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VERSE: Gn11-10a
RASHIS COVERED: Gn11-10a Gn10-11a Gn03-05a Gn11-06a
========================= Gn11-10a ==============================
SUCCINT SUMMARY:
----------------
One of Rashis 10 main goals is the explanation of grammar
similar to the explanations we find in modern textbooks. We
call this the Rashi rule of GRAMMAR.
In todays posting we deal with the grammatical rules
governing DEVELOPMENT in paragraphs and chapters: Given
a paragraph or chapter THEME, what types of sentences can
exist in that paragraph or chapter and what are their
relations to the central theme? We call this the rashi
subrule of CONSECUTIVE PARAGRAPHS.
Rashi knew 3 means of relating consecutive sentences or
consecutive paragraphs in a paragraph or chapter:
- CAUSE / ENABLEMENT
- CONTRAST
- UNIFYING THEME, SEQUENCE.
Today we study all 3 methods.
EXAMPLE Gn03-05a
-----------------
Gn03-01:06 discusses the attempts by the snake to get Eve
to sin. In Gn03-05, the snake continues his attempts
---------------------------------------------------
[Eat the forbidden fruit] Because God knows that on
the day you eat from the tree
you will become like God
---------------------------------------------------
Rashi does not explain word meaning or grammar here
Rather Rashi explains the RELATIONSHIP between the
two parts of the paragraph. Rashi explains
-----------------------------------------
God is jealous of you--he doesnt want competition--
For that reason he forbade eating of the fruit.
However if you eat of the fruit you wont die rather
you will become like God
-----------------------------------------
In other words Rashi explains the two sentences as
CONTRASTIVE: God is jealous and petty and doesn't
want man to achieve his potential. Therefore you Eve
should eat of the fruit so that you can become like God.
To properly appreciate Rashi we point out other approaches
For example Psalm 8 describes glowingly how God is not
petty--but rather God wants man to succeed and therefore
God made man a little less than Godlike.
Such a view does not explain the prohibition of eating from
the fruit to find out good and evil. After all if God wants
man to succeed why should man not eat from the fruit and find
out good and evil--more knowledge about the world.
For this reason Rashi explains the snakes comment as CONTRASTIVE:
- You will not die but find out about good and evil
- by contrast, God is jealous of you and wants to keep you
inferior without this knowledge
EXAMPLE Gn11-06a
----------------
Gn11-06 discussing the rebellion of the
people of the Tower (who wished to build
a tower to rebel against God) states
-----------------------------------------
God said: They are one nation with
one language
And they have begun this[building the
Tower to give themselves a name]
-----------------------------------------
Rashi explains the relationship between the
two sentence units as CONTRASTIVE
---------------------------------------
DESPITE their being one nation with one
language NEVERTHELESS they have begun
rebelling against God (by building a Tower
and making a name for themselves)
---------------------------------------
LIST061b brings other examples of
CONTRASTIVE PARAGRAPH DEVELOPMENT
EXAMPLE: Gn10-11a
-----------------
Gn10-08:11 states
------------------------------------------
Kush gave birth to NIMROD--he began
rebelling against God...He reigned over
Babel Erech....in Shinar land...
From this land ASHUR went out and built Ninveh..
-------------------------------------------
Rashi explains the RELATIONSHIP between the
two sentence units.
--------------------------------------
ASHUR left SHINAR **because** of the
rebellion against God. ASHUR founded a new
city--NINVEH (We see later in the Bible in
the book of Jonah that the NINVEHIANS accepted
Prophecy and did not rebel against God
--------------------------------------
Here Rashi sees the sentence units as
CAUSALLY RELATED.
LIST061a gives other examples of paragraphs
that develop CAUSALLY
EXAMPLE Gn11-10a
----------------
Verse Gn11-10a states
------------------------------------
(A) Shaym was 100 years
(B) And Gave birth to ArpachShad
(C)2 years after the flood
------------------------------------
Rashi explains the 3 sentence units as
belonging to a paragraph with a UNIFYING
theme with a SEQUENTIAL list of items
------------------------------------
(C) It was 2 years after the flood
(A) AT THAT TIME, Shaym was 100
(B) AT THAT TIME, he gave birth to Arpachshad
------------------------------------
LIST060a presents other examples of paragraphs
with UNIFYING or SEQUENTIAL themes.
