Rashi-Is-Simple Mailing List
VISIT the RASHI DATABASE archives AT
http://www.shamash.org/rashi
Surfing the Talmudic Seas
(C) Dr Russell Jay Hendel, 2000
Volume 6 Number 11
Produced Jun 6, 2000
WARNING: USE FIX WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)
Verses/Topics Discussed in This Issue with quicky explanations
--------------------------------------------------------------
v9a6-7
(a) Hectic month as we transition to new RashiYomi
website. (b) Still get out 2 high quality issues per week
(c) Website not updated this week. Updated 1nce per week till
move. (d) Dr Loike still not answered on Ramban-Rashi on Lulav
(e) Omissions from previous issue covered here.
Ex31-15a
The Bible uses DOUBLE WORDS (eg a Sabbath of Sabbaths)
to denote the most intense or best of something
Nu03-39a
An annotated census spreadsheet is used to clarify
the Rashis on Nu03-39:50
Rashis covered in this issue
----------------------------
VERSE RULE BRIEF DESCRIPTION
======== ============== ================================
Nu04-04a DOUBLE NOUN >Holy of Holies< means >The Holiest<
Ex31-15a DOUBLE NOUN >Holy of Holies< means >The Holiest<
Ex19-09a DOUBLE NOUN >Holy of Holies< means >The Holiest<
Nu13-49a DOUBLE NOUN >Holy of Holies< means >The Holiest<
Nu13-49b DOUBLE NOUN >Holy of Holies< means >The Holiest<
Nu03-39b SPREADSHEETS Spreadsheets of Levites and Firstborn
Nu03-46a SPREADSHEETS Spreadsheets of Levites and Firstborn
Nu03-50a SPREADSHEETS Spreadsheets of Levites and Firstborn
-----------------------------------------------------------------
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
RASHI IS SIMPLE
GOALS: To grammatically defend all 8000 Rashis on Chumash.
METHOD:Every Rashi will be defended with a LIST of comparable cases
INTENDED AUDIENCE: Laymen, Academicians, Rabbis, Yeshiva students
COMMENTS,QUESTIONS: EMail to address below; (minor edits may occur)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:Always given unless 'anonymous' is explicitly asked
(UN)SUBSCRIBE: Email to above with keyword "(UN)subscribe"
JOURNAL REFERECE: Pshat & Drash, TRADITION, Win 1980, R Hendel
NOTATION: eg v2b1-8 refers to Ex(Book 2) Chap 1 Verse 8 Rashi b(#2)
SPECIALS:...on Rambam,Ramban,Symbolism,Pedagogy,Daily Questions
RASHI-IS-SIMPLE RULES...Complete set with examples ON BOTTOM
EMAIL: RJHendel@Juno.Com,rashi-is-simple@shamash.org,
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: v9a6-7
Hi everybody.
Things will be a little hectic in the next 2 weeks as we
move to the new RashiYomi website.
I will still get out 2 high quality issues per week
But the website will only be updated 1nce a week (It will not
be updated this week).
The new website will have many new features and be much
more user friendly.
Volume 6 Number 10 that went out last Friday had some tab
problems. My apologies. Also, it is our custom in Rashi is
Simple when we say that something comes from tradition to
at least defend its FORM with a list. So we will correct
the omissions from the last issue in coming issues.
Finally, I owe Dr Loike an answer to his question about
the Ramban-Rashi controversy (I plan to have this tomorrow night)
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: Nu04-04a
VERSE: v2a31-15
===============
RASHIS COVERED: Ex31-15a Ex19-09a Nu04-04a Nu13-49a Nu13-49b
RULE: The Bible uses a DOUBLE WORD FORMATION (eg CLOUD OF
CLOUDS) when it wants to indicate the BEST or MOST
intense form of something. Here are some examples
EXAMPLE 1
---------
>Ex31-15a >It is a SABBATH of SABBATHS
>RASHI: >The sabbath is not just a "day off" but
>but is a "day off when you can rest"
EXAMPLE 2
---------
>Ex19-09a >I will come to you in a CLOUD of CLOUDS
>RASHI: >CLOUD of CLOUDS refers to a DARK CLOUD.
