Rashi-Is-Simple Mailing List
(C) Dr Russell Jay Hendel, 1999
http://www.shamash.org/rashi
Volume 3 Number 18
Produced Sep. 21 1999
Topics Discussed in This Issue
------------------------------
v5a32-42 Verse is stated in PARALLEL structure using opposition
v5a32-15 3 stages of OVEREAT,OVERWEIGHT,FLABBY correspond to sin
SORRY FOR LATE DELIVERY--
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The Rashi Is Simple calendar of events
has been revised to reflect this. There will be one
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL
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*** READING TIPS ***
***************************
IF YOU ARE IN A HURRY WE RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS:
* VERSE:
* RASHI TEXT:
* BRIEF BUT COMPLETE NARRATIVE EXPLANATION:
"HOW DO I FIND QUICKLY A SPECIFIC SECTION?"
ANSWER: Use your FIND menu
For example: FIND VERSE:
takes you to the beginning of the next section.
Similarly
FIND NARRATIVE EXPLANATION:
takes you to the brief explanation of Rashi.
"IS THERE AN EASY WAY TO GO TO EACH VERSE AND POSTING?"
Yes. Use your FIND menu.
FIND #*#*#*# takes you to the next posting
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VERSE: v5a32-42
v5a32-42 My arrows will get drunk from BLOOD
v5b32-42 My sword will eat FLESH
RASHI TEXT:
v5a32-42 The verse is using a repetitive style. The phrases
>My arrows will get drunk from BLOOD
>..from the BLOOD ..of captives
are parallel (That is, BLOOD refers to the enemys
blood). The repetitive style creates an atmosphere
of emphasis.
v5a32-42 The verse is using a repetitive style. The phrases
>my sword will eat FLESH
>..the heads...of the enemy
are parallel(That is, FLESH refers to the enemy's
flesh) The repetitive style creates an atmosphere
of emphasis.
BRIEF BUT COMPLETE NARRATIVE EXPLANATION:
The verse SPEAKS to us, even without Rashi, by its parallel structure
>My arrows will get drunk from BLOOD
>...from the BLOOD of...captives
Thus Rashi Is Simple. The word BLOOD in the first phrase referes
to the BLOOD of captives in the 2nd phrase. The verse uses this
repetitive style to achieve emphasis.(See {LIST1} for the
structure of the verse)
In fact on 2-15-6 Rashi gives a long list of REPETITIVE verses. eg
-Ps92-10 FOR BEHOLD YOUR ENEMIES, God, FOR BEHOLD YOUR ENEMIES die
-Ps93-3 THE RIVERS LIFT, God, THE RIVERS LIFT their voice
-Ps147-9 He gives to the ANIMALS food, to the ..RAVENS that call*2
In all these verses some type of REPETITION is used. The verse
is broken up and repeated twice to achieve an effect of emphasis.
For more examples see {LIST2}. Note that the first repetition
in 5-32-42 uses the SAME WORD
>from BLOOD...from BLOOD..of captives
while the 2nd repetition uses DIFFERENT WORDS
>from FLESH..from the HEADS ..of the enemy
Examples of this type of repetition are also given in {LIST2}. One
from our daily davening is
-Ps147-9 He gives to the ANIMALS food, to the ..RAVENS that call
(The point being that the above form gives more emphasis than
the benign
--He give food to the ANIMALS and RAVENS that call upon him
COMMENTS ON RASHI'S FORM:
As is clear from the sister Rashi in 2-15-6 and the many
examples that Rashi brings, Rashi is simply observing that
BLOOD is repeated twice in the verse.
Thus the sifsay Chachamim's observation that Rashi is translating the
preposition in the verse as meaning
>FROM The blood of the enemy (their arrows are drunk)
rather than
>BECAUSE of the blood of the enemy (Their arrows are drunk)
is true but not relevant.
The point being that M in Hebrew can mean
>FROM or
>BECAUSE
While the Sifsay chachamim's point is true nevertheless as
can be seen from {LIST1} & {LIST2} Rashi's real
point is on parallel repetitive structure.
We have seen many Rashis where full understanding of Rashi
can only come from another more complete Rashi.
