Rashi-Is-Simple Mailing List
(C) Dr Russell Jay Hendel, 1998
http://www.shamash.org/rashi/
Volume 01 Number 03
Produced Dec 15, 1998
Topics Discussed in This Issue
------------------------------
V1-41-1--B happened MKTz A=Completion of "A" necessary for B
V1-41-15--SHMA EL=Sympathize; SHMA B=Accept; SHMA KI=a whole story
V1-41-40--SK=(A)DESIRE;kiss..(B)AGRESSION;weapon.(C)ACTIVITY:market
V1-41-45--TzFNTH PNCh=He uncovers(PA) hidden(Tzfn) from dormancy(NCH
V1#41-8--PAAM=REPEATED..a)hammering b)footsteps c)thoughts d) bells
V1$41-8--PTHR=Explain; PTHR L = Explain FOR a particular person
V1-44-16--nTZtDK: Hispael form = TZDK + N as 1st letter+T as 3rd
VLISTS-1--How lists are made
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1998 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
VERSE: v1-41-1 ..at the (KTz) completion of 2 years
------
RASHI TEXT: The proper translation of KTz is "completion"
-----------
BRIEF BUT COMPLETE NARRATIVE EXPLANATION:
----------------------------------------
There are a variety of ways of indicating that one event, say
EVENT A, happened after another event, say EVENT B.{LIST1}
reviews in depth 3 such methods of denoting "AFTER".
METHOD 1:For example,Verse 1-5-6 says
=========Sheth LIVED 105 years, and GAVE BIRTH to Enosh
The giving birth to Enosh happened AFTER Sheth lived 105 years.
The Torah indicates this by simply LISTING the 2 events (He LIVED
and HE GAVE BIRTH). We might call this the SIMPLE LIST method.
Note how the events of the list happen IMMEDIATELY AFTER ONE
ANOTHER (IMMEDIATELY when Sheth was 105 he gave birth to ENOSH)
METHOD 2: For example, 1-22-1
========= AFTER the treaty with Avimelech, God tested Abraham
Thus the test happened AFTER the treaty. The Torah indicates
this by using the word AFTER. AFTER does not denote IMMEDIACY.
The test may have happened right after, or a year later or 2
years later. We might call this the AFTER METHOD.
METHOD 3:For example Esther 2-12
=========AT THE COMPLETION of 6 months of perfume baths the woman
would go to Achasvayrosh to be tested for being a queen)
Thus the going to Achasvayroth happened AFTER 6 months of perfume
baths. Notice how the 6 months of perfuming was a PREREQUISITE
for going to the king. By contrast, Sheth did not have to live
105 years to give birth to Enosh (he could have given birth at
any time). Similarly God would have tested Abraham EVEN if he
had not made a treaty. However Achasvayroth would not test a woman
to be queen UNLESS SHE HAD COMPLETED 6 months of perfume baths.
We might call this the COMPLETION method.
In summary {LIST1} the LIST METHOD denotes IMMEDIACY, AFTER denotes
SOMETIME in the future and the COMPLETION method denotes
PREREQUISITES. Other methods are given in the footnotes to {LIST1}
Let us now return to our verse (1-41-). In this case, the Torah is
telling us that Joseph was freed at the COMPLETION of 2 years. So
Event A = Joseph had depended on the Baker and Winer to
pass on the good word and free him.Rashi and others criticize Joseph
for depending on people rather than God.
Event B = Joseph gets saved (But recognizes it as an act of God
rather than an act of clever politics)
Thus the verse says "After Joseph COMPLETED and GOT OVER THIS STAGE
of depending (solely) on people (which took 2 years), only then, was
he actually saved.
RASHI'S FORM: When Rashi wants to capture the nuances of one word
-------------
among synonyms he will generally just indicate the nuances of that
word and NOT list all possible alternatives. Proper appreciation of
Rashi requires studying the alternatives.
[COMMENT: For those who are in to computers note how this requires
more than a CD ROM. It requires a THESAURUS component for a
SEMANTIC MEANING. Note also that certain forms like the LIST METHOD
(e.g. Verb 1, Verb 2) don't have any special word associated with
them(So you can't look them up on a CD ROM).
Also note that some forms have just letters
associated with them (1-7-10). Finally note that we have explained 3
of the forms but e.g we have not explained all forms (like 1-7-10).
