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               (C) RashiYomi Incorporated, 2004
               Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel

                     Volume 23 Number 17
          For the WORD QUALITY HTML VERSION click here
               -----------------------------------
               http://www.Rashiyomi.com/h23n17.htm
               -----------------------------------
                    Produced Oct 20 th, 2004

       WARNING: USE FIXED WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)
#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc.2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#
OVERVIEW OF HILIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04

Whats new and hot in this issue?
ITEM WHATS NEW & HOT IN THIS ISSUE
LISTS PAGE This Sunday: RULE LOOKUP on LIst page*1
COMMENTS
*1 Starting Sunday we will have 2 FRAMES
-The left frame will have the 30 rules (and subrules)
-The Right Frame will have links to digests with the rule you
selected.
This will make looking up rules and seeing examples easy
If you are interested in a rule simply click it and the
examples illustrating it will appear on the right
LIGHTNING SUMMARIES
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04

Lighting summary of Rashis with emphasis on Rashi rules*10
# LIST BRIEF SUMMARY OF RASHI EMPHASIZING USE OF RASHI RULES
1 210z Gn12-02(God makes Abe rich)illumines Gn14-20b(No gift taking)
1 210z Gn18-25:32(1/10=Priest gift)illumines Gn14-23c-1/10 to MalkiTdk
7 854d EQUAL-VALLEY means a LEVELED VALLEY without trees
7 813a NAMED BY FORM:To SHIELD=To surround;BALD=worn out garment...
9 075a [IF...THREAD SHOELACES] IF I take ANYTHING from you
26 107b (A) IF I take booty (B) IF I take personal pay
COMMENTS

LONGER FOOTNOTES

*10 The explanation of the list should be clear
- The first column gives the NUMBER of the RASHI RULE used
All Rashi rules may be found with examples at
http://wwww.Rashiyomi.com/workbook.htm

- The second column gives the LIST ID (eg LIST210z) which
contains many examples of a particular Rashi technique and
includes the example presented in the third column

- The third column gives a lightning summary of the Rashi
with particular emphasis on the Rashi rule used.
Rashis covered in this issue
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04

VERSE RULE BRIEF DESCRIPTION
======== =============== =====================================
Gn14-17a IDIOMS EQUAL VALLEY=Level valley(no trees)
Gn14-20a WORD MEANINGS To SHIELD = To SURROUND/DELIVER
Gn14-23a GRAMMARr [IF..SHOELACES] IF I take ANYTHING
Gn14-23b BULLETS -IF I take BOOTY;-IF I take PAYMENT
Gn14-20b OTHER VERSES 1/10=Priestly gift;Abe rich FROM GOD
Gn14-23c OTHER VERSES 1/10=Priestly gift;Abe rich FROM GOD
--------- ---------------- -------------------------------------
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Gn14-20a
Gn14-20a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04


SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
One of Rashis 5 main goals is to explain meaning the same
way a dictionary explains meaning. One method of explaining
meaning is to NAME BY FORM/APPEARANCE---thus for example
the PENTAGON names an INSTITUTION by its FORM while the
UN (United Nations) names it by its FUNCTION

Example Gn04-20a
-----------------------------------------------------
The phrase
-------------------------
God SHIELDED your enemies
-------------------------

means

-----------------------------------------
God SURROUNDED and DELIVERED your enemies
-----------------------------------------

Here the word SHIELD refers to the FORM in using a shield
which SURROUNDS the body.
ITEM DETAIL
RASHI RULE CLASS: WORD MEANINGS
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS 8 METHODS OF NAMING
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #7
SEE BELOW LIST813a
List of words Named by FORM-eg SHIELD=Surround/dliv
LIST813a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04

