#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
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| Rashi is Simple Version 2.0 |
| (C) Dr Hendel, Summer 2000 |
| http://www.RashiYomi.Com |
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VERSE: Ex30-24b
RASHIS COVERED: Ex30-24b Ex29-40c Ex30-31b Ex16-36a
Ex29-40a Lv23-10b Ex30-24b Ex29-40c
Ex30-31b Lv19-36b Lv19-36c
RULE
====
There are 10 basic words denoting measurement. They
are compactly presented in the LIST below. Rashis on
these 10 terms are presented afterwards.
{LIST}
Here are the basic Biblical words denoting measurement
Next to each term we given a ROUGH ENGLISH EQUIVALENT--
for example the BIBLICAL LOG has the volume of 6 eggs
which is about 1 English CUP. The right column gives
the equivalant volume in EGGS, the fundamental unit
of volume in Jewish Law. Footnotes provide more details
==============================================================
WORD ROUGH EQUIVALANT EQUIVALANT # OF EGGS
========= ================ ==============================
Egg TABLESPOON*1 Fundamental Unit of Volume
Log CUP 6 TABLESPOONS
Kav QUART 24 eggs = 4 CUPS
Hin GALLON 72 eggs = 3 QUARTS = 6 Log*2
Seah DOUBLE GALLON 144 eggs= 6 QUARTS = 24 log*2
AYFaH*3*4 CARTON 432 eggs= 3 SEAH= 18 QUARTS
COR TRUCKLOAD 4320 eggs=10 CARTONS=30 Seah*5
NOTES
=====
*1 Teaspoon = 2/11 of an Egg (Rambam Theft 8)
Actually >LADEL< or >FLUID OUNCE< would be a better
translation than >TABLESPOON<
*2 HIN/LOG are usually associated with >Liquid< measure.
Seah/Kav are usually associated with >Dry< measures.
Thus Rashis point on Lv19-36b and Lv19-36c is that
there is a legal obligation to make legal rules for
both >DRY< and >LIQUID< measures. The Rambam notes
that >DRY< and >LIQUID< measures have different
requirements--for example liquid measures will more
frequently have residues from previous measurements
(See Rambam Theft 8:13 and commentaries)
*3 AYFAH(Dry measure) = BATH(Liquid measure) (Ez45-11)
They both hold the same amount of volume (Ez45-11)
*4 the OMER=1 Day of Food=7 Cups=43.2 Eggs=1/10 EYFAH(Ex16-36a)
*5 See Isa05-10 & Ez45-11 for an explicit statement
{END OF LIST}
REVIEW OF RASHIS ON MEASUREMENTS
================================
Ex16-36a Ex29-40a Lv23-10b--OMER = 1/10th EYPAH
===============================================
* Rashi Defines the OMER= 1/10th of an EYPAH=43.2 eggs=7 Cups
* Rashi reviews the definition of several measurements
on Ex16-36a. This is typical of Rashi. He will give one
big OVERVIEW on one Rashi and then give 2-3 word explanations
on many of the other verses
* Rashi also explains that the term >ONE TENTH< by itself,
denotes ONE TENTH=ONE TENTH EYPHAH=OMER
However this is not based on tradition but rather
on the fact that although the Torah usually says
a TENTH OF FLOUR (and nothing further) nevertheless
in 2 verses it explicitly states
a TENTH OF AN AYFAH OF FLOUR (eg Nu28-05 vs Nu28-13)
Also see Nu05-15 and Lv14-21
Thus this identifying of ONE TENTH and
ONE TENTH OF AN AYFAH follows the Rabbi Ishmael rule of
---------------------------------------------------
--If there is a general category (eg TENTHS)
--which is unspecified (eg it does not say a TENTH of what);
--but in one case it does specify(eg Nu28-05 states 1/10 AYFAH)
--THEN
--the specified case (which states TENTH=TENTH AYFAH)
--does not apply to only that one case but rather
--applies to all cases(ie ONE TENTH=ONE TENTH AYFAH)
----------------------------------------------------
Ex30-24b Ex29-40c Ex30-31b HIN = 12 LOG
=======================================
* HIN = 12 LOG
* Hence (Ex29-40c) 1/4 HIN = 3 Log
* On Ex30-24b Rashi, besides explaining the measurement,
makes some comments on how they prepared the roots
of certain spices for Temple oils. This need not
concern us now
* Finally, my favorite pet peeve--Rashi NEVER USED GEMATRIAHS
Here is the VERSE, the RASHI with a GEMATRIAH and the SIMPLE
explanation
VERSE-->You shall use THIS oil for all generations to annoint<
RASHI-->The word THIS in numerology equals 12. This teaches
that for all generations we must use the 12 LOG oil
SIMPLE EXPLANATION-- The Bible >EXPLICITLY< says that
>The OIL prepared by Moses used 12 LOGS of oil<(Ex30-24)
The Bible then says >And similarly you shall use THIS
oil for all generations<.
