Rashi-Is-Simple Mailing List VISIT the RASHI DATABASE archives AT http://www.RashiYomi.Com/ Surfing the Talmudic Seas (C) Dr Russell Jay Hendel, 2000 Volume 7 Number 5 Produced Aug 11 2000 WARNING: USE FIX WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10) Verses/Topics Discussed in This Issue with quicky explanations WEEKLY PARSHAH SERIES CONTINUED Dt01-24b SCRANTON YESHIVA STUDENT CHIDUSH ON DVARIM The root "RGL" (to "track" the land) only occurs once by the spy episode Every other time it says TOR. This explains Rashi "they completely tracked the land back and forth" (I also give an explanation--read below) Dt03-26b RASHI SAYS 3 TIMES; 2 OTHER SOURCES say 4,5 TIMES Come see this exciting Rashi which differs from two other Mesorahs in counting! We show how all 3 versions are free from corruption. This posting comments on the Sifsay Chachamim We have neglected our Rashi-Ramban series for a while. We reinvigorate here with an emphasis on all commentaries that disagree with Rashi; As usual our emphasis and approach is to show that there was very little disagreement among Bible commentators and they all really agree In this exciting posting we successfully deal with the challenge of contradictions in counting Gn24-65a ANSWERS TO ALFRED SILBERMAN ON GRAMMAR--HIS NEW BOOK We give a full analysis to the Rashis on Gn24-65 Some of the defending lists come from Alfreds new book SEFER AMELIM LATORAH which presents all Biblical grammatical forms in database forma Rashis covered in this issue ---------------------------- VERSE RULE BRIEF EXPLANATION ======== ============== ================= Dt01-24b GRAMMAR There are 2 ways to say "IT" in Hebrew Lv01-06b GRAMMAR There are 2 ways to say "IT" in Hebrew Lv02-06a GRAMMAR There are 2 ways to say "IT" in Hebrew Lv23-03b GRAMMAR There are 2 ways to say "IT" in Hebrew Lv14-06b GRAMMAR There are 2 ways to say "IT" in Hebrew Lv20-05b GRAMMAR There are 2 ways to say "IT" in Hebrew Dt01-24b GRAMMAR There are 2 ways to say "IT" in Hebrew Dt03-26b GRAMMAR "TO SAY" means a response is expected Gn24-65a GRAMMAR Standard grammatical forms can drop HEY Gn07-23a GRAMMAR Standard grammatical forms can drop HEY -------------------------------------------------------------- #*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# RASHI IS SIMPLE GOALS: To grammatically defend all 8000 Rashis on Chumash. METHOD:Rashis are defended with LISTS of comparable cases INTENDED AUDIENCE: Laymen, Academicians, Yeshiva world COMMENTS,QUESTIONS: EMail to address below ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:If you want to ask anonymously please ask (UN)SUBSCRIBE: Email to addresses below with "(UN)subscribe" JOURNAL REFERECE: Pshat & Drash,TRADITION, Win 1980,R Hendel NOTATION: eg Gn01-02a refers to Rashi "a" on Genesis 1:2 SPECIALS:...on Parshah,Rambam,Ramban,Pedagogy,Symbolism RASHI-IS-SIMPLE RULES Complete set of rules on bottom EMAIL: RJHendel@Juno.Com, rashi-is-simple@shamash.org, WEB: http://www.RashiYomi.Com/ #*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#* VERSE: Dt01-24b RASHIS COVERED: Dt01-24b Lv01-06b Lv02-06a Lv23-03b Lv14-06b Lv20-05b ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: I heard the following Rashi explanation from --------------- a young Yeshiva student at Scranton Yeshiva. We met at a 200 person lecture by Rav Matithyahu Solomon chief spiritual exhorter of Lakewood who spoke at Shomray Emunah this past Shabbos. Although I had my own explanation of Rashi this student had an equally valid one. RULE: ---- There are two words for "IT" in Hebrew. (a1) The suffix letter "V" is the normal way of indicating "IT" (a2) The word OTO is used to mean ONLY IT or ALL OF IT EXAMPLES -------- {LIST1} {The following verses all have the word OTHO. In the following verses OTHO means either ONLY IT or ALL OF IT. This principle was developed by the Malbim who uses it not only on Rashi but also on the sifrah *6} VERSE TEXT RASHI -------- ----------------------------- ------------------------ Lv01-06b & He'll cut ONLY IT to pieces Don't recut *1 Lv02-06a Crumble ONLY IT to pieces Don't recrumble *1 Lv23-03b he'll prepare ALL OF IT *2 One fill; don't refill