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               Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel

                     Volume 13 Number 1
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#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2002, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#

VERSE: Lv25-42b

RASHIS COVERED: Lv25-42b Lv25-39a

BACKGROUND
----------
Let us review some technical GRAMMATICAL terms:
----------------------------------------------------------------
TERM------- EXAMPLE-------------- USAGE/MEANING
----------- --------------------- ------------------------------
ADJECTIVE - the AMERICAN flag --- tells a PROPERTY of OBJECTS
ADVERB ---- GREAT American flg  - tells a PROPERTY of ADJECTIVES
CONSTRUCT-- the flag OF AMERICA - indicates OWNERSHIP
----------------------------------------------------------------

THE RASHI
---------
The CONSTRUCT and ADJECTIVAL form are similar and
interchange. Using the example above, we see that the phrase
AMERICAN FLAG indicates the colors and forms of the flag while
THE FLAG OF AMERICA technically indicates a flag owned by the US

In this case there is no one flag owned by the US and hence we
interpret THE FLAG OF AMERICA to mean an AMERICAN TYPE FLAG.
In other words we interpret the CONSTRUCT as an ADJECTIVE.

THE TEXT
--------
TEXT: Lv25-39a Dont give your slave the work OF SLAVES
RASHI: Reinterpret the CONSTRUCT as an ADJECTIVE
TEXT: (Reinterpreted) Dont give your slave SLAVE-WORK

In other words dont eg make him do LATRINE work*2

Rashi similarly interprets the phrase (Lv25-42b) SALES OF
SLAVES as SLAVISH TYPE SALES (ie Public sales treating slaves
like commercial objects).

THE LIST
--------
The LIST below gives several examples of CONSTRUCTS
reinterpreted as ADJECTIVES *10

*1 Note first that there is no reason to interpret the verse
   literally (rivers go to the PATHS of TAYMAH). Hence we
   are justified in interpreting this construct as an adjective

   Rashi Ibn Ezra and Ralbag have differing views on what the
   phrase TAYMITE paths means: One interpretation is DISTANT
   PATHS while the other is LOW-LYING PATHS (In either case the
   travel of rivers FAR AWAY or LOW is symbolic in the verse of
   being double crossed by ones friends)

*2 Interesting is the difference in interpretation approach
   used by Rashi vs Rambam:
   -- Rashi & Rambam inteprets SLAVE WORK as LATRINE work
   -- Rambam gives a further example: WORK YOU ARENT TRAINED FOR
      For example making an electrician do carpentry

   Both Rashi and Rambam interpret the phrase TOIL WORK(Lv25-43)
   as WORK FOR THE SAKE OF WORK (e.g. WORK TILL 5 vs DO A
   SPECIFIC TASK)

*10 We have till now only described the phenomena of adjective-
    construct interchange. We have not yet explained why an
    Author would wish to use the CONSTRUCT vs the ADJECTIVE.

    Quite simply a CONSTRUCT used for an ADJECTIVE is
    a POETIC technique--it evokes an IMAGE and MEMORY of
    situations (which is one function of language). This is
    in contrast to using an ADJECTIVE which would be a DRY
    DESCRIPTIVE approach.

    In other words saying DONT GIVE YOUR SLAVES DEMEANING WORK
    isnt specific. But if I say DONT GIVE YOUR SLAVES SLAVE-WORK
    it conjurs images of HOW slaves have been mistreated -- we
    might for example,have memories of despising slaves by making
    them do LATRINE work

RASHI RULE USED: GRAMMARr

#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2002, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#

VERSE: Ex21-03c

RASHIS COVERED: Ex21-03c Lv25-41a Lv25-44b Lv25-44c Lv25-44d
  Nu21-21a Ex20-19c Ex40-35a Ex28-37a Ex21-03c
  Lv25-41a Ex20-21a Ex15-01d Ex16-13b Nu08-24b
  Lv25-44b Dt15-17a Lv07-09a Lv04-03b
  Ex01-16b Dt03-09a Dt15-09a Ex12-15b

BACKGROUND
----------
Rabbi Ishmael laid down 13 Style principles which facilitate
understanding the Biblical text. The last principle is the
haunting and enigmatic FOOTNOTING BY CONTRADICTION technique
In this technique the Bible boldly uses contradictory verses
to evoke an obvious resolution in the mind of the reader. This
resolution then becomes a footnote to the two contradictory
verses.*10

REFERENCE
---------
See the following URL for a discussion of the Rabbi Ishmael
rule. http://www.rashiyomi.com/ri-14.htm
We have added 5 new verses to this list today

THE METHOD
----------
We have outlined 5 submethods of resolving contradiction.
* ASPECTS
--------
e.g. ONE VERSE says MAKE ME A STONE ALTAR
A 2nd VERSE says MAKE ME AN EARTHEN ALTAR
We resolve this contradiction by seeing STONE and EARTH
as 2 aspects of the altar which is made of STONE and filled
with EARTH

* 2 STAGES
--------
e.g 1 verse says Levites start learning at 25
Another verse says at 30
The resolution is that the Levites started LEARNING at 25
and started SERVICE at 30

* MEANING(Restrictive vs Broad)
-----------------------------
e.g 1 verse says DONT LET ANY CANAANITES LIVE
Another verse says TAKE SLAVES FROM THE SURROUNDING NATIONS
The resolution is that SURROUNDING is literal. We can purchase
slaves from surrounding non-jewish nations but not the Cananite

* NAMES(2 names)
--------------
e.g. 1 verses calls it a BIRTHstool (Name by FUNCTION) while
a 2nd verse calls it an STONEstool (Name by SUBSTANCE)

* MODAL(MAY-MUST)
---------------
e.g. One verse says WORKERS SHOULD PRAY TO GOD FOR VENGENCE
AGAINST BAD EMPLOYERS while another verse speaks about THE
POSSIBILITY OF THEM PRAYING. We infer that employees MAY
PRAY but have no obligation

THE LIST
--------
In the list below we cite the 2 verses(eg Nu21-21a and Dt02-26)
We then indicate which of the 5 methods is used (2 ASPECTS).
Finally we show HOW THE TWO TEXTS ARE COMBINED. Although we
dont cite the 2 verses we cap the contradiction. So if one
verse says  [ISRAEL sent delegates] while another verse says
[MOSES sent delegates] we simply say [MOSES sent delegates on
behalf of ISRAEL]

*1 Lv25-44b
 Rashis on Lv25-44b Lv25-44c and Lv25-44c make similar points

*2 Ex20-21a
 cf also Dt27-05 which speaks about making an altar of STONE

*10 I am indebted to Professor Habital for coining the phrase
    USING CONTRADICTION AS A VEHICLE OF COMMUNICATION. Dr
    Habital applied this to the Mishnah which was the first
    legal text to use contradiction (vs. uniform opinion) as
    a method of communication.

    As can be seent this CONTRADICTION method pre-exists
    in a more or less explicit form in the Bible.

RASHI RULE USED: RabbiIshmael

#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2002, 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 #*#*#*#*#