#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
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| Rashi is Simple Version 2.0 |
| (C) RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President |
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VERSE: Gn27-01z
RASHIS COVERED: Gn23-11a Gn23-11b Gn23-02c Gn24-01a Gn27-01a
Gn27-01a
======================= CONSECUTIVE PARAGRAPHS ===================
VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
Sometimes the meaning of every WORD and INDIVIDUAL SENTENCE is
clear. Nevertheless we dont understand the connection between the
consecutive sentences and/or paragraphs. Rashi uses 4 methods for
connecting consecutive paragraphs. (a) CAUSE:Gn26-34 Esauv took
BAD WIVES.Hence Gn27-01 Isaac OVERLOOKED faults(b) ENABLEMENT:God
had blessed Abraham with Everything;HE WAS THEREFORE NOW READY to
marry off his son (It is poor practice to attempt to marry off a
child when one is in need since one is vulnerable).(C-D) CONTRAST
& EXAMPLE: Gn23-09 (ABRAHAM)I will pay full price for the field.
CONTRAST:(EPHRON)No! EXAMPLE:It is like a gift..no need for money
-----------------------------------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE: GRAMMARr
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: OVERALL STRUCTURE
-----------------------------------------------------------------
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RULE AND SUBRULE
-------------------------------------
One of Rashis 6 main goals is to explain grammar the same way
modern Hebrew textbooks explain grammar. But Grammar has many
facets. For example Grammar deals with the conjugation of verbs
Grammar also deals with writing of paragraphs and the methods of
connecting sentences into paragraphs or paragraphs into sections.
Rashi uses 4 methods for connecting sentences/paragraphs
- CAUSE: The first sentence CAUSED the second sentence
- ENABLEMENT: The 1st sentence provides a BACKGROUND for the 2nd
- CONTRAST: The 2nd sentence is a CONTRAST to the first
- EXAMPLE: The 2nd & 1st sentences EXEMPLIFY a theme.
STANDARD REFERENCES FOR TODAYS RULE
-----------------------------------
The RashiYomi grammar page
http://www.RashiYomi.com/grammar.htm
The CONSECUTIVE PARSHAH SERIES
http://www.RashiYomi.com/cp-9.htm
Or visit the RashiYomi calendar at
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/calendar1.htm
The Consecutive Parshah series was
presented in July 2000.
Also visit http://www.Rashiyomi.com/dt03-29a.htm
USING THESE LISTS FOR SCHOOL PROJECTS
-------------------------------------
These lists can be used for school projects. Here is
how. A teacher can present these Biblical sections
to students. The students can then attempt to classify
HOW these consecutive sentences are connected--that is,
they can attempt to indicate which one of the 4 rules is
being used. The students can then compare their solution
with Rashi. In this way they enrich their understanding
of Rashi.
TODAYS LIST
-----------
Todays list comes from Dt03-29a.htm. We add on the
examples We present 4 lists corresponding to the
4 causes. In this 1st list we present examples of
2 consecutive sentences where there is CAUSATION
==============================================================
# VERSE TOPIC IN 1st CHAPTER TOPIC IN 2nd CHAPTER
==== ======== ==================== ==========================
NU*3 Gn27-01a Esavs annoying wives Isaacs(prophetic)blindness
NEW Gn23-02c Sacrifice of Isaac Sarah died
(01) Nu06-02a Adulterous wife rite Nazaarite from wine*1
(02) Gn38-01a Brothers sell Joseph Judah leaves brothers*1
(03) Gn23-03c Abraham offers Isaac Sarah dies*1
(04) Gn02-20a Adam Eve are Naked Snake gives Eve Apple*2
(13) Nu22-01a Jews win a war Moab concerned about war
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 To be technical here are the verses:
- Gn26-34:35 Esauv takes bad wives which annoy Isaac
- Gn27-01 Isaac is old and WEAK in sight
And here are the inferences:
- The first chapter (ANNOYING WIVES) caused
the 2nd chapter (EYE WEAKNESS)
- Rashi discusses the TYPES of EYE WEAKNESS
--- Maybe the wives worshipped idols and the incense
made Isaacs physical sight weak OR
--- More realistically maybe, because they were his
daughter-in-laws,Isaacs prophetic VISION became
weak (so he overlooked their flaws)
This second interpretation (that his prophetic vision
became weak) is supported by two OTHER VERSES
-- All of Gn27 deals with how Isaac JUDGED PEOPLE BY
APPEARANCES not CONTENT. e.g. the Stinging verse
------------------------------------------
But Isaac did not recognize Jacob [merely]
because his hands were hairy !!(Gn27-23)
------------------------------------------
-- The Bible explicitly states that Isaac identified
Canaanite wives as of POOR CHARACTER(See Gn27-46
and Gn28-01:09)
Thus paradoxically in this case, the interpretation of
EYE WEAKNESS as LACK OF PROPHETIC INSIGHT seems to be
the SIMPLE MEANING of the text.
