#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
-----------------------------------------------------------
| Rashi is Simple Version 2.0 |
| (C) RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President |
| http://www.RashiYomi.Com |
| PERMISSION to reprint WITH this header if NOT for profit |
------------------------------------------------------------
VERSE: Gn05-32b
RASHIS COVERED: Gn05-32b Gn09-24a Gn10-21b
======================== NOACHS CHILDREN =================
VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
Surprisingly there are 7 verses which seem to discuss the
order of Noachs children. Most of the verses seem to say
that SHAYM was oldest. And yet CHAM who was the middle son
is called in one verse the YOUNGEST--or, does the
word used mean MOST IMMATURE(vs YOUNGEST).
One way to settle this is to use the OFFICIAL LIST OF
GENEALOGIES in chapter Gn10 which lists YEFETH first, CHAM
2nd and SHYAM 3rd. The confusion of these contradictory
approaches is also neatly solved by use of a simple spreadsheet!
The spreadsheet shows the correct order:Yefeth,Cham,Shaym!
-------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE: SPREADSHEETS
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: SPREADSHEETS
-------------------------------------
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RULE
-------------------------
Most Rashis are straightforward application of standard
principles of meaning such as DICTIONARY MEANING OF WORDS
or GRAMMAR or even STYLE & POETRY.
However sometimes Rashi must derive an item not by the
straightforward meaning of a word but rather by
- an intricate argument
- taking several steps
- each step of which is forced and logical (Eg arithmetic)
We refer to such a long-drawn out argument with many steps
each of which is logical and forced by the name SPREADSHEET
since very often these Rashis can be compactly illustrated
by means of a step by step accounting of items as is done
in spreadsheets.
One simple example would be the citation of many verses to
infer the relative value of currencies (eg the relative
value of nickels, dimes, quarters etc). Such a derivation
is LOGICAL but COMPLICATED AND OBSCURE.
STANDARD EXAMPLE
----------------
Todays example is about as good as any other. 7 verses
give contradictory orders to Noachs children. For example
many verses list SHAYM first implying he was oldest (or
was he the leader). However the order in the chapter of
genealogies is that SHAYM is youngest. How can we settle
this argument. Rashi uses a simple spreadsheet to show
that indeed Shaym was youngest. See the second list below
for details.
STUDENT EXERCISES:
------------------
Unlike other Rashi rules the SPREADSHEET RULE is ADVANCED.
Not every student or even leading Rabbis should expect
to be able to readily apply it.
STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
---------------------------------
Besides being advanced the SPREADSHEET rule is rare.
There are not that many examples. We list here other
verses that illustrate it. The interested reader can
always check at the RashiYomi RULE page at
http://www.RashiYomi.com/by-rule.htm (Navigate to SPREADSHEET)
Here are some good individual examples. Visit
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/...
----------------------------------------------------------------
ex38-24b.htm Computation of relative value of Biblical currency
nu03-39b.htm Accounting of Levite children
nu31-26a.htm Division of booty in war
gn05-32b.htm Computation of relative ages of Noachs children
----------------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO USE THESE LISTS FOR SCHOOL PROJECTS
------------------------------------------
It is not recommended that beginning students be given
exercises in spreadsheets since it is an advanced rule
TODAYS LIST
-----------
We present 2 lists. In the first list below we present
7 verses and show how they MIGHT indicate contradictory
orders to Noachs children. Footnotes clarify the points.
In the 2nd list we present a simple spreadsheet solving
the problem.
===========================================================
VERSE ORDER OF NOACHS CHILDRENS AGES
=========== ===============================================
Gn10-02:32 Yefeth Cham Shaym*1
----------- -----------------------------------------
Gn09-24 Cham was the YOUNGEST/MOST IMMATURE son*2
Gn10-21 Shaym is the brother of the ELDER YEFETH*2
----------- -----------------------------------------
Gn05-32 Shaym Cham Yafeth*3
Gn06-10 Shaym Cham Yafeth*3
Gn09-18 Shaym Cham Yafeth*3
Gn10-01 Shaym Cham Yafeth*3
----------- -----------------------------------------
NOTES
-----
*1 Gn10-02:32 naturally divides into 3 paragraphs
- Gn10-02:14 Yefeths children
- Gn10-15:20 Chams-- children
- Gn10-21-32 Shayms- children
This paragraph order COULD POSSIBLY correspond
to the age of the children involved
*2 In these two verses the words YOUNGEST ELDEST
(referring to PHYSICAL AGE) could EQUALLY MEAN,
IMMATUREST, MATUREST referring to SOCIAL AGE
*3 In these 4 verses we seem to have a statement
that SHAYM was oldest and YEFETH was youngest.
As we will see later the verse lists the
children by MATURITY not AGE
======================================================
====================== SPREADSHEET DEFENSE ===========
We present a simple 2 column spreadsheet below
proving that the correct interpretation is that
YEFETH is the oldest
======================================================
SOURCE NUMERICAL STATEMENT
========= ============================================
Gn07-06 Noach was 600 when the FLOOD started
Add 2 Noach was 602 two years after flood
Gn11-10 Shaym was 100 two years after flood
Subtract --------------------------------------------
------- Noach was 502 when SHAYM was born
Gn05-32 Noach was 500 when he STARTED to give birth
Conclude --------------------------------------------
-------- Shaym could NOT have been Noachs 1st son
=======================================================
RASHI RULE USED: SPREADSHEETS
---------------------------------------------------
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 14
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 15 Number 14