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(C) RashiYomi Incorporated, 2001
Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel
Volume 11 Number 20
Produced October 15th, 2001
WARNING: USE FIX WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)
OVERVIEW OF HILIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE |
` SUMMARY OF THIS ISSUE: Whats new and hot?
|
ITEM | WHERE TO FIND IT |
Rashis on PARSHAH | http://www.RashiYomi.Com/by-verse.htm |
ESSAY ON NEXT WORLD | http://www.RashiYomi.Com/olamhaba.htm |
' | ' |
Rashis covered in this issue |
|
VERSE | RULE | BRIEF DESCRIPTION |
======== | =============== | ======================================= |
Gn09-07a | Example7 | Gn09-01:07=GENERAL-EXAMPLE-GENERAL styl |
Gn09-02a | SYNONYMS | CHTHATH means PHOBIA; MORAH means FEAR |
Gn10-13a | WORD MEANINGS | Stages in life named by COLORS of peopl |
Gn09-03a | OTHER VERSES | Rashi amplifies text with OTHER VERSES |
Gn10-12a | OTHER VERSES | Rashi amplifies text with OTHER VERSES |
Gn10-08a | OTHER VERSES | Rashi amplifies text with OTHER VERSES |
Gn10-09a | OTHER VERSES | Rashi amplifies text with OTHER VERSES |
Gn10-09b | OTHER VERSES | Rashi amplifies text with OTHER VERSES |
--------- | ---------------- | --------------------------------------- |
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MAP OF RASHI-IS-SIMPLE ========================= |
|
ITEM | DESCRIPTION |
GOALS: | Defend the 7800 Chumash Rashis |
METHOD USED: | Emphasis on LISTS -- Database methods |
INTENDED AUDIENCE: | Laymen, Academicians, Yeshiva world |
COMMENTS,QUESTIONS: | EMail your questions to address below |
ANONYMITY: | Granted on request |
TO (UN)SUBSCRIBE: | Email addresses below with (UN)SUBSCRIBE |
JOURNAL REFERENCES: | Pshat & Drash,TRADITION, 1980,R Hendel |
NOTATION: | Gn01-02a refers to Rashi A on Genesis 1:2 |
SPECIALS: | on Parshah,Rambam,Pedagogy,Symbolism,Rmbn |
RASHI-IS-SIMPLE RULES | Complete set of rules on bottom |
EMAIL: | RJHendel@Juno.Com, |
EMAIL: | rashi-is-simple@shamash.org |
WEB: | http://www.RashiYomi.Com/ |
RASHI IN ENGLISH: | http://www.mnemotrix.com/metsudah/ |
RASHI IN ENGLISH: | http://aish.com/literacy/reference/Search |
| the_Chumash_with_Rashi_-_in_English.asp |
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VERSE: Gn09-07a
Gn09-01:07 has a GENERAL-PARTICULAR-GENERAL form |
BACKGROUND
----------
We have explained in our EXAMPLE series what the inner meaning
of the Rabbi Ishmael rules are: The Rabbi Ishmael rules tell us
how BROADLY or RESTRICTIVELY to interpret the Biblical texts.
For example certain texts are regarded as examples that should
be generalized while other texts are taken as specific
THE TEXT
--------
Gn09-01:07 has a GENERAL-PARTICULAR-GENERAL (GPG) form
BE FRUITFUL
---dont kill people
BE FRUITFUL
THE RASHI
---------
The Rabbi Ishmael rules require us to interpret a GPG form by
generalizing the particulars. So in this case we would interpret
the entire paragraph Gn09-01:07 as meaning
--------------------------------------------------------------
BE FRUITFUL because murder is prohibited and all life is good
--------------------------------------------------------------
Thus Rashi is explaining the overall paragraph structure here*1
REFERENCES
----------
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/example7.htm
THE LIST
--------
We present here for the readers review the layout of the
paragraph according to the GENERAL-PARTICULAR-GENERAL form |
VERSE | General-Particular? | TEXT |
Gn09-01 | GENERAL | God blessed them: Be Fruitful |
Gn09-02 | PARTICULAR | ----Animals will be afraid of you |
Gn09-03 | PARTICULAR | ----You own plants and animals |
Gn09-04 | PARTICULAR | ----Just dont eat live animals |
Gn09-05 | PARTICULAR | ----DONT KILL |
Gn09-06 | PARTICULAR | ----Murderers are executed |
Gn09-07 | PARTICULAR | Be fruitful |
| | |
| | |
COMMENTS |
*1 This corresponds to Rashis 2nd explanation which reviews the
entire paragraph. The 1st explanation of Rashi however looks
at the paragraph in a non-integrated manner
---------------------------------
Gn09-01 is a BLESSING to be fruitful
Gn09-07 is a COMMAND to be fruitful
---------------------------------
Such an explanation would be justified if the 2 verses were
repeated one after the other. By contrast Rashis 2nd
explanation is deep and profound integrating the whole
paragraph. Finally I note that non-jews have no COMMAND to
be fruitful and multiply and therefore we must conclude that
Rashi did not really want his first explanation taken
seriously.
