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Surfing the Talmudic Seas
(C) RashiYomi Incorporated, 2002
Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel
Volume 14 Number 9
For the WORD QUALITY HTML VERSION click here
-----------------------------------
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/h14n9.htm
Produced June 12th, 2002
WARNING: USE FIX WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)
|
OVERVIEW OF HILIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE |
` Whats new and hot in this issue? |
| ITEM | WHATS NEW & HOT IN THIS ISSUE |
| WORKBOOK | We are embarking on a Rashi Workbook Project*1 |
| PSHT vs DRASH | DRASH is the simple meaning IN CONTEXT*2 |
| Database King | Rashi shows his pedagogical database acumen |
| |
| COMMENTS |
*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 See posting Nu16-03a for an excellent illustration of
the RashiYomi approach to DRASH: DRASH is the SIMPLE
MEANING of the text WHEN TAKEN IN CONTEXT
*3 See Nu16-06b for an excellent example of how Rashi
skillfully uses many verses to spread one lesson
|
|
Rashis covered in this issue |
|
| VERSE | RULE | BRIEF DESCRIPTION |
| ======== | =============== | ======================================= |
| Nu16-03a | NEW MEANINGS | ALOT TO YOU means YOU-VE HAD ENOUGH |
| Nu16-07a | NEW MEANINGS | ALOT TO YOU means YOU-VE HAD ENOUGH |
| Dt01-06a | NEW MEANINGS | ALOT TO YOU means YOU-VE HAD ENOUGH |
| Dt06-26c | NEW MEANINGS | ALOT TO YOU means YOU-VE HAD ENOUGH |
| Nu16-06b | WORD MEANINGS | Cheth-Tav means TO RAKE ashes |
| Ex25-38b | WORD MEANINGS | Cheth-Tav means TO RAKE ashes |
| Ex27-03f | WORD MEANINGS | Cheth-Tav means TO RAKE ashes |
| Nu04-09b | WORD MEANINGS | Cheth-Tav means TO RAKE ashes |
| Nu04-14b | WORD MEANINGS | Cheth-Tav means TO RAKE ashes |
| --------- | ---------------- | --------------------------------------- |
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2002, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Nu16-06b
RASHIS COVERED: Nu16-06b Ex25-38b Ex27-03f Nu04-09b Nu04-14b
|
CHET-TAUV means to RAKE |
VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
Rashi explains that the root Chet-Tauv means to RAKE. That
is to stir coals/ashes and to remove them from a fire.
The MACHTAH is the name of a UTENSIL (like a dustpan) that
was used to remove ashes from the Altar fire every morning.
SPECIAL ON RASHIS DATABASE GENIUS
----------------------------------
Rashi had
-- that the FUNCTION of the machtah is to RAKE Altar ashes
-- it looked like a dustpan(Closed on 3 sides & open on 4th)
-- Other verses support that Chet-Tauv means to RAKE
-- it had a handle
-- it could come in various sizes
Most scholars would have stated these 5 points and overwhelm
the student with detail
Not so Rashi. Rashi knew there were 5 Biblical verses where
the Machthah is mentioned.
So Rashi skillfully dropped ONE and only one of these details
in each Rashi. This allowed the student time to digest each
detail. Presumably when the student went over the Bible the
second time the student might gather all these Rashis and
become aware of the 5 facets of the commentary.
Truly--Rashi was the King of Databases.
