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               Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel

                     Volume 18 Number 20
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                    Produced Jul 30th, 2003

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#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc.2003, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#
OVERVIEW OF HILIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03

Whats new and hot in this issue?
ITEM WHATS NEW & HOT IN THIS ISSUE
Modify Rashi 2 Rashis: Which is PUN? Which is Real reason?
OTHER VERSES Not all Rashis start with THE PROBLEM*1
COMMENTS
*1 The Bible (Dt17-20) orders kings NOT TO DEVIATE
FROM THE COMMANDMENT. Rashi uses the technique
of OTHER VERSES to show that the Biblical
phrase FROM THE COMMANDMENT refers to the COMMANDMENT
in the next chapter to LISTEN TO PROPHETS. Hence, here
we have an example of Rashi clarifying THRU THE
INFORMATION IN OTHER VERSES without necessarily
solving a problem.
Rashis covered in this issue
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03

VERSE RULE BRIEF DESCRIPTION
======== =============== ========================================
Dt17-11a WORD MEANINGS LEFT / RIGHT = ANY NEARBY direction
Gn13-09a WORD MEANINGS LEFT / RIGHT = ANY NEARBY direction
Dt17-13a OTHER VERSES WHOLE nation=Festival;THIS TORAH=Next Ch
Dt17-20a OTHER VERSES WHOLE nation=Festival;THIS TORAH=Next Ch
Lv16-32c RabbiIshmael Priest-President:Lineage 1st-merit 2nd
Dt17-20c RabbiIshmael Priest-President:Lineage 1st-merit 2nd
--------- ---------------- -----------------------------------
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2003, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Dt17-11a
RASHIS COVERED: Dt17-11a Gn13-09a
Dt17-11a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03


SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
One of Rashis 6 main goals is to explain meaning, the
same way the dictionary explains meaning. A key
method of explaining meaning is to review lists of
verses using an unknown Biblical word. The meaning
can then be inferred from context along with its
nuances

EXAMPLE- LEFT AND RIGHT
-----------------------
Rashi explains the nuances of LEFT and RIGHT
in several comments. The basic idea is ANY LITTLE
NEARBY THING. Hence we have the following usages
- dont deviate AT ALL (to any NEARBY INTERPRETATION)
- nation expands out to NEARBY desolate places
The lists below clarify further.
ITEM DETAIL
RASHI RULE CLASS: WORD MEANINGS
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS NEW MEANINGS
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #7
SEE BELOW LIST854c
List of verses with phrase LEFT and RIGHT
LIST854c
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03


The phrase LEFT AND RIGHT means ANY LITTLE
NEARBY BIT and can refer either
-negatively - nothing at all
-positively - spreading out nearby
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE(Meaning of LEFT/RIGHT capped)
Dt05-29:30 Watch laws;Dont deviate A LITTLE;walk in WHOLE path*1
Dt17-11a No haugtiness; observe law; dont deviate even a LITTLE
2C34-02 He walked in path of King David;didnt deviate A LITTLE
Pr04-24:27 remove crookedness;go straight;dont deviate A LITTLE*2
Jo01-07:08 Strengthen;Dont deviate A LITTLE;Murmur Torah always*3
---------- ------------------------------------------------------
Gn13-09 If you go on right/left I will go NEARBY*4
Is54-01:03 More children;Wider tents;Spreadout NEARBY*5
COMMENTS
*1 The rest of verse is consistent with this emphasis of
DEVIATION EVEN A LITTLE (eg walk in WHOLE PATH)*10

*2 The rest of verses are consistent with this emphasis
of DEVIATION EVEN A LITTLE (eg remove CROOKEDNESS;
go STRAIGHT)

*3 The rest of verses are consistent with this emphasis
of DEVIATING EVEN A LITTLE (eg STRENGTHEN, MURMUR ALWAYS
IN WORDS OF TORAH)

*4 These two verses illustrate nuance of EXPANSION*11

*5 These two verses illustrate nuance of EXPANSION in
NEARBY communities (more CHILDREN, WIDER TENTS,...)

LONGER FOOTNOTES

*10 Rashi-s actual language is
-------------------------------------
Obey the law even if it calls LEFT, RIGHT
-------------------------------------

Such an interpretation however is simply a clever
pun.