|
RASHI RULE USED: EXAMPLE7
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2001, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Gn09-02a
CHATHATH means PHOBIA |
BACKGROUND
----------
Gn09-02 looks simple enough. The verse says that God promised
Noach that
----------------------------------------------
YOUR FEAR AND chathath WILL BE ON ALL ANIMALS
----------------------------------------------
There are 4 levels on which we can understand the Hebrew word
CHATHATH
THE SIMPLE LEVEL
----------------
Quite simply JUST BY READING THE VERSE we can infer the meaning
CHTHATH clearly is a TYPE OF FEAR.
THE INTERMEDIATE LEVEL
----------------------
We can also go further quite simply: The pair of Hebrew roots
Yud-Resh-Aleph followed by Chet-Tauv-Tauv occurs frequently
in the Bible *1 and justifies the translation of fear
THE ADVANCED LEVEL
------------------
Rashi seems to suggest a fanciful explanation. Rashi seems
to derive the meaning of CHTHATH from the root CHAYAH which
means wild animal Here is what he says
---------------------------------------------------------
CHTHATH refers to the natural fear of animals on humans.
Thus a mouse will not touch a live infant but will attack
a dead king.
---------------------------------------------------------
Thus Rashi explains CHTHATH as the AURA OF FEAR while MORAH
would be an ACTUAL FEAR. As an example if a person pulled
a gun you would have MORAH while if you were afraid to be
in a high building we would say you have CHATHATH.
Accordingly I have translated CHATHATH as PHOBIA (even though
FEAR-IN-MIND and PHOBIA are not exactly the same I regard
it as a good approximation).
THE PROFOUND LEVEL
------------------
We still have left to understand HOW Rashi knew this:
At the profound level we recall that meaning is ultimately
derived from USAGE not from ROOTS. As the LIST below shows
CHATHATH is used in the Bible to refer to NON-REAL FEARS,
FEARS IN THE MIND.
Thus Rashi
-- was translating CHATHATH as FEAR
-- also indicated the nuance of CHATHATH (PHOBIA vs REAL FEAR)
-- was consistent with Biblical usage(The ultimate test)
-- was not deriving anything from roots (Rather the roots
-- CHATHATH-CHAYAH was a clever word play to help recall)
In short Rashi derived the nuances from Biblical usage and
used the roots (CHAYAH-CHTHATH) to help remember the nuances.
THE LIST
--------
Here are the best examples where CHATHAHT refers to
FEAR-IN-MIND (which we have loosely translated as PHOBIA) |
VERSE | TEXT OF VERSE WITH CHET-TAUV-TAUV translated as PHOBIA |
Gn35-05 | & The more powerful nations had PHOBIAS & didnt pursue |
Eccl12-5 | Old people will have PHOBIAS on the road |
Job07-14 | & You (God) cause me to have PHOBIAS from my dreams |
Isa30-31 | From Gods voice will Assyria have PHOBIAS*2 |
Dt01-21 | Dont fear (Yud-Resh-Aleph) & dont have PHOBIAS(CTT)*1 |
| |
COMMENTS |
*1 The pair FEAR-PHOBIA (Y-R-A: Ch-T-T) occurs frequently e.g.
