*1 Over the next year or so we will be writing modules for
   the 2-4 dozen basic Rashi skill competencies needed for
   learning Rashi. These modules will then be gathered into
   a workbook which can be used at home or in schools In
   the meantime each of these modules is usable in actual
   schools or home-schooling situations.

*2 This is an EMAIL LIST. It is YOUR LIST. If you have a question
   ask it. If you dont have a question, read my postings till you
   find something you dont like and ASK. If you dont find
   something you dont like you are not reading properly!

   My favorite story is what I told Rabbi Boncheck when he
   visited Shomrey Emunah
   -------------------------------------------------
   I write an EMAIL list. You wrote  a BOOK.
   The difference is that I can easily retract any
   mistakes. You will find that more difficult since
   the 1st version of the book will always be around

   Rabbi Boncheck nodded with a smile

   (I think this is the only thing we agreed on)
   --------------------------------------------------

*3 Welcome to the new question format. I shall summarize
   Questions briefly in the intro section and then give
   acknowledgements in postings.

   -----------------------------------------------------
   BACKGROUND
   ----------
   References: http://www.Rashiyomi.com/nu01-50a.htm
   ----------  http://www.Rashiyomi.com/h2n7.htm

   In these postings I suggest that the Biblical root
   Pay-Kuf-Dalet can mean COUNT,APPOINT. I suggest that
   you distinguish between these two meanings based on
   CONTEXT(If numbers are present PKD means COUNT while
   if numbers are not present it means APPOINT).

   As I noted there the situation is complicated by the
   fact that PKD has at least 6 meanings.

   Yosi using the MODE-MEANING rule suggested that
   -- PKD in the ACTIVE mode means TO REMEMBER
   -- PKD in the CAUSATIVE mode means TO APPOINT

   Yasher Coach Yosi.

   Actually however the situation is vastly more
   complicated. In defending Yossi-s position (which
   is basically correct) we will have occasion to
   override 3 rishonim. It is really complex.

   So if you wish to read a rich and enjoyable posting
   please zoom down to the posting on PKD

*1 In other words
   -- First each tribe head inherited his tribes ENTIRE portion
   -- Then,the tribe head divided up this portion among his tribe

   The inheritance by the tribe head uses the ACTIVE tense
   The inheritance by the tribe itself uses the INTENSIVE tense
   since the tribe head divides it up

*2 Fascinating is the difference in approach between Rashi and
   Radack on this enigmatic verse. The simple meaning of the
   verse is agreed by Rashi and Radack
   --------------------------------------------------------
   God please forgive us for the sin of the Golden calf;
   Please (show us your love) by making us your inheritance
   --------------------------------------------------------

   For further details and for the Rashi-Radack controversy
   please see *10

*3 We translate the HITPAEL as INTERACTIVE MODE. (The usual
   translation is REFLEXIVE). Rashi explains that the
   interactive mode of INHERIT means
   ------------------------------------------------
   You will work and develop your servants
   So that you may leave to your children good
   resources
   ------------------------------------------------

   Thus the inheritance is interactive--on the one hand you
   work on it; on the other hand you inherit it to them

*10 Rashi and Radack differ in the supportive verses and details
    that they give to the phrase
    ------------------------------------
    God please make us your inheritance
    ------------------------------------

    RADACK--A LIST APPROACH
    -----------------------
    Radack uses the list approach we have used in this
    email list. That is he brings a list of verses
    where the Jews are called GODS INHERITANCE--a language
    of endearment Compare
    -------------------------------------------------------
    VERSE   TEXT OF VERSE SHOWING JEWS ARE GODS INHERITANCE
    ------- -----------------------------------------------
    Dt32-09 Jacob is Gods inheritance
    Dt09-29 For the Jews,God, are your nation & inheritance
    -------------------------------------------------------

    RASHI-A CONTEXT APPROACH
    ------------------------
    By contrast, Rashi uses a Context approach. A few verses
    earlier in Ex34-16 Moses asks God
    -----------------------------------------------------
    Please let your FACE (ie Prophecy) go with us
    How else will the world know that we are beloved by you
    if not by your WALKING AMONGST US (ie Prophecy)
    And thereby we will be different than all nations
    -----------------------------------------------------

    Thus based on context Rashi requests that Moses asked
    that the Golden Calf-sin be forgiven and that the
    Jews be made into Prophets.