Explaining all forms is not a prerequisite
for full appreciation of Rashi
Postings are welcome on the difference between 1-7-10 and 1-8-6]
Please see {LIST1} for further details
]
LISTS:
-----
{LIST1}{Of Linguistic ways to denote that
Event B happened after event A}
GOOD SOME
METHOD # EXAMPLE VERSES WHEN TO USE
------- ------- ------ -----------
Verb1,Verb2 LIVED x years 1-5-6 When Verb1 and
and GAVE BIRTH 1-5-9 verb2 have no
1-5-12 special causal
1-5-15 connection.
1-5-18
1-5-21 So here, he
1-5-25 gave BIRTH
1-5-28 after LIVING
X years ###
AFTER The sacrifice of 1-22-1
Isaac happened Here event B
AFTER the treaty happens SOON
with Avimelech after event A
but not
IMMEDIATELY
So the sacrifice
of Isaac happend
AFTER (but not
immediately
after) the
treaty with
Avimelech ###
AT THE END(KTz)## After perfuming Es 2-12
themselves for Dt 9-11 Event A must be
6 months(event A) Ex 12-41 COMPLETED before
only then did they 1-16-3 event B happens
come to King 1-4-3 So e.g. the
Achashveros perfuming must
(Event B) take place prior
to their coming
to the king ###
FOOTNOTES:
==========
# We present only the 3 most common forms.
Other forms exist---e.g cf 1-7-10 with 1-8-6:
And it was TOWARDS 7 days that the Mabool waters were on the
earth" vs "At the completion of 40 days Noach opened the ark
window..."
## COMPLETION is only a (good) approximate
translation since the real word for COMPLETION is CLH
not KTz...but as can be seen from the
examples above KTz=COMPLETION fits nicely: Indeed
* Upon COMPLETING perfuming they came to the king
* Upon COMPLETING the 40 day stay I received the tablets
* Upon COMPLETING (the assigned) 430 years they left Egypt
* Upon COMPLETING 10 years of trying to have children,
Sarah gave Abraham Hagar
### As indicated above these 3 methods have the following
distinctions.
VERB-1 followed by VERB-2 = Event B happened
IMMEDIATELY after event A
AFTER Verb-1 was VERB-2 = Event B happened ALMOST AFTER event B
Upon COMPLETION of A happened B = Event A was NEEDED
for event B to happen
CROSS REFERENCES:
----------------
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
----------------
RULE CLASSIFICATION: SYNONYMS | NUANCES
--------------------
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1998 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: V1-41-15 You can (SHMA)UNDERSTAND a dream to fit it properly
------
RASHI TEXT: The proper translation of SHMA is UNDERSTAND not HEAR
----------
BRIEF BUT COMPLETE NARATIVE EXPLANATION:
----------------------------------------
We are use to thinking of the meaning of the root
ShMA as HEARING or LISTENING. However SHMA has
a variety of other meanings depending on the preposition used:
Thus SHMA L means to SYMPATHIZE WITH; SHMA B means to ACCEPT
someones view; SHMA KI means to listen to a whole story; SHMA
by itself means to LISTEN & UNDERSTAND. See {LIST1} for good
verse examples of each of these meanings.
{LIST2} summarizes the 4 primary meanings just indicated and
indicates other possible meanings. {LIST3} shows that
verbs that mean "TO HEAR" can also mean "TO UNDERSTAND" (AZN
is another root with these two meanings). Finally in the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT SECTION I cite the Soncino translation of the
Bible who suggests that a basic law in KRIATH SHMA is learned
from this dual meaning of SHMA as LISTEN and UNDERSTAND.
RASHI'S FORM
------------
LISTS
-----
{LIST1} {Of verses illustrating the meaning of SHMA + PREPOSITION #}
VERB PREPOSITION VERSE TRANSLATION
---- ----------- ----- -----------
SHMA EL 1-16-11 God SYMPATHIZES with
your suffering
1-21-17 God SYMPATHIZES with the lad
1-39-10 ..didn't SYMPATHIZE with her
to sleep
SHMA B 5-1-45 God didn't ACCEPT your
complaints
1-30-6 ..God ACCEPTED my suffering..
