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VERSE: Gn24-49z

RASHIS COVERED: Gn24-49z Gn24-49a Gn24-49b

======================== Gn24-49a ============================

SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
One of Rashis 10 main methods is the explanation of meaning
the same way a dictionary explains meaning. We call this
the WORD MEANING method.

Rashi will sometimes explain IDIOMS. An IDIOM is a
collection of words, which together means something
different than its component parts. Thus the
IDIOM endows NEW MEANING to the collection of words.
Very often the IDIOMATIC meaning is closely related
to the individual words. We call this the NEW MEANING
submethod of the WORD MEANING method.

EXAMPLE Gn24-49a
----------------
Recall that
- Abraham prohibited Eliezer from taking a CANAANITE wife
  for Isaac
- Eliezer was negotiating with Abraham's family in Charan
- Eliezer in Gn24-49 states
---------------------------------------------------
Now tell me if you consent to this marriage;
IF NOT I will go TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT(to seek a wife)
---------------------------------------------------

Rashi comments
----------------------------------------------
LEFT OR RIGHT means TO OTHER NEARBY RELATIVES
such as ISHMAEL (Abraham's son) or LOT(Abraham's
nephew)
----------------------------------------------

In summary Rashi interprets LEFT OR RIGHT to
mean NEARBY. In general LEFT OR RIGHT means
A LITTLE BIT. (Footnote #11 in LIST854x below
gives further details on Rashi)

LIST854x below gives other examples of Rashis
explaining IDIOMS, NEW MEANINGS.

LIST854c below gives other examples of verses
where the Biblical phrase LEFT OR RIGHT
means A LITTLE BIT
==================================================================
ITEM                     DETAIL
======================== =========================================
RASHI RULE CLASS:        WORD MEANINGS
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS      NEW MEANINGS
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #7
SEE BELOW                LIST854x
List of                  Biblical idioms(eg FROM DAYS DAYS=YEARLY)
-----------------------  --------------------------------------
SEE BELOW                LIST854c
List of verses with      Phrase LEFT OR RIGHT (means LITTLE BIT)
==================================================================


======================= LIST854x ================================
List of Biblical idioms..eg FROM DAYS DAYS=YEARLY
LIST854x continues  LIST854d LIST854z LIST854y
=================================================================
VERSE    BIBLICAL PHRASE         TRANSLATION           NOTES
======== ======================= ===================== ==========
Gn24-49a If not I go LEFT/RIGHT  I go to NEARBY people *11
Gn27-16a This will COVER THE EYE Prevent EYEING you    *8
Gn13-03a went by HIS JOURNEYS    Lodged at SAME HOTELS *7
Dt33-14a SUNNED wheat            FULLY RIPE wheat
Dt33-14b Monthly EXPELS          Monthly TURNOVER
Dt33-15a 1st of OLD MOUNTS       VINTAGE ANCIENT MOUNT
Dt33-15b ETERNAL hills           EVERgreen Hills
-------  -------------------     --------------------- -----
Dt32-20b NO-NATION               DESPICABLE nation
Dt32-21c TURNING generation      TURN-A-COATS
Dt17-09a PRIEST-LEVITES          Priests or Levites    *6
-------  -------------------     --------------------- -----
Dt13-13b when you hear a RUMOR   TO BE SAID over&over  *5
Ex35-04a God commandsTo TRANSMIT TO BE SAID over       *5
Nu12-13b Prayed/Demands RESPONSE TO BE SAID back       *5
Nu27-15b Prayed/Demands RESPONSE TO BE SAID back       *5
Ex20-01c God said:Asked RESPONSE Affirm will keep      *5
-------  -------------------     --------------------- -----
Dt12-28b Do the MORAL & PROPER   Spiritual/Social good *4
Dt12-28c Do the MORAL & PROPER   Spiritual/Social good *4
-------  -------------------     --------------------- -----
Nu26-54a MOUTH OF LOTTERY        Closed Jar Lottery    *3
Nu21-20c HEAD OF THE CLIFF       TOP of the CLIFF      *2
Nu13-20b DAYS OF GRAPE 1st FRUIT GRAPE HARVEST SEASON
Nu13-32a Land EATS INHABITANTS   PLAGUE RIDDEN LAND
Lv25-23b Dont STICK THE SALE     Dont sell PERMANANTLY No redeem
Lv26-17a PLACE FACE*1            Total attention/focus to punish
Lv13-12a HEAD to FOOT   Whole body
Gn37-26b COVER BLOOD             conceal MURDER

NOTES
-----

*1 Rashi, Lv26-17h points out that the phrase
   -------------
   PLACE MY FACE
   -------------
   means
   --------------
   FULL ATTENTION
   --------------
   whether
   - for good, to reward
   - for bad, to punish.

