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VERSE: Gn47-12a
RASHIS COVERED: Gn47-12a Gn46-30a
=========================== Gn47-12a ==========================
SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
One of Rashis 10 main methods is the explanation of meaning
the same way a dictionary explains meaning. We call this
the WORD MEANING method.
Rashi will sometimes explain IDIOMS. An IDIOM is a
collection of words, which together means something
different than its component parts. Thus the
IDIOM endows NEW MEANING to the collection of words.
Very often the IDIOMATIC meaning is closely related
to the individual words. We call this the NEW MEANING
submethod of the WORD MEANING method.
EXAMPLE Gn47-12a
----------------
Notice the underlined phrase
----------------------------------
fed them according to the children
----------------------------------
in the following verse Gn47-12 which states
--------------------------------------------------
And Joseph sustained his father, and his brethren,
and all his father's household, with bread,
according to the children.
---------------------------------------------------
Rashi explains this as an IDIOM meaning
---------------------------------------
he fed them
according to the FOOD NEEDS
of THE NUMBER OF children
---------------------------------------
The reader can appreciate in this case how the terser
IDIOMatic
--------------------------
phrase fed them by child,
--------------------------
even though it
is not as precise, nevertheless,
is less clumsy to say and punchier.
LIST854x below gives other examples of Rashis
explaining IDIOMS, NEW MEANINGS.
==================================================================
ITEM DETAIL
======================== =========================================
RASHI RULE CLASS: WORD MEANINGS
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS NEW MEANINGS
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #7
SEE BELOW LIST854x
List of Biblical idioms(eg FROM DAYS DAYS=YEARLY)
==================================================================
======================= LIST854x ================================
List of Biblical idioms..eg FROM DAYS DAYS=YEARLY
LIST854x continues LIST854d LIST854z LIST854y
=================================================================
VERSE BIBLICAL PHRASE TRANSLATION NOTES
======== ======================= ===================== ==========
Gn47-12a fed according to CHILD FOOD NEEDS of #CHILDS
Gn46-30a If I could only die I am so happy *13 *14
Gn28-15b UNTIL THAT IF.... UNTIL COMPLETION of *12
Gn24-49a If not I go LEFT/RIGHT I go to NEARBY people *11
Gn27-16a This will COVER THE EYE Prevent EYEING you *8
Gn13-03a went by HIS JOURNEYS Lodged at SAME HOTELS *7
Dt33-14a SUNNED wheat FULLY RIPE wheat
Dt33-14b Monthly EXPELS Monthly TURNOVER
Dt33-15a 1st of OLD MOUNTS VINTAGE ANCIENT MOUNT
Dt33-15b ETERNAL hills EVERgreen Hills
------- ------------------- --------------------- -----
Dt32-20b NO-NATION DESPICABLE nation
Dt32-21c TURNING generation TURN-A-COATS
Dt17-09a PRIEST-LEVITES Priests or Levites *6
------- ------------------- --------------------- -----
Dt13-13b when you hear a RUMOR TO BE SAID over&over *5
Ex35-04a God commandsTo TRANSMIT TO BE SAID over *5
Nu12-13b Prayed/Demands RESPONSE TO BE SAID back *5
Nu27-15b Prayed/Demands RESPONSE TO BE SAID back *5
Ex20-01c God said:Asked RESPONSE Affirm will keep *5
------- ------------------- --------------------- -----
Dt12-28b Do the MORAL & PROPER Spiritual/Social good *4
Dt12-28c Do the MORAL & PROPER Spiritual/Social good *4
------- ------------------- --------------------- -----
Nu26-54a MOUTH OF LOTTERY Closed Jar Lottery *3
Nu21-20c HEAD OF THE CLIFF TOP of the CLIFF *2
Nu13-20b DAYS OF GRAPE 1st FRUIT GRAPE HARVEST SEASON
Nu13-32a Land EATS INHABITANTS PLAGUE RIDDEN LAND
Lv25-23b Dont STICK THE SALE Dont sell PERMANANTLY No redeem
Lv26-17a PLACE FACE*1 Total attention/focus to punish
Lv13-12a HEAD to FOOT Whole body
Gn37-26b COVER BLOOD conceal MURDER
NOTES
-----
*1 Rashi, Lv26-17h points out that the phrase
-------------
PLACE MY FACE
-------------
means
--------------
FULL ATTENTION
--------------
whether
- for good, to reward
- for bad, to punish.
