE TIMES AGO=
LIKE HIS FORMER HABIT
In STAGE 2 we interpret
- LIKE HIS FORMER HABIT = a habit that had been
done at least 3 times.
Still another way to explain this is that
there is an INTERPRETIVE aspect to the
verse and also a LEGAL aspect to the verse.
LIST854j below explores several verses with
the idiom: YESTERDAY ...THREE DAYS AGO. These
verses allow us to test the suggestion that
this phrase means FORMER HABITUAL BEHAVIOR
We continue with other idiom examples.
EXAMPLE Gn16-02c
-------------------------
The verse states
-----------------------------------
God said to Abraham: Everything that
Sarah tells you....listen to her VOICE
-----------------------------------
Rashi comments
-----------------------------------
HER VOICE refers to the HOLY SPIRIT
within her
-----------------------------------
This is a difficult Rashi to interpret. I suggest
that VOICE, in general, refers to NUANCES
Here, my suggested interpretation of Rashi
----------------------------------
Listen to Sarah-s NUANCES
----------------------------------
could correspond to Rashi-s statement
-----------------------------
Listen to Sarah-s HOLY SPIRIT
-----------------------------
The next example seems to confirm our approach
EXAMPLE Ex04-08a
----------------
The verse states
-----------------------------------------
God told Moses if they dont listen to the
VOICE of the first sign then they will
listen to the VOICE of the second sign
-----------------------------------------
My suggestion that VOICE = NUANCE would
yield the following interpretation of Ex04-08a
-----------------------------------------
God told Moses if they dont listen to the
NUANCES of the first sign then they will
listen to the NUANCES of the second sign
-----------------------------------------
Rashi actually comments on this verse
--------------------------------------
God told Moses: Tell them: I Moses have been
punished for slandering the Jews (and
doubting that they would listen to signs)
--------------------------------------
Thus Rashi-s interpretation is consistent
with the suggestion VOICE = NUANCE.
LIST854k below explores verses with VOICE
meaning NUANCE
================================================================
ITEM DETAIL
======================== =======================================
RASHI RULE CLASS: WORD MEANINGS
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS NEW MEANINGS
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #7
SEE BELOW LIST854z
List of 2-3 word Biblical idioms
----------------------- ------------------------------------
SEE BELOW LIST854j
List of verses where YESTERDAY/THREE DAYS=FORMER HABIT
----------------------- ------------------------------------
SEE BELOW LIST854k
List of verses where VOICE means NUANCES
================================================================
============================ LIST854j ================================
List of verses where YESTERDAY...THREE DAYS means FORMERLY
======================================================================
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE WITH yesterday..three days=former habit
======== =============================================================
Ex05-07c Makes bricks as was YOUR FORMER HABIT
Ex21-29a If the ox had a FORMER HABIT of goring*1
Gn31-02 Laban no longer HABITUALLY behaved with Jacob as FORMERLY
Dt04-41 accidental murderer did not have a FORMER HABIT of hatred*1
Jo03-04 Give yourself room since you have no FORMER HABITS here
NOTES
-----
*1 Jewish law gives numerical quantification to FORMER HABIT...
It must have been done 3 times. This numerical quantification is
based on an oral tradition and cannot be derived from the Biblical
text.
======================================================================
===================== LIST854k ====================================
List of verses where VOICE means NUANCES
===================================================================
VERSE Text of Verse with VOICE VOICE=NUANCES
======= ================================= ========================
Ex15-16 Listen to VOICE of GOD Nuance of PROPERness*1
Ex18-24 Moses listened to VOICE of in-law Took SERIOUSLY-*2
1S02-25 Didnt listen to VOICE of father Didnt take it seriously
P130-02 Hear the VOICE of my supplication helplessness*3
P005-03 Hear the VOICE of my supplication helplessness*3
NOTES
-----
*1 The verse explicitly continues: AND DO WHAT IS PROPER IN GODS
EYES. This would imply that LISTEN TO VOICE connotes OBEYING
while LISTEN TO VOICE means LISTENING TO ALL NUANCES AND GOING
BEYOND THE LETTER OF THE LAW
*2 The verse explicitly continues: ...AND HE DID ALL HIS
FATHER-IN-LAW asked. Thus listen to VOICE connotes
listening to NUANCES and REASONS and completely complying
*3 LISTEN TO ME would mean an examination of the words.