================================================================
ITEM DETAIL
======================== =======================================
RASHI RULE CLASS: GRAMMAR
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS: CONSECUTIVE CHAPTERS
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #9
SEE BELOW LIST060a
A list of paragraphs having a UNIFYING theme
---------------------- --------------------------
SEE BELOW LIST061a
A list of paragraphs having a CAUSAL theme
---------------------- --------------------------
SEE BELOW LIST061b
A list of paragraphs having a CONTRASTING theme
================================================================
================= LIST060a ================================
List of verses of consecutive paragraphs with same theme
===========================================================
VERSE COMMON THEME 1st Chapter 2nd Chapter
======== =============== ================ ================
Gn11-10a Flood+2 years Shaym is 100 Has children
Ex02-23a Moses=Savior Save girls/sheep Save Jews
Gn25-23 Seeking God She SEEKS God*4 Person tells her
------- ------------- -------------- --------------
Dt14-20 Caring in KSRTH Sell to Non Jew Cook kid &mother
Dt14-21 Caring in KSRTH Cook kid &mother Tithe produce*3
------- ------------- -------------- --------------
Lv19-25a Abstain->incrse No fruit 4 year More fruit 5th*2
Lv19-26a Abstain->incrse No eat living more nutrition*2
Gn22-23a Isaac-Rivkah Akaydah Rivkah-born*1
Ex18-01a Gods miracles Exodus Defeat of Amalek
Nu13-02a Slander Miryam on Moses Spies on Israel
Nu26-64a Entry to Israel Census Girl inheritance
Nu27-12a Entry to Israel Girl inheritance Joshua and Moes
Nu15-41d Important Laws Idolatry Sabbath
Dt33-07a Repentance Reuven Judah
Nu08-02a Temple gifts Gold vessels Service
Ex17-08a God cares for us Water-Manna Defeat of Amalek
Ex21-01a A Just life The Altar Monetary Law
Nu20-01b Atonement Red Heiffer Miryam's death
NOTES
-----
*1 Actual there are 3 paragraphs as follows
- Gn22-01:19 Akaydah
- Gn22-20:24 Birth of Rivkah
- Gn23-01:-- Death of Sarah
Rashi points out that the TOPIC SENTENCE of Gn22-20:24
is the birth of Rivkah. Rashi also points out that
the 3 paragraphs form a TEMPORAL SEQUENCE
For further details see LIST690B
*2 The paragraph contains 7 examples illustrating the theme
ABSTENTION INCREASES PRODUCTIVITY
-------------------- EXAMPLES ----------------------------
-1- Abstain 4 years from new fruit--increase fruit yield
-2- Abstain from blood=life source--increase nutrition
-3- Abstain from divining -- increase prediction
-4- Separate animal/human -- increase animality/human
-5- Abstain from early sex-- increase sexual awarenss
-6- Abstain from Sabbath work -- incresae productivity
-7- Abstain from seancing -- Increase knowledge
----------------------------------------------------------
*3 Actual prohibition is cooking CHILD OF LAMB(or other
Kosher animals) in MILK OF MOTHER. Rashis actual
language is
--------------------------------------------
If you cook kid in milk of mother (violate
the sanctity of womb) I will destroy the
wheat germ in the womb of the wheat with strong
winds
--------------------------------------------
Rashi is simply giving poetic expression to the
unifying theme of CARING IN KASHRUTH in the chapters.
*4
Rashi's point here is that GOD TOLD HER might
mean she is a prophet. However IN THE CONTEXT
of the paragraph, SHE WENT TO SEEK AND WAS TOLD
clearly indicates that the telling was by
messenger, the person she asked.