SHMA KI 1-34-5 ..FOUND OUT STORY of
Dinah's rape
1-29-33 ..FOUND THE STORY of
my being hated
SHMA Nothing 1-5-1 ..he UNDERSTOOD/HEARD
someone's oath
4-30-5## ..he UNDERSTOOD/HEARD her oath
FOOTNOTES:
==========
# We omit some cases where we
don't fully understand the nuances. Thus SHMA+ETH as manifested in
2-16-9 1S-2-22 4-30-5 does not have a commanality that I can
presently discern. We invite postings and suggestions.
## Thus the father or witness not only heard the
words of the oath but also understood their significance.
{LIST2} {Summary of meanings of SHMA+ROOT}
VERB+PREPOSITION TRANSLATION
---------------- -----------
SHMA EL SYMPATHIZE
SHMA B ACCEPT
SHMA KI HEARD A STORY
SHMA HEARD/UNDERSTOOD
{LIST3} {Of roots meaning HEAR and UNDERSTANDING}
ROOT TO HEAR TO UNDERSTAND
---- ------- -------------
AZN Ear Koheleth 12-9
SMA Hear 1-41-15
2-7-16 #
FOOTNOTES:
==========
# Note that in 2-7-16 we are not talking about LISTENING since
Pharoh DID LISTEN Rather he listened but did not understand. Indeed
the verses continue..."with this you will know..."
CROSS REFERENCES: See 1-41-8 for the VERBS+PREPOSITIONS approach
----------------
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: The Soncino translation of the Talmud explains the
---------------- the classical Talmudic derivation:
"You must not only recite the SHMA every day but you must
UNDERSTAND what you are saying also"
from the fact that
SHMA=UNDERSTANDING.
The Soncino translation uses the French Verb, Entendre,as an analogy
This observation is consistent with the VERB+PREPOSITION approach
used above.
RULE CLASSIFICATION: ROOT+PREPOSITION
--------------------
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1998 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: V1-41-40 .by your order will people purchase (YSHK)groceries
------ v1b15-2 ..and the grocery byer of my house is Eliezer
RASHI TEXT:The verse should be translated in relation to the purchas
----- of basic groceries (See 1-15-2 for a similar usage). Thus
Rashi takes our verse to mean
*that Joseph was in charge of grocery buying in the nation.
*Similarly Eliezer was in charge of grocery buying in Abrahams house
*"Grocery buying" would come from the meaning "Market place=ShOK"
The best translation of this verse would be
YOU WILL "GROCERIZE" THE NATION
BRIEF BUT COMPLETE NARATIVE EXPLANATION:
---------------------------------------
Rashi simply observes that the proper translation of the root (SKK)
would be grocery buying and gives a precedent (1-15-2).
Rashi is technical here. The interested reader is invited to
carefully review the lists below. {LIST1} displays the dozen
meanings of the half dozen roots that have Sh-K. {LIST2}
shows unifying patterns in these dozen meanings. Finally
{LIST3} shows differences of approach between Rashi and
other scholars (as indicated in the Mendelkorn Konkordance)
There seems to be a controversy between Rashi and
Mendelkorn and other modern scholars here. I will show below
that Rashis approach has just as many assumptions as the modern
approach---it is neither better nor worse--but it does give better
nuances and is therefore preferred
RASHI'S FORM
------------
LIST:
-----
{LIST1} {The dozen or so meanings of SHKK--courtesy of RDK
{LIST1} represents areas of agreeement (between
Rashi and modern scholars as cited by Mendelkorn)
{LIST3} will show areas of disagreement. The
disagreements occur on (a) the meanings of
specific verses and (b) classification of the
roots of specific words}
MEANING CATEGORY# Mendelkorn Rashi Verse
======= ======== ========== ===== =======
Kiss 1a# NShK NShK 1-27-26
Desire 1b# ShOK ShOK 1-4-7
Touch/skim 1c## NShK NShK Ez-3-13
Weapons 2a# NShK NShK Job-20-24
Burn 2b# NSK NShK Ps-78-21
Thigh 3a# ShOK ShOK 2-29-22
Galloping 3b# ShKK ShKK Nach-2-5
Market Place 3c# ShOK ShOK Joel-4-13
Water 4a# ShKH ShKH 1-2-6
FOOTNOTES:
=========
# Notice how the meanings group naturally into 4 categories
These are presented in {LIST2}
{LIST2} {The dozen meanings of SHKKK naturally group into
the following 4 categories{
CATEGORY MEANING OF SHKK (FROM {LIST1})
======== ==============================
Words of desire desire $$
kiss $$
touch/skim ##
Words of agression weapons
burn
Words of activity galloping
market place
thigh ###
Well watered Watered
FOOTNOTES:
==========
## "Touching" "Skimming" is the FORM of a KISS. In other words the
primary meaning is KISS and the secondary meaning is TOUCH,SKIM.
