Rashi-Is-Simple Mailing List VISIT the RASHI DATABASE archives AT http://www.RashiYomi.com/ Surfing the Talmudic Seas (C) RashiYomi Incorporated, 2004 Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel Volume 20 Number 22 For the WORD QUALITY PDF VERSION click here ----------------------------------- http://www.Rashiyomi.com/h20n22.pdf ----------------------------------- Produced Feb 4 th, 2004 WARNING: USE FIXED WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10) |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||
Whats new and hot in this issue? | ||
ITEM | WHATS NEW & HOT IN THIS ISSUE | |
IYOV - Job | Full translation of book Of Job on website*1 | |
WORKBOOK | A series of 3 pg articles on each Rashi rule*2 | |
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*1 http://www.Rashiyomi.com/ See MIDDLE TOP - IYOV *2 http://www.Rashiyomi.com/ See MIDDLE TOP - WORKBOOK |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | |||
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VERSE | RULE | BRIEF DESCRIPTION | |
======== | =============== | ======================================= | |
Ex14-03c | GRAMMAR | ||
Ex14-05b | WORD MEANINGS | Anxiety-Fear;Storage,FatBird,ChangHeart | |
Ex14-25c | WORD MEANINGS | Anxiety-Fear;Storage,FatBird,ChangHeart | |
Ex16-05a | WORD MEANINGS | Anxiety-Fear;Storage,FatBird,ChangHeart | |
Ex16-23a | WORD MEANINGS | Anxiety-Fear;Storage,FatBird,ChangHeart | |
Ex16-30a | WORD MEANINGS | Anxiety-Fear;Storage,FatBird,ChangHeart | |
Ex15-16a | WORD MEANINGS | Anxiety-Fear;Storage,FatBird,ChangHeart | |
Ex15-16b | WORD MEANINGS | Anxiety-Fear;Storage,FatBird,ChangHeart | |
Ex25-08a | WORD MEANINGS | Anxiety-Fear;Storage,FatBird,ChangHeart | |
--------- | ---------------- | --------------------------------------- |
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Ex14-03c
RASHIS COVERED: Ex14-03c
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||
SUCCINCT SUMMARY ---------------- One of Rashis 6 main tasks is to explain Grammar the same way modern Hebrew books explain grammar. Particularly important is the explanation of grammatical conjugation. Rashi had a special method of teaching conjugation-- Rashi taught grammar using the method of NEAR MISSES in which he either juxtaposes (a)two grammatical forms which differ in only one small detail or (b)two identical forms which however differ in meaning. Such NEAR MISSES help reinforce the various rules of grammar. EXAMPLES -------- NeBuChiM from root N-B-X means ENTANGLED BoCh from root B-V-X means CONFUSED | ||
ITEM | DETAIL | |
RASHI RULE CLASS: | GRAMMARr | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS: | ROOT CONJUGATION | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #9 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST702a | |
List of words with | SeGooRiM form (Participle) | |
-------------------- | --------------------- | |
SEE BELOW | LIST702b | |
List of verses with | root N-B-X (Entangled) |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||
List of words with SeGooRiM form (Participle) | ||
VERSE | TEXT OF VERSE--Particple CAPPED | |
2S02-05 | you are BLESSED to God | |
1S30-16 | SPREAD OUT on the field | |
2S15-11 | INVITED to go with him | |
Ex14-03c | ENTANGLED in the land*1 | |
Ex26-32 | COVERED with silver | |
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*1 See LIST702b below for a more thorough discussion of meaning |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||
List of verses with root N-B-X (Entangled)*10 Also see LIST702a | ||
VERSE | VERSE TEXT: N-B-Ch=ENTANGLED | |
P084-07 | Going in DEATH(TANGLED) VALLEY | |
Jb28-11 | God closes rivers thru WHIRLPOOLS | |
Jb38-16 | Have you come to the ocean BOTTOMS | |