Lv14-06bBut not the wood/scarlet Lv20-05b & I will cut ONLY HIM off from But not his family *4 Dt01-24b They spied ALL OF IT Full scouting *5 NOTES ----- *1 In other words you cut/crumble the offering. But you don't keep on cutting the cut pieces to make them smaller Hence the Rashi "cut ONLY it" *2 The actual verse says about the Candellabrah "..prepare ALL OF it for lighting from eve to morning" However eg this could allow placing 5 hours of oil at the beginning of the evening and then refilling it for the last half of the night later By saying FILL ALL OF IT for lighting we infer that a whole supply of oil for the entire night must be put in at the beginning (Rashi cites the talmud that this is the volume of oil in 3 eggs--I have experimented with this and found it to be true and use these principles in my Chanukah menorah) *3 The actual verse is speaking about the Lepor sacrifice which consists of a bird, cedar wood, hyssop and wool. It says "The bird:Take ONLY IT and the cedar hyssop and wool and DIP them and the slaughtered bird ...." The law therefore is that --you take the bird by itself --you bind the wood, hyssop and wool and take them (So the point is that you don't bind the bird with them) --But even though the binding separates them nevertheless you dip ALL 4 of them (bird, wood, hyssop, and wool) There are a variety of ways of learning this law-for example we could learn it from the contrasting phrases "Bird: take it and them" vs "dip them and the bird" But you can also find support for this law in the phrase "the bird:Take ONLY IT"--so you don't bind with the others *4 Again there is a contrast in the verse which is speaking about the Molech worship (which consists of placing children thru fire) The verse says that if these people go unpunished then "I will PLACE MY FACE against this person AND his family and I will CUT OFF ONLY HIM from his nation" Thus the family is punished with "GODS FACE AGAINST THEM" While the person is punished with "BEING CUT OFF" By saying "I will cut off ONLY HIM" there is emphasis that ONLY the sinner gets cut off Rashi further explains that the family "knew what was going on" and hence they are punished by "GODS FACE AGAINST THEM" *5 "Scouting" could denote "perusing" the land. "Full scouting" denotes crisscrossing the entire country and looking over every detail *6 The above analysis comes from Malbim (The Morning Star) As I showed on Gn45-27a there is a 3rd possible meaning to OTHO--which can indicate "SOMETHING PERSONAL" Thus we have "And Jacob saw the wagons which Joseph had PERSONALLY SENT HIM (The wagons had signs of conversations that Jacob and Joseph had had 22 years prior--in this way Joseph let Jacob know that it was really he that was alive) Well I thought I had explained this Rashi rather well. The young Yeshiva Student from Scranton had an equally valid explanation. As can be seen from the footnotes to {LIST1} above--multiple explanations for the same Rashi are common. Here is the supplemental rule RULE: ---- The 2 Hebrew roots TUR and RGL both mean to SPY. -TUR has an emphasis on ordinary spying -RGL literally means "to FOOT the land" or "to TRACK the land" It is a more intense form of spying and is used prior to wars to indicate finding out everything about the enemy terrain. (Hence the Rashi on Dt01-24b that they criss-crossed the land and intensely looked it over) EXAMPLES -------- {LIST2} {Verses with spying. Note how RGL only occurs when WAR occurs. Moses original intention was only to have light scouting "to find out how good the land is"(Dt01-25)--hence the root RGL is used by Israel only once in the Chumash*1 *2} VERSE VERB WHY WAS THE SPYING DONE -------- ---- ---------------------------------------------- Jos2-1 RGL WAR of Yericho 1Sam26-4 RGL "WAR" of David and Saul*3 2S15-10 RGL Proclomation of Civil war Nu21-32 RGL WAR of Yaazer 2S10-03 RGL Suspicion of WAR-intent of Jews on Amon Nu13-16 TOR The spying on Israel for the Jew to come there Nu13-17 TOR The spying on Israel for the Jew to come there Nu13-25 TOR The spying on Israel for the Jew to come there Nu14-38 TOR The spying on Israel for the Jew to come there Dt01-24 RGL Only time that