#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
-----------------------------------------------------------
| Rashi is Simple Version 2.0 |
| (C) Dr Hendel, Summer 2000 |
| http://www.RashiYomi.Com |
| PERMISSION to reprint WITH this header if NOT for profit |
------------------------------------------------------------
VERSE: Gn40-05a
COMMENT:
=======
This is an important posting--it is #4 in our series on the
difference between our approach and the approach of Dr Leibowitz
and other modern commentators. In this important posting we
expound on the difference between the so called SIMPLE and
EXPOUNDED meaning of the text.
THE VERSE:
==========
Gn40-05a >And they dreamed a dream about both of them<
THE RASHI
=========
There is a >SIMPLE< and >EXPOUNDED< meaning to this text.
The >SIMPLE< meaning is that >They BOTH dreamt a dream<
The >EXPOUNDED< meaning is that >They dreamt the dream
of BOTH OF THEM<. In other words they each had a dream
about eg the King having a birthday party and the King
summoning all his servants; the Wine Pourer was returned
but the Baker was executed. That is, each of them had
a dream on the same topic.
Rashi derives the EXPOUNDED meaning from the placement
of the word BOTH in the verse: >They dreamed a dream
about BOTH of them< (not >They BOTH dreamed a dream<)
THE TRADITIONAL APPROACH
========================
The traditional approach believes that there is a SIMPLE
and EXPOUNDED meaning. It believes that the SIMPLE meaning
is NATURAL. It also believes that the EXPOUNDED meaning is
a bit picky but has a spiritual basis.
THE TROUBLE WITH THE TRADITIONAL APPROACH
=========================================
The traditional approach does not believe in A TRUE MEANING
of a text. It rather believes that you can peg whatever you
feel like on the text as long as it is spiritual. Therefore
there is no way to debate or argue.
By contrast, on this email list we believe that ideas can
be proved by LISTS of comparable examples. Furthermore we
believe that texts have a UNIQUE MEANING which we can arrive
at. We believe that this UNIQUE MEANING corresponds to the
way native speakers spoke. Finally we believe that this
UNIQUE MEANING which was spoken by NATIVE SPEAKERS can be
arrived at thru LISTS.
Let us examine this thesis by the verse at hand
{LIST}
The list below shows that native speakers used word
order to indicate meaning (the same way we do in
English). For example >They both fed their dogs< has a blatantly
different meaning that >They fed the dog of BOTH of them<
===================================================
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE WITH BOTH VERB or OBJECT
======= ================================ =================
Gn21-27 they BOTH made a treaty Both did activity
Gn22-06 they BOTH walked Both did activity
2S14-06 they BOTH faught Both did activity
Ex22-08 The dispute of BOTH comes to God Dispute of both
Pr29-13 God enlightens the eyes of BOTH Eyes of both
{END OF LIST}
THE APPROACH OF THIS LIST
=========================
Each of the above sentences has one unambiguous meaning.
It is the way people speak in Hebrew, English etc. Thus
the sentence >they BOTH dreamt a dream< would mean that
each one had a dream. By contrast, the sentence >They
dreamt the DREAM ABOUT BOTH OF THEM< clearly and
unambiguously means that each of them had a dream
about the two of them--for example, Pharoh had a birthday
party, invited both of them, killed the Baker and reinstated
the wine pourer. Our surety of this meaning is in turn
based on the above LIST.
BUT WHAT ABOUT RASHI? WHY DOES HE SAY WHAT HE DOES?
===================================================
This is an improper question. For Rashi, a mere commentator
on the Chumash cannot supercede the very Chumash he is
explaining. You cannot use a non-understood Rashi to contradict
the plain meaning of a Biblical verse. So even if we did not
know why Rashi said what he did we would still be certain of
the verses meaning.
In passing, and before explaining why Rashi said what he
did, I am indebted to my High School Bible Teacher, Rabbi
Amnon Haramati, who always emphasized to us that we should
read the Bible first and only then read Rashi.
Now we can explain Rashi as follows: As we have just seen
the simple meaning of the text is that >they each dreamt
the dream about both of them<.
So we must interpret >SIMPLE< to refer to people not meanings
>SIMPLE< people would erroneously intepret the verse as
>They each had a dream<. Those people who are more advanced
in interpretation would correctly interpret the verse as
>They each dreamt the dream about both of them<
SUMMARY
=======
In both English and Hebrew the sentences >he fed BOTH their
dogs< vs >he fed the dog of both< has a clear difference. Hence,
the sentence, >And they dreamed the dream of both< has a clear
unambiguous meaning: They each dreamed about the upcoming
birthday party and how the Baker would be hung and the Wine
pourer would be reinstated.
This interpretation is further backed by a solid list.
However Rashi points out that simple people would probably
not see the difference and interpret the verse as >They each
had a dream<. Nevertheless, as Rashi notes, anyone with minimal
training can see what the verse really means.
COMMENT:
========
Rashi adds some points about Joseph not having faith but
depended on the Wine pourer to get him out of Prison.
This Rashi does not have its basis in this verse but rather
has its basis in the next verse >After the COMPLETION of a
two year period< which denotes that Joseph had some growing
up(completion of personality) to do. We have therefore
commented on this part of Rashi on this other verse
RASHI RULE USED: 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 8 Number 15
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
Volume 8 Number 15