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               (C) RashiYomi Incorporated, 2005
               Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel

                     Volume 26 Number 13
          For the WORD QUALITY HTML VERSION click here
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               http://www.Rashiyomi.com/h26n13.htm
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                     Produced Jun 30 th, 2005
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc.2005, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#*#
HELPFUL READING TIPS
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04

HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU HAVE WHAT SHOULD YOU READ SECTION COLOR
Only 2-3 mintues SUCCINT SUMMARY BROWN
Only 5-8 minutes LISTS BROWN/BEIGE/BLUE
Maybe 20-30 minutes BIG FOOTNOTE SECTION GREEN SECTION
Time to do research SUMMARY OVERVIEWS*2 Newsletter Bottom
COMMENTS
*1 FIXED WIDTH FONTS are needed for the TEXT version
For the HTML version you do not need to reset the browser

For html or PDF version visit
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/ris.htm

*2 Each digest has two summary overviews on bottom:
- LIGHTNING SUMMARIES (List of lists in this issue)
- OVERVIEW (List of Rashis covered in this issue)
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2005, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Nu20-17b
RASHIS COVERED: Nu20-17b Nu20-17c Nu20-18a
Nu20-17b
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04


SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
Rashi frequently makes powerful inferences from the alignment
of ALMOST similar verses. The minor variations between these
almost similar verses suggests nuances and differences or
even meaning. We call this the Rashi rule of ALIGNMENT

When Rashi identifies two cases from the ALIGNMENT we call
this the Rashi subrule of TWO CASES

When Rashi infers nuances from the variations betweent the
almost similar verses we call this the Rashi subrule of
NUANCES.

When Rashi infers MEANING from the ALIGNMENT of almost
identical phrases we call this the Rashi SUBRULE of MEANING.

EXAMPLE 5 Requests to pass thru foreign lands
---------------------------------------------
There are 5 requests by Moses to allow passage thru
foreign lands. They are aligned as follows
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dt02-06         Dt02-27:28       Nu21-22         Nu20-17b      Nu20-19
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
purchase food   purchase food    No fields       No fields     *2
purchase water  purchase water   No wells        No wells      purchase water
*1            if I/animals drink
Go your path     Path of King    Path of King  Highway
no deviation                     No deviation  *3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This alignment emphasizes 3 nuancs
*1 Alignment emphasizes promise that both
- people
- animals
would not violate territory

*2 Alignment suggests
- negative--I will not eat/drink your property
- positive--I will stimulate your economy by buying goods*10

*3 Alignment suggests both
- avoidance of direct taking of food
- avoidance of negligent taking of food (go thru highway and animals
deviate into nearby fields)


LIST308u below summarizes this alignment.

Example 2: Nu20-18a
===================
The alignment of Nu20-16 and Nu20-18b reveals two
approaches to obtaining goals
--------------------------------------------------------------
Nu20-16  JEWS God heard our voice  when we cried to the Lord
Nu20-18a EDOM Dont pass            lest I come with the sword.
Differs  *1   *2                   *3
--------------------------------------------------------------
*1 ALignment shows difference between JEWS and EDOM

*2 Alignment shows method use to achieve national goals

*3 Jews rely on PRAYER; Edom relies on SWORD*10


LIST308v summarizes this alignment.
ITEM DETAIL
RASHI RULE CLASS: ALIGNMENT
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS NUANCES
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #11
SEE BELOW LIST308u
Align 4 verse sets with requests to pass foreign lands
----------------------- -------------------------------------
SEE BELOW LIST308v
Align 2 verses Describing power (Prayer vs military)
LIST308v
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04

Align 2 verses           Describing power (Prayer vs military)
VERSE WHO ACCOMPLISHMENT ACCOMPLISHMENT METHOD
Nu20-16 JEWS God heard our voice when we cried to the Lord
Nu20-18a EDOM Dont pass lest I come with the sword.
Differs *1 *2 *3
COMMENTS
*1 ALignment shows difference between JEWS and EDOM