RGL is used for spying Israel*2 NOTES ----- *1 This BIBLICAL usage is consistent with the ROOT usage Thus we find that TUR is used for speculation as in Ecc1-13 Eccl7-25 while we find RGL used for spying and stalking somebody 2S19-28) As already mentioned RGL means FOOT so as a verb it could mean to "FOOT a place"--to closely scrutinize it. *2 RGL is used to describe the scouting of Israel once in Chumash in Dt01-24b and also in Joshua Jos14-16. Apparently the MAIN thrust of Moses was to find out how good the land is while a secondary thrust was military 'to see which cities to conquer first'(Dt01-22) *3 There wasn't an actual war but see 1Sam26-7:10--David went into the camp and was 'advised' to kill him RULES USED: GRAMMAR #*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#* VERSE: Dt03-26b RULE: ----- The infinitive "TO SAY" means a response is expected. Something was done with a response expected. EXAMPLES -------- {LIST1} {The 5 cases where Moses "insisted" that God answer him These are the only 5 verses where Moses prayer use the word "TO SAY" indicating that Moses demanded an answer*1} VERSE VERB MOSES PETITION -------- ----------- -------------------------------------------- Ex06-12 Said even the jews dont listen;how should Pharoh Nu27-15 Said Please appoint a successor after my death Ex17-04 Scream The Jews only complain; soon they'll kill me Nu12-13 Scream Please cure my Sister Miryam Dt03-26b Supplicated Please let me enter the land NOTES ----- *1 Those interested in statistical counts would do well to study this Rashi. As can be seen the above list has FIVE examples. Of these 5, only 4 would show up in a computer search and find of "GOD TO SAY" (ie Moses spoke to God TO Say) Of these 5, 2 involve Moses "talking"(Saying) while the other 3 involve more intense prayer language ("Scream" and "supplicate"). Hence, as the Sifsay Chachamim points out we have 3 distinct languages in this Mesorah "5 times Moses spoke to God and requested an answer" "4 times we find the phrase "to God TO SAY" "3 times Moses would not leave God alone till he answered him" Such multiple language is common in the Mesorah world. As can be seen all 3 formulations are correct RULES USED: GRAMMAR #*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#* VERSE: Gn24-65a RASHIS COVERED: Gn07-23a Gn24-65a BACKGROUND ---------- The following is a followup to Gn27-03a in Volume 7 Number 2. Most of the comments below come from Alfred Silberman who just published a book SEFER AMELIM BATORAH which contains some of the lists he used to ask his question. For the benefit of those who forgot I briefly review the previous posting. This posting is an excellent example of --how to construct lists --how to deal with Rashis that look like they have no lists to back them up --how to avoid Midrashic explanations in favor of grammatical ones. RASHI: ----- The verse says that Rivkah took the veil and "TTCATH". On the Hebrew word "TTCATH" Rashi says "This is a verb form like 'he was buried'". (So Rashi thinks the verb is Passive) In other words Rashi interprets the verse "And Rivkah took the veil and LET HER MAIDS COVER HER" ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --------------- A brief summary of the full explanation is presented next. Most of the questions came from Alfred Silberman--Alfred also provided {LIST2} from his new book SEFER AMELIM BATORAH which presents all grammatical forms in the Bible He is not charging for the book except for postage and handling--to get the book contact him at Alfred.Silberman@Lmco.Com or AlSiblerman@Juno.Com. SUMMARY ------- * Gn24-65 should be translated "And Rivkah took the veil and LET HER MAIDS COVER HER" * Thus we interpret the MEANING of the verb as PASSIVE (LET HER MAIDS COVER HER) * The actual verb FORM (vs meaning) is in the REFLEXIVE MODE This can easily be shown by using standard grammar books and observing that a terminal H was dropped. {LIST1}{LIST2} * So we have left to prove that CSH uses the REFLEXIVE MODE for PASSIVE MEANINGS. To do this we cite Prv26-26 which uses a HYBRID form. We present {LIST3} which shows hybrid forms. Prv26-26 is also translated "The evil person LETS