LISTS {For ADVANCED students and for those with more time}:
{LIST1} {Parallel structure of 5-32-42. The verse is read
from left to right and from top to bottom. Note
in column 3 how the word BLOOD corresponds to
BLOOD of captives and FLESH corresonds to HEADS of
ENEMY. The use of REPETITION creates an atmosphere
of EMPHASIS. For further examples of verses with
REPETITION see {LIST2}}
Colume 1 Column 2 Column 3
========= ============== ========================
My arrows Will get drunk From BLOOD
My sword will eat FLESH
{LIST2} {Verses with repeated words for emphasis. These verses
exemplify the following rule::
It is a legitimate act of style,for purposes of emphasis,
to take any part of a sentence and repeat it with extra
phrases inserted.(Source, Rashi on 2-15-6)}
VERSE TEXT
===== ====
Ps92-10 FOR BEHOLD YOUR ENEMIES, God, FOR BEHOLD YOUR ENEMIES die
Ps94-3 UNTIL WHEN WILL THE WICKED, God,UNTIL WHEN WILL THE
WICKED Rejoice
Ps93-3 THE RIVERS LIFT, God, THE RIVERS LIFT their voice
Hos2-23 On that day, I WILL FURROW, says God, I WILL FURROW heaven*1
5-32-42 My arrows will get drunk with BLOOD..the BLOOD..of captives
Isa63-7 The GRACES of GOD will I remember, the PRAISES of GOD*2
Ps147-9 He gives to the ANIMALS food, to the ..RAVENS that call*2
5-32-42 My sword will eat FLESH...the HEADS of..the enemy*2
FOOTNOTES:
*1 A cute explanation (my own)--2 other (more traditional)
explanations are---I will ANSWER the heaven (Because the
drought will look like a question from heaven for rainwater
(RDQ))----I will DESIRE the heaven (Rav Yonah cited by
the Radack). I have interpreted it in the sense of FURROWS
and PLOUGHING of heaven (to get water) since it ties in
with the follow up statement (I WILL FURROW THE EARTH)
where it does make sense.
*2 Note that in these examples the REPETITION uses DIFFERENT
words (FLESH, HEADS) while in the other examples the REPETITION
uses the SAME word (eg BEHOLD...BEHOLD).
CROSS REFERENCES:
v2b15-6 (volume 1 number 12)--Rashi brings many examples
that REPETITION is used for emphasis.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
RULE CLASSIFICATION {See the web site for comparable examples}:
STYLE | REPETITION
STTLE | REPETITION
SQL {Database query comments for those who know Database theory}:
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VERSE: v5a32-15
v5a32-15 [And the Jews fattened and rebelled]
You have OVEREATEN (ShMNT)
..become OVERWEIGHT (AVH)
v5b32-15 ..become FLABBY (CSH)
v5d32-15 [You deserted God your maker]
and DESPISED the rock of your
salvation
RASHI TEXT:
v5a32-15 AVH=THICK. In context it means OVERWEIGHT
v5b32-15 CSH=COVER. In context it means FLABBY
Comparable verses (where CSH=COVER=FLABBY) are
>For his face is flabby with his fat(Job 15:27)
>..making wrinkles(?) on his fat (Job 15:27)
v5d32-15 A good example of DESPISED is Ez8-16
>They were in the Temple of God with their back
>to God worshipping idols.
There is no greater despisement than this
BRIEF BUT COMPLETE NARRATIVE EXPLANATION:
The Rashis on this verse come from the principle of CLIMAX which
states that
>3-4 or more VERBS, PHRASES, SENTENCES, ADJECTIVES in
>a group of verses or one verse SHOULD always be
>interpreted using a method of CLIMAX (even if this
>requires injecting derived meanings to the words)
In the past the explanation of verses with CLIMAX has been lengthy.
