*1 2Sa07-01:02

*1 The same in each verse

*2 I dont know a reason for this difference

*3 Note the contradictory verses (Temple in 1 tribe/all tribes)
Rashi explains
- The temple was in the ONE Tribe of Binyamin 2Sa24-18:25
- Most probably it was bought with public funds
from all the tribes

*4 I dont know a reason for this difference

*5 There is also a further difference which we have
hidden for reasons of space
-----------------------
to place his name --?--
to dwell his name there
-----------------------

*1 Kindly revu the first line in the Table
The left side column talks about the case
---------------------------
when you go over to conquer
---------------------------

The right side column talks about the case
-----------------------
when you dwell securely
-----------------------

So the left side deals with Shiloh, the place
of the Temple tent during the 14 years in which
the Jews conquered the land while the right side
deals with Jerusalem when the Jews dwelt securely
and had conquered their enemies
(See Rashi on Dt12-05a Dt12-09a Dt12-11b
Dt12-09c Dt12-09d all of which echo this theme*10
For further details of Rashi see footnote *11)

*2 (Dt12-04a) Notice the paragraph structure
-----------------------------
Dt12-01 - Observe These laws
Dt12-02 Destroy all worship places
Dt12-03 -A- pulverize altars
Dt12-03 -B- break monuments
Dt12-03 -C- burn idol trees
Dt12-03 -D- slice their idols
Dt12-03 -E- erase idol names*2
Dt12-04 Dont do similarly to God
---------------------------------

Notice how the last line DONT DO SIMILARLY TO GOD
is a GENERAL THEME that summarize the DETAILS
in A-E. Hence the 3-4 explanations of Rashi

DONT DO SIMILARLY TO GOD
- dont break Gods altar (A)
- dont erase Gods name (E)

Other comments are
- dont sin, earn exile and lose your altar(A)

Finally we can focus on the beginning and ending
lines of the paragraph
- DESTROY ALL NON JEWISH WORSHIP PLACES
- DONT DO SIMILARLY TO GOD (that is dont worship
God in every place but rather in a central
location)

So Rashis basic idea is to focus on the DETAIL-THEME
nature of the paragraph -- there are 4 (maybe more!)
possible inferences but the basic idea is the
DETAIL-THEME format

*10 This 2 column format is the subject of the Rashis
in Dt12-11b,Dt12-09c and Dt12-09d
The two columns deal with Shiloh (During conquest)
and Jerusalem (After conquest).

Some Rashi commentators go deeper and try and
explain the nuances of PEACE/INHERITANCE as
meaning SHILOH/JERUSALEM respectively (That is
PEACE=SHILOH and INHERITANCE=JERUSALEM) However
Rashis main point is that Dt12 naturally
divides into two columns as shown. We have
given our own explanation at
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/ex23-15a.htm


*11 Rashi notes that there were 4 places that
the Temple resided
- Shiloh when they 1st conquered Israel - Jr07-12,Ju21-19
- Nov -- 1S21-01:09
- Givon -- 1K03-04
- Jerusalem

From the fact that the Bible only talks
about prohibiting Private altar worship in
- Shiloh--time of conquest and
- Jerusalem--time of security
Rashi infers that the private personal
Bamah altars were permitted in Nov and Givon
(Because the Bible only prohibits them in
Shiloh and Jerusalem)

The prohibition of private altar worship
anyplace is mentioned in Dt12-08 and
Dt12-13 in the LIST106b. It is also frequently
mentioned in the Bible such as at 1K03-02

Perhaps more simply Rashi infers that private
altar worship was permitted in Nov and Givon
from the explicit statement in 1K03-02. This
uses the method of OTHER VERSES.

*1 The explicit Biblical text certainly doesnt seem
to be talking about BLEMISHED SACRIFICES. Why then
do we have the right (or obligation) to say that
this is the SIMPLE STRAIGHTFORWARD MEANING OF THE TEXT?

The answer is important for understanding the
Rashi principle of BULLET / PARAGRAPHS / STRUCTURE.

Indeed it is NOT the words or grammar that
give rise to this interpretation. Rather the
overall paragraph structure forces us to
hear the verses this way.

Indeed as the list shows, the entire paragraph
is speaking about HOLY OBJECTS.

We are told not to OFFER UP OFFERINGS in
private altars but rather in Jerusalem.

The next paragraph states we cant even
eat Tithes anyplace.

