*1
The theme TEACH LAW is developed with the details
- TAKE HEED
- DON'T FORGET
- LIKE THE 10 COMMANDMENTS
Recall that the 10 commandments are chapter
headings which encompass many further laws both
Biblical and Rabbinic. For example, DON'T STEAL
prohibits witholding wages, kidnapping and
rabbinically covers TEASING THEFT.

This implies that TEACHING LAW encompasses both
Biblical obligations as well as ORAL LAW and
RABBINIC enactments which fulfill TAKE HEED
and DON'T FORGET

*1 To clarify the use of this list let us review the
first example. The verse cites various people
- Datan, Aviram
- On
The verse then says these were the sons of Reuven

This is ambiguous.
- Were DATAN/AVIRAM sons of Reuven
- Was ON the son of Reuven.

Rashi points out that ALL of them were sons of Reuven

To clarify this we capitalize DATAN / AVIRAM / ON
and then clarify SONS OF REUVEN. The last column
then explains that the CAPPED  PHRASE, SONS OF REUVEN
refers to both DATAN and AVIRAM.

*2 Note the ambiguity-- the THEM refers to YOUR MOB.

*3 Abraham made 3 requests (a)Deal with Ephron (B) pay for
field (c) Pay full price.

Ephrons no refers back to PAYING for the field.
This is proven by the next phrase
----------------------------------------
EPHRON: I will GIVE you the field
----------------------------------------

*4 The Talmud cites both views (SOUL OF AGRRIEVED/OWNER)
without coming to a conclusion. The controversy center
on whether
- pronouns refer to the LAST MENTIONED NOUN (So here
the RANSOM OF HIS SOUL refers to the OWNERS soul)

- or do pronouns refer to whatever is defined by CONTEXT

Since killing a slave requires paying a flat fee of 30
units of currency (The abstract worth of slaves) it
follows that RANSOM OF HIS SOUL would refer to the
value of the AGGRIEVEDs soul.

*5 The verse could equally mean
---------------------------------------------
God took the Jews out of Egypt BEFORE HIMSELF
---------------------------------------------

Rashi could then translate this idiom as meaning
WITH GOD LEADING. This is justified (as Rashi points
out with an OTHER VERSE--Ex14-19.

The verse could also mean
-------------------------------------------------
God took the Jews out of Egypt BEFORE THE FATHERS
-------------------------------------------------

This would echo the theme that God redeemed the
Jews FOR THE SAKE of the PATRIARCHS. Again an
OTHER VERSE justifies this...e.g. Dt09-05*10

*10 It might be tempting to identify the referent of
the pronoun using plurality since God is singular
and the Patriarchs are plural.

But as Rashi points out we can refer to a GROUP
in the singular connoting a unified front.

Rashi points out that in this very verse Dt04-37
we have a SINGULAR reference to the Patriarchs
----------------------------------------------
Therefore he chose you their seed after HIM
----------------------------------------------
Here the word HIM refers to the Patriarchs.

*1 Rashi, Lv26-17h points out that the phrase
-------------
PLACE MY FACE
-------------
means
--------------
FULL ATTENTION
--------------
whether
- for good, to reward
- for bad, to punish.

*2 NOTE: The Hebrew word HEAD can mean both
- BEGINNING
- TOP
However in this verse
- the HEAD OF THE CLIFF contrasts with
- the VALLEY in MOAB
Hence HEAD means TOP

*3 A MOUTH LOTTERY refers to a lottery where you stick your
hand in and select an item WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SEE THE
ITEMS (In an open-box lottery you can see what you are
picking even though you see backs of cards. In a MOUTH
LOTTERY the box is covered except for a small MOUTH).
The MOUTH LOTTERY is more secure and fairer.
Hence the Rashi

The name MOUTH LOTTERY is because the box has only
a small mouth preventing you from seeing what is
inside.
---------------------------------------------------
MOUTH LOTTERY means that the LOTTERY speaks and says
this belongs to so and so
---------------------------------------------------

Of course, Rashi did not believe that LOTTERIES speak.
Rather Rashi refers to the SECURITY and FAIRNESS of
the lottery. In other words
- MOUTH LOTTERY refers to a small MOUTH on LOTTERY box
(not to a physical voice on the box)
- Since the MOUTH LOTTERY is secure it is AS IF it
screams and points to a correct fair choice

*4 Rashi is NOT explaining the meaning of the INDIVIDUAL WORDS
- GOOD
- PROPER
Indeed, GOOD can mean SOCIALLY GOOD also (See Gn26-29)
Therefore we have interpreted this Rashi as an example
of the IDIOM method.