List of words            Named by FORM-eg SHIELD=Surround/deliver
# VERSE WORD IN VERSE MEANING
-- Gn14-20a Who SHIELDED your enemies SURROUNDED/BUNDLED them
-- Is54-12 the SPARK stone SPARKling stone
-- Dt28-22a The BOARD from TREE PALE-FACE-not RUDDY*8
-- Nu15-38a The TZITZITH PROTRUSIONS from GARMENT
-- Lv13-55e The BALD Worn out(Smooth) garment
-- Lv13-55e The PUDDLY*7 New wool garments*7
-- Gn41-42c The Gold NECKLACE Linked circular Items*6
-- Gn37-07b the stalks STOOD UP stand vertically*1
- Lv17-07a GOATS Demons*2
- Dt23-14a EARS for utensils Weapon belt*3
- Nu04-20a dont come when SWALLOWING when packing*4
- Gn30-37a LIVNEH Tree White colored (LVN)
- Gn30-37c ARMON tree LEAVE-PILES (araymah)
- Gn30-37d LOZ tree TWISTED twigs(Loz)*5
(1) Ex25-31d The THIGH of the Menorah The Menorah Bottom
(2) Ex40-22a On the THIGH of the temple in the North
(3) Ex40-22b On the THIGH of the temple in the North
(4) Lv01-11a On the THIGH of the Altar Bottom
(5) Ex25-31f A BUD ornament looks like a bud
(6) Ex25-31g The FRUIT ornaments looks like a fruit)
(7) Ex25-31h The FLOWER ornament FORM of a FLOWER
(8) Lv13-03b CLOUD WHITE Color of CLOUD
(9) Ex28-32a Garments MOUTH-HEAD Garments Neck
(10 Ex28-33a POMEGRANATE ornament Looks like POMEGRANATES
(12 Ex25-04a The BLUE thread died BLUE
(13 Ex25-04b The RED thread died RED
(16 Lv13-55d PChTheTh(Deep wound) Looks like a pit(PCTh)
(17 Lv13-18a SHCHIN (Boil-deep wound) Looks like a pit(SCH)
(18 -------- PENTAGON Named by its shape
(21 -------- Cherry (color) Looks like cherry(Fruit)
COMMENTS
*1 The original meaning of the word Q-W-M is to
AWAKE. From this it means STAND UP. When applied
to inanimate objects it refers to a vertical standing

*2 Demons in dreams often appear with HORNS Hence
it is reasonable to call them GOATS

*3 This root seems to be very controversial.
For example some people (Radack cites them) suggest
that the root is Zayin-Nun (WEAPON) with an added
prefix of Aleph.

Hence Rav Hirsch suggests that the etymology is
PERSONAL (ALEPH) WEAPONS.

I would simply say that the UTENSIL BELT with
hanging cases on both sides looks like 2 ears
on a head. Thus the meaning is based on FORM.*10



*4 The verse literally is translated as follows
----------------------------------------------
So they (The Kehatites) shall not come
and look as the holy (objects) are being packed
-----------------------------------------------

For possible further examples see footnote *11

*5 cf these verses showing that LOZ means TWISTED
or DEVIANT Pr03-21, Pr03-33,Pr02-15. (Rashi
cites the French name of these trees)


*6 The Hebrew root Resh-Beth-Dalet means
- Necklace(Gn41-42c, Ez16-11)
- Quilt(Pr07-16, Pr31-21)
These are the only 4 occurences in the Bible.

Both NECKLACES and QUILTS have the FORM of
LINKED CIRCULAR items.*12


*7 The root GIMEL-BETH can mean PUDDLE or HIGH (Puddles
are HIGH spots on the ground). I think the HAIR on
a persons head and the LINT on a new wool garment
resemble a PUDDLE OF HAIR LIKE PROTRUSIONS. Again
the emphasis is on naming by form. *13


*8 A BOARD = a BARKLESS tree log looks like a PALE person
(BARK on wood is like RUDDINESS on face)

LONGER FOOTNOTES

*10 To be fair Rashi explains TWO words in this verse
- The Hebrew Aleph-Zayin-Nun means WEAPON
- The Hebrew AL which usually means ON can also
mean BESIDES.