### "Thigh" is the ORGAN of activity (e.g. GALLOPING means
doing the THIGH activity)
$$ DESIRE comes from the root SHOK while Kissing
comes from NShK. This is true according to everybody. Thus
we cannot deal with just "one 3 letter root at a time" but have
to deal with all of them together.
{LIST3} {SHKKK verses where there might be disagreement *}
VERSE MEANING MENDELKORN OTHER APPROCHES/RASHI
===== ======= ========== =====================
1-15-2 Runs household MShK # Buys groceries
(ShOK=Market place)
1-41-40 Run nation NShK Distribute groceries (SHoK)
Joel4-13 Overflowing ShOK ## Skimming (NShK)
Joel2-24 Overlfowing ShOK ## Skimming (NShK)
Ps65-10 OverFlowing ShKH ## Skimming (NShK)
FOOTNOTES:
==========
# Mendelkorn views MSK as a "new radical"
Mendelkorn views 1-41-40 as coming from NShK
but has a question mark
Rashi views both from "ShOK"=Market Place --buying of groceries
## There are 3 verses listed here. Mendelkorn takes them
from the Root ShOK and says their meaning is
close to ShKH=well watered. I don't know what Rashi says but
it is conceivable that he would take its meaning like SKIMMING:
e.g. "the wine skims/touches the edge of its vats (overflowing)"
The original meaning of "skim/touching" comes from Ez 3-13 -- it is
the type of action that resembles kissing.Ez 3-13 speaks about wings
kissing=touching/skimming each other---there is no other way to
interpret it.)
* Rashi is sometimes accused of being a "two letter theorist"---but
as will be shown, Mendelkorn has many ad hoc assumptions
& has question marks in his konkordance showing doubts about the
solidity of the theories he uses. By contrast
Rashi very simply explains the 2 verses 1-15-2 and 1-41-40 as
coming from one root (not 2 roots like Mendelkorn)
His explanation also has richer nuances. Hence it is to be preferred
CROSS REFERENCES:
----------------
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
----------------
RULE CLASSIFICATION: UNIFIED MEANING
--------------------
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1998 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: V1-41-45 ..Pharoh called Joesphs name TzFNaTh PANayaCh
------
RASHI TEXT: He who REVEALS HIDDEN THINGS
----------
BRIEF BUT COMPLETE NARRATIVE EXPLANATION:
-----------------------------------------
Rashi says "There is no verse like it (like TZFN PaNaACH)
in scriptures." So it APPEARS that he is saying that one
cannot justify the meaning. But there are other approaches
to meaning justification.
One approach to meaning justification is thru the list
of occurences of words with that root in TNach.
But another approach would be thru lists with similarly constructed
roots. In this case we can review 4 letter roots and apply our
findings about their meaning to the 4 letter name at hand.
One possible approach to 4 letter roots is to see their meaning
as identified by the 2 two letter roots corresponding to the 1st
two letters and last two letters.
The following roots have the following meanings:
* TzFN = Hidden
* NCh = Resting
* POa = Bringing Out
So all together
TzFN PoANCH = BRINGS OUT (POa) things
that REST (NCh) in HIDING(TzFN)
LIST:
-----
{LIST1} {A partial list of 4 letter roots and the
derivation of their meanings as a combination of
two 2-letter roots}
4 LETTER ROOT MEANING 1st 2 LETTERS LAST 2 LETTERS
------------- ------- ------------- ---------------
MMZR Illegitimate Blemished (From a)Stranger#
ARAL Angel Lion (of) God
BLAD Except Without (BLi) Others
BRZL Iron Strong (BRi) Branch (ZLZL)
ZLAF Fright Worthless (and) Fatigued###
SRAF Branches A Pot (ie nest) (for) Birds ##
FOOTNOTES:
==========
## Note the poetic lisence in e.g.
SRAF = BIRD(AF) POT (SiR)= Something for Bird nests
This type of small poetic lisence is common in etymologies and makes
their study difficult
### Note the finer nuances in some translations. For example ZLAF
occurs rarely in TNACH and its meaning is inferred from its context.