I believe that starting with this verse we have a way of making
the explanations short but complete. Verses that are explained by
CLIMAX will have 5 stages of explanation
--the LIST stage (When the verse/LIST of phrases is presented)
--the ELEMENTARY stage (we give an oversimplified meaning of verse)
--the WORD stage (all meanings and derived meanings are indicated)
--the ANALOGY stage (verse analogies,if present, are explained)
--the DIFFERENCES stage(differences in verse phrases are explained)
Let us now apply this technique to this verse, 5-32-15 {LIST1}
--the LIST STAGE: See {LIST1}. 5-32-15 can be presented as
& Israel FATTENED & REBELLED
youv'e overeaten
become overweight
become flabby
you DESERTED God Your maker
DESPISED the rock of salvation
The climax principle will apply to the 3 verbs
>>OVEREAT, OVERWEIGHT,FLABBY
--the ELEMENATARY STAGE: Notice how the verse has a GENERAL-DETAIL
form. The GENERAL FORM is in the first line in the above list
>& Israel FATTENED and REBELLED
Notice how FATTENED is then developed later in the verse with 3
verbs
>overeat, overweight, flabby
Similarly REBELLED is developed later in the verse with 2 verbs
>DESERTED DESPISED
We should clarify that in the ElEMENTARY stage we only give a very
superficial overall meaning and do not go into details. In the
LIST stage we simply identify WHAT has to be explained without
explaining it.
We can further clarify this by reviewing the 4 types of verse
interpretations
--Pshat=Meaning in context
--meaning without context
--literal meaning (not really used for anything)
--Elementary meaning (superficial overview)
We note that sometimes the
--ELEMENTARY meaning or MEANING WITHOUT CONTEXT is called Pshat
--while MEANING with CONTEXT is called Drash.
However this is not a valid approach. For example there is
obviously a difference between saying that the Jews
>became fat vs
>overate, became overweight, became flabby
In summary in the ELEMENTARY stage we simply translate the verse
as
>THE JEWS BECAME FAT.
In the LIST stage we become aware that there are 3 verbs
describing this fatness WiTHOUT YET committing ourselves to
what these verbs mean.
--the WORD MEANING/NEW MEANING STAGE: We translate {LIST2}
>ShMNTA = OVEREAT, from the ROOT ShMN, OIL
>AViSA = OVERWEIGHT, from the root AV, THICK
>CShiTha = FLABBY, from the root CSH, COVERED
It is important to emphasize what IS being done and what is NOT
being done here.
Rashi is NOT stating that one of the meanings of AV is OVERWEIGHT.
Rather
>the meaning OVERWEIGHT is DERIVED FROM context;Rashi however finds
>SUPPORT for this derviation in the root meaning AV=THICK
Rashi is also not stating that AVISHA in this verse means
>THICK
Because you just don't call people THICK---you call them OVERWEIGHT.
How then is it known that Rashi translates this as OVERWEIGHT. It
is learned from CONTEXT---the context speaks about 3 verbs or
processes connected with BEING FAT. One logical aproach is
OVEREAT, OVERWEIGHT, FLABBY. And if the reader has some different
approach that is good also. It is for this reason (That meaning
is derived from CONTEXT) that we so frequently find CONTROVERSY
in verses where meaning is derived from CONTEXT; we also frequently
feel that Rashi and other commentaries are MIDRASHIC.
The proper perspective (to avoid this MIDRASHIC feeling) is to
clearly state that
>the underlying meaning of the verse is that the Jews
got FAT
>this GETTING FAT is amplified with a 3 stage process
This gives the PSHAT of the verse. The various attempts to
identify the DETAILS of the 3 stage process (such as my personal
attempt at translating it as OVEREAT, OVERWEIGHT, FLABBY) should
be perceived as ONE OF MANY ATTEMPTS that add insight to the
verse. Such a perspective will simultaneously give students
a sense of Pshat and allow them to enjoy the verse.