Here is the list of verses and what Rashi contributes on
each one. |
| VERSE | ASPECT | What Rashi says about CHet-Tauv on this verse |
| Ex25-38b | FUNCTION | Remove ashes every monring from the altar |
| Ex27-03f | VERSES | CHET-TAUV means to Rake cf Is30-14 Ps52-07*1 |
| Nu04-09b | FORM | Like a DUSTPAN:3 closed sides with 4th open*2 |
| Nu04-14b | FORM | Like a DUSTPAN:3 closed sides with 4th open*2 |
| Nu16-06b | FORM | Raking utensils that have a HANDLE |
| | |
| COMMENTS |
*1 There are only 4-5 verses with the verb form Also see
Prv06-27 Prv25-22 (Radack includes Prv17-10)*10
*2 These two Rashis are almost the same. There are however
subtle differences
-- in one Rashi compares them to a PAN
-- in the other Rashi compares them a SPOON
(So these raking utensils come in 2 sizes)
Rashi also mentions that it has a simple border
| LONGER FOOTNOTES |
*10 Chet-Tauv is normally translated as DRAWING/TAKING motion
applied to coals or Ashes. Some examples are
--------------------------------------------
Isa30-14 To TAKE (CHET TAUV) a splinter from a fire
Ps52-07 They will TAKE(CHET TAUV) you from your tent
--------------------------------------------
But the other two verses where Chet-Tauv occur use the
prepositional connectives TAKE ON and TAKE IN. This
doesnt sound right.
I therefore translate it as RAKE which has a dual connotation
-- taking the ashes away
-- stirring and ordering the ashes
Thus we have
------------------------------------------
Prv06-27 Would a person STIR(RAKE) coals on his
chest (Similarly is the playing with
a married woman)
Prv25-22 For you thereby STIR/RAKE coals on
his head(By feeding your enemy you STIR
up guilt feelings in his head)
-------------------------------------------
See my article PSHAT & DRASH: A NEW INTUITIVE ANALYTIC
APPROACH (TRADITION WINTER 1980) where I advocate
that the translators job is to find good semantic models
in other languages that capture nuances.
| |
RASHI RULE USED: WORD MEANINGS
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2002, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Nu16-03a
RASHIS COVERED: Nu16-03a Nu16-07a Dt01-06a Dt06-26c
|
ALOT TO YOU means ENOUGH |
VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
The PHRASEs meaning -ALOT TO YOU --is unknown.
The Hebrew Resh-Beth means ALOT.
The Hebrew Lamed-Caph means TO YOU.
Rashi explains that the phrase ALOT TO YOU means
YOU-VE HAD ENOUGH.
This idiom only occurs 8 times in the Whole Bible.
Because of this rarity Rashi felt obligated to comment.
-------------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE: WORD MEANINGS
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: PHASE IDIOMS
-------------------------------------------
BRIED DESCRIPTION OF RULE and SUBRULE
-------------------------------------
Most people are familiar with the concept of a DICTIONARY. A
DICTIONARY explains WORDS whose meaning you may not be familiar
with. One of Rashis 6 main goals is to function as a dictionary
and explain the meaning of WORDS. But the Rashi dictionary also
explains the meanings of NEW PHRASES. These NEW PHRASES are
composed of words EACH of whose meaning is known but TOGETHER
the PHRASEs meaning is unknown.
STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
---------------------------------
The standard reference for the Rashi dictionary is the
Rashiyomi word page located at
http://www.RashiYomi.com/words.htm
The standard paper on the 6 Rashi rules is
http://www.RashiYomi.com/rules-01.htm
STANDARD EXAMPLE
----------------
The following Hebrew words have the following meanings
-----------------------------------------
HEBREW MEANING
------ -----------------
Ayin-Lamed On
Pay-Nun-Yud The Face of
-----------------------------------------
In half a dozen places in the Bible the combined phrase
ON THE FACE OF means DURING THE LIFETIME OF. This is
especially true when ON THE FACE OF is used in connection
with a person. A simple example might be Nu03-04
-----------------------------------------
Elazar was made a HIGH PRIEST
(ON THE FACE OF) DURING THE LIFETIME of Aaron
-----------------------------------------
SUGGESTED EXERCISES
-------------------
How should the student deal with a Rashi like this?
Here are some suggested exercises. These exercises
can be applied in schooling situations, by beginning
students of Rashi or by teachers.
