Rashi-Is-Simple Mailing List
(C) Dr Russell Jay Hendel, 1999
Http://www.Shamash.Org/Rashi/Index.Htm
Vol 1 Number 15
Prodcued Mar, 4 1999
Topics Discussed in This Issue
------------------------------
V0304 Administrivia (Odd issues contain reviews of OLD TOPICS)
V2Q31-13 Famous question on how ACH limits in 2-31-13
V2q18-27 Question on v1n11--Did Jethro really convert?
v2a25-4 SKY BLUE = WOOL dyed SKY BLUE
v2b25-4 RED = WOOL dyed RED
v2b25-5 TChaSH=Multi Colored Skinned Animal(Derivation)
v2-28-14 SRSROTH = CHAIN or RIBBON or CORD
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1999 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
v0304 Administrivia
As promised I am producing 2 issues a week.
The odd issues will contain old themes, thus making the reading
easier.
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1999 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: v2Q31-13 ACH observe my Shabbath
-----
Rashi: ACH limits Shabbath from the Building of the Mishkan
A student in my Lower Merion Synagogue class asked me to explain
the very queer Rashi on 2-31-13. Indeed, ACH usually denotes
a LIMITATION in the VERSE itself---Rashi here takes it as an
EXTENSION in the PREVIOUS CHAPTER!!!! "Observe the Shabbath
EVEN at the expense of not building the Mishkan".
Many of the classical commentaries note this problem (e.g. Ramban).
[Solution next week---As usual readers are invited to try]
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1999 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: v2Q18-27 And Jethro went for himself to his land
----- RASHI: He went to convert his family
We explained this Rashi in Vol 1 Number 11.
The explanation is that VERB+"FOR HIMSELF" denotes personal reasons
and since the Chapter was speaking about how elated Jethro was to
discover God--"Now I know that your God is the true God"---
it is reasonable that he went back home to share his discovery and
convert everybody.
My brother,the Honarable Neal Hendel of Beer Sheva pointed out to me
recently that it seems from Numbers Chapters 10-11 that Jethro did
not journey with the Jewish people and remained in his old ways.
(The point of the question is not that Jethro did NOT convert
anybody but rather the observation that you can't be positive that
he did convert).
So why does Rashi state "He went to convert"
[Answer next week---readers are encouraged to send in answers.]
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1999 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: v2a25-4 Sky blue, red, crimson ....
----------
RASHI TEXT:
----------
* Sky Blue = wool died with the blood of a fish whose color is...
BRIEF BUT COMPLETE NARRATIVE EXPLANATION:
----------------------------------------
We have frequently explained that TRANSLATIONS require 2 things
a) A GENERAL CATEGORY: In this case--"woolen garments"
b) WHICH SPECIFIC MEMBER: In this case--those died sky-blue
So as [LIST1] shows a SAILBOAT is a BOAT (General category) that
has SAILS (Specific member). Similarly a REVOLVER is a GUN (General
category) that uses a REVOLVING CYLINDER (Specific member).
So too---"SKY-BLUE" refers to WOOLEN GARMENTS (General category)
that are dyed SKY BLUE (Specific Member).
Note how the word "SKY-BLUE" refers to the SPECIFIC MEMBER (i.e.
which type of clothing) but there is no hint in the word of its
GENERAL CLASS (WOOLEN CLOTHES).
For this reason Rashi will often give the GENERAL CATEGORY & leave
the details of which SPECIFIC MEMBER it is to the student (In this
Verse Rashi gives both the GENERAL CLASS=WOOLEN CLOTHING and the
SPECIFIC MEMBER=Sky Blue color).
COMMENTS ON RASHI'S FORM:
------------------------
* The Sifsay Chachamim tries to "prove" that "sky-blue" refers to
woolen garments. Such attempts are always welcome (and sometimes
do succeed). However as the other examples of Rashi translations
show it suffices, for the understanding of Rashi, to simply know
the GENERAL CLASS and the SPECIFIC CATEGORY---in terms of
understanding however it usually is also very productive
to relate the actual word used to the specific category.
