BACKGROUND
----------
Rashi typically EXPLAINS a verse. Sometimes however
he gives 2 explanations. Many Rashi commentaries
have discussed WHY Rashi brings two explanations.

QUESTION:
--------

Why is it necessary for Rashi to
bring the opinions of both R. Meir and
R. Yochanan from the Mechilta?
Usually, when he brings 2 opinions, it
implies that he is not completely
satisfied.  Either one of the 2
answers seems to make sense.

Do you have a possible answer?

Thanks,
Sacknovitz

VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
One of Rashis 6 main methods is the interpretation
of special Biblical queues as indicating such
modern typing methods as bullets, bolds, paragraphing
etc.

The Biblical Author did not use BULLETS. Instead when
a bullet effect is to be created, the Bible repeats
a keyword. Thus Ex39-03 which reads
-- the gold was put
-- IN the purple wool
-- IN the red wool
-- IN the crimson wool
-- IN the flax.

should be read as a bulleted sentence
-- the Gold was put in
-- ** the purple wool
-- ** the red wool
-- ** the crimson wool
-- ** the 6-ply flax

The bullets in turn emphasize each distinct clause as equal
So each material was 7 ply (eg 6 threads of wool and 1 of
gold)

We depict the bulleted structure of Ex39-03
The repeating keyword IN indicates bullets
The bulleting suggests an equal treatment
of all threads; they should be the same--
6 ply threads with one thread of Gold.

VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
Many Rashis typically explain meaning and grammar.
However some Rashis explore inferences from OTHER
VERSES.

In the LIST below we show how certain ambiguous terms
have their meaning clarified by one verse.

TYPICAL EXAMPLE
---------------
The Bible frequently uses the word calf which we know
means a young ox. We however do not know HOW YOUNG.
One verse speaks about a ONE YEAR CALF. From this
OTHER VERSE we infer that CALF in the Bible always
means a ONE YEAR OLD CALF.

We present a list of verses where
the meaning of words in one verse are
illumined by the usage of these words
in other verses.

The classical example is the word CALF
which occurs several times in the
Torah(eg Gn15-09).

We know a CALF is a YOUNG OX/BULL
but we dont know HOW YOUNG. The details
are gives by Lv09-07d which shows that
CALFS are 1 year (And this derivation
is accepted legally)

VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
One of Rashis 6 main goals is to explain the meanings
of words the same way a dictionary explains words.

Rashi can explain words in many ways---one method
is the explanation of idioms and new meanings. Here
is a simple example from English.

EXAMPLE
-------
The word ORANGE refers to the fruit orange.
But the phrase ORANGE SWEATER endows the word ORANGE
with a new meaning--the sweater has the COLOR ORANGE.
ORANGE is simply a GOOD EXAMPLE of something orange.

EXAMPLE
-------
P-T-Ch means to ENGRAVE. SEAL--P-T-Ch means ENGRAVED
with the types of good clear letters found in seals
Thus in this case the word SEAL acquires a NEW MEANING
referring to the type of letter

List of words whose meaning become extended
thru the GOOD EXAMPLE principle. Thus HONEY
acquires the new meaning of ANYTHING SWEET

VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
A major method of Rashi inference is the ALIGNMENT
method in which similar verses that differ in minor
nuances are aligned. These minor differences shed further
light on the verses meaning.

In the examples below we ALIGN three verses on oil
involvement with minchah offerings

EXAMPLE 1
---------
Two phrases are used: MIXING WITH OIL vs ANNOINTING
Hence we infer two activities are done. Here we
use ALIGNMENT to infer TWO CASES

EXAMPLE 2
---------
The Bible speaks about both MATZOH LOAVES vs
FLOUR being mixed with oil. Hence I infer that
the LOAVES are MIXED WITH OIL at the FLOUR
stage. Here we use ALIGNMENT to infer NUANCES
and details of the procedure

EXAMPLE 3
---------
The Bible uses ANNOINT and POUR for the same situation.
Hence we infer that the ANNOINTING should have an
ASPECT OF POURING (eg repeatedly annoint till the
whole matzoh loaf is covered) Here we use ALIGNMENT
to infer MULTIPLE CRITERIA in the procedure

The contrasts in Ex29-02 clearly show that two types
of mixing with oil:

-- MIXING WITH OIL (eg MIXING flour with oil before baking)
-- ANNOINTED WITH OIL (After baking)

See LIST313a LIST320a LIST303a

The oil activity is called both
- POURING
- ANNOINTING

We infer that there should be aspects
of both*10

See LIST313a LIST320a LIST303a

As the ALIGNMENT clearly shows--the
MIXING with oil is done at the FLOUR
stage of making the matzoh.