In summary in the MEANING stage we
>translate the verse phrase as OVERATE,OVERWEIGHT,FLABBY
>find SUPPORT for these meanings in the Biblical roots
Note that although Rashi gives some supportive verses where
KSH means flabby the real derivation is from CONTEXT. There
are not enough OTHER VERSES where KSH means FLABBY to make
this a rule. Therefore the proper perspective is that we
>DERIVE the meaning from CONTEXT and
>only find SUPPORT in the Biblical roots
--the ANALOGY STAGE
Recall Rashi uses workbook methods--he might give only
one or two ideas and let the reader fill in the rest. In this
case Rashi just explains the words
>overeat
>overweight
>flabby
Rashi does not give the ANALOGY. Several such analogies are
given by the Sifrah. We mention only one and invite the reader
to try and produce others. The Sifrah notes that {LIST3}
>OVEREAT = Reign of YRAVAM when they made idols
>OVERWEIGHT=Reign of ACHV when they followed idolatrous
practices (eg ACHV hired false witnesses to
kill Navoth and steal his land a common
procedure in Non jewish reigns. Achav learned
this from his heathen wife Izevel)
>FLABBY=Reign of YEHU when they were set in their
practices and couldn't desert idolatry.
Note how the ANALOGY has implications for OUTREACH. People don't
just sin. First they do something ritualistic (like idol worship)
then they become influenced by the immoral practices of the
cult (killing Navoth) and finally they become 'set' in their ways.
The analogy with OVEREATING, OVERWEIGHT, FLABBY is apropos--it
emphasizes the GRADUALNESS of deterioration. This is all summarized
in {LIST3}.
Again it is important to emphasize what is Pshat and what is not.
It is Pshat that
>the Torah is speaking about being overweight
>that being overweight has several stages
>That the corruption of sin takes place gradually
like the corruption of weight gain
Such a perspective makes the CLIMAX approach more palatable.
---The DETAIL STAGE: In this stage we comment on differences
between PHRASES that comprise the CLIMAX LIST. Since in v5-32-15 we
deal with a climax of words, not phrases, there is no DETAIL
stage.
A summary would be helpful to emphasize the simplicity of the
above approach
--ELEMENTARY STAGE--the verse speaks about JEWS BECOMING FAT
--LIST STAGE--the verse lists 3 subprocesses to FAT
--MEANING STAGE--OVEREAT, OVERWEIGHT, FLABBY (one possibility)
--ANALOGY--For example, IDOLATRY, FALSE WITNESS/MURDER, SET IN WAYS
Our suggested new approach is summarized in {LIST4}
There are many POSSIBLE ANALOGIES--we have just given one. Also
there might be ALTERNATE subprocesses of BEING FAT--the important
thing is NOT the particular meanings we selected but the IDEA of
becoming FAT in SEVERAL STAGES.
Finally we make a comment about the last part of the verse
>He DESERTED his God
>he DESPISED his God
Although there are only two verbs Rashi sought to CLARIFY the
nuances contained in DESPISED that are not contained in DESERTED.
Rashi gives a GOOD EXAMPLE of despisement--Ez8-16
>The Jews in the Temple with THEIR BACK to God bowing to idols
To understand this Rashi we emphasize that
>Rashi is NOT exhausting the verses meaning in Ez8-16
>He is ONLY giving a good example
>Nothing was BOTHERING Rashi but
>He wanted to enhance our appreciation of the difference
between DESERT and DESPISE. He is only giving a GOOD
EXAMPLE.
Such a perspective helps us see Rashi as Simple and not Midrashic
The reader, following the Midrash and Sifrah can now try and
find other verses supporting this idea (The Sifrah gives other
examples).
COMMENTS ON RASHI'S FORM:
We make two points.
WORKBOOK METHODS
-----------------
We have already explained that Rashi used workbook methods here.
He only gave the meaning of words. He left the discovery of analogy
to the reader. We have cited one from the Sifrah.
GOOD EXAMPLES
-------------
Rashi's citation of
>the jews worshipping idols in the temple
is a GOOD EXAMPLE of 5-32-15. However the verses' meaning
is not exhausted with this GOOD EXAMPLE. Such an approach
makes Rashi more palatable.
