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 15 For the WORD QUALITY HTML VERSION click here ----------------------------------- http://www.Rashiyomi.com/h26n14.htm ----------------------------------- Produced July 9 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: Nu22-29b
RASHIS COVERED: Nu22-29b Nu22-34b Nu22-04a Nu22-22b
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||
One of Rashis 10 major methods is the CONTRADICTION method. Rashi had 3 methods to resolve CONTRADICTORY BIBLICAL TEXTS - the two texts reflect 2 STAGES on 1 process - the two texts reflect 2 ASPECTS of 1 state - the two texts use BROAD-LITERAL interpretation EXAMPLE 1: Nu22-04a MOAB enemies of MIDYAN ------------------------------------------- Nu22-04a states that ---------------------------------- Moab sent emissaries to Midyan to request help from what they perceived as a Jewish threat ---------------------------------- But Gn36-35 speaks about the ------------------------ WAR in the field of MOAB ------------------------ Rashi resolves this using the principle of STAGES 1) Initially MOAB and MIDYAN were enemies 2) To combat the Jews they overcame their hatred EXAMPLE 2: Nu22-22b HARASS to PROTECT ------------------------------------- Nu22-22 states ----------------------------------- The Angel went down to HARASS him because he was going to curse with Moab to curse the Jews ----------------------------------- But Nu22-33:34 states --------------------------------- Bilam stated I didnt know an Angel opposed me; if it is wrong to curse the Jews I will not go --------------------------------- Rashi resolves this also using the principle of stages 1) Initially the Angel HARASSED him 2) His goal was to HARASS him to prevent him from going to SIN So even though he used harassment as an instrument his goal was MERCY(prevention of sin) EXAMPLE 3: Nu22-34a KNOWS GOD (LIAR!) ------------------------------------- In Nu22-34a Bilam states ----------------------------------- I didnt know you (Angel) were in the path (But my donkey did know) ----------------------------------- But Comically, in Nu24-16 Bilam states -------------------------------------- The person who knows the thoughts of God -------------------------------------- Rashi comments on this comic contrast - He knows the thoughts of God - But doesnt know what his donkey knows! In other words Rashi resolves this contradiction thru interpreting the two texts with different degrees of literal-broadness - Nu22-34 Bilam didnt know is interpreted literally - Nu24-16 Bilam knows God is interpreted as a lie This resolves the contradiction. A more technical description of this contradiction is IRONY which is a common literary technique. EXAMPLE 4: Nu22-29b HIRED TO KILL BY CURSE! ------------------------------------------- A similar interpretation by irony resolves the following two contradictory verses - In Nu22-05:06 Balak requests Bilam to kill the JEWS BY CURSE ---------------------------------- Please curse this nation this nation that I may expel them from my land ---------------------------------- - But in Nu22-29 Bilam states, while angry at his donkey ------------------------------------- You (Donkey) sported with me; if I had a sword I would kill you ------------------------------------- Rashi comments on the irony ------------------------------------- - His donkey he can only kill with a sword - but he is hired to kill the Jewish people by curse ------------------------------------- Again the irony is resolved using stages - we give a literal interpretation to the statement that (only) if he had a sword he would kill his donkey - we give a wishful interpretation to the desire to kill the Jews by cursing. LIST530a gives examples of CONTRADICTIONS resolved thru 2 stages LIST520a gives examples of CONTRADICTIONS resolved thru BROAD LITERAL | ||
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 | |
---------------------- | --------------------------------- | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS | BROAD-LITERAL | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #17 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST520a | |
A list of verse pairs | with BROAD-LITERAL usage |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | |||
A list of verse pairs with BROAD-LITERAL usage | |||
VERSE-1 | VERSE-2 | HOW THE TWO TEXTS ARE COMBINED | |
Nu22-34a | Nu24-16 | Claimed to know God but donkey knew more*4 | |
Nu22-29b | Nu22-05 | Asked to curse Jews but cant kill donkey*3 | |
Lv07-19c | Dt12-27 | All PURE PEOPLE whom the owner DESIGNATESeat | |
Lv06-22a | Lv06-19 | All MALE PRIESTS who COULD OFFER may eat*2 | |
Ex21-06 | Lv25-10 | Slave works FOREVER = Till 50th Jubilee year | |
Ex11-08a | Ex12-30 | Your SERVANTS=ROYAL PRESENCE shall expel me | |