Ex14-03c | The Jews are ENTANGLED(Surrounded) | |
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*10 Ex14-18c has the word NeBuCHiM. Radack and Mendelkorn think this comes from the Root Beth-Vuv-Caph. Rashi however brilliantly notes that the proper root is Nun-Beth-Caph. According to Rashi - root Beth-Vuv-Caph means CONFUSED - root Nun-Beth-Caph means ENTANGLED To defend this we need two lists - LIST702a contains the FORM NeBuCHiM which indicates a participle (Something was done to it eg BLESSED, ENTANGLED, COVERED, etc)*11 - LIST702b contains verses where the MEANING of N-B-X is ENTANGLED The verses in the 2nd list all denote some type of ENTANGLEMENT or TRAPPING.*12 *11 This is Form 1798 in Silbermans Grammatical form Konkordance. Silberman brings 20 examples of this form. Interestingly Silberman follows Radack who sees NeBuCHiM as coming from root B-V-X in which case the form would be bizarre. However Rashis approach makes everything natural *12 Why did Radack ignore Rashis Simple approach? Probably because there are only 3 verses with root N-B-X (LIST702b). It didnt seem worth it to make an extra root for just 3 verses. But the evidence for Rashi is overwhelming. The meaning ENTANGLED/ TRAPPED fits perfectly and the FORM is consistent with the other 2 dozen examples. |
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Ex14-05b
RASHIS COVERED: Ex14-05b Ex14-25c Ex16-05a Ex16-23a
Ex16-30a Ex15-16a Ex15-16b Ex25-08a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||
SUCCINCT SUMMARY ---------------- One of Rashis 5 main goals was the explanation of meaning the same way a dictionary explains meaning. Rashi had a variety of vehicles to explain meaning. Ex14-05b IDIOMS --------------- CHANGE OF HEART = CHANGE HIS MIND (Like in English) Ex14-25c METONOMY (Means RELATED thing) --------------------------------------- EGYPT = EGYPTIANS; AMERICA =AMERICANS Ex16-05a SHIN-SIN Equality -------------------------- The SeLauV = The SHalAYV=Tranquil bird (A FAT bird giving a sense of FULLNESS) Ex16-23a MEM = PLACE OF ---------------------- Mishmar = Prison (Watched place) Mishmereth = Storage (Watched place) Ex15-16a,Ex15-16b SYNONYMS -------------------------- AYMAH = Anxiety; PACHAD = Fear | ||
ITEM | DETAIL | |
RASHI RULE CLASS: | WORD MEANINGS | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS | SYNONYMS | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #7 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST955a | |
List of | Synonym pairs-differ minutely | |
--------------------- | ------------------------ | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS | NEW MEANINGS | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #7 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST854z | |
List of | 2-3-word Biblical idioms | |
--------------------- | ------------------------ | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS | 8 Methods of Naming | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #7 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST871d | |
List of idioms using | metonomy (eg Egypt=Egyptians) | |
---------------------- | -------------------------------- | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS | 2-4 Letter roots | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #7 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST910d | |
List of root pairs with | SHIN-SIN difference;they mean same | |
-------------------- | ------------------------------ | |
SEE BELOW | LIST910e | |
List of words with | Prefix MEM meaning PLACE of |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | |||||
List of words with Prefix MEM meaning PLACE of | |||||
WORD | MEANS | FROM ROOT | MEANING | MEANING=PLACE of SOMETHING | |