HIS hatred BE COVERED UP (so people shouldn't know)" Thus we see a PASSIVE-REFLEXIVE MEANING (LET COVER UP) * However if we ONLY consider VERB FORM and not VERB MEANING then there are still other possibilities. Three other possibilities are ---Gn24-65 might come from the root TTCh(which never occurs) Alfred points out the Mizrachi suggests this ---Gn24-65 might come from the root (WEDDING) CUP (COS) The verse means that "Yitchak gave her the wedding cup" I found this cute explanation in Torah Shlaymah ---Prv26-26 might be a hybrid of KAL & PIEL (Alfred points out that Daas Mikrah from Mosad Rav Kook suggests this) * We answer these objections by considering MEANING {LIST4} It is common for religious women to cover themselves with veils. Hence that is what the verse is talking about.It is that simple. It is MEANING which forces us to interpret the verse "And she LET HER MAIDS COVER HER" Let us review the other woman who covered herself with a veil. Tamar who disguised herself (because she was seducing her father in law) COVERED HERSELF--the verb form used in this verse is ACTIVE FORM with REFLEXIVE meaning. This gives further support that CSH in the reflexive does not mean reflexive. By Contrast Rivkah was getting married and it is normal at weddings (the "bedeken") for OTHERS to cover the bride (as a sign that her friends all approve of the marriage and are giving her support). {LISTS} We now present the lists mentioned above --------------------------------------------------- {LIST1} {We show that it is possible to take a standard grammatical form and drop the hey This is used to prove that the verb form TTCSH became TTCS in Gn24-65 and hence is reflexive} -------------------------------------------------------------- Examples of alternative conjugations for the phrase "HE WILL DO IT" (eg YiVNeH and YiVeN) -------------------------------------------------------------- First type 2nd type of of Mean CONJUGATION CONJGTION 3 Letter root ing END IN Hey VERSE NO END-HEY VERSE ------------------ ----- ------------ ------- ---------- ------- [Beth]-[Nun]-[Hey] Build Ve Yi V Ne H Ps69-36 Va Yi Ve N Gn02-22 [Pay] -[Nun]-[Hey] Face Ve Yi P Ne H - *2 - Va Yi Pe N Ju15-04 [Mem] -[Cht]-[Hey] Erase Yi M Ce H 2K21-13 Yi Ma C Ps109-13 [Koof]-[Nun]-[Hey] Buy Yi K Ne H Lv22-11 Va Yi Ke N Gn32-19 [Gmel]-[Lmd]-[Hey] Reveal Yi G Le H Jb33-16 Ve Yi Ge L Jb36-15 -------------------------------------------------------------- Examples of alternative conjugations for the phrase "SHE LET IT BE DONE TO HERSELF" (TiTCaS vs TiTCaSeH) *3 -------------------------------------------------------------- First type 2nd type of of Mean CONJUGATION CONJGTION 3 Letter root ing END IN Hey VERSE NO END-HEY VERSE ------------------ ----- ------------ ------- ---------- ------- [Cof]-[Smch]-[Hey] Cover TiThCSeH - *2 -- TiTCaS Gn24-65 NOTES ----- *1 Rashi brings 4 examples. I supplemented this list with the example GLH *2 The normal conjugation is to PREFIX A YUD and leave the the SUFFIX HEY. In these 2 examples there is no Biblical example of the normal form---only the abnormal form occurs. (Nevertheless it occurs rarely) {LIST2} {A list of verb forms that shows that for Lamed-He verbs it is much more common to drop the He than to keep it. This interesting Statistical observation comes from Moshes(Alfreds) book} Moshe lists 21 > forms: [Moderator These forms are explained in his book They are forms of grammar like HITPAEL] > > Form # With He He dropped > 171 2 > 173 1 > 181 1 > 186 1 > 192 1 > 936 1 > 2467 3 > 1505 1 > 2515 4 > 2541 2 > 2543 3 > 2566 3 > 2584 3 > 3786 1 > 3787 2 > 4509 3 > 4526 1 > 4532 2 > 4534 2 > 4552 1 > 5448 1 > > Totals 14 25 > {LIST3} {Hybrid verbs--that is the verb form uses a mix of 2 punctuations} VERSE WORD SHOULD BE ----- ---- --------- Ex18-26 YSPooTo YSPOT*1 Lv04-23 HODAH HooDah*2 Prv26-26 TCaSeh TCoSeh*3 NOTES ----- *1 This is a combination of KAL and HFAL *2 This is a combination of HIFIL, HFAL, and HITPAEL(Malbim) *3 This is a combination of NIFAL and HITPAEL Alfred Silberman points out that in the Daas Miqra from Mossad Rav Kook. They consider this verb a cross between Piel and Nifal NOT Hispael and Nifal. I