The RDQ in his book of ROOTS says its meaning is
SOME TYPE OF FRIGHT....this could go well with
the verse cited by RDK: "fright has overtaken me"
But perhaps a "better" translation is
feeling worthless and tired So that the verse with
ZLAF would mean "worthlessness & faigue has overtaken me"
Then again perhaps there is no way to see which translation
is better
# There are two approaches to 4 letter roots. Sometimes we try and
see them as 2 two letter roots and sometimes we try and see them as
a 3 letter root with an extra letter. Thus ASTR is explained in the
Talmud as ASR. Rav Hirsch stuck to the 3 letter approach even in
obvious cases--thus he takes MMZR from MZR a rare word in Job.
RASHI'S FORM
------------
CROSS REFERENCES:
----------------
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
----------------
RULE CLASSIFICATION: WORD MEANING | 4 LETTER ROOTS
--------------------
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1998 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: V1a41-8 And in the morning his thoughts
------ on the dream (PAM) pounded him...
RASHI TEXT: The proper translation of PAM is
----------- "his thoughts pounded at him"
BRIEF BUT COMPLETE NARRATIVE EXPLANATION:
-----------------------------------------
A superficial explanation of the verse would be "Pharoh was TROUBLED
Rashi gives us the PRECISE nuances of the words."Pharoh was TROUBLED
He was troubled because the "dream REPEATEDLY entered his thoughts
and wouldn't leave him alone". To prove this we examine the meanings
of the root PAM.
The fundamental unifying meaning of the forms of the root PAM is
a phenomena (like ringing bells, hammer blows, walking footsteps)
which manifests itself by a collection of repeated actions.
Thus The half dozen meanings of the root PAM all mean
repeated pounding.
So when applied to thoughts
the word should mean that the thought "kept on popping up in his
consiousness---i.e. kept on pounding him"
RASHI'S FORM
------------
As a bonus Rashi explains the only HISPAEL form of PAM (Den 2,3).
* PAM means a REPEATED ENTRY OF THOUGHTS
* HISPAEL means a REFLEXIVE SELF DONE ACTION
* So HISPAEL+PAM=He kept on bringing to his mind the dream
Rashi explains why Nevuchadnetzer kept on bringing to his mind
(active mood) while Pharoh simply had the thoughts repeatedly
entered his mind (Passive mood) without his actively trying to
think about it:
Pharoh REMEMBERED the dream and tried to FORGET it but it
kept on coming up while
Nevuchadnetzer FORGOT the dream and tried to REMEMBER it.
LIST:
-----
{LIST1} {Of meanings of the ROOT PAAM}
MEANING VERSE RELATION TO POUNDING ##
------- ----- --------------------
Bells 2-28-37 Bells ring by REPEATED POUNDING
Hammer Is 41-7 You use a hammer by REPEATED POUNDING
Footsteps Can 7,2 You make footsteps by REPEATED POUNDING of floor
Ps 58,11
Harping Gen 41,8 The thought REPEATEDLY POUNDED his consciousness
ps 77,5
Prophecy Jud 13,25 A vision which REPEATEDLY ENTERS consciousness #
FOOTNOTES:
==========
# Many of these meanings only occur once or twice in Tnach. This,
the dealing with very scarce data, is normal in this type of
analysis and makes it more difficult.
## The use of the technique of UNIFIED ROOT MEANINGS is dangerous
(since a unity may not exist). Nevertheless, when correct,
this technique is deep and illuminating.
CROSS REFERENCES:
----------------
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
----------------
RULE CLASSIFICATION: UNIFIED MEANING
--------------------
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1998 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: V1c41-8 ..and no one fitted the dream to Pharoh's personality
------
RASHI TEXT: It doesn't say "no one EXPLAINED the dream" but rather
----- "No one FITTED the dream to Pharoh's personality"
There were plenty of EXPLANTIONS but none of them FIT PHAROHS
personality.
BRIEF BUT COMPLETE NARRATIVE EXPLANATION:
-----------------------------------------
Rashi distinguishes between PTHR L and plan PTRH (without the L)
PThR without an InDirect Object means EXPLANATION
PThR with a InDirect Object means FITTING IT TO...