*2 NOTE: The Hebrew word HEAD can mean both
- BEGINNING
- TOP
However in this verse
- the HEAD OF THE CLIFF contrasts with
- the VALLEY in MOAB
Hence HEAD means TOP
*3 A MOUTH LOTTERY refers to a lottery where you stick your
hand in and select an item WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SEE THE
ITEMS (In an open-box lottery you can see what you are
picking even though you see backs of cards. In a MOUTH
LOTTERY the box is covered except for a small MOUTH).
The MOUTH LOTTERY is more secure and fairer.
Hence the Rashi
The name MOUTH LOTTERY is because the box has only
a small mouth preventing you from seeing what is
inside.
---------------------------------------------------
MOUTH LOTTERY means that the LOTTERY speaks and says
this belongs to so and so
---------------------------------------------------
Of course, Rashi did not believe that LOTTERIES speak.
Rather Rashi refers to the SECURITY and FAIRNESS of
the lottery. In other words
- MOUTH LOTTERY refers to a small MOUTH on LOTTERY box
(not to a physical voice on the box)
- Since the MOUTH LOTTERY is secure it is AS IF it
screams and points to a correct fair choice
*4 Rashi is NOT explaining the meaning of the INDIVIDUAL WORDS
- GOOD
- PROPER
Indeed, GOOD can mean SOCIALLY GOOD also (See Gn26-29)
Therefore we have interpreted this Rashi as an example
of the IDIOM method.
*5 These five examples show various idiomatic meanings of
the INFINITIVE of the verb TO SAY: TO SAY can mean
- TO SAY BACK: Request for response
- TO SAY OVER: To Transmit
- TO SAY OVER AND OVER: Rumor
See LIST955m for a separate summary
*6 Thus in Dt18-01
-------------------------------------
The PRIEST-LEVITES shall not inherit
from the conquest of Israel
-------------------------------------
the phrase PRIEST-LEVITES means
PRIESTS OR LEVITES.
Another occurrence of this phrase
occurs in Dt17-18.
In Dt17-09a Rashi does state
------------------------------------
The PRIESTS who are no longer Levites
------------------------------------
But I understand this to mean
------------------------------------
PRIESTS by itself means PRIESTS but
not Levites while LEVITES by itself
could mean LEVITES but not Priests--
PRIEST LEVITES means PRIESTS OR LEVITES*10
-------------------------------------
*7 Besides the fact that this sounds OK (WENT BY JOURNEYS=
STAYED BY SAME HOTELS) the verse gives support
---------------------------------------------
HE WENT BY HIS JOURNEYS...UNTIL HE RETURNED
TO HIS ORIGINAL PLACE WHERE HE BUILT AN ALTAR
---------------------------------------------
*8 In other words if
- the King slept with Sarah and then
- returned her to Abraham
perhaps he "had enough of her" and just "wanted to play."
But if he gives her a monetary gift then
- it is recognized that a miracle happened and his return
- is an apology for taking her.
- Hence the money prevents people EYEING Sarah(looking at
her as a 'rejected woman.'
This is covered in two Rashi (Gn20-16a Gn20-16b) which
are better understood as one Rashi.
--------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES -----------------------------
*10 Dt17-09 states
---------------------------------------
[If you have a legal question then]
ask the PRIEST-LEVITES, the Judges of
the day
---------------------------------------
The law PREFERS that the great Sanhedrin
court in Jerusalem consist of PRIESTS.
Levites are a second choice (and Israelite
scholars are a third choice).
So it appears that Rashi's comment
--------------------------------------
Priests but not Levites
--------------------------------------
is literal.