Dt01-21, Dt31-08, Jos01-09, Jos08-01, Jer30-10, Jer46,27
*2 Compare the story in Isa37-33:38: Assyria was not defeated
by an army (Actual fear) but rather by Angels smiting most
of the nation and internal strife.
|
RASHI RULE USED: SYNONYMS
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2001, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Gn09-03a
RASHIS COVERED: Gn09-03a Gn10-12a Gn10-08a Gn10-09a Gn10-09b
RASHI CROSS REFERENCES OTHER VERSES |
BACKGROUND
----------
In URL http://www.RashiYomi.Com/other-20.htm we have discussed
the fundamental Rashi technique of OTHER VERSES and have
presented 6 methods by which this technique is implemented.
THE TEXTS
---------
Method 3 of the technique of other verses occurs when a fact
mentioned in one verse is confirmed in another verse possibly
with more detail. Thus it says in Gn10-12 that NIMROD built
NINVEH the GREAT CITY and this phrase, THE GREAT CITY, cross
references Jon03-03 which calls NINVEH a GREAT CITY. Similarly
Gn10-09 says that NIMROD who reigned on BABEL was a great
warrior on God; this is clarified in Gn11 which describes the
rebellion he organized.
THE LIST
--------
Here is a list of 3 verses from Gn09 and Gn10 which illustrate
this technique. The other verses that complete the list come
from OTHER-20 on the Rashi Website |
VERSES | TEXT OF VERSE | CROSS REFERENCE |
Gn09-03 | I(God) let you eat veggies | Gn01-29:30*1 |
Gn10-12 | And they built Ninveh the Great city | Jon03-03*2 |
Gn10-09 | He was a warrior against God | Gn11-01:09*3 |
Dt26-18a | You will be to Me a TREASURED NATION | Ex19-05 |
Dt26-05d | The Jews were a small nation | Gn46-27 |
| | |
COMMENTS |
*1 Gn01-29:30 explicitly says that God allowed man to eat
vegetation. Since Noach was permitted meat we assume (from
the contrast of verses) that Adam had not been allowed to
eat meat
*2 Jon03-03 explicitly says that NINVEH was a big city
*3 An examination of the verses shows that
------------------------------------------------------------
- Nimrod was involved with BABEL (Gn10-10)
- The people built BABEL intending to rebel against God(Gn11)
- Nimrod is called a WARRIOR ON (AGAINST?) GOD
------------------------------------------------------------
So Rashi-Is-Simple: It is these OTHER VERSES which show that
the Biblical phrase WARRIOR AGAINST GOD refers to the
planning of the BABEL TOWER REBELLION.
True, Rashi tries to show how the various Biblical words
support this translation (*10) but the MAIN DERIVATION
comes from the technique of OTHER VERSES
LONGER FOOTNOTES |
*10 Let us examine the support that Rashi gives on these verses
We first use the technique of ALIGNMENT. For the 100 or
so examples of this technique see the following URL
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/align-57.htm
------------------------------------------------
Gn10-09 He was a WARRIOR IN COUNTRIES
Gn10-10 He was a WARRIOR AGAINST GOD
------------------------------------------------
So Rashi interprets the two phrases together (HE WAS A
WARRIOR IN COUNTRIES AGAINST GOD).
Note that the prefix letter LAMED can mean AGAINST
and doesnt have to mean TO: See Radack (1Sam17-49,2Sam2-9,
Ez18-06, Isa63-15). These references justify the translation
HE WAS A WARRIOR ON GOD.
This Radack only shows the CONSISTENCY of this translation
with Biblical usage. The PROOF that this translation is
mandated comes from the OTHER VERSES which require linking
Nimrod to the BABEL-TOWER incident.
This explains the two Rashis Gn10-08a and Gn10-09b
Moving on to the next example we again see that
the OTHER VERSES compel us to translate the phrase
HE WAS A WARRIOR IN HUNTING to mean HUNTING FOR VERBAL
PHRASES TO WIN PEOPLE OVER TO HIS CAUSE.