AS THE OTHER VERSES IN THIS LIST SHOW THE REAL
MEANING OF THE PHRASE left and right IS A LITTLE
BIT and this is consistent with Rashis other comments

*11
(Rashi points out that this interpretation of nearby
is consistent with the fact that Abraham came to
Lots help when he needed it (Gn14))
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2003, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Dt17-13a
RASHIS COVERED: Dt17-13a Dt17-20a
Dt17-13a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03


SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
Many Rashis explain meaning and grammar.
Some Rashis however provide interpretation
by clarifying meaning from OTHER VERSES

EXAMPLE 1 - Execute Criminal - WHOLE nation hears
-------------------------------------------------
Several other verses show that WHOLE nation is
only present at the 3 pilgrimage festivals. Hence
execution may only happen at Pilgrimages.

EXAMPLE 2 - KING WRITES THIS TORAH...OBSERVES LAW
-------------------------------------------------
The Biblical words THIS TORAH clearly refers
to the Biblical commandment in the next chapter
where the Jews are ordered to listen to the words
of prophets. Several OTHER VERSES confirm this
interpretation since Kings routinely had
consultation and orders from prophets
ITEM DETAIL
RASHI RULE CLASS: OTHER VERSES
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS MULTIPLE PROOFS
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #6
SEE BELOW LIST260a
List of verses showing WHOLE nation together at FESTIVALS
------------------------ ----------------------------------
SEE BELOW LISt260b
List of verses showing Kings routinely had prophets
LIST260a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03


Dt17-13a states
--------------------------------------------------
Execute the criminal...let the WHOLE NATION see
--------------------------------------------------

Rashi clarifies thru several OTHER VERSES that
the whole nation is only present on the FESTIVALS
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE-WHOLE nation COMES ON FESTIVALS
Ex23-17 3 Times a year ALL males will appear before God
Ex34-23 3 Times a year ALL males will appear before God
Dt16-16 3 Times a year ALL males will appear before God
Dt31-11 ....When the WHOLE nation appears before God
LIST260b
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03


Dt17-18:20 states that the King should
--------------------------------------------------
Write THIS Torah Summary;
In order that he learn to fear God
In order that he not be haughty above his BROTHERS
In order that he observe all laws
--------------------------------------------------

The next chapter Dt18-16:22 speaks about the obligation
---------------------------------------
To listen to PROPHETS FROM YOUR BROTHERS;
violating their orders carries a death penalty
---------------------------------------

The list below shows that this is consistent with
the fact that many kings had personal prophets
which gave them orders. Thus we interpret Dt17-18:20-
WRITE THIS TORAH SUMMARY-to refer to the specific
law to LISTEN TO PROPHETS which occurs in the Torah
Summary (That is the book of Deuteronomy)
VERSES PROPHET KING TEXT OF VERSE-King-Prophet Reltion
2S24-11 Gad David Davids personal prophet
2S12-01:10 Nathan David Rebukes King on Murder
1S10-24:27 Samuel Saul Writes laws of Kings for nation
1S15 Samuel Saul Samuel rebukes Saul for rebelling
1K22-07:08 Micah Yhsft Kings routinely consulted prophets
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2003, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Lv16-32c
RASHIS COVERED: Lv16-32c Dt17-20c
Lv16-32c
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03


SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
One of Rashis 6 major goals is to resolve
apparent contradictions between conflicting
Biblical verses. We have identified 5 methods
of resolving contradictory verses

EXAMPLE
-------
Lv16-32 states that the High Priesthood is
heridatary(The son inherits the position
from his father). By contrast Lv21-10 states
that the position is by merit (Nothing to do
with father).

