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PLURAL implies MANY CASES |
EXAMPLE 99: Lv05-24b Return principle & its fifthS(Many fifthS)
EXAMPLE 100: Gn14-14c Attack as one unit; then Divide & conquer
EXAMPLE 101: Ex19-02b Jews encamped as one unit for Torah receipt
BACKGROUND
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Like many languages, Hebrew has a way of differentiating
the SINGULAR and PLURAL. Thus in English APPLE has a
different meaning than APPLES.
THE TEXT Lv05 Nu05
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If a person take an oath about witheld wages (and then confesses)
he must pay the principle and add on its fifthS (and also bring
a sacrifice)*6
THE RASHI
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Notice the plural word fifthS. The talmud gives situations
where a person might have to return many fifths
EXAMPLE 1: I deny owing $40 so I must pay $10 fine
--------- I then deny a second time. So I pay a 2nd $10 fine
In this example I pay 2 fifths.
EXAMPLE 2: I deny owing $40 so I must pay a $10 fine.
--------- I pay the $40 and deny owing the $10.
So I pay $2.50 (a fine on the fine). Thus I
pay 2 fifthS (The fifth of 40 and the fifth of 10)
THE POINT
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Rashi was not being picky about an EXTRA LETTER.
Rather Rashi was being picky about the GRAMMATICAL PLURAL
which is indicated by the extra letter. By using a
mediating parameter (plural) Rashi becomes mature and deep
rather than being superficially picky on the extra letter.*7
A RULE
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The above example showed an object and attribute that
differed in plurality (PRINCIPLE,FIFTH). Other examples
differ in subject-verb plurality agreement and are
governed by the following RULE
When talking about a group of people--
(a) You use a SINGULAR verb to indicate that the group acted as
an organized whole under one leader
(b) You use a PLURAL verb to indicate that the group acted as
a collection of individuals.
THE LIST
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This list provides examples of Rashis where there is lack
of agreement in plurality. The footnotes clarify how
Rashi treats this plurality disagreement. In this list
VERSE1 is in PLURAL while VERSE2 is in singular. Both VERSES
deal with the same TOPIC, yet one uses a singular for a group
while the other uses plural for a group. The last column
and the footnotes explain why.
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| VERSE1 |
VERSE2 |
TOPIC |
WHY PLURAL SINGULAR DIFFERENCE |
| Lv23-15 |
Lv25-08 |
Counting |
The Court counts the Jubilee*1 |
| Jud9-34 |
Jud9-34 |
Attacks |
Attack(Singulr),Divide(plural),conquer*2 |
| Gn14-15 |
Gn14-14 |
Attacks |
Attack(Singulr),Divide(plural),conquer*3 |
| Ex19-02 |
Ex19-02 |
Camping |
Receipt of Torah was by UNIFIED NATION*4 |
| Lv05-24 |
Lv05-24 |
Payment |
Only 1 PRINCIPLE;But maybe many FINES*5 |
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COMMENTS |
*1 (Example 1)
Lv23-15 Plural Count the Omer
Lv25-08 Singular Count the Jubilee years
The Jubilee was counted by the court on behalf of the
community (hence the singular verb). The Omer was counted
by the whole community (no organization)
*2 (Example 2)
Jud9-34 Singular The General (Avimelech) arose
Jud9-34 Plural His 4 CaptainS arise
These examples refer to a unified military effort under
one general(single verb) followed by a division of troop
(divide and conquer)(plural verb)
*3 (Example 3)
Gn14-14 Singular And He pursued till Dan & Divided
Gn14-15 Plural And THEY smote and THEY pursued
These examples refer to a unified military effort under
one general(single verb) followed by a division of troop
(divide and conquer)(plural verb)
*4 (Example 4)
Ex19-02 Plural Camp in Refidim
Ex19-02 Singular Come to Mount Sinai to receive Torah
The receipt of the Torah was done thru leadership(Moses)
The camping and other activities was done as a collection of
tribes.(In the main posting we show 4 levels of understanding
Rashi). An analysis of the Ex19-02 also shows variation in
singular plural
*6 Note:all fifthS are 25%: E.g. A $10 fine on a
$40 debt is 1 fifth of the total amount of $40 and $10--
That is it is one fifth of the terminal amount(Principle
plus fine).
*7 Note the subtlety: The main intention of the verse is
to tell us to bring a PRINCIPLE and FIFTH. But a secondary
intention is to tell us to bring, IF NECESSARY, many
fifths. Such mingling of PRIMARY and SECONDARY intentions
is common in Biblical verses (though it looks strange to
modern readers who are used to smoother texts)
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