================================================================
=================== ENABLEMENT =================================
In the examples below the topic in the 1st chapter FACILITATED
or ENABLED the topic in the 2nd chapter See footnote *4
for an explanation of the first record which is new
================================================================
# VERSE TOPIC IN 1st CHAPTER TOPIC IN 2nd CHAPTER
==== ======== ======================== =========================
NEW Gn24-01a Abraham blessed with ALL Needs a wife for his son
(05) Dt20-01a Judicial process Laws of War*1
(07) Nu20-02a Miryams death And there was no water*1
(08) Gn21-01a Egypt had chidren Sarah had a child*2
(14) Nu21-01a Aarons death Amalek attacks Israel*3
NOTES
-----
*1 In the merit of our following "Judicial process" we will
be able to "win wars"
Similarly after Miryams death there was no water. Thus
we have that in the merit of "Miryam" the Jews had water
*2 Again a close examination of the BIblical text shows a
past perfect
"And God punished Avimelech and his household"
"And Abraham prayed for Avimelech & his household"
"But God HAD ALREADY VISITED Sarah with a child"
In other words Sarah had already had a child.
The Bible deliberately juxtaposes "sarah having a child"
with "Abraham praying for Avimelechs household to have a
child" to teach us
"That whoever is a kind person and
prays for others will have their own
needs met first"
*3 Amalek decided that the death of a righteous person
would demoralize the people and make winning a war easier
*4 The idea is that one should not seek a wife for ones son
while one has needs as that makes one vulnerable. People
who are interested in the son might pressure Abraham to
marry him for his needs. Therefore the verse emphasizes
that Abraham had all he needed--he was THEREFORE free to
select a wife for his son that was compatable with him.*10
-------------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES -----------------
*10 Rashi emphasizes the Gematria that BACOL (ALL) equals SON
It is of course rediculous to assume that Rashi derived
meaning from such numerical associations (Since there would
be no consistency in such derivations).
Rather uses the GEMATRIA, ALL-SON, to emphasize the link
that only after ones own needs are satisfied should one seek
a wife for ones son.
Thus the real derivation comes from the grammatical rule
of consecutive paragraphs; the gematria is simply a mnemonic
We have explained other gematrias in Rashi similarly and
have cited respectable authorities to support our thesis.
================================================================
======================== CONTRAST ==============================
The examples in this list show 2 paragraphs that CONTRAST
each other. The key idea is to see the 2nd paragraph
holding DESPITE the event of the 1st paragraph The new
example is added on at the bottom
================================================================
# VERSE TOPIC IN 1st CHAPTER TOPIC IN 2nd CHAPTER
==== ======== ======================== =========================
NEW Gn23-11a I will pay for field NO-No need to pay
NEW Gn23-11b I will pay for field NO--It is like a gift*6
(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
NEW Dt03-29a We sinned by PEOR God gave good statutes*5
NOTES
-----
*1 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" See *10 for a deeper reason
*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 Actually the two verses state as follows
----------------------------------------------------------
We then moved to PEOR [where the Jews sinned with harlots]
But now Jews [simply] listen to the statutes & commandments
that I give you this day in order that you shall live
-----------------------------------------------------------
Rashi emphasizes that these two verses are linked by contrast
-----------------------------------------------------
DESPITE your sins in Peor
NEVERTHELESS if you simply do Gods word then you will
earn eternal life
------------------------------------------------------
*6 Here is the full Biblical text
------------------------------------------------
Gn23-09 (ABRAHAM) I will pay for a burial plot, full price
Gn23-11 (EPHRON) NO [No need to pay]
Gn23-11 (EPHRON) [It is as if] I have given you a gift[Free]
------------------------------------------------------------
There are many ways to explain Rashi: e.g. Rashi explains
that the word NO means NO-YOU NEED NOT PAY. Similarly
Rashi explains that the Biblical phrase I HAVE GIVEN YOU
THE FIELD means IT IS AS IF I HAVE GIVEN YOU THE FIELD
These explanations are in fact indicated by the filled in
bracketed phrases [].
However the primary emphasis in Rashi is that Rashi fills in
these phrases IN ORDER TO MAKE THE CONSECUTIVE SENTENCES
FLOW SMOOTHLY. This appears to be the best way to approach
this Rashi.
------------------------ LONGER FOOTNOTES ----------------------
*10
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. As such this example would belong to the
next category
=================================================================
=================== UNIFYING THEME===============================
In this list although Rashi comments on the juxtaposition
of the starred paragraphs the theme of MOSES DEPARTING AS
LEADER applies to all paragraphs.
=================================================================
TOPIC OF PARAGRAPH VERSES
==================================================== ============
Pinchas(not Moses)avenges public non-jewish sex Nu25-11:18
Elazar is to prepare for war with Midyan Nu26-01:51
Laws of division of Israeli land Nu26-52:56
Completion of deaths from sin of Spies Nu26:57-65
Laws of inheritance for girl-only families*1 Nu27-01:11
Moses makes Joshua leader before his death*1 Nu27-12:23
NOTES
-----
*1 Rashi only comments on these paragraphs. But clearly
the unifying theme of Moses departing applies to all
=================================================================
RASHI RULE USED: GRAMMARr
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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 15 Number 25
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 15 Number 25