For the 6 meanings of AL see
http://www.RashiYomi.com/al-5.htm

Or visit the Rashi word page,
http://www.RashiYomi.com/words.htm


*11 Radack in his book, Biblical roots, lists 3 meanings
-------------------------------------------------
a) SWALLOW as in Jr51-34--He SWALLOWED me like a
Crockodile

b) DESTROY as in La02-02 - God has DESTROYED, without
mercy

c) HIDE/PACK as in Nu04-20
-------------------------------------------------

It is debatable whether there are other verses
illustrating this meaning of HIDE. Radack suggests
Jb27-30 and Jb10-08. I would say Is19-03---
------------------------------
God will HIDE (conceal) their advice
------------------------------
the metaphor of HIDING ADVICE is similar to the tone
at 2S15-31.

Suffice it to say that there is much controversy
on all the proper meaning of all these verses. However
our translation of Nu04-20 seems to be standard

*12 One subtle point about seductresses using quilts:
The quilt is both a COVER and an EXPOSURE (because
of the many air spaces in the quilt). Hence
a seductress COVERED with a quilt also EXPOSES herself
(and thereby seduces).


*13 It has come to my attention that we have several lists
on meaning by FORM. Namely
--------------------------------------------------
LIST     VOLUME #  NUMBER #  ITEM NAMED BY FORM
-------- --------- --------- ---------------------
LIST804a Volume 16 Number 22 NOUNS named by form
LIST814a Volume 19 Number 9  VERBS named by form
LIST810b Volume 21 Number 15 NOUNS named by Form
LIST813a Volume 20 Number 9  NOUNS named by Form
---------------------------------------------------

We hope to consolidate these in the near future.
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Gn14-23a
Gn14-23a
(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.

One principle of Grammar is the principle of
APPOSITION. The APPOSITION principles states
that under certain circumstances words occuring
in a sentence should be move to an EARLIER/LATER
part of a sentence. The example below clarifies.


EXAMPLES Gn14-23a
-----------------
Gn14-23a states
---------------------------------------
[IF...FROM THREAD TO SHOELACE]
IF I take ANYTHING that belongs to you
---------------------------------------

According to the APPOSITION principles this should
be understood as
--------------------------------------------
IF I take
- ANYTHING--FROM THREAD TO SHOELACE--
that belongs to you
--------------------------------------------

Thus we see that the phrase
------------------------------
FROM THREAD TO SHOELACE
------------------------------

is moved to a LATER part of the sentence
after the word
----------------
ANYTHING
----------------


Another way of looking at this is to state that
the phrase
---------------------------
FROM THREAD TO SHOELACE
---------------------------
is perceived as standing OPPOSITE (In APPOSITION)
to the word
----------------
ANYTHING
----------------

APPOSITION is a powerful poetic technique since
by repositioning a phrase we force the reader
to focus attention on it. Thus here the phrase
---------------------------
FROM SHOELACE TO THREAD
---------------------------
emphasizes that Abraham will really take nothing
ITEM DETAIL
RASHI RULE CLASS: GRAMMARr
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS: APPOSITION
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #9
SEE BELOW LIST075a
List of verses with Use of APPOSITION
LIST075a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04

List of verses with      Use of APPOSITION
VERSE WORDS IN APPOSITION IN VERSE are CAPPED*1
Gn14-23a FROM THREAD TO SHOELACE...If I take ANYTHING
Ex23-33a Dont intermarry lest you SIN--ie SERVE OTHER GODS
Isa63-7 I will remember GODS GRACE--ie HIS PRAISES
Ps147-9 God gives ANIMALS food-(even) to RAVENS that pray
Gn01-29a I God give to MAN plant food---& to the ANIMALS
Lv06-13a This is the INAUGURATION SACRIFICE-DAILY MNCH
COMMENTS
*1 So the verse should be read with all the CAPPED words
brought together. For example Gn14-23a is UNDERSTOOD as
-----------------------------------------------------
If I take ANYTHING---FROM THREAD TO SHOELACE-from you
-----------------------------------------------------
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Gn14-20b
RASHIS COVERED: Gn14-20b Gn14-23c
Gn14-20b
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04


SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
One of Rashis five main goals is to illuminate verse meaning
using cross references to OTHER VERSES.

