#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
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| (C) RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President |
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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
The hyperlinks only work on the main website
Volume 12 Number 6
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 12 Number 6