Notwithstanding the above the technique of the Sifsay Chachamim
is the correct one: "Search the Tnach for other verses with this
word to INFER its characteristics." (Thus e.g. 2-35-35 refers to
weaving sky blue,indicating a garment;
similarly 2-28-37 refers to a "sky blue thread" indicating some
fabric. Finally the ORDER of the verses indicates:
Sky blue
Red
Crimson --- Woolen garments
Cotton --- Cotton
Goat --- Animal hair
Red ram skins
skins of Tachash--- Animal skins
Shittim Wood --- Tree )
Again...this is only suggestive...the important
things in a translation are the GENERAL CATEGORY and SPECIFIC
MEMBER.
Finally, Rashi gives operational details on how the SKY BLUE color
was made: The blood of the Chalazon fish was taken...Rashi describes
this as YAROK (since YAROK means DARK GREEN I assume the overall
color was a SEA-BLUE---a sky blue tinted with some green. I at this
point could go into the Rambam-Rashi controversy on the type of
sky blue used but this is not necessary for the full understanding
of Rashi).
LISTS {For ADVANCED students and for those with more time}:
----------------------------------------------------------
* [LIST1] {Of designation of words by their SPECIFIC member
not by their GENERAL CATEGORY}
WORD CLASS DERIVATION
---- ----- ----------
OVERCOAT COATS The coat that is worn OVER others
BREAKFAST MEAL The meal that BREAKS your FAST*
SPORTSWAGON CAR A car with a SPORTY look
SAILBOAT BOAT The boat that goes by its SAILS
REVOLVER GUN Has REVOLVING cylinder for bullets
SUPERMARKET STORE a SUPER store with MANY buys**
[NOTES:
* This etymology is famous--the BREAKFAST breaks the fast of the
previous night.
**That is, the SUPERMARKET in contrast to groceries and local
stores has a SUPER variety of buys
]
CROSS REFERENCES:
----------------
*
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
----------------
* v2c15-20
RULE CLASSIFICATION {See the web site for comparable examples}:
--------------------------------------------------------------
* WORD MEANINGS
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1999 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: v2b25-4 Sky blue, red, crimson ....
----------
RASHI TEXT:
----------
* Red = wool died red
BRIEF BUT COMPLETE NARRATIVE EXPLANATION:
----------------------------------------
We have frequently explained that TRANSLATIONS require 2 things
a) A GENERAL CATEGORY: In this case--"woolen garments"
b) WHICH SPECIFIC MEMBER: In this case--those died red
So as [LIST1] shows a SAILBOAT is a BOAT (General category) that
has SAILS (Specific member). Similarly a REVOLVER is a GUN (General
category) that uses a REVOLVING CYLINDER (Specific member).
So too---"RED" refers to WOOLEN GARMENTS (General category)
that are dyed RED (Specific Member).
Note how the word "RED" refers to the SPECIFIC MEMBER (i.e.
which type of clothing) but there is no hint in the word of its
GENERAL CLASS (WOOLEN CLOTHES).
For this reason Rashi will often give the GENERAL CATEGORY & leave
the details of which SPECIFIC MEMBER it is to the student
It has been our custom (in Rashi Translations)to give the Etymology
thereby lending depth and nuance appreciation. In this particular
case I would suggest
ARGMN = Woven (ARG) for Appointees(MN{H})
and would indicate red as the "color of royalty", the color
used to indicate leadership. [LIST2] shows a modest list of
examples where RED=ARGMN indicates LEADERSHIP.