MIKDASH | TEMPLE | KDSH | HOLY | TEMPLE=Place of HoLiness*1 | |
MISHMAR | PRISON | ShMR | WATCH | PRISON=WATCHED place*2 | |
MISHMERET | STORAGE | ShMR | WATCH | STORAGE=Watched place | |
MIGDAL | TOWER | GDL | BIG | TOWER=BIG PLACE | |
MIKRAH | HOLIDAY | KRA | Proclaimed | HOLIDAY=Proclaimed day*3 | |
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*1 Ex25-08a (See Epsteins translation of Rashi who presents a similar list) *2 Ex16-23a *3 PLACE is in SPACE; DAY is in TIME. MEM can equally mean a PLACE of something or a TIME of something. |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||||
List of root pairs differing in SIN-SHIN. As can be seen both roots are similar in meaning*1 | ||||
ROOT | SIN | SHIN | COMMONALITY OF TWO ROOTS | |
Sin-Lamed-Vav | FatBird | Tranquil | Feeling of Saiety | |
Ayin-Sin-Resh | 10 | rich | 10=plurality;rich=much money | |
Ayin-Sin-Kuph | dispute | wage-theft | Both involve property fights | |
Kuph-Sin-Kuph | Quarter | trinkets*2 | Both are small silver objects | |
Chet-Sin-Caph | withold | dark | To withold=keep it in dark | |
Nun-Sin-Aleph | lift up | seduce | Seduce=give a person a HIGH | |
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*1 The 2 Rashis on Gn25-29a Gn25-29b both describe property disputes on the wells *2 Biblical money has the following analogy with English ------------------------------ Penny = Perutah Quarter = Kesitah = 1/6 Dinar Dollar = Dinar 5 Dollar = Selah = 4 Dinar ------------------------------ We of course use poetic lisence to translate Kesitah as a Quarter (since it really is a sixth) |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||||
List of Synonym pairs-differ minutely*1 | ||||
VERSE | WORD | BASIC IDEA | NUANCES | |
Ex15-16a | AyMaH | Fear | ANXIETY(Long term fear)*12 | |
Ex15-16b | PaChaD | Fear | FEAR(Short term fear)*12 | |
Ex05-07b | L-V-N | To Build | BRICKS used for building | |
Ex05-07a | T-V-N | To Build | STRAW used for building | |
Ex01-07a | S-R-Tz | Reproduce | Reproduce alot*9 *11 | |
Gn47-23a | HAY | HERE | I am giving this to you*8 | |
Gn43-28a | KiDaH | BOW | BOW | |
Gn43-28a | SaChaH | BOW | PROSTRATE | |
Gn15-05a | NBT | SEE | To FACE a situation | |
Gn29-17b | TOAR | Good looks | Good FIGURE | |
Gn29-17c | MAREH | Good looks | Good LOOKS | |
Lv15-03a | R-R | To SPILL | To OOZE out*1 | |
Lv14-41a | YQTzA | To CUT | To SANDPAPER*2 | |
Lv11-35a | KIRaIM | STOVES | OVEN*3 | |
Lv02-05a | MChVT | Pots | FRYING-PAN:Pot*4 | |
Lv02-07a | MRChST | Pots | FRYING-PAN:Pot*4 | |
Lv13-02a | SAYTH | White | SNOW-WHITE:CLOUD-WHITE*5 | |
Lv13-02b | BHRT | White | SNOW-WHITE:CLOUD-WHITE*5 | |
Dt24-06a | RChIM | Grindstone | Bottom vs Top Grindstone*6 | |
Dt24-06b | RCV | Grindstone | Top vs Bottom Grindstone*6 | |
Ex31-18a | KIYOR | BASIN | Vat:Sprinkler*7 | |
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*1 This root occurs very infrequently We have - Lv15-03a oozing (RR) of sexual secretions - 1S21-14 (Spittle) - Jb06-06(Oozing of plants or spittle) *2 Thus YQTziA doesnt just refer to ANY CUTTING but rather to SANDPAPERING. Hence this root can also refer to CORNERS and EDGES (which get their distinctness from being SANDPAPERED) *3 I used an English analogy. Actually TNUR vs CIRaYIM seem to refer to a ONE-burner vs a TWO-Burner hot plate. I am not actually sure on all details*10 *4 Both of these are pots. One is shallow--the type used for frying. The other is deep--the type used for rich cooking*10 *5 These are two shades of white. I dont know if analogies exist in English (CLOUD-WHITE or SNOW-WHITE vs MARBLE WHITE)*10 *6 I dont believe English has technical terms for the TOP vs the Bottom grindstone*10 *7 Again there are no English words. The Kaph-Vuv-Resh refers to a VAT that can hold about 