There were pleny of dream explanations but none FITTING Pharoh's
personality or the current situation.
Rashi's point is extremely deep. It is the following:
* In English a VERB has a meaning INDEPEDENT of whether it takes a
Direct Object, Indirect Object,..
BUT
* In Hebrew a VERB does NOT have ONE meaning.
Rather for every PREPOSITION
the VERB + PREPOSITION has a possibly DIFFERENT Meaning
(To fully understand this we illustrate with the root KRA)
Another analogy will help:
*On old calculators EVERY BUTTON had ONE MEANING.Thus + means to add
*On new calculators A BUTTON has no INTRINSIC meaning but depends
on what other keys are pressed. Thus BUTTON+2nd KEY might mean
reciprocal while BUTTON+FUNCTION KEY might mean exponentiation etc.
We can summarize this by stating that
on old calculators meaning is an attribute of EACH BUTTON
on new calculators meaning is an attribute of BUTTON PAIRS
Similarly
in English, meaning is an attribute of EACH VERB
in Hebrew, meaning is an attribute of VERB+PREPOSITION PAIRS
We can summarize this as follows:
* Meaning is not an attribute of VERB ONLY but
* Meaning is an attribute of VERB+PREPOSITION
* In other words, each VERB+PREPOSITION corresponds to a related but
distinct concept.
* For example, KRA=Proclaim, KRA ETH=Invite,
KRA L=Summon, KRA EL=Page
See {LIST1} for a summary and see {LIST2} for verses.
* The interested reader is invited to peruse the Konkordance
or CD ROM under KRA to test the above translations out
(or to find more precise ones)
Obviously the proper application of this principle--
MEANING=VERB+PREPOSITION must change the whole way we look at TNACH
The principle was first made explicit by the Malbim on 3-1-1
Using the above concept-Meaning is an attribute of VERB+PREPOSITION
---Rashi correctly distinguishes between
* PThR without an indirect object = Explain the dream
* PThR L,with an indirect object = Fit the dream to so & so
So Rashi explains that many of Pharoh's advisors tried to EXPLAIN
(PTHR) the dream but they didn't try and EXPLAIN IT TO HIM (to fit
the situation and his personality).
RASHI'S FORM Becaue of the importance of this principle Rashi
------------explicitly states both the affirmative (PThR L = Fit)
and negative (PThR = Explain) aspects of his commentary as well as
give examples (The soothsayers "buttered him up"---you will have
7 daughters...a descent explanation but not a fitting of the dream
to his circumstances)
LISTS:
------
{LIST1} {4 meanings of KRA=CALL, depending on the preposition #)
VERB + PREPOSITION TRANSLATION VERSE
------------------ ----------- -----
KRA Proclaim/name ## 1-1-5
1R-21-12
KRA ETH Invite ## 1R-1-10
KRA L Summon ## Jud-16-25
KRA EL Page ## 3-1-1
FOOTNOTES:
==========
# Recall the KRA can mean both to CALL and to READ. So e.g.
5-31-11 KRA-ETH means read. However there are 4 distinct meanings
to KRA=CALL depending on the preposition
## As can be seen--Proclaim, Invite, Summon, Page--
are 4 forms of calling
{LIST2} {Of meanings of the ROOT KRA + PREPOSITIONS-
Courtesy of Malbim--Sample verses are cited}
VERB PREPOSITION VERSE TRANSLATION
---- ----------- ----- -----------
KRA No Preposition 1-1-5 He NAMED/PROCLAIMED
darkness as night
1R-21-12 PROCLAIM (the day as) a fast
KRA L Jud-16-25 SUMMON Shimshon before us
for play
KRA ETH 1R-1-10 He didn't INVITE Solomon...
KRA EL 3-1-1 And God PAGED Moses,
and He Spoke to..
CROSS REFERENCES:
----------------
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Malbim on 3-1-1. As commented this Malbim
---------------- asserting that meaning is an attribute of
Verb+Preposition pairs, is one of the deepest Biblical princples
in existence. This one principle literally forces a reexamination
of translations of all verses as well as forcing a reexamination
of how research is done (you have to do CD ROM searches on word
pairs not on words). We will have much occasion to use this rule.