    In summary: Rashi used CONTEXT while RADACK used LISTS
    Furthermore, Radack interprets JEWS OUR GODS INHERITANCE
    emotionally (WE ARE CLOSE TO HIM) while Rashi gives
    specific details (JEWS HAVE THE GIFT OF PROPHECY)

*1 The concept of VISITING SINS AGAINST PEOPLE occurs
   - in the ACTIVE (Ex32-34)
   - in the CAUSATIVE (Lv26-16a)
   Rashi resolves this by translating
   --------------------------------------
   I will APPOINT their sins against them
   --------------------------------------

   At any rate the ACTIVE tense
   - DOES use PKD to denote VISITING punishment
   - DOES not use PKD to denote APPOINTING an officer

*2 The interactive seems to be used for the passive
   I expect there is some further nuance but cannot find it.


*3 An additional point is that PKD only means COUNT in
   the context of ASSIGNMENT. That is we can translate
   PKD either as APPOINT or ASSIGN. Some typical verses would be
   -- ASSIGN the Jews of 20 and above
   -- all the ASSIGNMENTS that were ASSIGNED were so many

   It would then make sense that
   -- PKD means ASSIGN (not count)
   -- PKD means VISIT sins (ASSIGN punishments for sins)
   -- PKD in the CAUSATIVE means to APPOINT (Make someone
      CAUSE others to be ASSIGNED)

   Perhaps this is the simplest approach.

   Note especially Gn40-04a
   ------------------------------------------------
   And Joseph was ASSIGNED to the same prison ward
   ------------------------------------------------

   The translations JOE WAS COUNTED WITH THEM or
   JOE WAS APPOINTED ON THEM are inappropriate.

   Against this simple approach are verses like Gn21-01:
   God REMEMBERED Sarah and gave her a child.

   The translation ASSIGN would not be appropriate here.

*4 Rashi makes two points
   - only those above 20 were punished since God does not punish
     people between 12/13 and 20

   - The Levites were not punished

   But the fact that the Levites were not punished is not
   inferred from here. Rather it is inferred from the fact
   that
   - they did not sin among the spies (indeed there was no
     Levite representative)
   - they were not punished on account of the spy sin
   - they in general abstained from the sins of the Jewish
     people (Such as the Golden calf, the spies and the
     Moabite Prostitution)

*10 There are two apparent exceptions to the assertion that
    in the active mode PKD means REMEMBER/VISIT/COUNT.

    Gn40-04a
    ------------------------------------------------------
    And the prison managers APPOINTED Joseph with them
    and he served them
    ------------------------------------------------------

    However I would translate this verse as follows

    ---------------------------------------------------
    And the prison managers COUNTED Joseph with them
    (with the chef and wine butler)
    ---------------------------------------------------

    The point being that there are no APPOINTMENTS in
    prison. Rather every prisoner was ASSIGNED to a
    different quarter. Joseph was assigned (or counted)
    with the Kings servants (apparently because Joseph
    was respected for his good work for Potiphar)

    Isa34-16
    ------------------------------------------------
    ..all the birds will be on this desolate spot...
    none of them will be missing
    none of them will be MISSING
    ------------------------------------------------

    The rule of thumb is that
    -- in the PASSIVE, PKD means MISSING
    -- in the ACTIVE, PKD means to COUNT

    But in Isa34-16, PKD seems to mean TO COUNT.

    And in fact the major rishonim--Rashi, Radack, Ibn Ezra
    --translate it this way.

    But this would be the only exception where PKD in the
    active has the passive meaning of missing!!

    Therefore I would translate the verse as
    ------------------------------------------------
    ..all the birds will be on this desolate spot...
    none of them will be missing
    none of them will be (obsessively) COUNTING
    ------------------------------------------------

    In other words, when something is missing you
    count to see if it is there. A mother bird who
    is worried about losing her birds will go into
    a counting routine. So the verse states
    - no bird will be missing
    - no bird will even have anxiety about missing