#*#*#*#*#  (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
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  |      Rashi is Simple Version 2.0                         |
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VERSE: Gn29-34c

RASHIS COVERED: Gn29-34c Gn30-10a Gn29-34b

================ JACOB PERSONALLY NAMED LEVI ===================

BACKGROUND
----------
In the Rashi Rule paper I have suggested the idea that the
Bible could implement such modern typing techniques as bold,
footnotes, paragraphing, bullets, etc

The Bible implemented FOOTNOTES, by REPEATING A VERSE WITH
ALMOST IDENTICAL WORDS AND MAKING A SLIGHT CHANGE. This
slight change in turn indicates the nuance of the footnote.
These footnote nuances are discovered by ALIGNMENT

REFERENCES
----------
For the Rashi RULES see http://www.RashiYomi.Com/rules-01.htm
For ALIGNMENT examples see http://www.RashiYomi.Com/align-58.htm

THE TEXT
--------
Jacob had 12 children. In 11 of the children it says
that the mother named her while by Levi it says that
HE named her.

THE RASHI
---------
This suggested that Jacob named him, not just his mother
In fact the other children were named for Leahs unhappiness
and bitterness--Jacob did not participate in their naming.
But Levi in Hebrew means TOGETHER and Jacob did participate
in this naming showing he acquiesced to Leahs demands for Love.

THE TEXT
--------
In all 12 of the children it gives the reason for
the childs name. But in 3 of them the Bible uses the
language THEREFORE the child was named such and such

THE RASHI
---------
This word THEREFORE creates an emphasis and shows that
the child throughout their life lived up to the reasons
behind the name. This sense of purpose is reflected in the
greater population number of these tribes---they had more
meaning in their life and this is reflected in their progreny

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
---------------
Acknowledgement to my Father, Abraham Hendel, CPA, who
helped with the analysis of the census figures presented
in footnote *10 (This list originally came in the preparation
of http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h2n6.htm)

THE LIST
--------
Here is a list ALIGNING the naming of the 12 tribes.
Differences are explained in the footnotes
=============================================================
VERSE    THEREFORE   WHO NAMED CHILD      CHILD
=======  =========== ===================  ====================
Gn29-32              SHE called his name  Reuven
Gn29-33              SHE called his name  Shimon
Gn29-34  THEREFORE    HE called his name  Levi
Gn29-35  THEREFORE   SHE called his name  Yehuda
Gn30-06  THEREFORE   SHE called his name  Dan
Gn30-08              SHE called his name  Naftali
Gn30-11              SHE called his name  Gad
Gn30-13              SHE called his name  Asher
Gn30-18              SHE called his name  Yischar
Gn30-20              SHE called his name  Zevulun
Gn30-34              SHE called his name  Joseph
Differs  *1          *2

NOTES
-----
*1 Gn29-34b. Notice how THEREFORE is only mentioned by 3
   of the tribes-- Levi, Judah, and Dan. An actuarial
   analysis of the census in Nu01 and Nu25 shows that
   Judah and Dan were the two highest in BOTH censuses.*10

   Chazal conclude that THEREFORE creates some sort of
   emphasis and indicates that the tribes descending from
   these children had high populations. (Levi had a high
   population in the days of Solomon and the exile*11)

*2 Notice how in all cases it was the mother that named
   the child, but Levi was named by HIM, the father.

   If we read Gn29-32:34 carefully we see a dialog between
   Leah and Jacob
   ----------------------------------------------------
   Gn29-32 See, Jacob, I gave you a child (REUBEN)
   Gn29-33 See, Jacob, GOd HEARD I am hated (SHIMON)
   Gn29-34 See, Jacob I have 25% of children: We are TOGETHER
   Gn29-34 JACOB RESPONDED: Yes: Lets call him TOGETHER
   ----------------------------------------------------
   In other words, it was precisely by Levi, not earlier,
   that Jacob agreed to the reason for the childs name.*12

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

*10 Here is the census in Nu01 and Nu25. In both censuses
    Judah and Dan had the highest number. Therefore the
    Bible in Gn29 uses the language style, THEREFORE in
    describing their name: THEREFORE she named him...
    That is, the word THEREFORE implies that the tribe had
    many children
    ----------------------------------------------
    TRIBE          Nu01    Nu25      THEREFORE
    -----          -----   ------    ---------
    judah          74600   76500     THEREFORE
    Dan            62700   64400     THEREFORE
    shimon         59300   22200
    zevulun        57400   60500
    yissachar      54400   64300
    Naftali        53400   45400
    reuven         46500   43730
    gad            45650   40500
    Asher          41500   53400
    Ephraim        40500   32500
    binyamin       35400   45600
    menasheh       32200   52700
    Levi           23300             THEREFORE
    ---------------------------------------------
    Total         603550  601730
    ---------------------------------------------

    Now as MAHARZU, Genesis Rabbah, 71:5 points out, Levi
    had 23000 and was hence the SMALLEST tribe. Why then
    is THEREFORE Mentioned by his name. See footnote *11

*11 We have just seen that THEREFORE implies the TRIBE
    was very big. But Levi was the smallest!!?!?

