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VERSE: Ex22-19b
========================= GENERALIZE VERSES =====================
VERY BRIEF SUMMARY:
-------------------
Ex22-19b states that someone who OFFERS SACRIFICES to idolatry
is put to death. A General principle is that all simply
stated Biblical examples SHOULD BE GENERALIZED. Thus any act
LIKE OFFERING SACRIFICES when done for idolatry should also
carry a death penalty. Some simple examples of acts that
are LIKE OFFERING SACRIFICES are (a) OFFERING INCENSE or
(b) POURING WINE LIBATIONS (All 3 of these acts have the
important properties that they must be done in the Temple
and climaxes of temple services).
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TODAYS RASHI RULE: THE RABBI ISHMAEL STYLE RULES
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: GENERALIZATION STYLE
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RULE AND SUBRULE
-------------------------------------
Some Rashis deal with GRAMMAR or MEANING. But other Rashis
deal with STYLE. The Great Talmudic Sage Rabbi Ishmael,
laid down 3 style rule classes which divide into a dozen
or so rules.
Today we deal with the GENERALIZATION style.
When using this style the verse simply states an example
of a prohibition.
The Rabbi Ishmael Style rules then demand that the verse
be interpreted BROADLY as applying to any similar example
This requirement of BROAD interpretation is not because
of grammar or meaning or even because some word in the
verse is extra: Rather, it is a requirement of style.
The standard example below clearly illustrates this
STANDARD EXAMPLE
----------------
The simplest example I could find occurs at Dt25-04
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Dont MUZZLE an OX while it is THRESHING
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STUDENT EXERCISES:
-----------------
-- Which items in the verse are SPECIFIC?
-- How would you GENERALIZE these examples?
RASHIS SOLUTION
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-- The 3 capped words MUZZLE, OX and THRESHING
refer to SPECIFIC EXAMPLES (That is they are not
abstract concepts but concrete items or procedures)
-- Rashi following the Talmud performs 3 generalizations
a) You shouldnt muzzle ANY ANIMAL (not just an OX)
while it is doing its work
b) You shouldnt do ANY ACTIVITY that present eating
(MUZZLING is just one example of a preventative
activity)
c) You shouldnt muzzle the animal while it is doing
ANY TYPE OF WORK (threshing is just one example)
COMMENT: The above analysis shows why we call this
method the EXAMPLE GENERALIZATION method The Rashi and
Talmud perceive OX, MUZZLE, THRESHING as EXAMPLES
of more GENERAL principles.
STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
---------------------------------
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/example3.htm
You can also revu the whole Rabbi Ishmael style
series at http://www.RashiYomi.com/ishmael.htm
Finally you can visit the Daily Rashi calendar at
http://www.RashiYomi.com/calendar1.htm The Rabbi Ishmael
series occured during August and September 2000.
Finally we refer the reader to the tractate Pesachim
6b where Rashi explicitly states that ANY BIBLICAL
VERSE SHOULD BE GENERALIZED UNLESS IT USES A STYLE
REQUIRING A RESTRICTIVE INTERPRETATION
HOW TO USE THESE LISTS FOR SCHOOL PROJECTS
------------------------------------------
You can use the LISTS referenced above for
school projects. Here is how. If you are a
teacher then you can present the verses with
the general-specific-general style
and ask the students to perform the
2 student exercises listed above.
The students can then compare their analysis with that
of Rashis. This leads to greater appreciation of Rashi.
TODAYS LIST
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Please find below several verses illustrating the above
rule. These examples are taken from the url above.
Ex22-19b (at the bottom of the list is new) The footnotes
provide further details
=================================================================
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE*1 GENERALIZATION
======== ============================ ==========================
Ex21-28a Pay when an OX gores Pay for any goring ANIMAL
Ex21-17a FEMALE WITCHES are executed ALL WITCHES are executed
Ex22-21a God avenges ORPHANS/WIDOWS ...ANY HELPLESS PERSON*2
Dt22-23a He raped her in the CITY ...ANY PLACE of rape
Dt13-07f Enticement in PRIVATE to sin PRIVATE or PUBLIC
Dt25-04a Dont muzzle an OX ..ANY ANIMAL
Ex22-19b OFFERORS to idols executed INCENSORS/LIBATORS*3
NOTES
-----
*1 The verse word that is generalized is CAPPED. How it is
generalized is indicated in the next column
*2 That is GOD AVENGES ANY HELPLESS PERSON
*3 Some Talmudic details will clarify this
* Every idolatry has unique cultic practices which
if performed are punishable by death
* Additionally if you do any of the following
-- offer to the idol
-- pour a wine libation to the idol
-- offer incense to the idol
then you receive a death penalty INDEPENDENT of
WHETHER THIS METHOD OF WORSHIP IS UNIQUE TO THIS IDOL*10
--------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES ---------------------
*10
Finally Rashi points out that the death penalty for
idolatry is mentioned in another verse (Dt17-05).
Thus technically this verse is different.
- The other verses are examples of RAW GENERALIZATION
- This verse (Ex22-19) is an example of 2 verses
on the same law one of which is GENERAL and ONE
OF WHICH IS SPECIFIC.
However the basic approach is the same--WE GENERALIZE
THE EXAMPLE. Thus I have classified this verse under
the GENERALIZATION CATEGORY
=================================================================
RASHI RULED USED: EXAMPLE4
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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 14 Number 11
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 14 Number 11