200 Gallons By contrast the Kaph-Yud-Vuv-Resh refers to a hugh TANK of water with faucet holes. This TANK was used to wash hands and legs in the temple (The water sprinkled out of the holes and washed the person) *8 HAY only occurs twice in the Bible (The other occurence is at Ez16-43). The difference between HAY and HINAY seems to be that - You use HINAY (HERE) when the object you are giving is actually there - You use HAY (HERE) when the object you are giving is not necessarily physically there but accessible. Hence since Joseph said HERE, I AM GIVING YOU SEED, and was referring to SEED he possessed (but not seed that he had immediately before him) we use the word HAY not HINAY. (This suggested difference is conjectural; there are verses with Hinay that would seem to contradict it--if so HAY and HINAY would simply be two synonyms with the same meaning) *9 So eg REPRODUCE and INSECTIFY both have the same basic meaning of HAVING CHILDREN. But INSECTIFY has the added nuance of having MANY CHILDREN | ||||
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*10 I believe Rashis basic thrust in all these verses is explaining items that are ALMOST similar in meaning but have some subtle nuance (Like STOVE OVEN). However Rashi goes further and gives etymologies of some of these words eg - SeAyTh = CLOUD WHITE (From NaSiH=cloud) - MaChaVath= FRYING PAN (Has a rim that HIDES(Cheth-Bet) - MaRCheSeth= Deep Cooking Pan(food BUBBLES (RaChSh)) - RCV=Top Grindstone that RIDES(RCV) on the other grindstone There are more etymologies; some of these have been discussed elsewhere. I believe these are the basic ones. *11 Rashi-s actual language is ----------------------------------------- S-R-Tz means to have 6 children at a time ----------------------------------------- The number 6 has sent the Rashi commentators into a frenzy. Some Rashi commentators derive the number 6 from the 6 verbs in Ex01-07 - (1) The Jews REPRODUCED - (2) and INSECTIFIED - (3) and MULTIPLIED - (4) and became HUMONGOUS - (5) ALOT - (6) ALOT However a simpler approach to Rashi is the following - The word INSECTIFY means HAVE CHILDREN LIKE INSECTS - So INSECTIFY means HAVE AS MANY CHILDREN AS YOU CAN - But the maxmimum children a woman can have is 6 - So Rashi-is-Simple *12 e.g. Gn15-12 Abraham had ANXIETY on the vision of what would happen to him over the next 400 years vs. Dt28-66 You will FEAR Day and NIGHT. (It is hard to prove exact nuances from the verses--it may be more precise to state that AYMAH is NON-SPECIFIC ANXIETY while PACHAD is SPECIFIC FEAR. This would be consistent with the etymology of AYMAH = AY MAH = WHERE IS IT? WHAT WILL HAPPEN -- that is, ANXIETY is a state of excessive concern on what will happen without being specific.) |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||||
A List of Biblical idioms..eg FROM DAYS DAYS=YEARLY LIST854z continues LIST854d | ||||
VERSE | BIBLICAL PHRASE | TRANSLATION | NOTES | |
Ex14-05b | CHANGE OF HEART | Changed his mind | ||
Gn43-29a | FIND GRACE | Wish(ed) you well | *5 | |
Gn24-57a | ASK HER MOUTH | Discuss/get opinions | *4 | |
Ex12-06d | BETWEEN THE EVES | NOON | *3 | |
Gn37-03a | SON OF OLD AGE | Youngest | *1 | |
Gn37-26b | COVER BLOOD | Conceal murder | *2 | |
Ex21-21a | DAY OR DAYS | 24 hours | ||
Lv13-39a | DULL WHITE | DULL WHITE | ||