Ex12-19a | Ex13-07 | Prohibits bread in your HOUSE/BORDERS=DOMAIN | |
Dt15-17 | Lv25-10 | Slaves work FOREVER=A LONG TIME=TILL JUBILEE | |
Lv07-09 | Lv07-10 | The PRIEST=DIVSION OF PRIEST,gets sacrifice | |
Lv04-03 | Lv04-03 | A Young ADULT Bullock = BEGINNING ADULTHOOD | |
Lv10-02 | Lv10-05 | Died from FIRE=SPIRITUAL FIRE*1 | |
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*1 Hence the fire did not burn their clothes The idea that the FIRES mentioned in Dt05 or Ex20 was the FIRE OF PROPHECY vs REAL FIRE is supported by many verses and themes (Dt05-21). There are other Biblical supports for this idea but this will suffice for now.*10 *2 Also echoed in Rashi Lv07-07b (OFFERING PRIEST means PRIESTS WHO COULD OFFER) *3 Thus the request to kill the Jews is seen as a WISH (BROAD interpretation)not as something real *4 That Bilam didnt know what his donkey knew is interpreted literally. That he claimed to know Gods thoughts is considered a LIE(Broad, non- literal interpretation). | |||
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*10 It does not detract from the greatness of the miracle of revelation that the FIRE means FIRE OF PROPHECY. For Judaism does not view Gods greatness in His ability to make a mountain smoke with Fire. Rather Judaism views Gods greatness in His ability to make people burn with Spiritual Prophecy |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | |||
Verse pairs illustrating 2 stages to a process | |||
VERSE-1 | VERSE-2 | HOW THE TWO TEXTS ARE COMBINED | |
Gn36-35 | Nu22-04a | 1st)Midyan-Moab enemies; 2nd) Unite against Jews | |
Nu22-34 | Nu22-22b | Stage 1) Angel HARASSES (Desired Stage 2)Avoid Sin | |
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: Nu22-21b
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | ||
SUCCINCT SUMMARY ---------------- One of Rashi's 10 major methods is the study of FORMATTING effects that indicate emphasis. We call this the Rashi method of FORMATTING. Modern authors have a variety of methods to indicate FORMATTING such as a) bold-underline-italics, b) bullets, c) paragraphing. Modern authors use bold-underline-italics to indicate emphasis. The Biblical authors use REPETITION to indicate emphasis. We call this the Rashi sub-method of REPETITION. EXAMPLE Nu22-21b ---------------- Note the CAPPED references to MOAB in Nu22-13:22 ----------------------------------------------------- Bilam told BALAKS PRINCES Go to YOUR land GOd will not let me go with YOU The MOAB PRINCES came to Balak and said Bilam refused to go with US Balak sent more princes more distinguished than THESE THEY came to Bilam THEY said Balak asks you to come Bilam told BALAKS SERVANTS ..Please YOU stay over tonight ..God told Bilam if the PEOPLE came for you ..Go with THEM ..Bilam got up and went with MOABS PRINCES ----------------------------------------------------- Thus MOAB is referred to as - BALAKS/MOABS PRINCES/SERVANTS - YOU - PEOPLE Normal grammatical usage requires one statement of the noun followed by use of a pronoun (YOU). Malbim suggests that a NOUN vs a PRONOUN is interpreted like all REPETITION. Hence we present two interpretations Rashi -------------------------------------------- The repetition WENT WITH MOAB MOAB has nuances of a BROAD interpretation--Bilam - went with them physically - went with them intellectually -------------------------------------------- An alternative interpretation of Rashi is as follows --------------------------------------------------- Note how the MOAB princes are referred to as - MOAB PRINCES - PEOPLE - THEM If the verse says BILAM WENT WITH MOABS PRINCES the emphasis is not on THEM but on MOABS PRINCES -- that is he went with their philosophy--he agreed with them --------------------------------------------------- LIST150a below presents other examples where verses are interpreted broadly because of a REPETITION. | ||
ITEM | DETAIL | |
RASHI RULE CLASS: | REPETITION | |
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS | BROAD | |
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE | #20 | |
SEE BELOW | LIST150a | |
List of verses with | REPEATED words interpreted |
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04 | |||
List of verses with REPEATED words interpreted broadly | |||
VERSE | TEXT OF VERSE | EMPHASIS...DO IT... | |
Nu22-21b | Went with MOAB MOAB | a)went physicaly b)agreed with | |
Nu13-30c | we-ll GO UP GO UP | we-ll WIN WAR no matter what | |
Lv20-09a | PARENTS...PARENTS | EVEN after death | |
Lv19-22a | the SIN HE SINNED | WHETHER willful or inadvertent | |
Dt13-16a | HIT HIT by sword | EVEN by Fire | |
Dt15-08b | GIVE GIVE charity | EVEN by loaning | |
Dt16-20a | PURSUE PURSUE Justice | EVEN for mistaken aquitals | |
Ex12-09c | COOK COOK in water | EVEN in other liquids | |