    There are 3 variant texts on Levi in the Midrash Rabbah,
    Genesis Rabbah 71:5, from which Rashi derives his text

    - The Midrash Rabbah simply says WHOEVER HAS THEREFORE
      MENTIONED IN THE NAMING HAD MANY CHILDREN

    - The MATNOTH KEHUNAH, A commentary on the Genesis
      Rabbah, cites another reference where it lists Levi
      as an exception (But that doesnt explain why the
      word THEREFORE is mentioned)

    - The MAHARZU explicitly notes that LEVI was smallest
      in the census. SO MAHARZU suggests that LEVI had
      many children in the days of Solomon.

      I would add that LEVI and JUDAH survived in the
      exile (The other 10 tribes were exiled while
      Binyamim was the smallest).

      These variants enrich our understanding of Rashi and
      the texts he cites. The MAHARZU shows us how to
      harmonize Rashi and the Midrash Rabbah with logical
      reality and so to speak make everyone happy.

*12  Rashi cites a Midrash Rabbah in Devarim
     ----------------------------------------------------
     Gabriel brought Levi to God and God gave
     him the 24 priestly gifts and called him LEVI
     which means TOGETHER, since LEVI, thru his TEMPLE
     work, enables GOD and ISRAEL to be together
     ----------------------------------------------------

     This contrasts with the more social explanation I
     gave above
     -------------------------------------------------
     HE called him Levi: HE refers to Jacob: Jacob agreed
     to call Levi by that name which means TOGETHERNESS
     since he listened (this time) to Leah. By contrast
     Jacob did not get invovled in the other names which
     reflected Leahs insecurity (A similar conflict of
     naming occurs by BENJAMIN---It was Jacobs name that
     stuck not Rachels--see Gn35-18)
     --------------------------------------------------

     I would humbly suggest that the Midrashs explanation
     does not conflict with mine but supplements it!

     Levi means TOGETHERNESS. This TOGETHERNESS can be
     seen in various places such as
     ------------------------------------------------
     -- The TOGETHERNESS of Jacob and Leah
     -- Levi helped bring Husbands and wives TOGETHER
        thru his work in the Temple
     -- Levi helped bring GOd and the Jews TOGETHER
        thru his work in the Temple.
     ------------------------------------------------
     Thus we have an overall emphasis of TOGETHERNESS
     In effect EVERYBODY--Leah, Jacob and even God--
     named Levi TOGETHERNESS
========================================================


================= ZILPAH was YOUNG =====================

BACKGROUND
----------
We continue the exciting ALIGNMENT of the births of the
12 tribes to infer nuances that are ordinarily given in
footnotes. See the introduction in the last table

In this table we see that CONCEPTION is mentioned by
everyone but ZILPHAH.

Rashi simply suggests that ZILPHAH, Leahs maid, was
young, and hence conception did not show on her.

But immediately we wonder why ZILPHAH, the younger
maid, was given to LEAH the older sister. After all you
dont give a YOUNG MAID to an OLDER WOMAN since it creates
obvious rivalry around the house!

Rashi suggests the obvious answer: Laban did this
deliberately because he wanted Jacob to think he was
getting Rachel, the younger daughter.

Here is the list
============================================================
VERSE   CHILD   CONCEPTION    AGAIN BIRTH
======= ======  ============= ===== ========================
Gn30-32 Reuven  She conceived       and gave birth
Gn30-33 Shimon  She conceived again and gave birth
Gn30-34 Levi    She conceived again and gave birth
Gn30-35 Judah   She conceived again and gave birth
Gn30-05 Dan     She conceived       and gave birth
Gn30-07 Naftali She conceived again and gave birth
Gn30-10 Gad                             gave birth
Gn30-12 Asher                           gave birth
Gn30-17 Ysachr  She conceived       and gave birth
Gn30-19 Zvulun  She conceived again and gave birth
Gn30-23 Joseph  She conceived       and gave birth
Differs         *1            *2

NOTES
-----
*1 SHE CONCEIVED is not mentioned by GAD and ASHER
   Zilphahs children. The obvious conjecture was
   that Zilphah was young and the pregnancy did
   not show

*2 (Rashi does not bring this but it is obvious)
   AGAIN is only mentioned when a woman had more
   than one child
=======================================================

RASHI RULE COVERED: DOUBLE PARSHAS
---------------------------------------------------
WARNING: The following additional references may be too wordy
However they frequently contain additional information & lists
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Volume 12 Number 6


#*#*#*#*#  (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 12 Number 6