But having established this Rashi finds further SUPPORT
in the language used: wicked people are seen as using
language to catch people. Compare the following English
metaphors which show HUNTING TERMINOLOGY used for VERBAL
assualts
------------------------------
He TRAPPED him in the argument
He CAUGHT him in the argument
------------------------------
For other Biblical examples see Rashi on Gn25-27 where he
interprets ESAUVS HUNTING abilities to refer to ESAUVS
PROPAGANDA CAPABILITIES. Or see Prv07-05 Prv02-16 for
descriptions of the woman who seduces with smooth talk (a
symbolic reference to apostsizing Jews)
| |
RASHI RULE USED: OTHER VERSES
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2001, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Gn10-13a
PEOPLE CAN BE NAMED BY APPEARANCES |
BACKGROUND
----------
In the list of genealogies in Gn10 several races are referred
to by certain Hebrew words. Rashi explains one of these words
as describing their APPEARANCE (The BURNERS were called because
of their BURNING complexion (Like American Indians))
THE LIST
--------
The LIST below gives several other RACES, STAGES or
CHARACTERISTICS of peoples lives that are characterized
by COLORS. |
HEBREW | ROOT | ROOT MEANS | HEBREW WORD REFERS TO PEOPLE THAT... |
LEHAVIM | LAHAV | Burn*1 | People with BURNING Faces (Indians?) |
EDOM | ADOM | Red | People who like hot RED foods*2 |
SHACHOR | SHCHR | Black*3 | Middle age people (BLACK beards/hair) |
YECHVARU | CHOR | White | Embarassed*4 (WHITE in face) |
YAYROKON | YAROK | YellowGreen | Afraid / Jaundiced*5 |
| | | |
COMMENTS |
*1 Gn10-13a
*2 Gn25-30 (Reason is explicitly given in the Bible)
*3 Eccl11-10: A charming word with a 4 way controversy on meaning
(See Rashi, Radack, Ralbag and IBn Ezra on this word)
--------------------------------------------------------------
- BLACK = Teenagers/young--time of life when BEARD is black
- Black = Teenages/Young-- time of life when HEAD is black
- Black = Teenagers -- the DAWN (SHACHAR) of Life(Radack)
- Black = Teenagers -- SEARCHING (Shacar) for identity
--------------------------------------------------------------
Notice how some derive the words meaning from SHACHOR which
means BLACK while others derive it from SHACHAR which means
DAWN. Also notice that unlike English the word does not
refer to a BLACK SKINNED RACE but rather to an AGE or STAGE
of life when certain body parts are black.
*4 Isa59-20 (The embarassed person becomes WHITE)
*5 Jer30-06
|
RASHI RULE USED: WORD MEANINGS
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2001, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
THE 6 RASHI RULE CLASSES(Version 3.2 Dec 15 2001)
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rules-01.htm
Copyright Dec 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President
========================================================
THE DICTIONARY RULE: Rashi can function as a dictionary.
He presents 2-6 meanings of words
REFERENCE: http://www.RashiYomi.Com/words.htm
========================================================
* EXAMPLE 1: AL means ON. AL can also mean
- WITH (Eat Passover WITH matzoh Ex12-09e)
- IN (Place the Matzoh IN the basket Ex29-03)
- TO (The boards shall be even from bottom TO top Ex26-24c)
- NEAR (His borders will be NEAR Tzison Gn49-13b)
- AFTER(Offer Peace offerings AFTER the daily Lv03-05a)
* EXAMPLE 2: KI means IF,PERHAPS,RATHER,BECAUSE,WHEN,THAT
Gn18-15a Gn24-33a
* EXAMPLE 3: YDA means FAMILIAR, not KNOW (eg Dt34-10a)
eg Gn04-01 Adam was FAMILIAR with his wife
* EXAMPLE 4: ON THE FACE OF means DURING THE LIFETIME
Nu03-04a Gn11-28a Ex20-03c Dt05-07a
===========================================================
THE GRAMMAR RULE: Rashi comments on RARE or SIMILAR usages
REFERENCE:http://www.RashiYomi.Com/grammar.htm
===========================================================
* EXAMPLE 1: BA-ah means CAME;ba-AH means COMING(Gn46-26a)
* EXAMPLE 2:THE SENTENCE: 0.2% of Biblical sentences are 2verses
-(Dt11-07:08) It was not your fathers who saw this;rather you
* EXAMPLE 3: Hitpael has different rules if 1st root letter is