would answer them that the meaning of the verb is not a game in computer matching of forms but rather must be consistent with meaning. The meaning of these verses is "LET IT BE DONE TO IT" as "Let the hatred be covered by darkness" or "Let her maids cover her" {LIST4} {Women who covered themselves with a veil and merited to have great men come from them} VERSE WOMAN HOW SHE COVERED WHY ----- ----- --------------- --- Gn24-65 Rivkah Maids covered her Part of the wedding Gn38-14 Tamar She covered herself Was a disguise*1 NOTES ----- *1 Note that Tamar was seducing her father in law. She did not want anyone knowing about it Hence she would not have her maids help her Also note that DESPITE THE FACT that TAMAR covered herself (a reflexive action) nevertheless the KAL ACTIVE mode is used. This lends further credence to Rashi that the reflexive of COVER does not mean COVER ONESELF but LET OTHERS COVER YOU RULES USED: GRAMMAR #*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#* THE 2 DOZEN RASHI-IS-SIMPLE RASHI RULES http://www.RashiYomi.Com/rules.htm ======================================= I: RASHI gives MEANING ====================== A: NEW MEANINGS--(eg)"on the face of"=during the lifetime Volume 2 Number 9, http://www.rashiyomi.Com/Nu04-04a.htm B: SPECIAL WORDS--(eg)ACH=USUALLY;USUALLY observe shabbath! Rashi Yomi Summaries,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Ach-6.htm C: SYNONYMS--(eg)AMR=to speak; DBR=to cite or to quote; Volume 2 Number 1, http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Lv20-02a.htm D: WORD MEANINGS-Thermos(TzNTzNTh)=doubly(TZN TZN) Cold(TZN) Volume 1 Number 9,23,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Ex31-15a.htm E: UNIFIED MEANINGS-PAAM=Repeated action:To Ring,Hammer,Step Volume 1 Number 3,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Gn41-08a.htm II: RASHI teaches GRAMMAR/STYLE =============================== F: CLASSICAL GRAMMAR--(eg)QUESTION = HEY+CHATAF PATACH Volume 3 Number 22,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Gn04-09z.htm G: USAGE(NEW GRAMMAR)--(eg)INFINITIVE="be involved in"; Volume 5 Number 24,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Ex13-03a.htm H: ROOT+PREPOSITION--(eg)ChZK B="to hold";ChZK M="overpower" Volume 1 Number 7,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Ex04-04a.htm I: THE SENTENCE--2 verses can make 1 sentence-eg Dt02-16:17 Volume 3 Number 7,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Dt19-06a.htm J: STYLE--REPETITION denotes Endearment;eg 'Jacob Jacob' Volume 1 Number 12,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Gn46-02a.htm K: DOUBLE NOUNS--(eg)"GIVE GIVE";if not CHARITY then LOAN Double Noun page, http://www.RashiYomi.Com/DN.htm L: PRONOUNS-(eg)IMCHAH=with you; ITCHAH=Accompanying you; Volume 3 Number 13,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Ex22-24c.htm III: OVERALL TEXTUAL STRUCTURE ============================== M: OTHER VERSES--Aaron SAW(Ex32-05)...the brawl(Ex32-18) OTHER VERSE page, http://www.RashiYomi.Com/ov.htm N: EXTRA SENTENCES-eg[GIVE HIM][WHAT HE NEEDS](Not if rich) Volume 2 Number 20,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Dt15-08c.htm O: DOUBLE PARSHAS-'he WILL pray'-'he WON'T pray';So Optional Volume 3 Number 12,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Dt24-14a.htm P: CLIMAX-(eg Dt19-11)(a)Hate, (b)spy, (c)confront,(d)Murder Climax Page, http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Climax.htm Q: OVERALL STRUCTURE-growing nails=despisement(from context) Volume 3 Number 8,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Dt21-11a.htm R: SPREADSHEETS-What is the marriage loophole in inheritance Volume 2 Number 23,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Nu36-03a.htm IV: BEYOND THE TEXT =================== S: MORAL LESSONS/REASONS-God explains BEFORE punishing; Volume 2 Number 12,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Nu12-09a.htm T: RabbiIshmael-(eg)"When an OX gores";(Or ANY animal gores) Volume 4 Number 21,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Dt25-04a.htm End of Rashi-Is-Simple Digest #*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*