LISTEN TO MY VOICE would mean an examination of words
and NUANCES--e.g. David asked God to listen to his
helplessness and note his sincerity in pleaing.
===================================================================
======================= LIST854z ================================
A List of Biblical idioms..eg FROM DAYS DAYS=YEARLY
LIST854z continues LIST854d
=================================================================
VERSE BIBLICAL PHRASE TRANSLATION NOTES
======== ======================= ===================== ==========
Ex04-10b HEAVY MOUTH STUTTERER
Ex05-07c YESTERDAY...3 DAYS AGO FORMER HABIT
Ex21-29a YESTERDAY...3 DAYS AGO FORMER HABIT *18
Gn16-02c listen to VOICE listen to NUANCES *19
Ex04-08a listen to VOICE listen to NUANCES *19
Gn44-20b ALONE TO... ONLY *17
Gn44-18a SPEAK IN EAR SPECIAL REQUEST *16
Gn26-22a FRUITFUL IN LAND POPULATE/ESTABLISH it
Gn26-29b NOW YOU Is your turn *15
Dt28-24a DUST earth PARCHED land
Dt28-28a ASTONISHED HEART APATHY *14
Dt25-14b STONE-STONE:Big-Small Dbl standard weights *13
Dt14-19a BIRD INSECT flys
Dt23-02b CUT POURER castrated
Lv01-15c BLOOD BE SQUEEZED Squash animal on wall *7
Ex30-27f BY ITSELF BY ITSELF Equally for each one
Ex30-04a SIDE OF SIDES Corner *6
Ex14-05b CHANGE OF HEART Changed his mind
Gn43-29a FIND GRACE Wish(ed) you well *5
Gn24-57a ASK HER MOUTH Discuss/get opinions *4
Ex12-06d BETWEEN THE EVES NOON *3
Gn37-03a SON OF OLD AGE Youngest *1
Gn37-26b COVER BLOOD Conceal murder *2
Ex21-21a DAY OR DAYS 24 hours
Lv13-39a DULL WHITE DULL WHITE
Lv16-08a PLACE A LOT Have a lottery *9
Lv13-20a SHALLOW APPEARANCE DEEP wound *8 *11
Lv13-03b DEEP APPEARANCE DEEP wound *8 *11
NOTES
-----
*1 Rashi points out 3 equally possible meanings
- Youngest son (Son born while father was ELDERLY)
- Wisest son (ELDER=WISDOM)
- Son who resembles father (despite old age he still
looks like son)
*2 This is an example of a DOUBLE METONOMY
Blood is ASSOCIATED with life and COVER is
associated with denial. Hence COVER-BLOOD=conceal-murder
*3 NOON is the midpoint between EVE and DAWN. Hence
NOON is the BETWEEN THE EVES.
*4 The context is the proposed marriage of 15 year old
Rivkah to Isaac from another country. The offer had
been made by the servant of Abraham to Rivkahs family
The Biblical text states: Let us(her parents)
ASK HER MOUTH
This is the ONLY time in the Bible that this
phrase occurs(The verb ASK occurs frequently).
Apparently this phrase means
- Lets DISCUSS or LETS GET AN OPINION*10
Such an interpretation is appropriate for a marriage
decision
*5 FIND-GRACE can equally mean I WISH YOU WELL or
YOU WERE WISHED WELL. Rashi points out that GRACE
by itself has this same connotation (Without the
full phrase FIND GRACE). See LIST854g for further
details
*6 Tzade-Lamed-Ayin means SIDE (and hence can refer
to the RIBS). Thus Ex30-04 speaks about the SIDE
OF SIDES--that is the CORNER.
*7 Actually the idiom consists of two parts
- SQUEEZE the blood
- use of the passive (Blood is SQUEEZED)
Hence the idea that the slaughtered animal is
pushed against the altar wall until the blood
oozes forth.