*2 Alignment shows method use to achieve national goals

*3 Jews rely on PRAYER; Edom relies on SWORD*10

LONGER FOOTNOTES

*10 Rashi notes the echo back to the Biblical blessing to
Edom's progeniture, Esauv,
------------------------------------------
And by your sword shall you live, and shall
serve your brother; and it shall come to pass
when you shall have the dominion, that you shall
break his yoke from off your nec
------------------------------------------
===============================================================
LIST308u
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04

Align 4 verse sets       with requests to pass foreign lands
Dt02-06 Dt02-27:28 Nu21-22 Nu20-17b Nu20-19
purchase food purchase food No fields No fields *2
purchase water purchase water No wells No wells purchase water
*1 if I/animals drink
Go your path Path of King Path of King Hi ghway
no deviation No deviation *3
COMMENTS
*1 Alignment emphasizes promise that both
- people
- animals
would not violate territory

*2 Alignment suggests
- negative--I will not eat/drink your property
- positive--I will stimulate your economy by buying goods*10

*3 Alignment suggests both
- avoidance of direct taking of food
- avoidance of negligent taking of food (go thru highway and animals
deviate into nearby fields)
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2005, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Nu21-22a
Nu01-22a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04


SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
One of Rashis 10 main goals is to resolve contradiction between
two verses that contradict each other. This process of resolution
is called the Rashi method of CONTRADICTION.

Rashi had 4 methods of resolving contradiction.

Sometimes Rashi will resolve a contradiction by looking at
the two verses as two stages of one process. We call this the
Rashi submethod of TWO-STAGES.

EXAMPLE Nu01-22a Dt02-24:26
---------------------------
We have two verses discussing Moses relationship
with the land of Heshbon

- Dt02-24:25 states that God promised Moses CONQUEST
of this land
-------------------------------------------------
Rise, take your journey, and pass over the brook Arnon;
behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite,
king of Heshbon, and his land; begin to possess it,
and contend with him in battle.
This day will I begin to put the dread of you
and the fear of you upon the nations that are
under the whole heaven, who shall hear the report
of you, and shall tremble, and be in anguish
because of you.

- However Dt02-26 states that Moses did not declare
war but requested a peace treaty with Heshbon!
--------------------------------------------------
And I sent messengers out of the
wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon king of Heshbon
with words of peace, saying,
-------------------------------------------------

We can resolve this contradiction by considering
two stages in the war process

Dt20-10 states
----------------------------------------
When you come near a city to fight against
it, then proclaim peace to it.
----------------------------------------

Thus war requires two stages
- #1 a request for peace
- #2 declaration of war (if request is denied)


LIST530a below presents other contradictory verse pairs
resolved thru the method of TWO STAGE
ITEM DETAIL
RASHI RULE CLASS: CONTRADICTION
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS TWO-STAGES
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #15
SEE BELOW LIST530a
Verse pairs illustrating 2 stages to a process
LIST530a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04

Verse pairs illustrating 2 stages to a process
VERSE-1 VERSE-2 HOW THE TWO TEXTS ARE COMBINED
Dt02-24 Dt02-26 In war: 1st) Request peace 2nd) Declare war*5
Lv02-14 Lv02-14 1st)Budded Full-grain barley;2)Roasted;3)Grounded
Ex07-03 Ex08-28 1st 5 plagues Pharoh didnt listen;then God hardened
Ex11-01 Ex11-09 ONE more of 10 plagues;2 MIRACLES on Red sea*3
Ex11-04 Ex10-29 FIRST: Moses announces 10 plagues;2nd:No see Phrh*4
Gn50-10 Gn50-10 GRANARY was THORNED;but Joe saved them:HonorJacob*14
Gn37-36 Gn39-01 Joe sold 4 times:Arabs to Midian to Arab to Egypt*13
Nu05-08 Nu05-08d Tithes/Terumah to GOD; GOD gives them to PRIEST
Ex14-27 Ex14-30a Egypt drowns IN sea; then thrown ON sea-shore
Ex15-01 Ex15-04 Egyptians THROWN UP;THEN SHOT down to sea
Ex16-13 Nu11-09 1st Dew bed; then MANNA; THEN dew blanket
Nu08-24 Nu04-03 Levites LEARN Temple at 25;THEN serve at 30
Nu16-32 Nu26-11a Korach sons 1st punished; then repented*1
Nu26-54 Nu26-55a Children inherit units;Parents give equally*10
Lv21-10 Lv16-32c Priesthood succession: Lineage 1st;Merit 2nd*2
COMMENTS

