#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (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: Gn24-65a
RASHIS COVERED: Gn07-23a Gn24-65a
BACKGROUND
----------
The following is a followup to Gn27-03a in Volume 7 Number 2.
Most of the comments below come from Alfred Silberman who just
published a book SEFER AMELIM BATORAH which contains some of
the lists he used to ask his question. For the benefit of
those who forgot I briefly review the previous posting.
This posting is an excellent example of
--how to construct lists
--how to deal with Rashis that look like they have no lists
to back them up
--how to avoid Midrashic explanations in favor of grammatical
ones.
RASHI:
-----
The verse says that Rivkah took the veil and "TTCATH". On
the Hebrew word "TTCATH" Rashi says "This is a verb
form like 'he was buried'". (So Rashi thinks the verb is
Passive) In other words Rashi interprets the verse "And
Rivkah took the veil and LET HER MAIDS COVER HER"
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
---------------
A brief summary of the full explanation is presented next.
Most of the questions came from Alfred Silberman--Alfred
also provided {LIST2} from his new book SEFER AMELIM
BATORAH which presents all grammatical forms in the Bible
He is not charging for the book except for postage and
handling--to get the book contact him at
Alfred.Silberman@Lmco.Com or AlSiblerman@Juno.Com.
SUMMARY
-------
* Gn24-65 should be translated "And Rivkah took the veil and
LET HER MAIDS COVER HER"
* Thus we interpret the MEANING of the verb as PASSIVE (LET
HER MAIDS COVER HER)
* The actual verb FORM (vs meaning) is in the REFLEXIVE MODE
This can easily be shown by using standard grammar books
and observing that a terminal H was dropped. {LIST1}{LIST2}
* So we have left to prove that CSH uses the REFLEXIVE MODE
for PASSIVE MEANINGS. To do this we cite Prv26-26 which
uses a HYBRID form. We present {LIST3} which shows hybrid
forms. Prv26-26 is also translated "The evil person LETS
HIS hatred BE COVERED UP (so people shouldn't know)"
Thus we see a PASSIVE-REFLEXIVE MEANING (LET COVER UP)
* However if we ONLY consider VERB FORM and not VERB MEANING
then there are still other possibilities. Three other
possibilities are
---Gn24-65 might come from the root TTCh(which never occurs)
Alfred points out the Mizrachi suggests this
---Gn24-65 might come from the root (WEDDING) CUP (COS)
The verse means that "Yitchak gave her the wedding cup"
I found this cute explanation in Torah Shlaymah
---Prv26-26 might be a hybrid of KAL & PIEL
(Alfred points out that Daas Mikrah from Mosad Rav Kook
suggests this)
* We answer these objections by considering MEANING {LIST4}
It is common for religious women to cover themselves with
veils. Hence that is what the verse is talking about.It
is that simple. It is MEANING which forces us to interpret
the verse "And she LET HER MAIDS COVER HER" Let us review
the other woman who covered herself with a veil.
Tamar who disguised herself (because she was seducing her
father in law) COVERED HERSELF--the verb form used in
this verse is ACTIVE FORM with REFLEXIVE meaning. This
gives further support that CSH in the reflexive does not
mean reflexive. By Contrast Rivkah was getting married
and it is normal at weddings (the "bedeken") for OTHERS
to cover the bride (as a sign that her friends all approve
of the marriage and are giving her support).