But in Dt18-01 the prohibition of inheriting
conquested Israelie land applies to EITHER
Priests OR Levites.
Similarly I would interprtet Dt17-09 to mean
that EITHER Priests or Levites should preferably
be on the Great Sanhedrin. That is the Biblical
law.
But Rabbinically---since Priests are more
involved with the Temple there is a preference
for Priests to be elected to the great court
vs. Levites. This preference however is rooted
in logic not in the verse. The IDIOM, PRIEST-LEVITES
means PRIESTS or LEVITES as shown.
*11 See LIST854c for further examples where LEFT OR RIGHT
means a LITTLE bit. Rashi's actual language is
---------------------------------------------------
If you dont consent to the marriage then I will either
- go to the RIGHT (RASHI: The Ishmaelites)
- or the LEFT (RASHI: Lot-ites)
---------------------------------------------------
But in light of the examples in LIST854c this
Rashi should not be taken literally! Rather
Rashi should be interpreted broadly
----------------------------------------
My master prohibited marriages to Canaanites
So if you dont consent to the marriage
I will go to OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS OF ABRAHAM
- such as ISHMAEL his son
- or LOT his nephew
-----------------------------------------
There is temptation to interpret
-LEFT=LOT=weakness=(He committed incest with daughters)
-RIGHT=STRENGTH=Ishmael
However this SPECIFIC and FOCUSED interpretation of
LEFT and RIGHT is unsupported by the many other
examples in LIST854c below.
Notice this use of LISTS. We are only justified in
reading into Rashi what can be obtained from LISTS
We are not justified in reading extra!
Finally for those into Talmudic flavor note that
- all the other verses speak about LEFT/RIGHT
- Gn24-49 speaks about LEFT OR RIGHT (Hebrew Aleph-Vav)
Perhaps then the ALEPH VAV gives extra emphasis
But 2S02-19 shows that LEFT/RIGHT and LEFT OR RIGHT
both mean the same thing---A LITTLE BIT
*12 See LIST854m
*13 Notice the terminal hey on the Hebrew word
Aleph-Mem-Vav-Tauv-Hey--indicating the
JUSSIVE mode (mode of hope). Thus the
word is translated IF ONLY I COULD DIE
Hence the proper way of interpreting
this phrase is, similar to the English
idiom, IF ONLY I COULD DIE (How happy I
am)
Rashi SUPPLEMENTS the explanation of
this idiom by explaining it
------------------------------------
If I died now I would be comforted
knowing I saw you
------------------------------------
Rashi cites the Targum. However the
Targum's explanation should be seen
as secondary to the primary
explanation of the Rashi as an
idiomatic expression with a given
meaning (in other words you don't have
to explain idioms to understand them--
the idiom means what it does because
of usage)
*14 Rashi gives a second explanation
---------------------------------
If only I could die THIS TIME
---------------------------------
Rashi states
---------------------------------
I thought I would die in both this
world and the next---but now I see
I at most lost this world but not
the next since your dreams have
become prophecies and indications
that I am destined to the next world
---------------------------------
Rashi's second explanation does
not CONTRADICT or REPLACE the
first explanation.
Rather Rashi's two explanations
address TWO ISSUES in the verse
-------------------------------
The Hebrew word Aleph-Mem-Vav-
Tauv-Hey means IF ONLY I
COULD DIE which is an idiom
indicating HAPPYNESS
-------------------------------
However the Bible modified
the idiom
-------------------------
IF ONLY I COULD DIE
-------------------------
by adding the word THIS TIME
----------------------------
IF ONLY I COULD DIE THIS TIME
-----------------------------
Rashi sees this modification
of the idiom as indicating
a subtle nuance
--------------------------
I will only die THIS time
that is ONCE but not twice
--------------------------
alluding to the fact that
Jacob thought he would go
to hell for misleading
Joseph but now he sees he
at most lost this world but
is destined to the next world
================================================================
---------------------------------------------------
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Volume 28 Number 12
#*#*#*# (C) 2000-2005, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#
Volume 28 Number 12