*8 In other words the WHITE PATCHES on the skin
appear to be a DEEP WOUND (rather than a superficial
skin discoloring) *11
*9 The Bible uses a variety of phrases to indicate
lotteries such as
- SHOOT A LOT Jo18-06
- THROW A LOT Jo18-08
- RAISE A LOT Jo18-11
- PLACE A LOT Lv16-08
- CAST A LOT Is34-17 *12
---------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES ---------------
*10 Hence the Rashi on Gn24-57b: The Biblical text
states that Rivkah responded: I WILL GO.
But Rashi, surprisingly states: I WILL GO WHETHER
YOU LIKE IT OR NOT.
Why did Rashi read such an emphasis into the simple
question and answer
------------------------------------------
PARENTS: Rivkah, Will you go with this man
RIVKAH: I will go.
------------------------------------------
The answer is that the Bible says
------------------------------------------
PARENTS: We will DISCUSS THE MATTER with her;
get her opinion
PARENTS: Rivkah, Will you go with this man
RIVKAH: I will go.
------------------------------------------
Thus the context shows that Rivkah was not
INTERESTED IN A DISCUSSION--she had already
made up her mind
*11 Rashi appears to say the following
---------------------------------------
ALL WHITE appears deep; like the SUNLIT
part appears deeper than the SHADE
---------------------------------------
But the sunlit part does NOT appear deeper than
shade. Hence we interpret this Rashi as follows
--------------------------------------------
[The skin whiteness is not speckled but]
ALL WHITE; [it appears] deep like a BURN
appears deeper than just on SURFACE OF SKIN
---------------------------------------------
By comparing the capped words in these two
interpretations of Rashi we infer that we interpret
- ChaMMaH as meaning BURN vs SUNLIT
- SHADE as referring to non-burnt skin (vs shade)
We also interpret
-- [The skin is] ALL WHITE (not speckled); It appears...
vs
-- ALL WHITE APPEARS DEEP
(This is a change in punctuation)
*12 Superficially these phrases seem to be the same
However Rashi on Lv16-08 states that PLACE A LOT
means CASTING A LOT and PLACING the WINNING/LOSING
TICKETS on the winners/losers.
*13 Rashis literal langauge is
------------------------------------
Dont have BIG-SMALL stones with one
contradicting the other
------------------------------------
I however have translated the Biblical text as meaning
-----------------------------------------------
Dont have DOUBLE STANDARD STONES--big small;
(and you use them depending on the customer)
-----------------------------------------------
I believe these two translations are the same--
- Rashi emphasized the MECHANICS of the act
- I emphasized the NEW MEANING
aspect of the Biblical words
You need both aspects to fully understand Rashi
*14 An ASTONISHED or STARTLED person temporarily loses
their capacity to respond to the environment (The
STARTLE reflex). Hence an ASTONISHED HEART refers
to an EMOTION (=heart) where one cant respond--
namely APATHY
*15 The phrase ITS YOUR TURN is used in a context
where a favor had been done to a person who
is now asked to reciprocate
*16 See LIST854i for several examples
*17 See LIST854h for several examples
*18 LIST854j below explores several verses with
the idiom: YESTERDAY ...THREE DAYS AGO. These
verses allow us to test the suggestion that
this means LIKE FORMER HABITUAL BEHAVIOR
Rashi on Ex21-29a states a requirement that
an Ox is not considered a habitual Gorer
unless the goring is done on 3 days.
Rashi does not derive this from the verse. Rather
Rashi on Ex21-29a interprets YESTERDAY...THREE DAYS
AGO the same way he does on Ex05-07c as meaning
FORMER HABITUAL BEHAVIOR.
However Rashi supplements his interpretation of
the phrase YESTERDAY...THREE DAYS AGO with the
mention that Jewish law gives a numerical criteria
that an Ox is not considered a Gorer unless the
act has been done three times. This item in Jewish
law is a numerical measurement handed down by
tradition and should not be perceived as being
derived from the Biblical text.
*19 On Gn16-02c Rashi interprets VOICE to mean HOLY
SPIRIT. On Ex04-08a Rashi suggests that God
told Moses that he should tell the Jews that he
(Moses) was being punished for receiving slander.
In both these cases LISTEN TO VOICE seems to mean
- listen to the nuances/consequences/
=========================================================
---------------------------------------------------
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Volume 24 Number 12
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 24 Number 12