RULE CLASSIFICATION: ROOT+PREPOSITION
--------------------
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1998 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: V1-44-16 .You have exposed our sin..
------ how could we rationalize it
RASHI TEXT: Rationalize is the HITPAEL form of the root TzDK
-----------
BRIEF BUT COMPLETE NARATIVE EXPLANATION:
----------------------------------------
Rashi explains that NTzTDK is HISPAEL. He then explains 4 subrules
about formation of the Hispael. Thus this Rashi is technical.
The important thing is that Rashi did not take these rules for
granted as something that can be looked up in a book but rather
encouraged us to review lists and derive theses rules ourselves.
There are many conjugation rules of grammar that are still
unknown.
The interested reader is invitged to review the lists. A brief
summary is given here.
Hispael is the Reflexive tense. The reflexive form of
TzDK=Righteous means "to force righteousness"="to rationalize"]
The following rule governs formation of the Hitpael
If the root is XYZ then the hispael is H Th X Y Z.But if X is one of
the three letters TZ, SH, S then the hispael is H x Th y z.
The complete list of 4 subrules may be found in {LIST1}. Some
examples from Biblical roots may be found in {LIST2}.
RASHI'S FORM Rashi here, in departure from his usual succinct form,
------------ actually gives the list justifying the rule.
It seems to me he is doing this to ENCOURAGE examination of all
rules using LISTS. Indeed there are many grammatical rules that
are not known (e.g. the difference between HLiTha and HLayTha
and similar cognate verb forms)...there is much work to be done
and Rashi encourages everyone to sit down and make their own lists.
LISTS:
-----
{LIST1} {The Grammatical rule for forming the HITPAEL conjugation
of a 3 letter root. For convenience call the 3 letters
X Y Z (read from left to right)}
CONDITIONS ON XYZ THEN BECOMES IN HITPATEL
================= ==== ======= ========================
Normally xyz becomes HTx yz (with T = Th)
If X=Tz, xyz becomes HxT yz (with T = TT)
If X=Sh,S xyz becomes HxT yz (with T = Th)
If X=Sh,S & Y=Z, xyz becomes HxTOyz (with T = Th)
{LIST2} {Some typical 3 letter roots and their Hithpael conjugation}
ROOT HiThPaEL
===== ==========
TzDK H x T yz
TzVA H x T yz
TzTR H x T yz
TzYD H x T yz
S B L H x T yz
ShM R H x T yz
S L L H x TO yz
ShL L H x TO yz
P K D H T x yz
CROSS REFERENCES:
----------------
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
----------------
RULE CLASSIFICATION: GRAMMAR | CONJUGATION
--------------------
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1998 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: vlists1
From time to time we will have postings on principles.
In this posting I would like to review the ways
that LISTS can be formed.
If you are at a verse and studying some word or sequence of words
then you can form the following lists
* List of words/phrases with the same ROOT
* List of words/phrases with SIMILAR MEANING
* Lists of ROOTS whose meanings follow a pattern
* Lists of verses with similar GRAMMATICAL CONSTRUCTIONS.
* Lists of ALL MEANINGS of one root
So
For 1-41-45 we used a list of ROOTS but not a list of WORDS
For 1-44-16 we used a list of ROOTS with
similar GRAMMATICAL CONSTRUCTIONS
For 1-41-1 we used a list of phrases with
SIMILAR MEANINGS
For 1-41-8B we used a list of verses with similar
GRAMMATICAL CONSTRUCTIONS
For 1-41-8A we used a list of ALL MEANINGS of one root
For those interested in how I select verses for a posting, I usually
try and select Rashis that show a variety of methods and span a
variety to topics.
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1998 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
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RASHI-IS-SIMPLE
* will provide logical explanations to all 10,000 Rashis on Chumash.
* the preferred vehicle of explanation is thru list of verses and exceptions
* These postings will be archived in Shamash in Triplicate
--f By Volume and Number
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* Rashi-Is-Simple should prove useful to layman, scholars, rabbis, educators
* Although this list is orthodox we welcome all logical
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provided they are defended with adequate examples.
For further information on the character of this list
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* read PESHAT and DERASH: TRADITION, Winter 1980
End of Rashi-Is-Simple Digest
Volume 01 Number 03
Produced Dec 15, 1998
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1998 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*