*1 Nu16-32 and Nu16-33 together imply that KORACH AND ALL FOLLOWING
HIM DIED ALIVE BY FIRE AND EARTHQUAKE This contradicts Nu26-11
that the sons of Korach did not die

Note that Psalms 45-49 were written by the SONS OF KORACH
showing that they repented

*2 In other words if one of the high priests sons is
qualified for the position he is chosen. If not
a non-descendant (who is qualified) is taken.

Lv16-32c presents this SON-MERIT rule for priests
Dt17-20c generalizes this SON-MERIT rule for Kings.

This interpretation of the text is further
clarified by the ALIGNMENT method.*11

Some further technicalities are noted in note *12

*3 Rashi Ex11-09a

*4 Rashi Ex11-04a Ex10-29

*5 Dt20-10 explicitly requires a request for peace
The resolution of this contradiction is brought in the
Rashi at Nu21-22a


LONGER FOOTNOTES
*10 Here is a simple numerical example
Assume 3 people in Egypt
- Bob
- Dan and David Brothers

Assume
- Bob has 1 child
- Dan has 1 child
- David has 2 children

So GENERATION1(GEN1) has 3 units (Bob,Dan David)
And GEN2 has 4 units (1+1+2)

We now have 3 stages

STAGE 1
-------
Each GEN2 person gets same number of units (Say 2 units)
So Bobs child --2 units
-- Dans child --2 units
-- Davids-------4 units to 2 children

STAGE 2
-------
Now the units are coalesced at the family (GEN1) level
- Bob has 2 units(Since he has one child with 2 units)
- Dan-David has 6 units (Dans child 2 units and Davids 4)

STAGE 3
-------
- Bob gives his 2 units back to his child
- Dan-David give there 6 units equally to children so
-- Dans child receives 3 units
-- Davids 2 children receive 1.5 units each (Total of 3)

Here is a time map

--------------------------------------------------------------
EGYPT(GEN1)    CHILDREN   STAGE1      STAGE2       STAGE3
-------------- ---------- ----------- ------------ ------------
Bob            1 child    2/8         2/8          2/8 @child
Dan-brother    1 child    2/8         6/8 brothers 3/8 @child
David-brother  2 child    4/8         6/8 Brothers 3/8 @2 child
---------------------------------------------------------------

Although this may seem complicated it fulfills the 2 verses
- The actual exodus people from Egypt inherit
- The descendants determine inheritance

*11 We align Lv21-10 Lv16-32 as follows

-----------------------------------------------------------------
The priest --------------- ...annointed ...trained replace father
The priest who is advanced ...annointed ...trained --------------
*a         *b              *c           *d         *b
-----------------------------------------------------------------

As the double #b clearly shows there are two criteria
- priest is advanced (bigger than his brothers)
- priest replaces father

These conflicting criteria are resolved using
the RabbiIshmael method of 2 STAGES
- if the son is qualified pick him
- if not pick a qualified non-descendant

*12 Interestingly heridatary appointment is mentioned by
- Slaves (Lv25-41)
- Kings (Dt17-20)
- Priests (Dt18-05)
- Levites (1C23-13)

The Bible EXPLICITLY advances a LINEAGE-MERIT duality
for priests (As shown above by the alignment presented
in footnote #11).

We generalize this to Kings (Rashi Dt17-20c).

We do not apply this to slaves since merit is not involved

We also do not generalize this to Levites since
the Bible explicitly states that they replace the
first-born and hence merit is no longer relevant
(A qualified 1st born could NOT function as a
Levite because the Bible states explicitly that
they were replaced (See eg Nu03-40:43)

*13 There are 4 texts involved as follows
----------------------------------------
Gn37-27 states idea of sale to ARabs
Gn37-28 states Midianites passed but Joe sold to Arabas
Gn37-36 states Midianites sold Joe to Potifar
Gn39-01 states Arabs sold Joe to Potifar
-----------------------------------------

