Rashi-Is-Simple Mailing List VISIT the RASHI DATABASE archives AT http://www.RashiYomi.com/ Surfing the Talmudic Seas (C) RashiYomi Incorporated, 2003 Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel Volume 19 Number 1 For the WORD QUALITY HTML VERSION click here ----------------------------------- http://www.Rashiyomi.com/h19n1.htm ----------------------------------- Produced Aug 20th, 2003 WARNING: USE FIXED WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10) |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03 | ||
Whats new and hot in this issue? | ||
ITEM | WHATS NEW & HOT IN THIS ISSUE | |
HONONYMS | Rashis on 2 words from same CLASS of MEANING*1 | |
METONOMY | Words can also refer to ANY related item*2 | |
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*1 eg WINE-LIQUOR or STOVE-OVEN *2 eg ALTAR FIRE can refer to WOOD, ANIMAL PARTS, OFFERINGS.. |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03 | |||
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VERSE | RULE | BRIEF DESCRIPTION | |
======== | =============== | ======================================= | |
Nu06-03a | WORD MEANINGS | Shin-Caph-Resh means AGED Wine | |
Nu28-07c | WORD MEANINGS | Shin-Caph-Resh means AGED Wine | |
Lv10-09a | WORD MEANINGS | Shin-Caph-Resh means AGED Wine | |
Lv07-30b | WORD MEANINGS | FIRE OF GOD=FIRE RELATED=Offerings,wood | |
Ex29-18b | WORD MEANINGS | FIRE OF GOD=FIRE RELATED=Offerings,wood | |
Dt18-01c | WORD MEANINGS | FIRE OF GOD=FIRE RELATED=Offerings,wood | |
Lv03-11a | WORD MEANINGS | FIRE OF GOD=FIRE RELATED=Offerings,wood | |
Lv04-35b | WORD MEANINGS | FIRE OF GOD=FIRE RELATED=Offerings,wood | |
--------- | ---------------- | ----------------------------------- |
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VERSE: Nu06-03a
RASHIS COVERED: Nu06-03a Nu28-07c Lv10-09a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03 | ||
SUCCINCT SUMMARY ---------------- One of Rashis 6 main goals is to explain word meanings the same way the dictionary explains word meanings. Rashi had a variety of focuses and subgoals when he explained meaning. For example Rashi would particularly focus on what I will loosely call ALMOST-HONONYMS--that is two words (like WINE and LIQUOR) which refer to two distinct items in the same class. EXAMPLE ------- - The word Yud-Yud-Nun means WINE - The word Shin-Caph-Resh means AGED WINE | ||
ITEM | DETAIL | |
RASHI RULE CLASS: | WORD MEANINGS | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS | NEW MEANINGS | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #7 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST950d | |
2 words in | WINE CLASS |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03 | ||
The two words Yud-Yud-Nun and Shin-Caph-Resh both refer to WINE like objects. One means WINE while the other means AGED-WINE (With a greater capacity for intoxication)*10 We present below verses with these words | ||
VERSE | TRANSLATION OF VERSE(translated words capped | |
Nu06-03a | Let him abstain from WINE and AGED-WINE*13 | |
Lv10-09a | Priests should not drink WINE and AGED-WINE | |
Nu28-07c | Make an AGED-WINE libation before God | |
Gn09-21 | Noach drank from the WINE and GOT DRUNK*1 | |
Gn19-33 | They fed him WINE and slept with him*1 | |
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*1 These verses clearly show that WINE can intoxicate Thus the word WINE is both - GENERIC referring to any WINE, as well as - SPECIFIC referring to AGED-WINE Hence we are justified in referred to WINE - AGEDwine as a hononymic pair.*12 | ||