*5 These five examples show various idiomatic meanings of
the INFINITIVE of the verb TO SAY: TO SAY can mean
- TO SAY BACK: Request for response
- TO SAY OVER: To Transmit
- TO SAY OVER AND OVER: Rumor
See LIST955m for a separate summary

*6 Thus in Dt18-01
-------------------------------------
The PRIEST-LEVITES shall not inherit
from the conquest of Israel
-------------------------------------
the phrase PRIEST-LEVITES means
PRIESTS OR LEVITES.

Another occurrence of this phrase
occurs in Dt17-18.

In Dt17-09a Rashi does state
------------------------------------
The PRIESTS who are no longer Levites
------------------------------------

But I understand this to mean
------------------------------------
PRIESTS by itself means PRIESTS but
not Levites while LEVITES by itself
could mean LEVITES but not Priests--
PRIEST LEVITES means PRIESTS OR LEVITES*10
-------------------------------------

*7 Besides the fact that this sounds OK (WENT BY JOURNEYS=
STAYED BY SAME HOTELS) the verse gives support
---------------------------------------------
HE WENT BY HIS JOURNEYS...UNTIL HE RETURNED
TO HIS ORIGINAL PLACE WHERE HE BUILT AN ALTAR
---------------------------------------------

*8 In other words if
- the King slept with Sarah and then
- returned her to Abraham
perhaps he "had enough of her" and just "wanted to play."

But if he gives her a monetary gift then
- it is recognized that a miracle happened and his return
- is an apology for taking her.
- Hence the money prevents people EYEING Sarah(looking at
her as a 'rejected woman.'
This is covered in two Rashi (Gn20-16a Gn20-16b) which
are better understood as one Rashi.

*10 Dt17-09 states
---------------------------------------
[If you have a legal question then]
ask the PRIEST-LEVITES, the Judges of
the day
---------------------------------------

The law PREFERS that the great Sanhedrin
court in Jerusalem consist of PRIESTS.
Levites are a second choice (and Israelite
scholars are a third choice).

So it appears that Rashi's comment
--------------------------------------
Priests but not Levites
--------------------------------------
is literal.

But in Dt18-01 the prohibition of inheriting
conquested Israelie land applies to EITHER
Priests OR Levites.

Similarly I would interprtet Dt17-09 to mean
that EITHER Priests or Levites should preferably
be on the Great Sanhedrin. That is the Biblical
law.

But Rabbinically---since Priests are more
involved with the Temple there is a preference
for Priests to be elected to the great court
vs. Levites. This preference however is rooted
in logic not in the verse. The IDIOM, PRIEST-LEVITES
means PRIESTS or LEVITES as shown.

*11 See LIST854c for further examples where LEFT OR RIGHT
means a LITTLE bit. Rashi's actual language is
---------------------------------------------------
If you dont consent to the marriage then I will either
- go to the RIGHT (RASHI: The Ishmaelites)
- or the LEFT (RASHI: Lot-ites)
---------------------------------------------------

But in light of the examples in LIST854c this
Rashi should not be taken literally! Rather
Rashi should be interpreted broadly
----------------------------------------
My master prohibited marriages to Canaanites
So if you dont consent to the marriage
I will go to OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS OF ABRAHAM
- such as ISHMAEL his son
- or LOT his nephew
-----------------------------------------

There is temptation to interpret
-LEFT=LOT=weakness=(He committed incest with daughters)
-RIGHT=STRENGTH=Ishmael

However this SPECIFIC and FOCUSED interpretation of
LEFT and RIGHT is unsupported by the many other
examples in LIST854c below.

Notice this use of LISTS. We are only justified in
reading into Rashi what can be obtained from LISTS
We are not justified in reading extra!

Finally for those into Talmudic flavor note that
- all the other verses speak about LEFT/RIGHT
- Gn24-49 speaks about LEFT OR RIGHT (Hebrew Aleph-Vav)
Perhaps then the ALEPH VAV gives extra emphasis
But 2S02-19 shows that LEFT/RIGHT and LEFT OR RIGHT
both mean the same thing---A LITTLE BIT

*12 See LIST854m

*13 Notice the terminal hey on the Hebrew word
Aleph-Mem-Vav-Tauv-Hey--indicating the
JUSSIVE mode (mode of hope). Thus the
word is translated IF ONLY I COULD DIE

Hence the proper way of interpreting
this phrase is, similar to the English
idiom, IF ONLY I COULD DIE (How happy I
am)

Rashi SUPPLEMENTS the explanation of
this idiom by explaining it
------------------------------------
If I died now I would be comforted
knowing I saw you
------------------------------------

Rashi cites the Targum. However the
Targum's explanation should be seen
as secondary to the primary
explanation of the Rashi as an
idiomatic expression with a given
meaning (in other words you don't have
to explain idioms to understand them--
the idiom means what it does because
of usage)

*14 Rashi gives a second explanation
---------------------------------
If only I could die THIS TIME
---------------------------------

Rashi states
---------------------------------
I thought I would die in both this
world and the next---but now I see
I at most lost this world but not
the next since your dreams have
become prophecies and indications
that I am destined to the next world
---------------------------------

Rashi's second explanation does
not CONTRADICT or REPLACE the
first explanation.