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*1 Rashi points out 3 equally possible meanings - Youngest son (Son born while father was ELDERLY) - Wisest son (ELDER=WISDOM) - Son who resembles father (despite old age he still looks like son) *2 This is an example of a DOUBLE METONOMY Blood is ASSOCIATED with life and COVER is associated with denial. Hence COVER-BLOOD=conceal-murder *3 NOON is the midpoint between EVE and DAWN. Hence NOON is the BETWEEN THE EVES. *4 The context is the proposed marriage of 15 year old Rivkah to Isaac from another country. The offer had been made by the servant of Abraham to Rivkahs family The Biblical text states: Let us(her parents) ASK HER MOUTH This is the ONLY time in the Bible that this phrase occurs(The verb ASK occurs frequently). Apparently this phrase means - Lets DISCUSS or LETS GET AN OPINION*10 Such an interpretation is appropriate for a marriage decision *5 FIND-GRACE can equally mean I WISH YOU WELL or YOU WERE WISHED WELL. Rashi points out that GRACE by itself has this same connotation (Without the full phrase FIND GRACE). See LIST854g for further details | ||||
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*10 Hence the Rashi on Gn24-57b: The Biblical text states that Rivkah responded: I WILL GO. But Rashi, surprisingly states: I WILL GO WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT. Why did Rashi read such an emphasis into the simple question and answer ------------------------------------------ PARENTS: Rivkah, Will you go with this man RIVKAH: I will go. ------------------------------------------ The answer is that the Bible says ------------------------------------------ PARENTS: We will DISCUSS THE MATTER with her; get her opinion PARENTS: Rivkah, Will you go with this man RIVKAH: I will go. ------------------------------------------ Thus the context shows that Rivkah was not INTERESTED IN A DISCUSSION--she had already made up her mind |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | |||
List of idioms using metonomy (eg Egypt=Egyptians) | |||
VERSE | TEXT OF VERSE | METONOMY(ITEM means RELATED ITEM) | |
Ex14-25c | EGYPT-the land | Egyptians-the people*6 | |
Gn49-09c | ABOVE plunder | REMOVED from plundering (Above it)*5 | |
Gn49-05b | VIOLENT TOOLS | Criminal behavior*4 | |
Gn45-18b | FAT of land | BEST of land | |
Gn45-08a | FATHER to Phrh | FRIEND/ADVISOR to Pharoh | |
Gn43-34a | He gave LIFTS | LIFTED THEIR SPIRIT-i.e. gifts | |
Gn41-35b | HAND of Pharoh | DOMAIN of Pharoh*2 | |
Gn24-18a | pitchr on HAND | she lowered pitcher on her ARM | |
Gn37-26b | COVER blood | CONCEAL murder | |
Gn37-26b | cover BLOOD | conceal MURDER | |
Ex30-13c | HOLY coins | Coins used in HOLY TEMPLE matters | |
Dt18-01c | FIRES of God | SACRIFICES offered on temple Fire | |
Dt29-19a | SMOKING anger | Anger that makes person HOT | |
Gn13-02a | Abraham HEAVY | Abraham-s assets NUMEROUS | |
Gn13-02a | ABRAHAM heavy | ABRAHAM-S ASSETS numerous | |
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*1 Many examples in this list come from previous list in the metonomy series (LIST871a, LIST871b, LIST871c) *2 See LIST871e for 6 Rashis mentioning this HAND=DOMAIN theme *3 See LIST871f for verses where NSA means GIFT *4 Rashi citing the Midrash Rabbah states ------------------------------------- Your violence is something you VIOLATED from Esauv (You are killing like Esauv) ------------------------------------- But I see no reason to see this Midrash as the PRIMARY simple meaning of the verse. The PRIMARY meaning of the verse is that Shimon and Levi were criminals The Midrash is simply adding a pun to this observation. *5 See LIST871g for some examples *6 This is a common metonomy that occurs in English (eg America-Americans etc). Rashi is cute here: He EXPLAINS the metonomy ---------------------------------------------- When the soldiers die at sea their loved ones back in Egypt also suffer and in effect are smitten by God ---------------------------------------------- Rashi does not contradict the metonomy--he simply shows why it is convenient to identify the LAND and PEOPLE. |
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#