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*10 A comparison of the exact wording in the 3 Rashis is insightful - Lv10-09a Wine when intoxicating - Nu28-07c Not new wine (for it must be intoxicating) - Nu06-03a OLD Wine because it intoxicates Note that Rashi only explicitly identifies the meaning of Shin-Caph-Resh as AGED WINE in Nu06-03a In Nu28-07c Rashi explains that Shin-Caph-Resh is not new wine*11 In Lv10-09a Rashi explains that Shin-Caph-Resh refers to wine that intoxicates but doesnt explicitly identify it with Aged wine. Thus our LIST approach which requires a simultaneous review of all relevant Rashis seems productive *11 Rashi seems to be using the RabbiIshmael Method of contradictory verses here. Indeed compare the following -------------------------------------------------- - Nu28-07 Make a libation of AGED-WINE - Lv23-12 its libation is WINE - Nu15-05:10 sacrificial libation shall be of WINE -------------------------------------------------- Thus we are simultaneously told to make the libation - wine - aged-wine So Rashi is Simple--ANY wine is OK except brand new wine (which has little intoxicating ability (That is Rashi resolves the contradiction (Wine-AGEDwine) by only excluding the weakest type of wine. *12 Such pairs occur frequently (eg BREAD-FOOD, HONEY-SWEET, DAY(12 HOURS)-DAY(24 HOURS), MAN-PERSON etc). This is a routine example of METONOMY and SYNECHDOCHE (using the part (BREAD,HONEY,DAY,MAN) to refer to the whole (FOOD,SWEET, DAY, PERSON). (I am indebted to my sister for pointing out that the hononymic attribution is dependent on the synechdoche) *13 A very important subtlety is the following: The root Shin-caph-resh means to get drunk Hence it MIGHT appear that Rashi derives the mean of AGED-WINE from the root Shin-Caph-resh which means TO GET DRUNK Unfortunately this is not true. Rather the meaning of Shin-Caph-Resh as referring to AGED WINE is true indepedent of any other meaning of the root. The source of the translation is dictionary usage-this is the way people use these words Of course one we ALREADY know this dictionary usage we are entitled to relate this usage to the obvious fact that Shin-Caph-resh as a Biblical root means to get drunk. Our point however is that the translation Shin-Caph-Resh as AGED-WINE is dependent on usage and need not require further support from other meanings of the root. |
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2003, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Lv07-30b
RASHIS COVERED: Ex29-18b Dt18-01c Lv03-11a Lv04-35b Lv07-30b
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03 | ||
SUCCINCT SUMMARY ---------------- One of Rashis 6 main goals is the explanation of meaning the same way a dictionary explains meaning. Rashi had a variety of vehicles to explain meaning -- one of them was the use of METONOMY -- that is a word could refer to any item that was RELATED to its original meaning EXAMPLE ------- It is well know that a climax of many sacrifices was placing the animal or vegetable on the altar FIRE. Hence the word FIRE can METONOMICALLY refer to - the WOOD used to make the fire - the ORGANS offered on the fire - the SACRIFICES in general This rich variety of FIRE-RELATED items makes this a particularly good example of METONOMY. | ||
ITEM | DETAIL | |
RASHI RULE CLASS: | WORD MEANINGS | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS | NEW MEANINGS | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #7 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST871b | |
Verses with FIRE meaning | FIRE RELATED ITEMS |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03 | ||
A list of verses where FIRE means FIRE-RELATED ITEMS This illustrates METONOMY. | ||
VERSE | MEANING OF FIRE | |
Ex29-18b | The ANIMAL PARTS offered on the altar fire*1 | |
Dt18-01c | SACRIFICES in general*2 | |
Lv04-35b | Fires of ALTAR WOOD*3 | |
Lv07-30b | The FAT offered on the altar*4 | |
Lv03-11a | ANIMAL PARTS offered on altar fire*5 | |
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*1 Note: Not all animal parts were offered on the fire For example the blood was thrown or spilled on the altar *2 The verse states that the priests/Levites will have no inheritance in Israel since their inheritance is the FIRES OF GOD = The Sacrifices *3 The verse states ---------------------------------- ...bring these on the FIRE OF GOD ---------------------------------- (that is on the WOOD OF THE ALTAR that supports the fire) *4 The fat is explicitly called the FIRE-FAT (Lv10-15) *5 The Biblical phrase BREAD OF FIRE generally refers to the animal parts placed on the altar fire |
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