Rather Rashi's two explanations
address TWO ISSUES in the verse
-------------------------------
The Hebrew word Aleph-Mem-Vav-
Tauv-Hey means IF ONLY I
COULD DIE which is an idiom
indicating HAPPYNESS
-------------------------------

However the Bible modified
the idiom
-------------------------
IF ONLY I COULD DIE
-------------------------
by adding the word THIS TIME

----------------------------
IF ONLY I COULD DIE THIS TIME
-----------------------------

Rashi sees this modification
of the idiom as indicating
a subtle nuance
--------------------------
I will only die THIS time
that is ONCE but not twice
--------------------------
alluding to the fact that
Jacob thought he would go
to hell for misleading
Joseph but now he sees he
at most lost this world but
is destined to the next world

*1 An example of SYNECHDOCHE--naming the whole
by the part

*2 An example of METONOMY--naming by something
related

*3 An example of naming by either
- Form (eg Pentagon)
- Function (e.g UN)
- Feel (e.g. Hardship)
We call this the FFF rule.

*4 RULE
----
* ALeph nun hey = WHERE
* UNTIL Aleph Nun Hey= until WHEN

*10 Rashi:
-----------------------------------------------
Since generally sexually-perverse acts are
called EGYPTIAN-LIKE and CANAANITE LIKE we infer
that EGYPT and CANAAN were exemplary in sexual
perversity.
-----------------------------------------------

Here Rashi uses the SYNECHDOCHE principle to
explain the reason for naming sexual perversity
as EGYPT-LIKE and CANAANITE-LIKE.

*11 For reasons of space we have abbreviated.
Nu09-15c literally translated states
-----------------------------
SANCTUARY FOR TENT OF TABLETS
-----------------------------

Ex31-21c literally translated states
--------------------------------
The Sanctuary of Tablets
--------------------------------


The following terms all refer to the Temple
--------------------------------------------
* Sanctuary
* Sanctuary of Tablets
* Sanctuary for the Tent of Tablets
* Sanctuary of the tent of Meeting
--------------------------------------------
While Rashi explains the details
of some of these terms it seems
reasonable to simply view them
all as IDIOMS. Some further comments on
the terms are presented below.

Technically the literal Hebrew term is
--------------------------------------
* Sanctuary of TESTIMONY
--------------------------------------

However the TABLETS with the 10
COMMANDMENTS are called the TESTIMONY
(See Ex31-18 or Ex25-16)Hence we have
translated this phrase as the
-------------------------------
* Sanctuary of Tablets
-------------------------------

The temple is called the
---------------------------------
* Sanctuary of Meeting
---------------------------------
because God designates the Temple
as a meeting place for Prophecy
(Cf. Ex25-22)

*12 The verse states
----------------------------
until it comes out of your nose
and becomes strange
----------------------------

Rashi translates the whole item as meaning
DISGUSTING. Clearly this is an example of
NEW MEANINGS.

*13 Here are a few uses of Pay-Tet-Resh
---------------------------------------
* SPROUTING buds (SPROUTING) 1K06-19
---------------------------------------
* SPROUTING(Leaving) from before King (1S19-10)
* SPROUTING (releasing) water (Pr17-14)
* SPROUTING from Womb (Nu08-16)
---------------------------------------
We clearly have here a naming by FORM.

*14 Rashi gives an alternative explanation
---------------------------------------
This refers to Adam whose stature extended
from ONE OF HEAVEN TO THE OTHER
---------------------------------------

Rashi here unifies both parts of the verse
------------------------------------------
- go back in history to ask
- ask Adam
------------------------------------------

The statement that ADAM's stature extended
from one of heaven to the other simply meant
that ADAM like NOACH and ABRAHAM unified the
whole world. We metaphorically indicate the
impact of such people by using words like
GREAT, BIG. The statement
-------------------------------------------
Adam's stature extended from one end of the
world to the other
--------------------------------------------
simply means that
--------------------------------------------
Adam's influence extended from one end of
the world to the other since he unified the
world
--------------------------------------------

Here again Rashi identifies a PERSON with
the LOCATIONS of his REIGN.

*1  Rashi not only connects 2 paragraphs. He also connects
all Biblical paragraphs in this chapter. See
footnote *10 for further details


*2 Dt28 gives a long list of curses if the Jews violate
the commandments.