COMMENTS ON RASHI'S FORM:
------------------------
LISTS {For ADVANCED students and for those with more time}:
----------------------------------------------------------
* [LIST1] {Of designation of words by their SPECIFIC member
not by their GENERAL CATEGORY}
WORD CLASS DERIVATION
----------- ----- ----------
OVERCOAT COATS The coat that is worn OVER others
BREAKFAST MEAL The meal that BREAKS your FAST*
SPORTSWAGON CAR A car with a SPORTY look
SAILBOAT BOAT The boat that goes by its SAILS
REVOLVER GUN Has REVOLVING cylinder for bullets
SUPERMARKET STORE a SUPER store with MANY buys**
[NOTES:
* This etymology is famous--the BREAKFAST breaks the fast of the
previous night.
**That is, the SUPERMARKET in contrast to groceries and local
stores has a SUPER variety of buys
]
* [LIST2] {Of verses where RED indicates LEADERSHIP}
VERSE WITH ARGMN CONTEXT
---------------- -------
Esth-8-15 Mordechai was decorated by the King
Songs-3-10 King Solomon's Chariot
Jer-10-9 The Kings of the world
CROSS REFERENCES:
----------------
*
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
----------------
* v2c15-20
RULE CLASSIFICATION {See the web site for comparable examples}:
--------------------------------------------------------------
* WORD MEANINGS | 4 LETTER RADICALS
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1999 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: v2b25-5 ...Tachash Skins
----------
RASHI TEXT:
----------
* Tachash is the name of a rare animal (that since has become
extinct). It translates in Aramaic as SSGNH = SS (Rejoicing) on
its GVN (Colors), because it had a multi colored skin.
BRIEF BUT COMPLETE NARRATIVE EXPLANATION:
----------------------------------------
We have frequently explained that TRANSLATIONS require 2 things
a) A GENERAL CATEGORY:
b) WHICH SPECIFIC MEMBER:
So as [LIST1] shows a SAILBOAT is a BOAT (General category) that
has SAILS (Specific member). Similarly a REVOLVER is a GUN (General
category) that uses a REVOLVING CYLINDER (Specific member).
So too here....Rashi translates TChaSH as an ANIMAL (GENERAL
CATEGORY).
He also gives the SPECIFIC MEMBER (Which animal) by citing
the aramaic translation which indicates an animal that rejoices
on its colors.
It is our opinion that when Rashi cites Aramaic he could equally
have derived the idea from Hebrew. Rashi cites Aramaic not as THE
SOURCE of the idea but rather as a SUPPORTIVE ARGUMENT (The same
way a secular scholar would translate a word and then cite
meanings in as many cognate languages as possible)
The word TCHASH comes from the word CHooSH which means QUICK or
to HURRY. If you take a board or piece of paper with shapes written
on it and spin it quickly you get a blur of patterns. In other
words "MULTI BLOTCHED PATTERNS" is a characteristic of QUICK,
RAPID movement. I assume then that the TCHASH skin had many
blotches of color randomly distributed on it.
Again: The Hebrew and Aramaic lend support to each other. The
main goal of Rashi however is to give the GENERAL CATEGORY.
COMMENTS ON RASHI'S FORM:
------------------------
LISTS {For ADVANCED students and for those with more time}:
----------------------------------------------------------
* [LIST1] {Of designation of words by their SPECIFIC member
not by their GENERAL CATEGORY}
WORD CLASS DERIVATION
----------- ----- ----------
OVERCOAT COATS The coat that is worn OVER others
BREAKFAST MEAL The meal that BREAKS your FAST*
SPORTSWAGON CAR A car with a SPORTY look
SAILBOAT BOAT The boat that goes by its SAILS
REVOLVER GUN Has REVOLVING cylinder for bullets
SUPERMARKET STORE a SUPER store with MANY buys**
[NOTES:
* This etymology is famous--the BREAKFAST breaks the fast of the
previous night.