The Torah at Dt12-15 gives an exception
(to the prohibition of eating anyplace)
- WHEN YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO DESIRE

But the only way we could desire to
eat sacrifices is if some permanant
blemish fell in them.

The text certainly does not say this
In fact I dont know why the text simply
could not have explicitly said this.

But the context forces us to seeks its
meaning in the ONE EXCEPTION WHEN
YOU CAN EAT SACRIFICES ANYPLACE.

(Another example of such a use of
logic to interpret a Biblical passage
in a focused manner occurs in Ex22

Rashi interprets the 3 paragraphs on
WATCHERS as follows
-Paragraph beginning Ex22-06
speaks about a VOLUNTARY WATCHER

- Paragraph beginning Ex22-09
speaks about PAID GUARD

- Paragraph beginning Ex22-13
speaks about a LOAN OF OBJECTS
(This is explicitly stated)

What allows Rashi to interpret these
3 paragraphs in this manner? It is
not the explicit Biblical text which
is silent. Rather it is the overall
structure which defines 3 levels
of financial responsibility. It is then
logical to assume that we speak
about 3 levels of WATCHING INVOLVMENT
(voluntary, paid, requested).

At any rate while many questions remain
we feel that CONTEXT offers one key
to understanding this text and Rashi)

*1 Special focus is given in the 2nd paragraph of each
of the columns that private personal altars
- could not be used during SHILOH & after Jerusalem
- could be used in wilderness for PERSONAL Vows
eg I vow a sacrifice and offer in my back yard
- could be used for public UP offerings

*2 One column talks about the Temple WHEN YOU
CONQUER ISRAEL(1st temple in shiloh) while
the other column talks about the Temple
built when you ACHIEVE SECURITY IN ISRAEL
(Temple of Solomon)

*3 The huge 2-column-3-paragraph structure may
obscure some of the simple contrasting sentences
(DO X BUT DONT DO Y). Eg The last 2 verses
in the chapter state GIVE SACRIFICES TO THE
LEVI AND DONT DESERT THE LEVI

*4 The sentence occurs as a contrasting clause
in a sentence about offering UP offerings
in the private altars.
- YOU CANT OFFER UP OFFERINGS ON PRIVATE ALTARS
- AFTER THE TEMPLE IS BUILT
- EXCEPT
- IF IT IS A TIME OF (PERMISSABLE) DESIRE OF FOOD

Nothing further is said.

The only way a TEMPLE offering could be legally
desired is if a PERMANANT BLEMISH had fallen in it

QUESTION
--------
Dear Russ,

Num 31:4
> Rashi to include the tribe of Levi.
> Siphri to include the tribe of Levi
> Vilna Goan to exclude the tribe of Levi
> Malbim prefers the Vilna Goan.
>
> Do you know the basis that the Vilna Goan changed the text of both =
Rashi
> and Siphri? Just logic?

Cheers,
Aryeh Shore

*10

ANSWER
------
Lawrence

This Rashi/Sifray/Gra/Malbim revolves around
3 Rashi principles
- special words: ALL (ALL tribes contribute to war)
- OTHER VERSES: Next verse says 12000 went to war
- SPREADSHEETS: THere were 13 tribes *1000=13000

So Gra/Malbim are simple: There are only 2 ways
to resolve the contradiction

- The LEVITES who NEVER went to war (See Dt18-01:07)
did not go (leaving 12 tribes x 1000 = 12000)

- Ephraim and Menasheh sent 1000 for Joseph
(The point: This **IS** an admissable explanation
But the Bible emphasizes that ALL tribes sent
Hence BOTH Menasheh and Ephraim sent 1000)

Ergo...Levy did not send.

SUMMARY
-------
One of the 5 menaings of ALL is to emphasize
even cases we wouldnt expect (such as Menasheh
and EPhraim sending separate troops).

The inclusion of both Ephraim and Menasheh
is consistent with the next verse which says
that 12000 went (12 non levite tribes x 1000)

In passing we could NOT argue that ALL includes
the tribe of Levi since they are explicitly
excluded from EVERY war (See Dt18-01:07)


Thanks for bringing this up. I will correct
my notes on Nu31-04a.


ACKNOWELDGEMENT
---------------
Most of the above comments are presented
by the Malbim. My contribution is to
classify the Malbims comments in overall
categories and show many similar examples.


Respectfully
Russell Jay Hendel; http://www.RashiYomi.com/