What we call the PARAGRAPH method is none other
than the RABBI ISHMAEL, CONTEXT method. We
interpret the verse based on CONTEXT.
===========================================================
===================== LIST061a ============================
A list of paragraphs having CAUSAL connection
===========================================================
VERSE TOPIC IN 1st CHAPTER TOPIC IN 2nd CHAPTER
======== ===================== ============================
Gn10-11a Nimrod rebels on God Ashur left Nimrod
Dt28-53a Fierce FAMINE You-ll eat children
Nu12-10a Prophecy cloud goes Miryam punished;leprosy*13
Nu08-19b Levites help priests No death to Jews*14
Ex33-08b pitches tent outside when he went outside
Gn41-48a Stored city food Stored it near its city*12
Gn41-44a I am Pharoh King Hence I grant you power
Gn24-29a Laban saw BRACELETS Laban ran to get servant*11
Gn20-01a Lot incests daughters Abraham runs away from there
------- -------------------- --------------------------
Gn13-14a Lot / Abe separate God promises Abe Israel*9
Gn13-07a Fight of Abe-Lot Canaanites still in Israel*9
------- -------------------- --------------------------
Dt14-01a Jews=Gods children No self multilation on death
Dt01-42a God not with you Hence:defeat;therefore:no go
Nu30-16b Annuls after AFFIRM He bears punishment of sin*8
Ex14-25a Remove wheel Heavy driving--God fights
Ex14-25b Heavy Driving God fights*10
Ex13-17b Avoid NEAR-ROUTE Nearness facilitates return
Gn35-01a Dinah is raped Prophetic order to leave*6
Gn33-13c Young Sheep IF pushed they will die*7
Gn29-01a God WITH Jacob Jacob travelled SMOOTHLY*5
Nu06-02a Adulterous wife rite Nazaarite from wine*1
Gn38-01a Brothers sell Joseph Judah leaves brothers*1
Gn23-03c Abraham offers Isaac Sarah dies*1
Gn02-20a Adam Eve are Naked Snake gives Eve Apple*2
Lv10-02a Non-allowed sac Death of Aarons sons*3
Lv10-02a Death of Aarons sons No wine to serving priest*3
Lv10-03d Death of Righteous God honored*4
Lv22-15a Dont eat Terumah Dont DESCECRATE holies
NOTES
-----
*1 Thus "whoever see the humiliating Adulterous wife rite"
will be so shocked that he will abstain from wine
Similarly "Judah advised his brothers to sell Joseph"
and so when they regretted it they blaimed him and he
had to "separate from them."
Similarly "Sarah died" from the shock that "Abraham
offered Isaac."
*2 In other words because the snake saw Adam and Eve naked
therefore he became Jealous and wanted Adam killed so
he could marry Eve.
ALthough this sounds a bit wild there is strong supporting
evidence. Gn04-01 uses the past perfect form
"And Adam HAD BEEN FAMILIAR with his wife & they had
a child"
So the sequence of chapters is
"Adam was lonely"
"God makes Eve"
"Adam and Eve are naked"
------------------------"Snake tempts Eve"
"Adam has a child with Eve"
Thus the sequence of chapters (Naked--->child) is
clearly interrupted by the Snake story.
*3 As explained above Rashi sees these two views as
complementary
- First they drank wine and got drunk
- While drunk they thought it permissable to offer
sacrifices which should not be offered
Hence they died for both crimes
*4 Rashi explains the Causal connection
- when the masses see that God EVEN kills the righteous
for sins
- then they are aware how they must also observe
Gods commandments
- This leads to more honor for God
*5 So GOOD NEWS facilitates/causes SMOOTH TRAVEL(Rashi)
*6 The full sequence of chapters is as follows
--------------------------------------------
- Gn31 God orders Jacob to return to his fathers house
- Gn32 But Jacob is afraid of Being with Brother Esauv
- Gn33 Jacob journeys instead to Succoth
- Gn34 Dinah gets raped
- Gn35 God tells Jacob to return to BethEl
-------------------------------------------
Rashi notes that
-----------------------------
If Jacob had IMMEDIATELY fulfilled the order
of Travelling to his fathers house he
wouldnt have stayed in Succoth and his
Daughter would not have gotten raped.