Rashi identifies this as 2 stages
- if the son is qualified pick him
- if not pick a qualified person who is not a son
ITEM DETAIL
RASHI RULE CLASS: RABBI ISHMAEL STYLE
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS GENERALIZED
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #15
SEE BELOW LIST530a
Verse pairs illustrating 2 stages to a process
LIST530a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03


We present verse pairs which seem to contradict each other
The contradiction is resolved by viewing the 2 verses
as 2 stages of the same process. Todays new example is
placed in the last row
VERSE-1 VERSE-2 HOW THE TWO TEXTS ARE COMBINED
Ex15-01 Ex15-04 Egyptians THROWN UP;THEN SHOT down to sea
Ex16-13 Nu11-09 1st Dew bed; then MANNA; THEN dew blanket
Nu08-24 Nu04-03 Levites LEARN Temple at 25;THEN serve at 30
Nu16-32 Nu26-11a Korach sons 1st punished; then repented*1
Nu26-54 Nu26-55a Children inherit units;Parents give equally*10
Lv21-10 Lv16-32c Priesthood succession: Lineage 1st;Merit 2nd*2
COMMENTS

*1 Nu16-32 and Nu16-33 together imply that KORACH AND ALL FOLLOWING
HIM DIED ALIVE BY FIRE AND EARTHQUAKE This contradicts Nu26-11
that the sons of Korach did not die

Note that Psalms 45-49 were written by the SONS OF KORACH
showing that they repented

*2 In other words if one of the high priests sons is
qualified for the position he is chosen. If not
a non-descendant (who is qualified) is taken.

Lv16-32c presents this SON-MERIT rule for priests
Dt17-20c generalizes this SON-MERIT rule for Kings.

This interpretation of the text is further
clarified by the ALIGNMENT method.*11

Some further technicalities are noted in note *12

LONGER FOOTNOTES
*10 Here is a simple numerical example
Assume 3 people in Egypt
- Bob
- Dan and David Brothers

Assume
- Bob has 1 child
- Dan has 1 child
- David has 2 children

So GENERATION1(GEN1) has 3 units (Bob,Dan David)
And GEN2 has 4 units (1+1+2)

We now have 3 stages

STAGE 1
-------
Each GEN2 person gets same number of units (Say 2 units)
So Bobs child --2 units
-- Dans child --2 units
-- Davids-------4 units to 2 children

STAGE 2
-------
Now the units are coalesced at the family (GEN1) level
- Bob has 2 units(Since he has one child with 2 units)
- Dan-David has 6 units (Dans child 2 units and Davids 4)

STAGE 3
-------
- Bob gives his 2 units back to his child
- Dan-David give there 6 units equally to children so
-- Dans child receives 3 units
-- Davids 2 children receive 1.5 units each (Total of 3)

Here is a time map

--------------------------------------------------------------
EGYPT(GEN1)    CHILDREN   STAGE1      STAGE2       STAGE3
-------------- ---------- ----------- ------------ ------------
Bob            1 child    2/8         2/8          2/8 @child
Dan-brother    1 child    2/8         6/8 brothers 3/8 @child
David-brother  2 child    4/8         6/8 Brothers 3/8 @2 child
---------------------------------------------------------------

Although this may seem complicated it fulfills the 2 verses
- The actual exodus people from Egypt inherit
- The descendants determine inheritance

*11 We align Lv21-10 Lv16-32 as follows

-----------------------------------------------------------------
The priest --------------- ...annointed ...trained replace father
The priest who is advanced ...annointed ...trained --------------
*a         *b              *c           *d         *b
-----------------------------------------------------------------

As the double #b clearly shows there are two criteria
- priest is advanced (bigger than his brothers)
- priest replaces father

These conflicting criteria are resolved using
the RabbiIshmael method of 2 STAGES
- if the son is qualified pick him
- if not pick a qualified non-descendant

*12 Interestingly heridatary appointment is mentioned by
- Slaves (Lv25-41)
- Kings (Dt17-20)
- Priests (Dt18-05)
- Levites (1C23-13)

The Bible EXPLICITLY advances a LINEAGE-MERIT duality
for priests (As shown above by the alignment presented
in footnote #11).

We generalize this to Kings (Rashi Dt17-20c).

We do not apply this to slaves since merit is not involved

We also do not generalize this to Levites since
the Bible explicitly states that they replace the
first-born and hence merit is no longer relevant
(A qualified 1st born could NOT function as a
Levite because the Bible states explicitly that
they were replaced (See eg Nu03-40:43)
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2003, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
End of Rashi is Simple Digest
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