Tzade (USE: Ni-Tz-Ta-Dack not Ni-Th-Tza-Dack--Gn44-16a)
================================================================
THE CITATION RULE: Rashi enriches meaning by citing OTHER verses
REFERENCE:http://www.RashiYomi.Com/other-20.htm
================================================================
* EXAMPLE 1: Dt26-05d We went down to Egypt with A FEW PEOPLE
ENRICHED by Gn46-27: We went down with 70 people
* EXAMPLE 2: Lv01-05a Non-priests may SLAUGHTER offerings
This law DERIVED from explicit statement in 2Chr30-17
* EXAMPLE 3:Why does Rashi say that Chur is Miriams son(Ex17-10b)
DERIVED from possible interpretation of 1-Chr18-19
* EXAMPLE 4: Gn35-22a Reuven Slept with Bilhah(Fathers concubine)
Gn49-04 Reuven PLAYED with fathers BEDS
CONCLUSION: Reuven inteferred with fathers personal
life(ruffled bedspreads); Bible condemns Reuven by
exaggeration; he is accused of incest which he didnt do
=================================================================
THE 3 RABBI ISHMAEL RULES: They govern style(broad vs literal)
REFERENCE:http://www.RashiYomi.com/example1.htm thru example9.htm
=================================================================
* EXAMPLE 1: Simple sentences are always GENERALIZED
---------------------------------------
Dt25-04a Dont MUZZLE an OX while it is THRESHING
Rabbi Ishmael: Dont STOP any ANIMAL from eating
while DOING ITS WORK
* EXAMPLE 2: GENERAL-EXAMPLE style always interpreted LITERALLY
--------------------------------------------------
Nu05-12d (GENERAL) If a women DESECRATES her marriage
(EXAMPLE) and commits ADULTERY
Rabbi Ishmael: Nu05 only applies to ADULTERY.
It does not apply to other marriage DESECRATIONS
* EXAMPLE 3: GENERAL-EXAMPLE-GENERAL style intepreted SIMILARLY
--------------------------------------------------
Lv05-21b (GENERAL) If a man DENIES under oath
(EXAMPLE) ..denies a deposit,loan,theft,wages,lost item
(GENERAL) or ANY DENIAL which he denies
RABBI ISHMAEL: These laws apply to any SIMILAR Example
* The law applies to partnerships, movables and monetary objects
* The law does not apply to real-estate or slander
=================================================================
THE CLIMAX RULE: The Bible should be interpreted in such a manner
that it reflects CLIMACTIC development to a goal
REFERENCE: http://www.RashiYomi.Com/example9.htm
=================================================================
EXAMPLE 1: Dt19-11a If a man HATES, SPIES, CONFRONTS & KILLS
RASHI: Bible identifies 4 stages to murder(Capped)
==============================================================
THE FORMATTING PRINCIPLE: Bible had its own method to mimic
bold, bullets, footnotes, paragraphs
==============================================================
* BOLD: Bible REPEATS words to obtain BOLD emphasis effect
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/doubl-14.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------
EXAMPLE 1:(Ex12-09c) COOK COOK it in water (So COOKED is bold)
INFERENCE: Prefered to COOK it in water;
But COOK It at all costs(Even if you dont have water)
* BULLETS: Bible indicates bullets by REPEATING KEYWORDS
--------------------------------------------------------
Who am I
- THAT I should go to Pharaoh
- THAT I should take the Jews out of Egypt (Ex03-11a)
--------------------------------------------------------
RASHI: Repeated word THAT creates BULLET effect
- Pharoh was a difficult king (Bullet one)
- Jews were not yet ready for freedom (Bullet two)
* FOOTNOTES: The Bible indicates FOOTNOTES by ALMOST DUPLICATING
verses but making small minor changes
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/align-58.htm
---------------------------------------------------------------
EXAMPLE: Ex20-03a
VERSE PHRASE #1 PHRASE #2 PHRASE #3
------- --------- --------- ------------------
Ex20-03 Dont POSSESS the gods of others
Ex20-04 Dont MAKE idols
RASHI: So both POSSESSion & MAKING of idols are prohibited
---------------------------------------------------------------
End of Rashi is Simple Digest
|
#*#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi, 2001 Inc. Dr. Hendel President #*#*#*#*#