EXAMPLES
--------
Gn12-02 (GOD will make Abe rich) illuminates Gn14-23c
(Abraham therefore refuses wealth from anyone else)

Gn18-25:32(TENTHS are gifts to PRIESTS/LEVITES) illumines
Gn14-20b (Abraham gives MalkiTzedeck 1/10 of booty since
MalkiTzedeck was a Priest).
ITEM DETAIL
RASHI RULE CLASS OTHER VERSES
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS FURTHER DETAILS
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #1
SEE BELOW LIST210z
List of verses pairs with one verse illuminating another
LIST210z
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04

List of verses pairs     with one verse illuminating another
LIST210z CONTINUES LIST210a
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE OTHER VRSE DETAILS
Gn14-20b Abe gives MlkTzDk 1/10 Gn18-25:32 1/10=Gift to priests
Gn14-23c Abe takes no reward Gn12-02 GOD gives wealth
Gn13-18a MAMRE-s cedar trees*8 Gn14-24 MAMRE=name of person
Dt11-29b Bless TOWARDS Mt Grizim Jo08-30:35 AL=TOWARDS(not ON)*7
Dt11-30e AYLON MOREH Gn12-06 SCHEM
Dt11-22b Walking in Gods ways 13 Attrib Ex34-06:07
Dt10-11a God still gives Israel Ex34-32 Despite Golden calf
Dt01-36a Give Caleb LAND HE TREAD Ju01-20*6 Gave CHEVRON to Calb
Nu35-31a Dont take MURDER RANSOM Ex21-30 Monetary Ransom
Nu35-12a The REDEEMER OF BLOOD*5 Lv25-25:26 Nearest of Kin
Ex27-02a horns FROM the altar Ex25-36 SCULPTORED,nt sldred
Ex21-13d Refuge for murderers Nu25-09:15 Refuge city places
Ex19-05b Guard My CONVENANT Ex24-07:08 GIVING OF THE TORAH
Ex14-12a Better we die in Egypt Ex05-21 Jews curse Moses
Ex06-05b I remember My Treaty Gn15-13:21 I promisd redemption
Ex06-06a Therefore Gn15-13:21 I promisd redemption
Ex06-06c I will redeem the Jews Gn15-13:21 Promisd great wealth
Ex06-20a Amram married AUNT Nu26-59 Grandpa-s daughter
Ex06-05b God remembers TREATY Gn15-14 God will redeem us
Ex06-06c God will REDEEM US Gn15-14 Get great wealth
Gn49-05a Simon/Levi are BROTHERS Gn34-25 BROTHERS kill city*4
Ex22-16a the DOWRY OF VIRGINS Dt22-29 50 Biblical dollars
Gn33-09a I dont need your money Gn27-41*3 Hatred for stealing
Gn20-23b Childbirth=Lose DISGRACE Is04-01*1 Woman singl=disgrace
Gn30-37a A LIVNEH stick Ho04-13 LIVNEH=name of tree
Gn30-36b Permit me to leave*2 Gn31-46 You STOLE my daughtr
Gn28-22b This willbe HOUSE OF GOD Gn35-01:08 altar;remove idols
Gn23-02a Abraham CAME Gn21-33:34 CAME from BeerShva
Lv01-12a the THANK YOU OFFERING Ps127-01 4 Thank Yous
Lv01-05a Slaughter Sacrifice 2Chr30-17 A Levite Can
Dt26-05d A FEW Jews came to Egypt Gn46-27 70 people came
Gn21-23b I treated you NICELY Gn20-15 I gave you LAND
Dt25-13b Dont have big STONES Lv19-36 Big STONE WEIGHTS
Gn26-05e because ABRAHAM OBEYED Gn22-18 He offered Isaac
Ex13-17c Jews afraid of war Nu14-42 Defeat of Jews
Ex17-10b Chur 1Ch2-18:19 Kalevs son
Ex35-30a Chur 1Ch2-18:19 Kalevs son
Ex24-14c Chur 1Ch2-18:19 Kalevs son
COMMENTS
*1 Rashi states the following: "If MOTHERS make mistakes it
is because they raise children; if SINGLE women make
mistakes it is because they try to pick people up"
Rashi should be perceived as giving ILLUSTRATIONS of
why being without children is disgraceful for women

*2 Jacob did not NEED permission to leave with HIS wife
But his father-in-law would perceive it as STEALING
his daughter.