So Rashi is Simple: The word THIS refers to the oil
prepared by Moses which had 12 LOGS of oil and that
is the amount always to be used.
And Rashi in his usual punny manner stated this as
a NUMEROLOGY so people should remember it
Lv19-36b Lv19-36c
=================
HIN/LOG are usually associated with >Liquid< measure.
Seah/Kav are usually associated with >Dry< measures.
Thus Rashis point on Lv19-36b and Lv19-36c is that
there is a legal obligation to make legal rules for
both >DRY< and >LIQUID< measures. The Rambam notes
that >DRY< and >LIQUID< measures have different
requirements--for example liquid measures will more
frequently have residues from previous measurements
(See Rambam Theft 8:13 and commentaries)
Lv23-18b
========
This Rashi uses the technique of OTHER VERSES.
For the verse speaks about >FLOUR and WINE ACCOMPANIMENT
TO EACH SACRIFICE<.
But these ACCOMPANIMENTS are completely specified in
Nu15 the OTHER VERSE. They are as follows
{LIST}
Every animal sacrifice had ACCOMPANYING it, FLOUR, OIL
and WINE libations. The amounts of FLOUR OIL and WINE
depended on the ANIMAL offered. The following LIST
compactly exhibits the required relationships
===========================================================
ANIMAL FLOUR ACCOMPANIMENT OIL WINE
====== =================== ========= ===========
Sheep 1 OMER AyFaH*1 1/4th HIN 1/4th HIN*2
Ram 2 OMER AyFaH 1/3rd HIN 1/3rd HIN
Ox 3 OMER AyFAH 1/2 HIN 1/2 HIN
NOTES
=====
*1 Thus the flour accompaniment was the amount of food
needed for one day of meals
*2 HIN = 12 Log. Hence
1/4th HIN = 3 Log
Rav Hirsch Points out that that FLOUR accompaniments
are ASCENDING (1,2,3) while the denominators of the OIL
and WINE accompaniments are DESCENDING (1/4th,1/3rd,1/2)
{END OF LIST}
Lv24-03b Ex27-21a BURNING RATE OF OIL
======================================
* Those who use oil in their Chanukah menorahs know that
about 1 teaspoon will burn an hour.
* Now 1 teaspoon = about 1/5th of an Egg Volume
* Hence if 1 teaspoon= 1 hour
* then 1 egg = 5 teaspoons = 5 hours
* and 3 eggs= 15 teaspoons = 15 hours
We conclude that HALF A LOG or 3 EGGS of oil will
burn 15 hours which as Rashi points out >are the
number of hours in the longest winter nights<
We have left to explain why HALF A LOG (about half a
glass) of oil was used every night (not just on winter
nights). The verses state that
----------------------------------------------------
you shall prepare IT for being lit from eve to dawn
----------------------------------------------------
Such a verse can have two meanings:
--1-Put enough oil EACH PARTICULAR night for that night
--2-Put enough oil each night for ANY NIGHT
Thus the 2nd interpretation would require us to place
a HALF LOG (3 cups) of oil every night.
The reason we follow the 2nd interpretation, is, as
Rashi says explicitly on Lv24-03b
--------------------------------------------------
because of the use of the pronoun >IT<. There are
in fact two forms of the pronoun
---YaARChayHU--with a >SUFFIX< VAV -- PREPARE IT
---VaAROCH OTHO--with the >WORD< OTHO--PREPARE IT
--------------------------------------------------
A general principle of the MALBIM states that whenever
the WORD is used vs the SUFFIX it creates an emphasis
that there is so to speak only one case with no
exceptions. So here too, we have one FIXED MEASURE
of oil the whole year without distinctions.
For a LIST of examples of these 2 uses of pronouns
see http://www.RashiYomi.Com/gn45-27a.htm
COMMENT
=======
Notice Rashis treatment of words for measurements
* One Rashi gives a >BIG OVERVIEW< of several basic words
* Several other Rashis give >APPLICATIONS< of these basic words
* Rashi also gives tidbits on >TYPICAL AMOUNTS NEEDED< --eg
how much food is needed for a day--how much oil is needed
for burning a night etc.
RASHI RULE USED: SYNONYMS
---------------------------------------------------
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 9 Number 12
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
Volume 9 Number 12