**That is, the SUPERMARKET in contrast to groceries and local
stores has a SUPER variety of buys
]
CROSS REFERENCES:
----------------
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
----------------
* v2c15-20
RULE CLASSIFICATION {See the web site for comparable examples}:
--------------------------------------------------------------
* WORD MEANINGS
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1999 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: v2-28-14 ...Two Golden Cords...(or Ribbons or Chains)
----------
RASHI TEXT:
----------
* SRSROTH = Chains
BRIEF BUT COMPLETE NARRATIVE EXPLANATION:
----------------------------------------
We have frequently explained that TRANSLATIONS require 2 things
a) A GENERAL CATEGORY:
b) WHICH SPECIFIC MEMBER:
So as [LIST1] shows a SAILBOAT is a BOAT (General category) that
has SAILS (Specific member). Similarly a REVOLVER is a GUN (General
category) that uses a REVOLVING CYLINDER (Specific member).
So too here. Rashi explains the general category: SRSROTH is SOME
TYPE OF CHAIN. Rashi often will give the GENERAL CATEGORY & leave
the details of which SPECIFIC MEMBER it is to the student. We
can infer the SPECIFIC MEMBER by examining the DERIVATION of the
WORD IN QUESTION from ITS ROOTS.
Unfortunately in this specific verse our derivations must be
considered speculative (because the verb/root involved does not
have a clear meaning and is subject to much controversy)
[LIST2] suggests, all meanings of the root ShUR refer to
something SPATIOUS. Thus unlike a chain (which might
be of ordinary cord length and have overlapping circles)
the SRSROTH were probably SPATIOUS. The best translation I can
think of is "RIBBON"--so the verse would read "And two pure golden
Ribbons....". (The idea being that a RIBBON connotes something wide).
(This suggestion of wideness might also be supported by the term
AVOTH = THICK or WIDE?, mentioned later in the verse)
Then again on further examination SRSROTH might actually mean a
chain (overlapping gold circles) since the chain circles allow
a spacious connection with each other (The double form SR SR OTH
also possibly denotes several circles).
Again, my goal here is simply to explore cognate meanings and
try and give the reader some flavor of what the word could mean.
Because of the immense controversy on this verb we cannot reach
a definite conclusion.
COMMENTS ON RASHI'S FORM:
------------------------
We have already seen in Rashi's TRANSLATIONS that sometimes
he will explicitly say "A type of " (e.g.2-15-20)while sometimes
he will simply mention the general category without saying "A type
of" (e.g. 2-16-33)
LISTS {For ADVANCED students and for those with more time}:
----------------------------------------------------------
* [LIST1] {Of designation of words by their SPECIFIC member
not by their GENERAL CATEGORY}
WORD CLASS DERIVATION
----------- ----- ----------
OVERCOAT COATS The coat that is worn OVER others
BREAKFAST MEAL The meal that BREAKS your FAST*
SPORTSWAGON CAR A car with a SPORTY look
SAILBOAT BOAT The boat that goes by its SAILS
REVOLVER GUN Has REVOLVING cylinder for bullets
SUPERMARKET STORE a SUPER store with MANY buys**
[NOTES:
* This etymology is famous--the BREAKFAST breaks the fast of the
previous night.
**That is, the SUPERMARKET in contrast to groceries and local
stores has a SUPER variety of buys
]
* [LIST2] {SHOOR* = WITH PLENTY OF SPACE}
MEANING VERSE SPACIOUS ASPECT
------- -------- -----------------
Lighting after flash Job-37-3 Lighting after-flash
"fills the sky"(Job)
SIGHT Jer-5-26 They scan (broad terrain)
waiting to ambush people**
BOAT CARAVAN Ez-27-25 Not just a few boats but a
collection***
The SHARRON Isa-33-9 A spacious meadow/prarie
The OX Prv-14-4 The Ox is the preferred
animal to use for ploughing
larger expanses of land
SOAK 4-6-3 To SOAK in water vs to PUT
in water connotes "alot of"
water in which the object
can soak****
NOTES:
-----
* I examine meanings of both roots---Sh-VV-Raish and SH-Raish-Hey.
