Rashi-Is-Simple Mailing List VISIT the RASHI DATABASE archives AT http://www.RashiYomi.com/ Surfing the Talmudic Seas (C) RashiYomi Incorporated, 2005 Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel Volume 26 Number 13 For the WORD QUALITY HTML VERSION click here ----------------------------------- http://www.Rashiyomi.com/h26n13.htm ----------------------------------- Produced Jun 30 th, 2005 |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | |||
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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 | |
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*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) |
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VERSE: Nu20-17b
RASHIS COVERED: Nu20-17b Nu20-17c Nu20-18a
(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) |
(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 | |
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*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 | ||||
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*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 ------------------------------------------ |
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(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 | ||||
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*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
(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 |
(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 | |
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*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 | |||
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*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
(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 |
(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 | |
-------------------------- | ----------------------- | |
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*10 Rashi clarifies the complex geometric design ------------------------------------------------- EMORI LAND | MOAB LAND | ----------------| | EMORI LAND x2 |x1Arnon | ----------------| | -------------------------- |
(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 | |
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*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 #*#*#*#*#
(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 | |
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*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 |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | |||
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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 #*#*#*#*#