#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (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: Gn24-02a


RASHIS COVERED: Gn24-02a Gn29-27a Gn07-14a Ex28-11a Nu06-05b
                Dt04-41c Dt32-13h Dt32-14f


RULE:
=====
Hebrew and English words have two forms
-the >ORDINARY< form -eg And Abraham was >OLD<  (Gn24-01)
-the >CONSTRUCT< form-eg >THE ELDER< of his house(Gn24-02)

In other words the word >OLD< by itself is >OLD<. But when
it occurs as part of a phrase modifying or modified by
other phrases, >THE ELDER OF HIS HOUSE<,the word >OLD< becomes
>ELDER<. You can usually recognize the fact that a word is
modifying other phrases by the word >OF< (>elder OF his house<)

The above example was in English. The corresponding example
in Hebrew are the words >ZaKayN< vs >ZeKaN< (OLD vs ELDER).





SOURCES
=======
Almost any good Hebrew grammar book will have a discussion on
this. My favorite terse summary may be found at the back of
the Ibn Shoshan Dictionary in the table >FORMS FOR NOUNS<.
>FORM 2< is in fact this example from Rashi (OLD vs ELDER)






EXAMPLES
=========
We now review Rashis that comment on CONSTRUCT grammatical forms
In particular we explain WHY Rashi chose to comment on the
CONSTRUCT form in these cases. We now review other examples.



----------------------------------------------------------------
 In the following Rashis either the surrounding verses contain
 both grammatical forms (construct and non construct) Hence
 Rashi felt compelled to comment on the construct

 The 3rd column contains the entry in the Ibn Shoshan construct
 table(D for Dictionary)
-----------------------------------------------------------------

VERSE    TEXT(Construct CAPPED)  D  WHY RASHI COMMENTED
======== ======================  =  ===========================
Gn24-02a the ELDER OF his house  2  Gn24-01:02 have both forms
Dt32-14f the MILK OF cows        1* Dt32-14 contains both forms

NOTES
=====
*Dt32-14f has a rare construct form because the word contains
 a guttural letter










------------------------------------------------------------
 In the following verses the construct form is rare and
 is not found in Ibn Shoshan (One form is even absent
 in the Mendelkorn Konkordance). Since it is rare Rashi
 felt compelled to mention it
------------------------------------------------------------
VERSE    TEXT(Construct CAPPED)  D  WHY RASHI COMMENTED
======== ======================  == ===========================
Ex28-11a a STONE JEWELERS work   NA Rare construct *a
Dt32-13h from HARD rocky ground  NA Only occurence of construct*b
Nu06-05b GROWN locks of hair      8 Exception to Rule*c
Dt04-41c On EASTWARD border      NA Only occurence in Tnach*d


NOTES
=====
*a The ordinary form of the word (ChoRoSh) means >JEWELER<
   The construct form of the word (ChoRash) means >A JEWELER
   OF SUCH AND SUCH< There are only 3 examples in the
   Bible:
   -Stone Jewelers      Ex28-11a
   -Iron  Jewelers      Isa44-12
   -Wood  Jewelers      Isa44-13

   This construct form is Rare and is not listed in Ibn Shoshan

*b  {LIST}
    Meanings of the Hebrew word CHaLaMish with and
    without construct
    ========================================================
    HEBREW      CONSTRUCT?      TRANSLATION     MY TRANSLATION
    ======      ==========      ===========     ==============
    CHaLaMiSh   by itself       HARD ROCK       CLEFTED ROCK
    CHaLaMiSh   in construct    HARD ROCK       CLEFTED ROCK

    Thus the construct form does not add anything. For this
    reason Rashi had to comment on it.

    Furthermore the word CHaLaMish only occurs 5 times in
    Tnach with only one of the them being construct

    For a discussion of my translation vs other scholars see
    http://www.RashiYomi.Com/dt32-13h.htm

*c  The verb P-R-A means to >GROW<. Thus the verse is translated
    >Let him grow the growth of the hair of his head<. Again
    as in footnote *b the construct doesn't add anything and
    Rashi had to emphasize it.

    A further reason Rashi emphasized it is because it is a rare
    form. Although Segolate nouns are common nevertheless this
    segolate noun--P-R-A-- has >TWO< guttural letters (The 2nd
    and 3rd letter). As such it is a rare form and Rashi had
    to comment on it.

*d  I was really shocked: This form is so rare that it does not
    even occur in the famous Mendelkorn Konkordance (8th edition)
    (A communication from several posters on the Email Group
    HebLang at Shamash pointed out that this form although it
    is rare occurs more than once. It occurs 3 times and may
    be found in the 1st set of corrections in Mandelkern on
    page 1535a in the 8th edition. The 3 occurences are Dt04-41
    Jos12-01 Jud21-19.

    The usual construct form for >EAST< is the Hebrew >MiZRaCh<.
    It is well known that adding a HEY to a word can mean
    >In the direction of that place<

    So I would suggest that >Mizrecha Shemesh< means the
    >EASTWARD BORDER< while >Mizrach Shemesh< means >EASTWARD<
    This makes sense since the 3 refuge cities were scattered
    across Israel's border.(This usage is also consistent
    with the occurence of Mizrechah in Jos12-01. However it
    is not clear that it is consistent with the usage in Jud21-19
    Perhaps the intent there is that Benjaminites from the WHOLE
    east coast journied to Shiloh).

    This explanation is not full-proof however. Since when a
    HEY is appeneded to a words end the accent should fall
    back (which does not happen here).

    In any event it is a rare form since it occurs only 3 times










-----------------------------------------------------------
 In the following verses the construct leads to a different
 interpretation of the verse

-----------------------------------------------------------

VERSE    TEXT(Construct CAPPED)  D  WHY RASHI COMMENTED
======== ======================  == ===========================
Gn29-27a wait the WEDDING WEEK   65  not >wait 7 more years<*a
Gn07-14a any FLYERS OF wings     63  Includes grasshoppers*b


NOTES
=====
*a This deals with the Jacobs working for Rachel 7 years.
   Recall that he was double crossed and given Leah. When
   confronted Laban said >Work 7 more and I will give you
   Rachel<.

   This is sometimes interpreted as >Work 7 more years and
   then I will give you Rachel<. But the proper translation
   is >Fill this WEDDING WEEK (For Leah) and then I will
   give you Rachel (advanced payment) in exchange for the
   extra work<

*b Without the construct the verse would read >Birds, (with)
   ALL wings<. With the construct the verse reads >any
   FLYERS OF wings<. Thus the construct interpretation
   includes grasshoppers.




RASHI RULE USED: GRAMMAR
---------------------------------------------------
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 8 Number 8


#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
Volume 8 Number 8