Rashi (Gn37-28a Gn38-28b) resolves these contradictions by
assuming 4 stages of sale:
- Brothers to Arabs (Gn37-27)
- Arabs to Midianites (Hinted at in Gn37-28)
- Midianites to ARabs (resolving Gn37-36, Gn39-01)
- Arabs to Egypt (Gn39-01)

*14 Gn50-10a. Rashi cites an Agaddah from the Talmud. We explain this
Talmudic agaddah here. However we preface our explanation with
the explanation given above
- Recall that Joseph saved the world from famine
- Granaries dried up and GREW THORNS except for Josephs
- Joseph gave food to these people and saved their lives
- One granary that dried up was called the THORNED GRANARY
- The people gave respect to Jacob since it was his belief
- in Josephs dreams which gave Joseph his greatness

The Talmudic Agaddah states
-----------------------------------------------------------
All the kings came and took off their crowns and hung them
on Josephs coffin
-----------------------------------------------------------

We interpret this to mean
---------------------------------------
The kings TOOK OFF THEIR HATS TO JOSEPH
---------------------------------------
This is a familiar English idiom.


The Agaddah states
----------------------------------------------------------
The Arabs and canaanites came to wage war with Josephs
brothers but could not because of Jacobs merit
----------------------------------------------------------

We need not interpret this literally. Very often Agaddah
uses the technique of EXAGGERATION. Recall that
--------------------------------------------------------
Jacobs two sons destroyed an entire Canaanite city;
Also recall that their attempt to murder Joseph led to
selling him to Arabs who brought him to Egypt

There were natural ill feelings.

However when the Arabs and Canaanites saw the greatness
of Jacob---that because he believed in the dream of the
bratty immature Joseph, who was a teenage tattletale and
hung out with rif-rafs, and then had a severe prison term
-- because Jacob believed in the dream, Joseph, despite
his past, grew to greatness and saved the world--

-- When the Arabs and Canaanites saw the greatness of
Jacobian prophecy, they TOOK OFF THEIR HATS TO HIM..since
they realized there was something higher in life..something
that could redeem them from their own low life to a
higher life
----------------------------------------------------------

In summary the Agaddah uses exaggeration -- WANTED TO DECLARE
WAR -- to indicate ill feelings. The Agaddah used metaphor--
TOOK OFF THEIR HATS--to indicate respect. All this is based
on the fact that Jacobs belief in Josephs dreams made him
what he became.
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2005, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Nu21-13b
Nu21-13b
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04


SUCCINCT SUMMARY:
-----------------
One of Rashis 10 major goals is to illustrate complex
geometric designs or algebraic complications. This is
called the Rashi method of SPREADSHEETS, since
SPREADSHEETS are one method of clarifying a complex
relationship.  The SPREADSHEET method can refer to
any illustration of a verse that clarifies it.

EXAMPLE Nu21-13b
----------------
Nu21-13b states
------------------------------
From there they moved, and camped
on the other side of Arnon, which
is in the wilderness that comes out
of the borders of the Amorites; for
Arnon is the border of Moab, between
Moab and the Amorites.
------------------------------

Rashi clarifies the complex geometric design
-------------------------------------------------
EMORI LAND | MOAB LAND   |
----------------|        |
EMORI LAND   x2 |x1Arnon |
----------------|        |
--------------------------

Rashi clarifies that
- if we picture EMORI and MOAB as rectangles
- then EMORI has a PROTRUSION cutting into Moab
- this PROTRUSION end at ARNON
Hence
- ARNON is the BORDER between Moab and EMORI
- The Jews camped at spot X2

Now let us re-examine the verse
--------------------------------------------------
VERSE                     PICTURE
-----------------         ------------------------
They camped on            They camped at
OTHER SIDE OF ARNON       x2
arnon in wilderness       x2 in protrusion
comes past Emori borders  protrudes
ARnon is border           x1-x2 is border
of Moab and Emori         x2 to Emori;x1 to Arnon
-------------------------------------------------

This example nicely illustrates why I call this
the SPREADSHEET method---Rashi's main goal
is to clarify a complex relationship that is
hard to visualize.