>Most clouds are white but opaque. A
>CLOUD of CLOUDS is both dark and opaque.
>These dark clouds usually appear before
>a storm. (You can see pictures of them
>and the classification of clouds in
>any good encyclopedia)
NOTE: This was explained in Volume 6 Number 10 as
"Rashi explains traditions on meaning of words". Be that
as it may nevertheless this tradition should be enhanced
or appreciated with a list of comparable examples. This
is fact is the reason for this posting which contains
6 examples.
EXAMPLE 3
---------
>Nu04-04a >And Aaron will come to the HOLY of HOLIES
>RASHI >The HOLY of HOLIES refers to the HOLIEST
>part of the temple. The other parts (The
>ark, candellabrah, table, altar etc were
>only HOLY)
EXAMPLE 4
---------
>Nu13-49a >Y-R-K-R-K
>RASHI: >The Hebrew root
>Y-R-K = green
>The Hebrew doubled root
>Y-R-K-R-K = the greenest green
EXAMPLE 5
---------
Nu13-49b >A-D-M-D-M
>RASHI: >The Hebrew root
>A-D-M = Red
>The Hebrew doubled root
>A-D-M-D-M = the reddest red
NOTE: Examples 4,5 have been previously explained. We
also explained the controversy of Rashi & Ibn Ezra and
using internal statements of Ibn Ezra in his commentary
on Psalms showed that Ibn Ezra did not disagree with Rashi
EXAMPLE 6
---------
>Songs1-1 >The SONG OF SONGS to God
>RASHI: >The most precious of songs of songs.
PRINCIPLES: USAGE
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: Nu03-39b
VERSE: v4b3-39
===============
RASHIS COVERED: Nu03-39b Nu03-46a Nu03-50a
The Rashis on Nu03-39:50 can best be understood as footnotes
to a SPREADSHEET. This is in fact one of our Rashi is SImple
methods---SPREADSHEETS. Please find below an annotated
spreadsheet showing the census of Levites. Here are the
hilights
>22,273 1st born had to be replaced by the levites
>but there were only 22,000 non 1st born Levites
>The remaining 273 1st born were redeemed by $5 each
>This produced 273*$5 = $1365
>>Rashi explains that the Levites had a census of 22,300
>>But there 300 1stborn levites
>>making a total of 22,000 non 1st born Levites)
{LIST1} {Spreadsheet for the census of Levites and 1st born}
ITEM VERSE CENSUS RASHI
======= ======= ====== =====
Gershon Nu03-22 7500
Kehath Nu03-28 8600
Merari Nu03-33 6200
------ ------- -----
TOTAL LEVITES 22300
1stborn Levites 300*1 Nu03-39b
--------------- -----
Availble Lvites Nu03-39 22000
1stBorn Isrlits Nu03-43 22273
--------------- -----
Excess 1stBorn Nu03-46 273*2,4 Nu03-46a
$5 Per 1stBorn $5*3
-------------- -----
Total Redmption Nu03-50 $1365*5 Nu03-50a
NOTES:
=====
*1 FirstBorn Levite Ratio = 300 / 22300 = 1.3%
Firstborn Israelite Ratio = 22273 / 603550 = 3.7%
Thus the assumption that the 300 difference consisted
of Firstborn Levites is a reasonable estimate.(My own
observation)
*2 Rashi points out that Nu03-46:47 forms one sentence
>And the 273 extras...for them take $5 per person
Such double verses forming 1 sentence occur from time
to time. Some other examples are presented in {LIST2}
*3 Note that $5 is a "reasonable" amount for redemption
of a firstborn since the market value of 1stborn
slaves is 5 Shekel = 20 Geyrah (Gn37-28) (Rashi)
*4 A similar Rashi is made on Nu03-49a
*5 Rashi also, citing the Midrash and Talmud, deals with
the problem of fairness. The above spreadsheets shows
that
>273 Levites paid $5
>22000 Levites redeemed without payment
How were the 273 picked? The Talmud suggests that
a lottery of 22000 "no payment boxes" and 273 "$5 boxes"
was created and every Levite picked one.