*2 NOTE: The Hebrew word HEAD can mean both
- BEGINNING
- TOP
   However in this verse
- the HEAD OF THE CLIFF contrasts with
- the VALLEY in MOAB
   Hence HEAD means TOP

*3 A MOUTH LOTTERY refers to a lottery where you stick your
   hand in and select an item WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SEE THE
   ITEMS (In an open-box lottery you can see what you are
   picking even though you see backs of cards. In a MOUTH
   LOTTERY the box is covered except for a small MOUTH).
   The MOUTH LOTTERY is more secure and fairer.
   Hence the Rashi

   The name MOUTH LOTTERY is because the box has only
   a small mouth preventing you from seeing what is
   inside.
   ---------------------------------------------------
   MOUTH LOTTERY means that the LOTTERY speaks and says
   this belongs to so and so
   ---------------------------------------------------

   Of course, Rashi did not believe that LOTTERIES speak.
   Rather Rashi refers to the SECURITY and FAIRNESS of
   the lottery. In other words
   - MOUTH LOTTERY refers to a small MOUTH on LOTTERY box
     (not to a physical voice on the box)
   - Since the MOUTH LOTTERY is secure it is AS IF it
     screams and points to a correct fair choice

*4 Rashi is NOT explaining the meaning of the INDIVIDUAL WORDS
   - GOOD
   - PROPER
   Indeed, GOOD can mean SOCIALLY GOOD also (See Gn26-29)
   Therefore we have interpreted this Rashi as an example
   of the IDIOM method.

*5 These five examples show various idiomatic meanings of
   the INFINITIVE of the verb TO SAY: TO SAY can mean
   - TO SAY BACK: Request for response
   - TO SAY OVER: To Transmit
   - TO SAY OVER AND OVER: Rumor
   See LIST955m for a separate summary

*6 Thus in Dt18-01
   -------------------------------------
    The PRIEST-LEVITES shall not inherit
    from the conquest of Israel
   -------------------------------------
   the phrase PRIEST-LEVITES means
   PRIESTS OR LEVITES.

   Another occurrence of this phrase
   occurs in Dt17-18.

   In Dt17-09a Rashi does state
   ------------------------------------
   The PRIESTS who are no longer Levites
   ------------------------------------

    But I understand this to mean
   ------------------------------------
   PRIESTS by itself means PRIESTS but
   not Levites while LEVITES by itself
   could mean LEVITES but not Priests--
   PRIEST LEVITES means PRIESTS OR LEVITES*10
   -------------------------------------

*7 Besides the fact that this sounds OK (WENT BY JOURNEYS=
   STAYED BY SAME HOTELS) the verse gives support
   ---------------------------------------------
   HE WENT BY HIS JOURNEYS...UNTIL HE RETURNED
   TO HIS ORIGINAL PLACE WHERE HE BUILT AN ALTAR
   ---------------------------------------------

*8 In other words if
   - the King slept with Sarah and then
   - returned her to Abraham
   perhaps he "had enough of her" and just "wanted to play."

   But if he gives her a monetary gift then
   - it is recognized that a miracle happened and his return
   - is an apology for taking her.
   - Hence the money prevents people EYEING Sarah(looking at
     her as a 'rejected woman.'
   This is covered in two Rashi (Gn20-16a Gn20-16b) which
   are better understood as one Rashi.


--------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES -----------------------------

*10 Dt17-09 states
    ---------------------------------------
    [If you have a legal question then]
    ask the PRIEST-LEVITES, the Judges of
    the day
    ---------------------------------------

    The law PREFERS that the great Sanhedrin
    court in Jerusalem consist of PRIESTS.
    Levites are a second choice (and Israelite
    scholars are a third choice).

    So it appears that Rashi's comment
    --------------------------------------
    Priests but not Levites
    --------------------------------------
    is literal.

    But in Dt18-01 the prohibition of inheriting
    conquested Israelie land applies to EITHER
    Priests OR Levites.

    Similarly I would interprtet Dt17-09 to mean
    that EITHER Priests or Levites should preferably
    be on the Great Sanhedrin. That is the Biblical
    law.