LIST690L below summarizes this spreadsheet pattern.
LIST690a presents other Rashis where the SPREADSHEET rule
is used.
ITEM DETAIL
RASHI RULE CLASS: SPREADSHEETS
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS ALGEBRA
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #30
SEE BELOW LIST690L
List of Geometric features of Moab-Emori border
----------------- --------------------------
SEE BELOW LIST690a
List of Rashis using Spreadsheets/Algebra
LIST690L
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04

List of       Geometric features of Moab-Emori border*10
VERSE TEXT (Nu21-13b) GEOMETRIC*10 INTERPRETATION
They camped on They camped at
OTHER SIDE OF ARNON; position x2;
------------------------ ----------------------------
arnon position x2
is in the wilderness that is in the rectangle that
comes past Emori borders protrudes past Emori borders
------------------------ ----------------------------
ARnon is border x1-x2 is border
of Moab and Emori x2 belongs to Emori;x1 to Arnon
-------------------------- -----------------------
COMMENTS

LONGER FOOTNOTES
*10
Rashi clarifies the complex geometric design
-------------------------------------------------
EMORI LAND | MOAB LAND   |
----------------|        |
EMORI LAND   x2 |x1Arnon |
----------------|        |
--------------------------
LIST690a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04

List of Rashis using     Spreadsheets/Algebra
VERSE Item Spreadsheet is used for
nu21-13b.htm Illustrate complex geometric border design
nu13-22b.htm Israel is superior of all lands
gn49-26d.htm your fathers blessings greater than my fathers
dt21-17a.htm How to give 1st-born double *1
ex38-24b.htm Computation of relative value of Biblical currency
nu03-39b.htm Accounting of Levite children
nu31-26a.htm Division of booty in war
gn05-32b.htm Computation of relative ages of Noachs children
gn25-20a.htm Proof that Rivkah was 15 when she married Isaac
COMMENTS
*1  Many people are familiar with the concept of the
FORMULA PLUG IN. That is a problem is solved by a
formula which you plug into.

But some problems intrinsically cannot (initally)
be solved by a formula. Instead you have to
formulate the problem algebraically and solve;only
then do you have the formula.

In other words these problems are solved by
the EQUATION vs the FORMULA

Thus the statement that the eldest gets double
suggests the following model.

- Suppose the are B brothers
- Suppose 1 of them is eldest
- The Fathers total assets are T (Total)

- Let A be the amount each brother inherits
We have no formula for A

- Then each of the B-1 brothers obtains A
- The eldest obtains double, 2A.
- Together this exhausts the Fathers estate, T

Hence we have (B-1)A + 2A = (B+1)A = T

This gives rise to the formula  A = T / (B+1)

An example is a father with 100,000 and 4 children
- T=100,000
- B=4
- So each child take T/(B+1) = 100000/5 = 20,000
- Eldest takes 2*20000=40000
- Other 3 take 20000
- Total distribution =3*20000+40000=100000

See Rambam Inheritance Chapter 2
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2005, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
LIGHTNING SUMMARIES
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04

Lightning summary of Rashis with emphasis on Rashi rules*10
# LIST BRIEF SUMMARY OF RASHI EMPHASIZING USE OF RASHI RULES
11 308u 5 requests of national passage--cf. problems/assets
11 308v Jews ACHIEVE by PRAYER; Edom achieves by SWORD
15 530a WAR has 2 stages:1) request for peace 2) War(if request denied)
30 690L Rashi describes complex geometric border design
30 690a List of Rashis using spreadsheets
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.

All lists may be found at http://www.Rashiyomi.com/lists.htm
Rashis covered in this issue
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04

VERSE RULE BRIEF DESCRIPTION
======== =============== =====================================
Nu20-17b ALIGNMENT Jews achieve by PRAYER; Edom by SWORD
Nu20-17c ALIGNMENT Jews achieve by PRAYER; Edom by SWORD
Nu20-18a ALIGNMENT Jews achieve by PRAYER; Edom by SWORD
Nu21-22a CONTRADiCTION WAR: Stage 1:Request peace;2:War
Nu21-13b SPREADSHEETS Description of complex border pattern
--------- ---------------- -----------------------------------
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2005, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
End of Rashi is Simple Digest
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2004, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#