*3 Gn27-41 states that Esauv hated Jacob for stealing the
blessing. Gn27-44 states that after a few years this
hatred would subside. Hence Gn33-09 with its statement
I DONT NEED YOUR MONEY confirms these other 2 verses.

*4 Rashi is NOT commenting on the MERE coincidence that
Shimon and Levi are called BROTHERS in two places.
-Gn49-05 talks about Shimon and Levi KILLING and
PLUNDERING
-Gn34 also talks about SHIMON and Levi KILLING
and plundering.
Thus the cross reference is clear. The accident
that they are called BROTHERS in both places
simply spices up the correspondence.

*5 There is also an element of IDIOM (NEW MEANING HERE)
That is Lv25-25:26 speaks about the REDEEMER(=Nearest
of Kin) while Nu35-19 speaks about the BLOOD REDEEMER
However the concepts are similar....the REDEEMER
in each case is the NEAREST OF KIN.

*6 Further support can be obtained from comparing the singular
and plural used in Nu14. All activities of the spies are
in plural (THEY did it) except for the arrival at Chevron
(HE came to Chevron). This suggests that only one spy came
to Chevron;--reasonably, this is Caleb who opposed the other
spies. It is also reasonable that he came there to pray
for strength to stand up to them (See LIST003a in posting
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/n22n7.htm)

*7 The Hebrew word used is AL. Thus the verse text
- bless AL Mount Grizim
could equally mean
- bless ON TOP of Mount Grizim (While standing on it)
or
- bless TOWARDS Mount Grizim (While standing at foot)
The Joshua verse clarifies WHICH meaning of AL is meant.
For further textual support see
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/dt27-12a.htm

*8 The root MRA means BRAZEN.
- Cedar Trees are Brazen trees--they are tall and towering
- Perhaps then MAMRE was a brazen person who had an orchard
of BRAZEN Cedar trees. Rashis point is that besides the
fact that his name was MAMRE, the name also symbolized
the person.
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Gn14-17a
Gn14-17a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04


SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
One  of Rashis 5 main goals is to give the meaning of words
the same way the dictionary gives meaning. Rashi had a variety
of vehicles to present meaning. Rashi frequently explained
MULTI-WORD IDIOMS.

EXAMPLE 1 Gn14-17a
------------------
The idiom EQUAL-VALLEY means a LEVEL-VALLEY--that is a valley
without trees. Such LEVEL valleys were used by the Royal families
like our modern day STADIUMS. Both sport events as well as
welcoming of other kings occurred there.
ITEM DETAIL
RASHI RULE CLASS: WORD MEANING
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS NEW MEANINGS
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #7
SEE BELOW LIST854d
List of 2-3-word Biblical idioms
LIST854d
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04

A List of Biblical idioms..eg FROM DAYS DAYS=YEARLY
VERSE BIBLICAL PHRASE TRANSLATION NOTES
Gn14-17a EQUAL-VALLEY LEVEL valley *14
Gn12-09a WALK-JOURNEY Stay-Go-Stay-Go... *13
Ex22-02b He has BLOOD Guilty of BLOODSHED
Nu35-27a He doesnt have BLOOD Not a MURDERER
Gn34-03a SPEAK ON ONES HEART Convince, reassure LIST854f
Gn23-04b PLOT OF GRAVE Burial Plot *12
Gn18-11b WAY OF WOMEN Having Periods *9
Ex13-10a FROM DAYS DAYS YEARLY *1
Dt17-11a LEFT AND RIGHT A LITTLE BIT *2
Ex21-21a DAY OR DAYS 24 hours
Dt22-17a Spread the Garment Prove your point *3 *4
Ex22-02a If Sun shines on him If it is Clear *4
Dt25-09a Spit IN FACE Spit TOWARDS HIM *5
Lv05-04a Swear by lips Verbally(Explicitly) *6
-------- ----------------------- --------------------- ---------
Lv16-21a TIMED person An APPOINTED person *8
Ex21-02a JEWISH SLAVE a slave AND Jewish *7
Lv13-39a DULL WHITE DULL WHITE
Lv23-40a GORGEOUS FRUIT Ethrog *10
-------- ----------------------- --------------------- ----------
Ex28-08a Belt OF his AYPHOD Belt USED with AYPHOD *7
Ex28-31a the dress OF AYPHD Aypohd USED with DRES *7
Dt16-17a GIFT OF HIS HAND INCOME LEVEL *7 *4
Dt16-10a TAX OF DONATION OF HAND INCOME LEVEL *7 *4
Dt21-13a GARMENT OF CAPTIVITY Worn in war to seduce *7
COMMENTS
*1 See LIST854e below for Biblical examples