{LIST2} {Double verses forming 1 sentence}
VERSES Sentence
======= ========
Nu03-46:47 & The 273 1st born--take $5 for each
Gn01-29:30 & I have given Adam the fruits--& to the animals also
Dt01-16:17 When all the sinners died out...God spoke to me(Moses)
Ecc07-20:21 When there are no righteous don't pay attention to ...
PRINCIPLE: SPREADSHEETS
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
THE 2 DOZEN RASHI-IS-SIMPLE RASHI RULES
=======================================
I: RASHI gives MEANING
======================
A: WORD MEANINGS--(eg)"on the face of"=during the lifetime
(v2n6,v4-3-4), http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v4-3-4.htm
B: SPECIAL WORDS--(eg)ACH=USUALLY;USUALLY observe shabbath!
(v2n6, v4-1-49),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v4-1-49.htm
C: SYNONYMS--(eg)YShV=RESIDE; GARTI='INNED'--temporary say
(v1n1, v1-32-5), http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v1-32-5.htm
D: UNIFIED MEANING--(eg)Tz Ch K = (a) laugh, OR (b) mock
(v4n4, v1-21-9), http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v1-21-9.htm
E: NEW MEANINGS--(eg)HEAD-MOUTH of garment = HEM of Garment
(v5n10,v2a28-32),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v2a28-32.htm
II: RASHI teaches GRAMMAR/STYLE
===============================
F: CLASSICAL GRAMMAR--(eg)HEY+CHATAF PATACH=QUESTION
(v2n24,v1b3-11),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v1b3-11.htm
G: USAGE(NEW GRAMMAR)--(eg)INFINITIVE=GERUND;WATCHING laws;
(v2n10,v4-32-6),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v4-32-6.htm
H: ROOT+PREPOSITION--(eg) BCH AL=cries about,BCH ETH=mourn
(v1n14,v1a45-14),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v1a45-14.htm
I: SEMANTIC RULES--(eg) WAGES="ENDoF"="END oF Work Day';
(v1n10,v1b1-1),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v1b1-1.htm
J: STYLE--(eg)REPETITION denotes Endearment;'Abraham,Abraham
(v1n6,v2-1-1),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v2-1-1.htm
K: DOUBLE NOUNS--(eg)HIT HIT by sword ('even without sword')
(v2n20,v2a22-25),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v2a22-25.htm
L: PRONOUNS--(eg) sanctify OTHO = sanctify ONLY IT;
(v2n10,v4a7-1),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v4a7-1.htm
III: OVERALL TEXTUAL STRUCTURE
==============================
M: OTHER VERSES--(eg)STONE(3-25-13)=BALANCE STONES(3-19-36)
(v3n9,v5b25-13),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v5b25-13.htm
N: EXTRA SENTENCES--(eg)he'll dress his measurement=TAYLORED
(v1n20,v3a6-3),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v3a6-3.htm
O: DOUBLE PARSHAS-'he WILL pray'-'he WON'T pray';So Optional
(v3n12,v5a24-14),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v5a24-14.htm
P: CLIMAX-(eg 5-19-11)(a)Hate, (b)spy, (c)confront,(d)Murder
(v3n9,v5-19-11),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v5-19-11.htm
Q: OVERALL STRUCTURE-growing nails=despisement(from context)
(v3n8,v5-21-12),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v5-21-12.htm
IV: IMPLICATIONS & DERIVATIONS
==============================
R: STAGES-learn HUMAN marital frequency from ANIMAL ratios
(v1n14,v1a32-15),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v1a32-15.htm
S: MORAL LESSONS/REASONS-God spoke before punishment;we too
(v2n12,v4-12-9),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v4-12-9.htm
T: RabbiIshmael-(eg)When an OX gores; OR ANY animal gores;
(v2n19,v2-22-17),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v2-22-17.htm
V: OVERALL
=================
U: SYMBOLISM-'WASHING his clothes in wine'=PLENTY of wine;
(v4n18,v1a49-11),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v1a49-11.htm
V: PICTURES--(eg) The TZITZ was like a HELMET over a turban
(v5n12,v2-40-35),http://www.shamash.org/rashi/v2-40-35.htm
W: TABLES/SPREADSHEETS---To appear
End of Rashi-Is-Simple Digest
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*