------------------------------
Thus Rashi sees a CAUSAL connection
between the chapters. Dinah was raped
because Jacob did not IMMEDIATELY fulfill
the prophetic order.
Note Rashi expresses the same theme
-------------------------------------------------
Because he delayed doing the prophecy immediately
therefore he was punished that certain bad
occurrences happened to him
-------------------------------------------------
Rashi expresses this same theme on Gn35-22a
where we find that Reuven inteferred with his
fathers marital life.
*7 Rashi can be better understood with the EXPORT-IMPORT LAW
of logic. The EXPORT-IMPORT law states that
----------------------------------------------------
IF [it rains] then if [I go out] THEN [I will get wet]
----------------------------------------------------
has the same meaning as
----------------------------------------------------
IF [it rains] and [I go out] THEN [I will get wet]
----------------------------------------------------
In other words Rashi identifies the two sentence forms
- IF p THEN IF q THEN r
- IF p & q THEN r
This identification of NESTED CONDITIONALS with a
CONJUNCTIVE HYPOTHESIS is called the EXPORT-IMPORT law.
The actual Biblical text reads
---------------------------------------------
The cattle is young
AND they will be pushed one day
AND they will die
---------------------------------------------
Rashi simply points out (Using EXPORT-IMPORT) that
we can interpret this as either
---------------------------------------------
[IF] The cattle is young
AND they will be pushed one day
THEN they will die
---------------------------------------------
or
---------------------------------------------
IF The cattle is young
IF they will be pushed one day
THEN they will die
---------------------------------------------
The above two translations use the well known Biblical
principle that the Hebrew letter VAV can refer to
any connective.
*8 In other words he
- 1st affirmed a vow of his wife
- then annuled it (which he had no right to)
- If she now sins (Because she was mislead into thinking
the vow is annuled)
- then HE bears the sin/punishment
In other words BECAUSE he misled her he must pay for
the sin.
*9 The causality of these verses reinforce each other
- Gn13-14 EXPLICITLY states that God promised Abe
Israel AFTER Lot separated from him
- Gn13-07 states that Abe and Lot faught WHILE
the Canaanites were still in the land.
So Rashi simply puts the two verses together
- Lot felt HE COULD USE ISRAEL land even though the
CANAANITES still owned it. Lot felt this way because
the land was promised to Abraham eventually. By contrast
Abraham refused to use the land UNTIL it was actually
given to him.
-------------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES -------------------
*10 Rashi also states
--------------------------------------------------
The HEAVY DRIVING (that God made the Egyptians do
by removing chariot wheel) was a punishment for
their making HEAVY their hearts
--------------------------------------------------
I would strengthen these associations
--------------------------------------------------
The HEAVY DRIVING is a punishment for the HEAVY
work that the Egyptians placed on the Jews
--------------------------------------------------
These comments of Rashi or me also indicate
-- HEAVY DRIVING causes/facilitated
-- Egyptians seeing that God was fighting for them
Indeed: We know that one of the way God fights
is to punish people according to what they have done
(See Rashi on Ex18-11- Jethro said: Now I know that
God is the true God because He returns to people
what they have done)
Hence this particular punishment (making the
Egyptians drive heavy vs killing them) showed
the Egyptians (CAUSED them to be aware) that
God was fighting.
*11 Hence the Rashi
- Laban was interested in the possibility of becoming
rich from Abraham.
*12 Presumably each city had its own method of preserving
food (e.g. use natural nutrients in the fields).
Hence the second sentence of the verse HE STORED EACH
CITIES FOOD NEAR IT is seen as ENABLING the first
sentence HE STORED THE FOOD OF THE SEVEN YEARS
*13 (Rashi) "And the cloud departed from off the
Tent"ENABLES and ALLOWS "and behold
Miriam had become leprous."