{LISTS} We now present the lists mentioned above
---------------------------------------------------
{LIST1} {We show that it is possible to take a
standard grammatical form and drop the hey
This is used to prove that the verb form
TTCSH became TTCS in Gn24-65 and hence is
reflexive}
--------------------------------------------------------------
Examples of alternative conjugations for the phrase
"HE WILL DO IT" (eg YiVNeH and YiVeN)
--------------------------------------------------------------
First type 2nd type
of of
Mean CONJUGATION CONJGTION
3 Letter root ing END IN Hey VERSE NO END-HEY VERSE
------------------ ----- ------------ ------- ---------- -------
[Beth]-[Nun]-[Hey] Build Ve Yi V Ne H Ps69-36 Va Yi Ve N Gn02-22
[Pay] -[Nun]-[Hey] Face Ve Yi P Ne H - *2 - Va Yi Pe N Ju15-04
[Mem] -[Cht]-[Hey] Erase Yi M Ce H 2K21-13 Yi Ma C Ps109-13
[Koof]-[Nun]-[Hey] Buy Yi K Ne H Lv22-11 Va Yi Ke N Gn32-19
[Gmel]-[Lmd]-[Hey] Reveal Yi G Le H Jb33-16 Ve Yi Ge L Jb36-15
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Examples of alternative conjugations for the phrase
"SHE LET IT BE DONE TO HERSELF" (TiTCaS vs TiTCaSeH) *3
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First type 2nd type
of of
Mean CONJUGATION CONJGTION
3 Letter root ing END IN Hey VERSE NO END-HEY VERSE
------------------ ----- ------------ ------- ---------- -------
[Cof]-[Smch]-[Hey] Cover TiThCSeH - *2 -- TiTCaS Gn24-65
NOTES
-----
*1 Rashi brings 4 examples. I supplemented this list with the
example GLH
*2 The normal conjugation is to PREFIX A YUD and leave the
the SUFFIX HEY. In these 2 examples there is no Biblical
example of the normal form---only the abnormal form
occurs. (Nevertheless it occurs rarely)
{LIST2} {A list of verb forms that shows that for Lamed-He
verbs it is much more common to drop the He than
to keep it. This interesting Statistical observation
comes from Moshes(Alfreds) book}
Moshe
lists 21
> forms: [Moderator These forms are explained in his book
They are forms of grammar like HITPAEL]
>
> Form # With He He dropped
> 171 2
> 173 1
> 181 1
> 186 1
> 192 1
> 936 1
> 2467 3
> 1505 1
> 2515 4
> 2541 2
> 2543 3
> 2566 3
> 2584 3
> 3786 1
> 3787 2
> 4509 3
> 4526 1
> 4532 2
> 4534 2
> 4552 1
> 5448 1
>
> Totals 14 25
>
{LIST3} {Hybrid verbs--that is the verb form uses a mix
of 2 punctuations}
VERSE WORD SHOULD BE
----- ---- ---------
Ex18-26 YSPooTo YSPOT*1
Lv04-23 HODAH HooDah*2
Prv26-26 TCaSeh TCoSeh*3
NOTES
-----
*1 This is a combination of KAL and HFAL
*2 This is a combination of HIFIL, HFAL, and HITPAEL(Malbim)
*3 This is a combination of NIFAL and HITPAEL
Alfred Silberman points out that in the
Daas Miqra from Mossad Rav Kook. They consider this verb
a cross between Piel and Nifal NOT Hispael and Nifal.
I would answer them that the meaning of the verb is not
a game in computer matching of forms but rather must
be consistent with meaning. The meaning of these
verses is "LET IT BE DONE TO IT" as "Let the hatred
be covered by darkness" or "Let her maids cover her"
{LIST4} {Women who covered themselves with a veil and
merited to have great men come from them}
VERSE WOMAN HOW SHE COVERED WHY
----- ----- --------------- ---
Gn24-65 Rivkah Maids covered her Part of the wedding
Gn38-14 Tamar She covered herself Was a disguise*1
NOTES
-----
*1 Note that Tamar was seducing her father in law.
She did not want anyone knowing about it
Hence she would not have her maids help her
Also note that DESPITE THE FACT that TAMAR covered
herself (a reflexive action) nevertheless the KAL
ACTIVE mode is used. This lends further credence to
Rashi that the reflexive of COVER does not mean
COVER ONESELF but LET OTHERS COVER YOU
RULES USED: GRAMMAR
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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 7 Number 5
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
Volume 7 Number 5