#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
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| Rashi is Simple Version 2.0 |
| (C) RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President |
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VERSE: Ex09-06a
====================== CONTRADICTORY VERSES =====================
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TODAYS RASHI RULE: RabbiIshmael
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: 2 Aspects
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE RULE and SUBRULE
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RabbiIshmael advanced the idea that certain textual
inferences do not come from reading and analyzing
ONE Biblical text. Rather the idea is inferred from
reading TWO texts that appear to contradict or
complement each other.
One simple method of resolving contradictory verses
is to perceive the two verses as describing TWO
ASPECTS of the same process. The example below
illustrates this.
STANDARD EXAMPLE
----------------
Nu21-21 states THE JEWISH NATION sent delegates to Sichon
Dt02-26 states MOSES sent delegates to Sichon
The capped words seem to suggest a contradiction--did
Moses send the delegates or did the nation send them?
But the contradiction is easily resolved by perceiving
the two verses as describing two DIFFERENT aspects of
the same process---MOSES, leader of ISRAEL,sent delegates
ON BEHALF of the whole NATION.
Thus there is no contradiction. One action happened
which has 2 aspects both of which are equally true.
STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
---------------------------------
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/ri-14.htm
TODAYS EXAMPLE
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We bring several examples showing two aspects
Todays example is first. Its details are
described in the footnotes.
We show how in all the plagues (#5,6,7 etc) the
animals in the FIELD were smitten while those who
believed in Moses and brought their animals into the
HOUSES were spared. This example potently illustrates
how to deal with commentaries who appear to dissent
from the Talmudic teachings.
The details for the other examples are explained
in the reference above or in the RabbiIshmael series
which you can find in May 1999 at
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/calendar.htm
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VERSE-1 VERSE-2 WHY 2 HOW THE TWO TEXTS ARE COMBINED
======= ======= ======= =========================================
Ex09-06 Ex09-19 Aspects Animals,in FIELD,die; in HOUSE,survive*1
Lv06-19 Lv06-22 Aspects OFFERER eats if PURE;All others OK*1
Nu21-21 Dt02-26 Aspects MOSES sent delegates on behalf of ISRAEL
Ex20-19 Ex19-20 Aspects Gods voice in HEAVEN;His FIRE on EARTH
Ex40-35 Ex25-22 Aspects Moses at Entrance;Gods by Crubim (4-7-89)
Ex28-37 Ex39-30 Aspects Priest MASK went AROUND and OVER head
NOTES
-----
*1 Here are several verses gathered on this topic
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VERSE # PLAGUE WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ANIMALS
-------- ---------- -----------------------------------------
Ex09-06a 5th Plague All animals in the FIELD died
Ex09-10 6th Plague animals covered with boils
Ex09-19 7th plague animals in HOUSE survived
Ex14-07 Exodus Pharoh pursues Jews with horses/chariots
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The resolution is simple:
-- The 7th plague advances the idea that animals gathered
in the house are saved while those in the field died
-- the 5th plague speaks about animals IN THE FIELD dieing
-- So the suggested idea is to generalize the idea of the
7th plague (HOUSE vs FIELD) to the other plagues
The method of GENERALIZATION is another rule of Rabbi
Ishmael and indeed may be applied to Biblical texts.
More detailed comments from other commentators as well
as citations of sources are presented below
-------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES --------------------------
*10 Some sources and comments would be helpful.
This verse is a good example of how the various
commentaries and primary sources interact.
It also illustrates the approach of Rashi is
Simple to reconciling different commentaries as agreeing
The MECHILTAH
-------------
- The Mechiltah (on Ex....) mentions the idea of generalizing
the 7th plague distinction (HOUSE vs FIELD) to all other
plagues
RASHI
-----
- Rashi cites this Mechiltah FROM Ex... on Ex09-06a (Note
the different verses)
RABBI ISHMAEL (Rashi is Simple)
-------------------------------
- The idea of explaining this using
-- The Rabbi Ishmael principle of Contradictory verses
-- The Rabbi Ishmael principle of Generalization
is my own
IBN EZRA
--------
- The Ibn Ezra on Ex09-06 states that ALL can mean SOME.
This is stated sloppily.
-- Clearly ALL does not mean its opposite SOME
-- Rather ALL means ALL IN THE CONTEXT
Thus our analysis sharpens the Ibn Ezras comments.
We explain
-- HOW ALL can mean SOME;
-- we also explain WHICH SOME (Those in the field).
-- We also provide the supporting
verses for this contention.
THE RAMBAN
----------
- The Ramban shockingly ignores Rashi and the
Mechilta and states that all the animals died. The
Ramban does NOT deal with the problem that if all
the animals died then no animals should be left in
the coming plagues.
The Ramban states
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When the Torah states THE ANIMALS IN THE FIELD DIED
it was using a conversational style which is quite
normal in the Torah (For example the Torah states that
you are liable for gorings of your OX even though you
are liable for gorings of any ANIMAL). Thus we conclude
that ALL the animals died
-----------------------------------------------
It is preposterous to assume that a person like the Ramban
was ignorant of these matters since indeed Ramban lived
after Rashi and always commented on him--he certainly knew
of the problem since he read the Rashi that discusses it.
Therefore I feel that the only way to interpret the Ramban
is to assume that he is indicating WHAT THE VERSE WOULD
MEAN IF WE DIDNT LOOK AT OTHER VERSES.
In other words
-- the Ramban tells us what Ex06-09 by ITSELF means
-- Rashi tells us what Ex06-09 means
in THE CONTEXT OF OTHER VERSES
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RASHI RULE USED: RabbiIshmael
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Volume 13 Number 16
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 13 Number 16