Rashi-Is-Simple Mailing List
VISIT the RASHI DATABASE archives AT
http://www.RashiYomi.com/
Surfing the Talmudic Seas
(C) RashiYomi Incorporated, 2002
Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel
Volume 16 Number 4
For the WORD QUALITY HTML VERSION click here
-----------------------------------
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/h16n4.htm
Produced Nov 21, 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 | A workbook with all Rashi skill competencies*1 |
Order | How to order compound questions/lists |
| |
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.
|
Rashis covered in this issue |
|
VERSE | RULE | BRIEF DESCRIPTION |
======== | =============== | ======================================== |
Gn24-24a | GRAMMARr | The compound question-answer style |
Gn31-31a | GRAMMARr | The compound question-answer style |
Gn32-19a | GRAMMARr | The compound question-answer style |
Ex03-12a | GRAMMARr | The compound question-answer style |
Gn33-02a | GRAMMARr | Compound order--many methods |
Gn33-03a | GRAMMARr | Compound order--many methods |
Nu36-11a | GRAMMARr | Compound order--many methods |
Nu27-01b | GRAMMARr | Compound order--many methods |
--------- | ---------------- | ---------------------------------------- |
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2002, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Gn24-24a
RASHIS COVERED: Gn24-24a Gn31-31a Gn32-19a Ex03-12a
COMPOUND QUESTIONS |
VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
One of Rashis 6 main goals is to explain Grammar the same
way modern Hebrew books explain grammar. Traditional Hebrew
grammar books deal with such issues as verb conjugation, gender,
subject-predicate agreement. Rashi in this posting deals with
the more obscure question of how do you arrange 2 questions
and 2 answers. Rashis suggested method is: Q1 Q2. A1 A2. It
is then understood that the FIRST ANSWER goes with the FIRST
QUESTION and SECOND ANSWER with the SECOND QUESTION. THus Gn23-23
states: a)WHO ARE YOU b) DO YOU HAVE A PLACE TO INN. Gn23-24
answers: a)BETHUELS DAUGHER b) WE HAVE FOOD AND FODDER
--------------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE: GRAMMAR
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: COMPOUND ORDER
--------------------------------------------
STANDARD REFERENCES FOR TODAYS RULE
-----------------------------------
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/grammar.htm The RashiYomi grammar page
TODAYS LIST
-----------
We present 4 Rashis commenting on 4 double questions with
double answers. Note how by rearranging the Q1 Q2 A1 A2 order
to Q1 A1 Q2 A2 the verse and Rashi read more smoothly. |
VERSE | Question 1 | Answer 1 | Question 2 | Answer 2
|
Gn24-23 | Who are you? | Betuayls daughter | Place to inn? | Food&lodge |
Gn31-27 | Why flee? | Keep my wives | Why steal | Curse thief |
Gn32-18 | Who are you? | Work for Jacob | What is this? | A gift |
Ex03-11 | I go to Phrh | God helps you | Jews saved? | Cause of Trh |
RASHI RULE USED: GRAMMARr
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2002, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Gn33-02a
RASHIS COVERED: Gn33-02a Gn33-03a Nu36-11a Nu27-01b
COMPOUND ORDER |
VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
One of Rashis 6 main goals is to explain grammar One issue of
grammar is the order in which compound sentence components should
be listed. The general rules are that
- if the Bible uses different orders all items are equal
(eg Abraham Isaac Jacob vs Jacob Isaac Abraham--there all same)
- if the Bible always uses the same order it reflects importance
(eg Moses Aaron indicates Moses had higher prophecy than Aaron)
- Special cases arise: Eg Gn33-02: Jacobs favorite wives were
placed in the least vulnerable position; Jacob went first to
protect them (The same way Israeli generals go out first)
------------------------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE: GRAMMARr
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: COMPOUND ORDER
------------------------------------------------------
STANDARD REFERENCES FOR TODAYS RULE
-----------------------------------
The RashiYomi grammar page: http://www.Rashiyomi.com/grammar.htm
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/h3n1.htm (Previous posting on order)
TODAYS LIST
-----------
Gn33-01:02 shows how Jacob arranged his wives and himself when
meeting Esauv. Jacob was clearly afraid of Esauv so those people
placed first were the most vulnerable. It is easy to see that
the wives that Jacob liked the most were placed in the least
vulnerable place (2nd part of list).
This leaves the question as to why Jacob went first vs last(after
all he should have stayed in back to protect himself). Rashi
suggests a 2 dimensional model of order: Jacob exposed himself
rather than endanger the others. (Israeli Generals act similarly
in battle).
I have enriched this Rashi explanation with other lists showing
order of items. Considering the fact that ORDER DOES NOT ALWAYS
MATTER (see examples below) and that Rashis explanation is
complicated perhaps it is better to regard this Rashi as
simply a plausible explanation. |
Order | Who | Security reason | How much liked | Proof<
|
1th | Jacob | Protect others | | |
--- | ----------- | --------------- | --------------- | ---------------- |
2nd | Concubines | | least | Concubin vs wife |
3rd | Leah | | next to most | Gn29-31 |
4th | Rachel | | most | Gn29-31 |
Tzlafchad Daughters |
The different orders reflect the fact that all 5 daughters were
equally important. Each had their own skills. No one daughter
excelled the other in all important qualities.(Thus this
provides an example where order is not important) This idea
(different orders implies equality is found in Rashi)
See the next list for supporting examples from Midrash Rabbah |
VERSE | ORDER |
Nu26-33 | Machlah Noah Chaglah Milkah Tirzah |
Nu27-01 | Machlah Noah Chaglah Milkah Tirzah |
Nu36-11 | Machlah Tirzah Chaglah Milkah Noah |
Jos17-3 | Machlah Noah Chaglah Milkah Tirzah |
COMPOUND ORDER |
This list comes from the Midrash Rabbah(First 3 examples from
the Midrash and the last 2 were supplied by me).
RULE: If a compound sentence item is listed in different orders
then the Bible thinks they are each important. Thus the
3 Patriarchs are listed in different ordres and hence are equally
important.
The next list shows the complementary rule: If compound sentence
items are ALWAYS listed in the same order then they reflect
a higher important of the 1st mentioned item. |
LIST | VERSE 1 | ORDER | VERSE 2 | ORDER |
Heaven, earth | Gn01-01 | Heaven, earth | Gn02-04 | Earth,heaven |
Abraham,Isaac,Jacob | Dt34-04 | Abe, Yitz,Jac | Lv26-42 | Jac,Yitz,Abe |
Tzlafchad girls | Nu26-33 | M N C M T | Nu36-11 | M T C M N |
Mishpatim,Chukim | Lv18-05 | Chok,Mishpat | Dt08-11 | Mishpat,Chok |
Signs,..,stong hand | Dt26-08 | Hand..signs | Dt04-34 | Sign. hand |
COMPOUND ORDER |
In this list we see that Moses is ALWAYS listed before Aaron
Hence we conclude that Moses prophetic status was higher than
Aarons. (See Sifrah Lv01-01 for further details) This complements
the rule in the above list that a compound list, listed in
different orders is regarded as equal by the Bible. |
VERSE | ORDER |
Lv11-01 | Moses Aaron |
Lv13-01 | Moses Aaron |
Lv14-33 | Moses Aaron |
Lv15-01 | Moses Aaron |
Nu04-01 | Moses Aaron |
Nu04-17 | Moses Aaron |
RASHI RULE USED: GRAMMARr
#*#*#*# (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 #*#*#*#*#