*2 See LIST854c below for further Biblical examples

*3 Probably when people had a sexual fight (who did what)
they could SPREAD THE GARMENT to clearly prove their
point*10

*4 Many idioms in this list are examples of SYNECDOCHE,
the use of the (distinguished) PART to indicate the
WHOLE. Thus honey is a GOOD EXAMPLE of something
sweet, bread is a GOOD EXAMPLE of food, day(12
hours) is a GOOD EXAMPLE of the 24 hour period. Hence
almost all languages develop idioms: HONEY=SWEET,
BREAD=FOOD, DAY(12 HOURS)=DAY(24 HOURS).

Similarly in the above live SPEADING THE GARMENT
is a GOOD example of PROVING MATTERS (In sexual
disputes), the SUN SHINING is a good example of
CLARITY, GIFT OF HIS HAND is a good example of
a HIGH INCOME LEVEL.

*5 Cf However Lv15-08a Spit ON Him = Actually spit on him
The rule seems to be that SPIT ON HIM is literal
whereas SPIT ON FACE (use of FACE vs FULL PERSON) means
SPIT TOWARDS HIM

*6 eg If I am angry and mentally curse or if I
am angry and start ranting and raving without
however fully articulating everything on my mind
-- in these two cases I may have sworn IN MY MIND
but I have not sworn WITH MY LIPS (Explicitly)

*7 Contrast Ex20-03a OTHER GODS=GODS OF OTHER PEOPLE
vs Ex21-02a JEWISH SLAVE = SLAVE AND JEWISH

Technically the possessive --OF-- can mean
- OWNED BY (eg OTHER GODS = gODS of OTHERS)
- PROPERTY (eg JEWISH SLAVE=SLAVE who is JEWISH)
- ASSOCIATED WITH (eg BELT OF GARMENT=Belt USED
with Garment)

Note Rashi proves the JEWISH SLAVE=SLAVE WHO
IS JEWISH by citing an other verse Dt15-12 *11

*8 For the relationship between TIME and DESIGNATION
cf the English APPOINT-APPOINTMENT

*9 Cf Gn31-35 for the sister phrase PATH OF WOMEN
which also refers to HAVING PERIODS

LONGER FOOTNOTES

*10 (The following comes from my article PSHAT & DRASH
TRADITION Winter 1980)

We must distinguish between
- HOW we know what the idiom means
- WHY the idiom means this

HOW we know what the idiom means comes from USAGE
It can usually be inferred from context. Thus
the Biblical verses here state
when a person slanders his newly married
wife...then the womens parents shall sue
him and SPREAD THE GARMENT before the judges
-------------------------------------

Hence SPREAD the GARMENT is simply an idiom
for PROVING ONES POINT.

By contrast the question of WHY the idiom
means what it does is something more
speculative--maybe I am right that frequently
in sexual fights a SPREAD GARMENT proved a
point. But maybe I am wrong...in such a case
I am still sure about WHAT the idiom means.
I am just not sure about WHY it means this.

Another example occurs at Lv23-40a and Lv23-40b.
I am certain that the ETHROG was called the
GORGEOUS FRUIT but I am not quite sure why. Rashi
offers two explanations

EXPLANATION 1:
The ethrog is an EVERGREEN and DWELLS YEARLY
(This uses a pun on EVERGREEN=HADAR vs
HODOR=GORGEOUS)

EXPLANATION 2
-------------
The TREE and FRUIT taste the same; Hence
the tree is Gorgeous.