-- With a Konkordance or CD Rom gather all verses
where this phrase occurs and verify if Rashis
suggested meaning is valid
-- If Rashis suggested meaning is only valid in
SOME of the verses try and find what is special
about these verses
RASHIS SOLUTION
---------------
The phrase ON THE FACE OF occurs several dozen times
in the Bible. Usually it means ON. However in about
6 verses it refers to ON THE FACE OF A PERSON and
it means--in these 6 verses--DURING THE LIFETIME OF
THAT PERSON.
It follows, that the review of verses has enriched
our understanding of Rashi-- for the Rashi rule that
ON THE FACE OF means DURING THE LIFETIME only applies
in the special case when this phrse is connected with
a person.
TODAYS LIST
-----------
We now list the 9 occurences of the phrase ALOT TO YOU
In 8 of them this pharse means YOUVE HAD ENOUGH*10 |
| VERSE | TO WHOM SAID | WHAT DO THEY HAVE ENOUGH OF? |
| Nu16-03a | Moses,Aaron | You have taken too much honor |
| Nu16-07a | Datan Aviram | You-re already levites;You want more? |
| Dt01-06a | The Jews | You have already learned enough*10 |
| Dt06-26c | Moses: | You already have much reward*11 |
| Dt02-03 | The Jews | Enough camping*11 |
| Ez44-06 | The Jews | Enough abominations |
| Ez45-09 | Leaders | You have enough sins |
| 1K12-28 | The Jews | Enough going to Jerusalem*1 |
| | |
| COMMENTS |
*1 This was said by Yaravam who set up the Golden calf idols
to prevent the Jews from going to Jerusalem (He was worried
that if they went to Jerusalem he would lose the permanance
of his monarchy)
| LONGER FOOTNOTES |
*10 Dt03-19 You have ALOT (not enough) of sheep and can have
this land
This raises the issue of when does ALOT TO YOU means
YOU HAVE ALOT and when does it mean YOU-VE HAD ENOUGH
It would appear that this is inferred from context
and meaning but not from the form of the phrase
*11 Dt01-06 states
-------------------------------------------
And I received an order from God: YOU-VE
HAD ENOUGH(ALOT TO YOU) CAMPING IN THIS MOUNTAIN
-------------------------------------------
The charming Rashi on this verse states as follows
--------------------------------------------------
The simple meaning of the text (ALOT TO YOU) is
---------------------------------------
You Jews have CAMPED here long enough--time to move
---------------------------------------
Note that this interpretation --- ENOUGH means ENOUGH
TIME CAMPING is identical to the usage in Dt02-03
(which oddly is the one Biblical verse with the
phrase ALOT TO YOU which Rashi does not comment on).
Rashi continues with a competing interpretation
---------------------------------------
You Jews have had enough learning here--time to move
---------------------------------------
It would, at first appear, that indeed this second
explanation is fanciful and the first explanation
is the simple meaning of the text.
But this can be solved by using the rule of
MULTI-VERSE sentences. That is most Biblical verses
are complete sentences. A very small percentage
of Biblical verses form Mult-verse sentences.
So Rashis point here is that the
--the simple meaning of the VERSE BY ITSELF is that
you have camped enough here
--the simple meaning of the VERSE IN CONTEXT is
that you have learned enough here.
Here is the 2-verse sentence Dt01-05:06
-------------------------------------------------
At that time Moses began expounding the law
in detail; [Finally] God gave an order--
ENOUGH of your dwelling here--move on
-------------------------------------------------
Thus Rashi is responding to the multi-verse
structure. The reference is to the Mountain where
-- the Jews received the Torah
-- the Jews appointed a Sanhedrin of National scholars
-- the Jews learned/built the temple laws.
Rashi was simply explaining why God had said
ENOUGH CAMPING HERE---they had already accomplished
enough.
In other words ENOUGH CAMPING HERE...BECAUSE YOU
HAVE ALREADY LEARNT ENOUGH.
| |
RASHI RULE USED: WORD MEANINGS
#*#*#*# (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 #*#*#*#*#