An analogy would be King angry at one of his
subjects. The King would leave the room BEFORE
punishment began since it is disrespectful to
degrade a subject of the King in his presence.
Similarly God, the King, had to depart ("The cloud
departed")before Miryam could be punished.
*14 BECAUSE the Levites do the Temple work
there will be no need for Jews to enter the
Temple. This prevents a plague
But if they did enter the temple they would
be liable to a death penalty at the hands of
heaven. [See Nu18-07 for an explicit
statement that "strangers [non levites/priests]
coming near to the Temple die at the hands of heaven.]
--------------------------------------------------
=================================================================
======================== LIST061b =================================
A list of paragraphs having a CONTRASTING connection
===================================================================
# VERSE TOPIC IN 1st CHAPTER TOPIC IN 2nd CHAPTER
==== ========== ======================== ==========================
(--) Gn03-05a Eat fruit-become Godlike God wants you inferior
(--) Gn11-06a DESPITE Unified nation They rebel against God
(--) Dt23-08a Amon NEVER intermarries Egypt DOES in3 generations
(--) Dt23-08b Amon NEVER intermarries Egypt DOES in3 generations
(--) Dt24-05a ...your former divorcee NEW WIFE-no former divorce
(--) Dt28-54a SOFT HEARTED person... STINGY because of famine
(--) Dt04-41a Moses will die Moses sets 3 refuge cities
(--) Dt05-04a Parents didnt see God You personally heard God
(--) Gn41-44b I am Pharoh=King You are Vice-King
(--) Gn25-23a Esauv HUNTER,in FIELD*11 Jacob SIMPLE,TENTS charity
(--) Nu31-03a War Midyan;THEN DIE Eager to go to war*0
(--) Lv19-30a Observe SABBATH [Even when]BUILDING TEMPLE
(--) Ex18-05a Jethro comes to DESERT comes to Mount of GOD
(--) Ex04-11a Moses cant speak Moses did speak-Ex02-11:14
(--) Ex04-11b Moses afraid of Pharoh God protected Mshe-Ex02-15
(--) Gn47-25a*8 20% Tax:80% Yours Thank you...Good deal
(--) Gn42-10a JOE: You are spies BROTHERS:NO-we are not.*7
(09) Lv26-01a Being a slave to Non Jew Prohibition of Idolatry*1
(10) Dt29-12a Curses We are before God*2
(11) Lv19-03c Fear Parents Watch Sabbaths*3
(12) Dt22-12a No Shaatnez Tzitzith*4
(--) Dt09, Dt10 Jews rebel against God But God still loves Jews*5
(--) Gn31-13d I will go GENTLY You will PASS ME*6
NOTES
-----
*1 Rashi not only connects 2 paragraphs. He also connects
all Biblical paragraphs in this chapter. See
footnote *10 for further details
*2 Dt28 gives a long list of curses if the Jews violate
the commandments.
Dt29-12 says "You are all STANDING before God today" In
other words despite the curses for disobediance you are
still here before God(The implication being that no
matter how angry God gets he will not destroy you)
A further support for this theme can come from the
General-particular-General form
Dt28 GENERAL: Curses for disobediance
Dt29-12 PARTICULAR: You are standing here before God
Dt29-19 GENERAL: Curses for disobediance
Thus the General-Particular-General form shows that Gods
curses still allow us to "Stand before him"--in other
words they are educative curses not punitive.
*3 In other words (always) "Observe the Sabbaths"
DESPITE a request to the contrary "By your parents"
This can happen if eg your parents ask you to
desecrate the Sabbath. You must observe the
Sabbath even if your parents request to
the contrary.