    But Rabbinically---since Priests are more
    involved with the Temple there is a preference
    for Priests to be elected to the great court
    vs. Levites. This preference however is rooted
    in logic not in the verse. The IDIOM, PRIEST-LEVITES
    means PRIESTS or LEVITES as shown.

*11 See LIST854c for further examples where LEFT OR RIGHT
    means a LITTLE bit. Rashi's actual language is
    ---------------------------------------------------
    If you dont consent to the marriage then I will either
    - go to the RIGHT (RASHI: The Ishmaelites)
    - or the LEFT (RASHI: Lot-ites)
    ---------------------------------------------------

    But in light of the examples in LIST854c this
    Rashi should not be taken literally! Rather
    Rashi should be interpreted broadly
    ----------------------------------------
    My master prohibited marriages to Canaanites
    So if you dont consent to the marriage
    I will go to OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS OF ABRAHAM
    - such as ISHMAEL his son
    - or LOT his nephew
    -----------------------------------------

    There is temptation to interpret
    -LEFT=LOT=weakness=(He committed incest with daughters)
    -RIGHT=STRENGTH=Ishmael

    However this SPECIFIC and FOCUSED interpretation of
    LEFT and RIGHT is unsupported by the many other
    examples in LIST854c below.

    Notice this use of LISTS. We are only justified in
    reading into Rashi what can be obtained from LISTS
    We are not justified in reading extra!

    Finally for those into Talmudic flavor note that
    - all the other verses speak about LEFT/RIGHT
    - Gn24-49 speaks about LEFT OR RIGHT (Hebrew Aleph-Vav)
    Perhaps then the ALEPH VAV gives extra emphasis
    But 2S02-19 shows that LEFT/RIGHT and LEFT OR RIGHT
    both mean the same thing---A LITTLE BIT
================================================================

================== LIST854c =====================================
List of verses with      Phrase LEFT OR RIGHT (means LITTLE BIT)
=================================================================
VERSE      TEXT OF VERSE(Meaning of LEFT/RIGHT capped)
========== ======================================================
2S02-19    Asahel persued ABNER--he didnt deviate A LITTLE BIT
Gn24-49a   If you dont consent I will go to NEARBY families*6
Dt05-29:30 Watch laws;Dont deviate A LITTLE;walk in WHOLE path*1
Dt17-11a   No haugtiness; observe law; dont deviate even a LITTLE
2C34-02    He walked in path of King David;didnt deviate A LITTLE
Pr04-24:27 remove crookedness;go straight;dont deviate A LITTLE*2
Jo01-07:08 Strengthen;Dont deviate A LITTLE;Murmur Torah always*3
---------- ------------------------------------------------------
Gn13-09    If you go on right/left I will go NEARBY*4
Is54-01:03 More children;Wider tents;Spreadout NEARBY*5

NOTES
-----
*1 The rest of verse is consistent with this emphasis of
   DEVIATION EVEN A LITTLE (eg walk in WHOLE PATH)*10

*2 The rest of verses are consistent with this emphasis
   of DEVIATION EVEN A LITTLE (eg remove CROOKEDNESS;
   go STRAIGHT)

*3 The rest of verses are consistent with this emphasis
   of DEVIATING EVEN A LITTLE (eg STRENGTHEN, MURMUR ALWAYS
   IN WORDS OF TORAH)

*4 These two verses illustrate nuance of EXPANSION*11

*5 These two verses illustrate nuance of EXPANSION in
   NEARBY communities (more CHILDREN, WIDER TENTS,...)

*6 Literally I WILL DEVIATE A LITTLE BIT
   Rashi explains (DEVIATE A LITTLE BIT to NEARBY family
   members such as ISHMAEL, Arabs son, or LOT, Abraham's
   nephew). (In most Rashi editions Rashi's comments
   takes up 2 Rashi comments; Gn24-49a, Gn24-49b)

------------------ LONGER FOOTNOTES -------------------------

*10 Rashi-s actual language is
    -------------------------------------
    Obey the law even if it calls LEFT, RIGHT
    -------------------------------------

    Such an interpretation however is simply a clever
    pun.

    AS THE OTHER VERSES IN THIS LIST SHOW THE REAL
    MEANING OF THE PHRASE left and right IS A LITTLE
    BIT and this is consistent with Rashis other comments

*11
   (Rashi points out that this interpretation of nearby
   is consistent with the fact that Abraham came to
   Lots help when he needed it (Gn14))
=================================================================
---------------------------------------------------
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Volume 28 Number 1


#*#*#*#  (C) 2000-2005, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#
Volume 28 Number 1