LISTS {For ADVANCED students and for those with more time}:
{LIST1} {Text of 5-32-15. The text is read from RIGHT to LEFT
and from TOP to BOTTOM. Notice how the first phrase
>& Israel FATTENED & REBELLED
is a SUMMARY of the whole verse. Also notice how
the concept FATTENED is developed in the verse as
>overeaten
>overweight
>flabby
while REBELLED is developed as
>DESERTED
>DESPISED
Further elaboration is given above}
COLUMN 1 COLUMN 2 COLUMN 3
======== ==================== ==============================
& Israel FATTENED & REBELLED
youv'e overeaten
become overweight
become flabby
you DESERTED God Your maker
DESPISED the rock of salvation
{LIST2} {Suggested NUANCES of words in 5-32-15 based on principle
of climax.}
5-32-15 SUGGESTED MEANING ROOT ROOT MEANING
======= ================= ==== ============
ShMNTa Overeat ShMN Oil/FAT *1
AViTha Overweight AVH Thick *2
CSiTha Flabby CSH Covered *3
FOOTNOTES
*1 Perhaps
>eating fatty foods
would be a better translation.
*2 The translation
>overweight
fits nicely with the root meaning
>thick.
This would therefore constitute a DERIVED or NEW MEANING.
The source of this DERIVED meaning would be CONTEXT
*3 Rashi SUPPORTS (but does not DERIVE) this meaning from Job15-27
>For his face is flabby with his fat
>..making wrinkles(?) on his fat
Again meaning is derived from CONTEXT. But the idea of
>flabby
fits nicely with the root meaning
>covered.
The verse in Job then lends plausibility to this translation.
{LIST3} {One possible ILLUSTRATION of the weight gain analogy
in 5-32-15 applied to the deterioration of Israel.
This illustration is given in the Sifrah which also
gives several others. The purpose of the illustration
is not to EXHAUST the meaning of the text but to
provide one possibility of interpretation enrichment}
WEIGHT STAGE ANALOGY IN KINGDOM DEED CHARACTERISTICS
============ ================== ========= ====================
Overeat Yaravam *1 Idols Bad habits
Overweight Achav *2 Murder Bad (societal)health
Flabby Yayhu *3 Stagnated Hard to change
FOOTNOTES
*1 1King12:25-33. Note that OVEREATING and IDOLATRY are seen
as bad habits that don't necessary affect physcial/social health
In fact the text just quoted states that Yaravam made the idols
>to preserve social stability (ie his reign)
*2 1King21. Note how OVEREATING is seen as a bad state of health
that comes from overeating. Similarly Achav's hire of false
witnesses and ultimate murder of Navoth is seen as a bad state
of social health that came from the involvement with idolatry
(Once they started worshipping idols they became involved in
idolatrous judicial proesses which resulted in Navoth's death)
*3 2King10:18-29. Flabbyness indicates a state of overweight
where you have become stagnated in your ways and cannot change
Similarly YayHus reign showed that the people could not easily
WALK AWAY from the idolatrous practices they had gotten use
to in the times of ACHAV.
{LIST4} {Summary of the 5 stages by which we suggest
approaching all verses to be interpreted by CLIMAX}
STAGE EXAMPLE PROBLEMS & REMEDIES
ELEMENTARY Jews Fattened & rebelled No problem
LIST overeat,overweight,flabby Just see the list.
Don't translate yet
MEANING Overeat,overweight,flabby Do NOT concentrate
on details of meaning
See the Simple meaning
of the text as indicating
STAGES. Try and guess what
these stages are but
emphasize the IDEA of
stages rather than details
ANALOGY Yaravam,Achav,Yayhu Try and create analogies
with similar sets of
stages. Look at multiple
examples. Perceive
examples not as EXHAUSTING
meaning of text but as
PROVIDING ILLUSTRATIONS.
DIFFERENCES Not present here See DIFFERENCES as
enriching text. Do not
lose overview of general
Pshat.
CROSS REFERENCES:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
RULE CLASSIFICATION {See the web site for comparable examples}:
CLIMAX | NEW MEANINGS
CLIMAX | NEW MEANINGS
CLIMAX
SQL {Database query comments for those who know Database theory}:
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NOTATIONAL CONVENTIONS
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e.g. v5b2-1 means as follows:
The "v" means verse
The "5" means Deuteronomy--the 5th book
The "2" means The 2nd chapter
The "1" means The 1st verse
The "b" means The second rashi on that
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the notation is similar and will be updated retroactively
in the future)
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