Dt29-12 says "You are all STANDING before God today" In
other words despite the curses for disobediance you are
still here before God(The implication being that no
matter how angry God gets he will not destroy you)

A further support for this theme can come from the
General-particular-General form

Dt28    GENERAL:    Curses for disobediance
Dt29-12 PARTICULAR: You are standing here before God
Dt29-19 GENERAL:    Curses for disobediance

Thus the General-Particular-General form shows that Gods
curses still allow us to "Stand before him"--in other
words they are educative curses not punitive.


*3 In other words (always) "Observe the Sabbaths"
DESPITE a request to the contrary "By your parents"

This can happen if eg your parents ask you to
desecrate the Sabbath.  You must observe the
Sabbath even if your parents request to
the contrary.

And this can be generalized to all Torah laws(that
they take precedence over your parents request)


*4 Wear Tzitzith DESPITE the fact that they may have Shaatnez
Wool and linen together (In the priestly garments made of
Linen the Tzitzith were made of wool--thus the commandment
of Tzitzith OVERRIDES the prohibtion of wearing wool and
linen)

*5 More specifically Rashi (Dt10-12a) states
---------------------------------------------
Despite the 5 rebellions that the Jews did
against God, nevertheless, God still loves
the Jews. In fact Dt10-12 states that all
the Jews need do to earn this love is to
revere God
---------------------------------------------

*6 Rashis point is that Jacob did not ask Esauv
----------------------------
Past me and leave me behind
----------------------------

Rather Jacob suggested contrast
------------------------------------------------
- I must go at a gentle pace
- you go at a normal pace
------------------------------------------------

A logical consequence of this contrast is that
Esauv would pass Jacob and leave him behind.


*7 The full Biblical text shows two rounds of dialogs
between Moses and Joseph
The Biblical text states as follows
----------------------------------------------------
Gn42-09    1     JOE:      You are Spies
Gn42-10:11 1     BROHTERS: NO(Contrast)--We are simple people
Gn42-12    2     JOE:      NO(Contrast) you are spies
Gn42-13    2     BROTHERS: We are 12 sons;we came for food
----------------------------------------------------

*8 Gn47-25b and Gn47-25a both deal with the contrast of offer
vs Thank you.

*9 Rashi makes a point of the contrast
----------------------------------------
Even though he was going to die after the war
nevertheless he was eager to perform the war
--------------------------------------------

*10

On a superficial level Rashi seems to be connecting 2
verses.

Avoid idolatry DESPITE your being a slave to a non jew
(who encourages its violation). Do not think "I will
worship idols now and when I am free I will go
back to believing in God"

On a profound level Rashi sees a unifying theme to this
whole chapter. The chapter encourages observing the
shimitah laws which encourage abstaining from agriculture
once every 7 years so that people can devote themselves
to God and study. If one violates these laws he is
progressively punished. Here is the sequence of
punishments

{LIST} {Paragraphs in BEHAR}
-------------------------------------------------------
VERSE        LAW
------------ ------------------------------------------
Lv25-01:12   Observe the 7 and 50 year Land sabbaticals
Lv25-13:24   If not you will have to sell your MOVABLES
Lv25-25:28   If not you will have to sell your LAND
Lv25-29:34   If not you will have to sell your HOUSE
Lv25-35:38   If not you will have to           LOAN
Lv25-39:46   If not you will have to become a  SLAVE
Lv25-47:54   If not you'll become a  NONJEWISH SLAVE
Lv26-01:03   If not you'll be tempted to    IDOLATRY
---------------------------------------------------------


Thus Rashi does not merely teach juxtaposition of verses
but he also teaches juxtaposition of ALL paragraphs in
the chapter.

*11

Rashi comments
------------------------------------------------------
The verse CLEARLY contrasts HUNTER vs SIMPLE and
FIELDS vs TENTS. Thus the SITTING IN TENTS spoken
about here is not e.g. the tents of hunters but
rather the tents of scholars (or charity givers)
------------------------------------------------------

I have added the explanatory words [or charity givers]
to show that Rashi's point is one of CONTRAST not
one of IDENTIFICATION. Rashi literally says
-------------------------------------
TENTS refers to the tents of Shaym
alluded to in the verse Gn09-27
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
God will give beauty to Yefeth
and Yefeth will dwell in the TENTS OF SHAYM
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-------------------------------------

Presumably these are tents of either scholars
or tents of charity givers. Rashi's main
point is not the identification of WHOSE
tents Jacob dwells in but rather the
TYPES of tents that Jacob dwells in--
charity or learning tents vs hunter tents.

*12 Rashi cites Gn41-40 to support this interpretation
-------------------------------------------------
Pharoh said to Joseph; I give you power over all Egypt
But my throne shall surpass your power
-------------------------------------------------

*13 - The 6 refuge cities became operational as a unit
- That is, no refuge city gave asylum till all did
- Hence if Moses was dying his setting aside 3
cities did not have any effect

We conclude that Moses set aside the cities simply
because of religiousity and his love of performance

*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