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Surfing the Talmudic Seas
(C) Dr Russell Jay Hendel, 2000
Volume 7 Number 7
Produced Aug 17 2000
WARNING: USE FIX WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)
Verses/Topics Discussed in This Issue with quicky explanations
WEEKLY PARSHAH SERIES CONTINUED
-------------------------------
Dt07-19a THE BIBLE FREQUENTLY PRAISES GOD AS COMING WITH
"SIGNS, WONDERS, WAR, AN OUTSTRETCHED HAND...."
Read this posting to find out what these 7 terms mean
A PEACH OF A RASHI FOR METHODOLOGY
----------------------------------
This posting contains 17 Rashis. Thus it affords a rare
opportunity to see how Rashis language could change from Rashi
to Rashi. It also affords a splendid example of how the clever
use of LISTS provides us with insights into Rashi
ANSWER TO GILBERT ISSARD, QUESTION of Aug 23,1999
-------------------------------------------------
Gilbert asked me this question a year ago. He made some strong
comments on my previous posting on these 7 terms which I now
acknowledge as correct
ANSWER TO HARRY RASHBAUM, of my SHOMRAY EMUNAHR RASHI CLASS
-----------------------------------------------------------
Harry asks me why I sometimes go against Rashis language
The rough answer is because Rashi himself goes against his
own language. Again the 17 Rashis here afford a splendid
example.
Rashis covered in this issue
----------------------------
VERSE RULE BRIEF EXPLANATION
======== ============== =================
Dt07-19a SYNONYMS 7 terms for Gods greatness are explained
Dt07-19b SYNONYMS 7 terms for Gods greatness are explained
Dt07-19c SYNONYMS 7 terms for Gods greatness are explained
Dt07-19d SYNONYMS 7 terms for Gods greatness are explained
Dt07-19e SYNONYMS 7 terms for Gods greatness are explained
Ex07-09a SYNONYMS 7 terms for Gods greatness are explained
Nu20-20a SYNONYMS 7 terms for Gods greatness are explained
Dt04-34b SYNONYMS 7 terms for Gods greatness are explained
Dt04-34c SYNONYMS 7 terms for Gods greatness are explained
Dt04-34d SYNONYMS 7 terms for Gods greatness are explained
Dt04-34e SYNONYMS 7 terms for Gods greatness are explained
Dt13-02a SYNONYMS 7 terms for Gods greatness are explained
Dt13-02b SYNONYMS 7 terms for Gods greatness are explained
Dt13-02c SYNONYMS 7 terms for Gods greatness are explained
Dt13-02d SYNONYMS 7 terms for Gods greatness are explained
Dt34-12a SYNONYMS 7 terms for Gods greatness are explained
Dt34-12b SYNONYMS 7 terms for Gods greatness are explained
--------------------------------------------------------------
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (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
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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,
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VERSE: Dt07-19a
RASHIS COVERED: Ex07-09a Nu20-20a Dt04-34b Dt04-34c Dt04-34d
Dt04-34e Dt13-02a Dt13-02b Dt13-02c Dt13-02d
Dt07-19a Dt07-19b Dt07-19c Dt07-19d Dt07-19e
Dt34-12a Dt34-12b
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
---------------
To Gilbert Issard for his question of last
year (Aug 23,1999) (Gilbert suggested that "Strong hand"
(Dt34-12b) refers, as Rashi says, to Moses Greatness, not Gods,
and hence refers to the prophecies of Moses and the 2 tablets.
The text of Gilberts question may be found at
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h3n1.htm
Further acknowledgement to Harry Rashbaum of my Shomray Emunah
Rashi class who insists I should clearly explain why I sometimes
deviate from Rashis language. The 17 Rashis above are a peach
of an example---showing much complementary language; Rashi almost
forces us to interpolate his language.
CROSS REFERENCE: http://www.RashiYomi.com/dt04-34b.htm
RULE:
----
God is frequently described as"great with SIGNS & WONDERS"
In 4 verses, however, between 3 to 7 attributes are used: SIGN,
WONDER, TEST, STRONG HAND, WAR, OUTSTRETCHED HAND, AWE
(eg Dt04-34, Dt07-19, Dt29-02, Dt34-11:12 *8).
These 7 terms frequently interchange. That is any one of them
can be used to indicate Gods greatness. However sometimes they
occur with specific meanings which can be inferred using CROSS
REFERENCING with other verses. Details are presented below with
copious lists presented in the footnotes.
To make the exposition as clear as possible we divide it into
3 parts:
---we present the meaning of the 7 terms with simple proofs
---footnotes present further verses supporting these meanings
---Footnotes 8.1 thru 8.7 presents Rashis explanations and
corresponds to the lists we presented in examples 1-7
and footnotes 1 thru 7.