And this can be generalized to all Torah laws(that
they take precedence over your parents request)
*4 Wear Tzitzith DESPITE the fact that they may have Shaatnez
Wool and linen together (In the priestly garments made of
Linen the Tzitzith were made of wool--thus the commandment
of Tzitzith OVERRIDES the prohibtion of wearing wool and
linen)
*5 More specifically Rashi (Dt10-12a) states
---------------------------------------------
Despite the 5 rebellions that the Jews did
against God, nevertheless, God still loves
the Jews. In fact Dt10-12 states that all
the Jews need do to earn this love is to
revere God
---------------------------------------------
*6 Rashis point is that Jacob did not ask Esauv
----------------------------
Past me and leave me behind
----------------------------
Rather Jacob suggested contrast
------------------------------------------------
- I must go at a gentle pace
- you go at a normal pace
------------------------------------------------
A logical consequence of this contrast is that
Esauv would pass Jacob and leave him behind.
*7 The full Biblical text shows two rounds of dialogs
between Moses and Joseph
The Biblical text states as follows
----------------------------------------------------
Gn42-09 1 JOE: You are Spies
Gn42-10:11 1 BROHTERS: NO(Contrast)--We are simple people
Gn42-12 2 JOE: NO(Contrast) you are spies
Gn42-13 2 BROTHERS: We are 12 sons;we came for food
----------------------------------------------------
*8 Gn47-25b and Gn47-25a both deal with the contrast of offer
vs Thank you.
*9 Rashi makes a point of the contrast
----------------------------------------
Even though he was going to die after the war
nevertheless he was eager to perform the war
--------------------------------------------
---------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES ----------------------
*10
On a superficial level Rashi seems to be connecting 2
verses.
Avoid idolatry DESPITE your being a slave to a non jew
(who encourages its violation). Do not think "I will
worship idols now and when I am free I will go
back to believing in God"
On a profound level Rashi sees a unifying theme to this
whole chapter. The chapter encourages observing the
shimitah laws which encourage abstaining from agriculture
once every 7 years so that people can devote themselves
to God and study. If one violates these laws he is
progressively punished. Here is the sequence of
punishments
{LIST} {Paragraphs in BEHAR}
-------------------------------------------------------
VERSE LAW
------------ ------------------------------------------
Lv25-01:12 Observe the 7 and 50 year Land sabbaticals
Lv25-13:24 If not you will have to sell your MOVABLES
Lv25-25:28 If not you will have to sell your LAND
Lv25-29:34 If not you will have to sell your HOUSE
Lv25-35:38 If not you will have to LOAN
Lv25-39:46 If not you will have to become a SLAVE
Lv25-47:54 If not you'll become a NONJEWISH SLAVE
Lv26-01:03 If not you'll be tempted to IDOLATRY
---------------------------------------------------------
Thus Rashi does not merely teach juxtaposition of verses
but he also teaches juxtaposition of ALL paragraphs in
the chapter.
*11
Rashi comments
------------------------------------------------------
The verse CLEARLY contrasts HUNTER vs SIMPLE and
FIELDS vs TENTS. Thus the SITTING IN TENTS spoken
about here is not e.g. the tents of hunters but
rather the tents of scholars (or charity givers)
------------------------------------------------------
I have added the explanatory words [or charity givers]
to show that Rashi's point is one of CONTRAST not
one of IDENTIFICATION. Rashi literally says
-------------------------------------
TENTS refers to the tents of Shaym
alluded to in the verse Gn09-27
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
God will give beauty to Yefeth
and Yefeth will dwell in the TENTS OF SHAYM
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-------------------------------------
Presumably these are tents of either scholars
or tents of charity givers. Rashi's main
point is not the identification of WHOSE
tents Jacob dwells in but rather the
TYPES of tents that Jacob dwells in--
charity or learning tents vs hunter tents.
*12 Rashi cites Gn41-40 to support this interpretation
-------------------------------------------------
Pharoh said to Joseph; I give you power over all Egypt
But my throne shall surpass your power
-------------------------------------------------
*13 - The 6 refuge cities became operational as a unit
- That is, no refuge city gave asylum till all did
- Hence if Moses was dying his setting aside 3
cities did not have any effect
We conclude that Moses set aside the cities simply
because of religiousity and his love of performance
================================================================
---------------------------------------------------
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Volume 31 Number 7
#*#*#*# (C) 2000-2006, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#
Volume 31 Number 7