EXPLANATION 3
-------------
Rav Hirsch offers a 3rd explanation. Rav
Hirsch reviews botanical classifications and infers
that the Ethrog is one of the more advanced
fruits in the tree Kingdom.

I am still not sure WHY the phrase GORGEOUS
FRUIT means ETHROG but I am sure that this
phrase was used to denote the ETHROG


*11
Here is another example:
GARMENT OF CAPTIVITY does NOT mean
- the GARMENT she wore WHEN captured
(That is the GARMENT with the PROPERTY that
it was worn at the time of capture) but rather means

- the GARMENT she put on in case she is captured
(That is the garment ASSOCIATED with the
possibility of CAPTURE)

Rashi explains that non-jewish women would have
special garments they wore in case they were
captured during a war in order to seduce their
captors and prevent themselves from being murdered.

*12 The Hebrew word A-Chu-Zah by itself can refer to
a plot of land (without any additional words):
------------------------------------------------------
Cf Gn47-11 Gave them a PLOT
Cf Lv25-46 These slaves shall be a PLOT for inheritance
Cf Nu27-04 Give us please a PLOT among our brothers
------------------------------------------------------

*13 So Abraham would stay over for a month or so
then journey then stay over for a month or
shorter or longer etc.

*14 Rashi regards these LEVEL VALLEYS as sort of STADIUMS where
the Royal family had entertainment (Similar to practices today)
This is hinted at in the verse
---------------------------------------------
...to the LEVEL VALLEY ...to the ROYAL VALLEY
---------------------------------------------

Rashi also conjectures that this STADIUM type valley was a place
where the Royal families acknowledged Abrahams existence--since
he had defeated several Kings.

We need not see these as two disparate conjectures...we can
simply suppose that the LEVEL VALLEYS were used for BOTH
- Royal family sport events
- meetings with other kings.
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Gn14-23b
Gn14-23b
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04


SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
Rashi sometimes makes inferences from WORD MEANINGS and GRAMMAR
However Rashi can equally make inferences from OVERALL
PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE. Rashi frequently uses REPEATING KEYWORDS
to emphasize a BULLET-LIKE affect which hilights structure.

EXAMPLE Gn14-23b
----------------
The Biblical text is discussing results of a war. The text states
-----------------------------------------
- IF [I take] from a thread to a shoelace
- IF I take anything from you
-----------------------------------------

Notice the repeating KEYWORD--IF. The repeating
Keyword functions as a BULLET marker. It is as if
the text read
-----------------------
If I take
- a THREAD or SHOELACE
- ANYTHING
-----------------------

That is the Bible uses REPEATING KEYWORDS when it wishes to
indicate bullets.

The use of bullets in turn suggests a SEPARATE EMPHASIS on
each item
- if I take THREADS or SHOELACES from war booty
- if I take PERSONAL PAY from you

Here the exegesis is NOT based on the extra words  but
rather the exegesis is based on the BULLET structure. It
is the bullet structure which suggests SEPARATE & DISTINCT
emphasii.
ITEM DETAIL
RASHI RULE CLASS: BULLETS
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS BULLETING
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #26
SEE BELOW LIST107b
List of clauses in Gn14-23b--I wont take a)Booty b)Payment
LIST107b
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04

List of clauses in       Gn14-23b--I wont take a)Booty b)Payment
BULLET PHRASE1 PHRASE2 THIS MEANS
I swear
IF [I will take] From a thread to a shoelace BOOTY
IF I will take anything PAYMENT
COMMENTS
*1 This phrase is elliptical (It is not in text but is implied
by the parallel phrase in the next stanza)

*2 The interpretation of SHOELACE=BOOTY, ANYTHING=PAYMENT
emanates not from the extra words but rather from the
BULLET structure. It is the BULLET structure in and of
itself which suggests a SEPARATE and DISTINCT emphasis
to each stanza of the verse.

Hence since we are discussing war we interpret the first
phrase as referring to BOOTY while the second phrase refers
to PAYMENT.
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
End of Rashi is Simple Digest
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#