Lv13-35a | SPREAD SPREAD after OK | EVEN if SPREAD while impure | |
Lv17-13a | HUNT A HUNT*10 | EVEN for a non-hunted animal | |
------- | --------------------- | ----------------------------- | |
Nu05-22c | women says AMEN AMEN*5 | Adultery from marriage:engaged | |
Lv25-26c | no menial work(repeat) | Master to slave;King to subjct | |
Lv20-02b | EXECUTE EXECUTE | EVEN by the masses*1 | |
Lv07-19b | MEAT:all MEAT eatable | Even if PART of organ bad*3 | |
Lv05-15b | TRESPASS TRESPASS tmpl | Not only eating;any benefit*2 | |
Lv13-44a | DECLARE DECLARE impure | EVEN if not a head leprosy*4 | |
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*1 Supported by Dt17-06:07 which states -------------------------------------- ..first the witnesses execute...then the people execute -------------------------------------- *2 See http://www.Rashiyomi.com/lv05-02a.htm for a full discussion of the three Rashi methods connected with this verse. *3 e.g. If PART of meat fell outside temple (and is thereby impure) then you can still eat the part of the meat that remained inside the temple (even though the two parts are connected) *4 The text of Lv13-32:45 is as follows ---------------------------------------------------- If on his baldness there is pinkish affiction then leprosy is sprouting in his baldness; the priest reviews and confirms the pinkish affliction in his baldness just like skin leprosy...[then] this person is leprousand is ritually impure; the priest shall DECLARE DECLARE him impure and the lepor with the affliction: his garments shall be rent and his head left wild.... ----------------------------------------------------- The words DECLARE DECLARE encourage a BROAD interpretation of this chapter: The requirements of declaration, garment renting and head left wild apply not only to the subject of the chapter---a bald person with leprosy---but apply to ANY lepor *5 Rashi actually brings down THREE consequences of the broad interpretation emanating from the repeated word ------------------------------------------------------ The word AMEN signifies acceptance of an oath of curse - ACCEPTANCE whether she committed adultery from the suspected person OR from any other person - ACCEPTANCE whether she cheated while married or whether she cheated while (BiblicallY) engaged - ACCEPTANCE of both the OATH (I didnt commit adultery) as well as the consequent CURSE (May I be punished if I did commit adultery) ------------------------------------------------------ From these three distinct interpretations we infer that the basic idea of Rashi is that ----------------------------------- The repetition indicates ACCEPTANCE IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES ----------------------------------- *6 An alternative approach not based on repetition reviews all references to MOAB in Nu22-10:21. They are referred to as - Moabs princes - Balaks servants - Them - people If in Nu22-21 it refers to them as MOAB PRINCES ----------------------------- Bilam went with Moabs princes ----------------------------- The emphasis seems to be that he went with them and the Moabite philosophy (He agreed with them) | |||
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*10 Rashi citing the Talmud asks ------------------------------------------------ But if the law applies to HUNTED or DOMISTICATED (non-hunted) animals why does the bible use the phrase HUNT alltogether? ANSWER: The Bible speaks about a TYPICAL SITUATION: One normally should not eat meat except on special occassions and after significant work like a hunt ------------------------------------------------ |
*#*#*# (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 | |
20 | 150a | MOAB called him..he went with MOAB princes--he agreed with them | |
15 | 530a | 1st) Midyan-Moab were enemies 2nd) Unite against Jews | |
15 | 530a | 1st) Angel harasses him 2nd) to prevent him from sin(Mercy) | |
17 | 520a | Bilam didnt know what his donkey saw but claimed to know God | |
17 | 520a | Bilam couldnt kill donkey but was asked to kill Jews by curse | |
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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 | |
======== | =============== | ===================================== | |
Nu22-21b | REPETITION | Go with Moab Moab Princes=agreed with | |
Nu22-29b | CONTRADICTION | Didnt know like donkey but knew God! | |
Nu22-34b | CONTRADICTION | Didnt know like donkey but knew God! | |
Nu22-04a | CONTRADICTION | Didnt know like donkey but knew God! | |
Nu22-22b | CONTRADICTION | Didnt know like donkey but knew God! | |
--------- | ---------------- | ----------------------------------- |
*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2005, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#