This so called 2-letter root approach does not imply a denial of all
classical Hebrew Grammar. Verbs are still conjugated as is. Rather
the 2-letter roots sometimes have common semantic ground. There
are many such Ayin Vav//Lamed Hay pairs whose meanings are related
I should also note that this root has very elusive meanings. There
is much controversy on each verse. I will try and point these out
as we go along (I have followed the approach of RDQ--another
possible approach suggested by Rashi will be given below).
** Thus scanning (Vs ordinary sight) means looking over broad
expanses of terrain.
I assume the meaning ENEMY connotes those people who continuously
spy and scan me. Similarly I assume the meaning WALL denotes a
spy wall from which enemy scanning can take place.(A thorough
justification of these nuances would require examining all verses
where ENEMY and WALL occur--suffice it to say that it is a
reasonable suggestion).
Finally the meaning POEM/SONG comes from the idea of POEM as a
broad scanning of future vistas of history (The word for secular
song in Hebrew is ZMR while the word for inspired song is SRH)
*** This relates to the fundamental controversy between Rashi & RDQ
on Job 33-27. "I will YSR on people and confess my sins and say
that God has punished me".
Rashi takes "YSR on people" as "Line people up" while RDQ would
probably say it means "Make a caravan or assembly of people".(See
RDQ on SHOOR).
The Caravan denotes a SPACIOUS collection of people (like the
caravan of boats). So
RDQ: SHOOR = SpACIOUS RASHI: SHOOR = LINE
Rashi presumably would take this verse Ez-27-25 as a "line of
boats". He similarly could take Job-37-3 as a lighting bolt(line)
rather than the after flash. Rashi could also take VISION in the
sense of seeing straight out for a long distance. He would even
take OX as the preferred animal for making PLOUGH-LINES.
Rashi might therefore alternatively take SRSROTH as LINES OF GOLD
----in other words, GOLD CORDS.
In other words if SHOOR=PLENTY OF SPACE then we would translate
SRSROTH as RIBBON while if SHOOR = LINE we would translate
SRSROTH as CORD. Even though we cannot be sure of the real
meaning it is still very useful to go thru the possibilities
since we thereby enrich our understanding of the possible nuances
of the verse. Perhaps this is the reason for Rashi only giving
GENERAL CATEGORIES vs SPECIFIC MEMBERS---one can be sure of the
GENERAL CATEGORY.
Rashi could not translate SOAK as relating to line. Therefore
I have followed RDQ in these translations. (This does not
contradict the Rashi on Job 33-27 since Rashi could claim that
SHOOR=LINE and ShRAH = SOAK are two different roots).
Finally from this meaning (of boat caravan) we would also have
the meaning of GIFT (The type of dainty that usually is imported
from afar)
**** The idea of "PLENY OF SPACE" exists but is hard to detect.
An OX (in contrast to other animals) is good for ploughing large
expanses of land. SOAKING vs PLACING denotes with "PLENTY OF ROOM".
CROSS REFERENCES:
----------------
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
----------------
* v2c15-20
RULE CLASSIFICATION {See the web site for comparable examples}:
--------------------------------------------------------------
* WORD MEANINGS
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1999 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
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--------------
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NOTATIONAL CONVENTIONS
----------------------
e.g. v5b2-1 means as follows:
The "v" means verse
The "5" means Deuteronomy--the 5th book
The "2" means The 2nd chapter
The "1" means The 1st verse
The "b" means The second rashi on that
verse ("we rounded mount
Seir)
Similarly v5-2-1 would mean Dt 2:1 and probably refer to all
Rashis. (These conventions start with issue 14---beforehand
the notation is similar and will be updated retroactively
in the future)
Asterisks (*,#) in a list usually refer to footnotes that follow it
Parenthesis with the word List and a number--[LIST3] refers to
LISTS in the LIST section of each posting.
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---------
RASHI-IS-SIMPLE
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End of Rashi-Is-Simple Digest
Volume 1 Number 15
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1999 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*