EXAMPLES
--------
-----------------------------------------------------------------
(1,2,3) The Bible uses the language "God appears with "TESTS,
SIGNS and WONDERS" when God proves the prophetic status of
a person. These 3 terms, TEST, SIGN, WONDER frequently
interchange but their specific nuances are
-----------------------------------------------------------------
(1) TESTS--When the person ASKS for the sign(eg Isa7-11:12)*1
(2) SIGNS(*2)-When God or the prophet GIVES the sign and the sign
does NOT SHOW power (eg Turning Moses hand to leprosy)(Ex04-08
(3) WONDERS--When God or the prophet GIVES the sign and the sign
does SHOW power (eg the 10 plagues were a WONDER --Ex11-09)(*3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
(4) STRONG HAND-STRONG HAND refers to PSCHO-EMOTIONAL miracles
-----------------------------------------------------------------
(4) The Bible uses the language "God appeared with a
STRONG HAND" when God performs a psycho-emotional miracle
such as giving someone prophecy or hardening their heart
(Cf 1King18-46 "The HAND OF GOD(=prophecy) was on Elijah)*4
----------------------------------------------------------------
(5,6,7)--The Bible uses the language that God appears with
"AN OUTSTRETCHED ARM", or "WAR", or "with GREAT AWE"
only in very special circumstances
----------------------------------------------------------------
(5) OUTSTRETCHED ARM--Apparently this is only used once when God
drowned the Egyptians in the Reed Sea(Ex15-16)*5
(6) MILITARALY (WAR)--Used when God conquers/destroys a nation.
It apparently only occurs twice: By Egypt(Ex15-03,Ex14-25) &
Amalek(Ex17-06)*6
(7) GREAT AWE--Apparently this is used to decribe the miracle
of God escorting a million people thru the wilderness(Dt08-15)
In other words it shows Gods capacity to overcome the awesome
destructive forces of nature*7
NOTES:
-----
*0 One of these verses uses all 7 words. Other verses use
between 3 and 5 of these words. It is an interesting question
as to why these specific words are used in these particular
verses. But this would take us to far afield and will not
be dealt with here.
*1 Note that we prove this by GRAMMAR not USAGE. The grammatical
root of MSAH is NSH which means to TEST somebody. We in fact
have the explicit Biblical verse Isa07-12 "I will not TEST
God" stated by Achaz when Isiah offered him "Ask for a sign
and God will give you (Isa07-11)". Rashi points out that
Moses made a similar offer to Pharoh "Ask when the plague
should stop and God will stop it then (Ex08-05)"
*2 Some more examples of SIGN are
{LIST1} {SIGN refers to something without power)
VERSE SIGN WHAT IT INDICATES Uses Power?
----- ---- ------------------ -----------
Gn09-12 Rainbow Peace No
Gn04-15 Mark on head People shouldn't kill him No
Gn01-14 Stars,Moon Seasons & Holidays No
Ex04-08 Rod Became a snake No
Ex04-09 Water Became blood No
*3 WONDER is the hardest term to defend. It frequently occurs
in conjunction with SIGN, "SIGNS AND WONDERS" as in
Ex07-03, Dt06-22, Dt13-02, Dt28-46, Dt26-08, and indeed
the words SIGN and WONDER seem to refer to the same thing
The word WONDER (vs the word SIGN) seems to refer to proofs
of prophecy that involve POWER. The most blatant example is
the 10 plagues (Ex04-21, Ex11-09:10).
The word WONDER also seems to be used on a SIGN that HAS
SOME power...for example the turning of a rod into a snake
is a SIGN since it does not involve power(Ex04-08).By contrast
when Moses made his stick become a snake it ALSO ate the
snakes of the Egyptian witches and hence it involved power--
therefore in Ex07-09 it is called a WONDER, not a sign.In
a similar manner the destruction of the altar symbolized
the destruction of heathen priests and hence is called a
WONDER (1R13-03). Similarly, Isa20-03, Isiah walking naked
and barefoot 3 years is called a WONDER not a SIGN since
presumably people ridiculed him and threw stones at him
requiring Gods protecting him, a sign of power.
In summary WONDER means more or less the same thing as SIGN
But it seems to refer to SIGNS with power
*4 Gods "hand" is frequently used to describe prophecy throughout
the Book of Ezekiel (eg Ez2-9). However "Gods hand" can also be
used to describe punishment as in Ruth1-13 and 1Sam7-13.
*5 ARM seems to refer to armies that are multi-flanked
Compare Ez30-24:25 As already commented it occurs rarely
and its meaning is not that clear.
*6 The term that God is " a Man of War" or "engages in war" is
used in Ex15-03, Ex14-25, Ex17-06
*7 AWE seems to be always connected to surviving great natural
disasters like the WILDERNESS.See Dt08-15,Dt10-21:22,&Isa21-01
*8 We now present the 17 Rashis grouped by each of the 7 terms
eg Footnote 8.6 refers back to EXAMPLE (6) and Footnote (6)
*8.6 WAR:Dt04-34e Rashi gives the Example Ex14-25 of God
declaring WAR on Egypt.
We have augmented this example to
include Gods war on Amalek. (See footnote *6)
*8.5 Dt07-19e OUTSTRETCHED HAND. Rashi says this refers to the
10th plague.
Our analysis does not differ---"the term
OUTSTRETCHED HAND only occurs by Egypt." (Footnote *5)
*8.7 AWE Dt34-12b Rashi explicitly says that AWE refers to
"The Tests and Strength in the AWESOME WILDERNESS"--
(See footnote *7 )
(We augment Rashi with the Wilderness in Isaiah21-01)
*8.1 TESTS: On Dt04-34b Rashi identifies TESTS with signs of
offers to test God "such as Ex08-05 where Moses asked
Pharoh for a time when the plague would stop"
On Dt07-19a Rashi simply identifies TESTS with TESTS
Notice how one Rashi gives an example whereas the 2nd
Rashi just gives a meaning. We have augmented this
Rashi with an emphasis on the grammatical root.
*8.2 SIGN: On Dt04-34c Rashi explicitly says SIGN is a SIGN
Then on Dt07-19b rashi gives the example a snake
turning into a rod (Ex04-02). On Dt13-02a Rashi
Brings the example of "Let there be dew on the
wool but not on the ground"(Jud6-39).
We have augmented this Rashi with the following
signs: Rainbow for peace, Kains forehead for
a warning, the moon and stars for seasons and
holidays. (See Footnote *2). We would take
Rashis statement on Dt13-02a and Dt13-02c that
"Sign refers to something from heaven" to mean
"SIGN is LIKE something from heaven"--the proof
being that the sign on Kayins head was not from
heaven.
Thus this list of 4 Rashis nicely illustrates how
our lists interact with the various Rashis to
clarify true meaning.
*8.4 STRONG HAND: We have already brought verses showing
that strong hand EITHER means punishment or prophecy
Accordingly we read Dt07-19d "STRONG HAND=Gods SPEECH"
Similarly we take Dt34-12a "STRONG HAND=MOSES RECEIVING
THE TABLETS OF THE LAW WITH HIS HAND" to refer to
Mosaic prophecy (Thus answering in the affirmative
Gilbert Issards question). Finally we interpret Nu20-20a
as 'STRONG HAND means the prophetic "Promise to our elder by
the patriarch Isaac that 'Esauv will have strong hands'"
Notice that there has been some interpretation in all 3
cases. It is possible to read Dt07-19d to refer to
DVR, the 5th plague. It is possible to read Dt34-12a
as being a pun on "strong HAND" vs "Moses received
the tablets with his HANDS". Finally it is possible to
interpret Nu20-20a as a pun "STRONG HAND" vs the "HANDS
OF ESAUV".
The way we have taken it STRONG HAND=PROPHECY is deep
and unifying and avoids puns. Furthermore it contrasts
STRONG HAND as having a distinct meaning from WAR and
OUTSTRETCHED HAND.
*8.3 WONDER: On Dt04-34d and Dt07-19c Rashi says that WONDER
refers to the 10 plagues. But on Ex07-09a Rashi says
that WONDER means SIGN. Even more surprising is that
on Dt13-02b and Dt13-02d Rashi identifies WONDER with
miracles on EARTH (the reference to "Frost on earth"
in Gidons miracle seems to be an interpolation by a
printer which is why it is in parenthesis).
Recall (footnote *3) that we have taken wonder to mean
MORE THAN A SIGN---wonder is a "sign with power". This
**could** be consistent with Rashi: The concept of
sign with power certainly refers to the 10 plagues.
We would interpret Ex07-09a "WONDER is LIKE A SIGN"
because it proves a person a prophet. We would interpret
Dt13-02b "WONDER refers to EARTH" to mean that WONDER
refers to SIGNS against COUNTRIES (Since the
word EARTH, ERETZ can also mean a COUNTRY).Such an
interpretation would be consistent with the reference
to the 10 plagues against the COUNTRY Egypt. We further
would reject a literal interpretation "earth" because
of Kains SIGN on his forehead.
As already commented our interpretation of WONDER seems
weakest. Perhaps someone out there has a better explanation
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (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
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