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Surfing the Talmudic Seas
(C) RashiYomi Incorporated, 2000
Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel
Volume 8 Number 13
Produced Dec 13, 2000
WARNING: USE FIX WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)
Verses/Topics Discussed in This Issue with quicky explanations
WEB UPDATE NEW NEW NEW
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* WEEKLY PARSHAH PAGE *
* *
* *
* FREE DOWNLOADS OF RASHIYOMI CALENDAR*
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NEW NEW NEW
QUESTIONS & COMMENTS
====================
v9-w-13a NEW: Weekly Parshah Page & New Free Downloads
WEEKLY PARSHAH
--------------
Many juicy Rashis are explained. Here are 2 hilights
Gn32-23a Rashi says that Jacob hid Dinah so she shouldnt
marry Esauv. Rashi derives this, NOT from the
word 11, but rather from the word CHILDREN which
only occurs 4 times in the whole Bible
Gn32-08a Should a Jewish postion be primaraly DEFENSIVE
or OFFENSIVE. Read how Jacob made the difficult
decision not to attack till half the population
was lost. (Relevance to our situation today is
noted but not discussed)
Rashis covered in this issue
----------------------------
VERSE RULE BRIEF DESCRIPTION
======== ============== ================================
Gn32-23a SYNONYMS CHILDREN vs SONS only occurs 4 times
Gn32-08a EXAMPLE9 Yaakov decides on DEFENSE vs OFFENSE
Gn32-09b EXAMPLE9 Yaakov decides on DEFENSE vs OFFENSE
Gn32-09a GRAMMAR Some words are both masculine & feminine
Gn32-13a DOUBLE NOUN REPETITION can indicate to YOU & PARENTS
Gn32-13b OTHER VERSES Rashi confirms a verse with 2 citations
Gn32-18a SYNONYMS >ShLi< means OWN; >Li< means BELONG
Gn32-18b SYNONYMS >ShLi< means OWN; >Li< means BELONG
Lv05-24c SYNONYMS >ShLi< means OWN; >Li< means BELONG
Nu07-02b SYNONYMS >ShLi< means OWN; >Li< means BELONG
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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 REFERENCE: 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: v9-w-13a
WEEKLY PARSHAH PAGE
Visit http://www.RashiYomi.Com/parshah.htm
The weekly parshah page
---will be updated each Sunday for the coming Parshah
---will contain all RashiYomi website Rashis on the Parsah
---will have Verse Hyperlinks
---will have brief quicky explanations
---will indicate which Rashi is Simple rule is used
As indicated last time this was in response to reader requests.
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: Gn32-23a
RULE
====
a) The Hebrew word >CHILDREN (YeLaDauV)< denotes both
males and females
b) The Hebrew word >SONS (BANAUV)< denotes only males.
The Bible very rarely uses the word >CHILDREN< (It occurs
in only 4 verses and is used to emphasize BOTH males and
females). The word >SONS< is more normal. Wherever
you find the word >SONS< you find next to it either
---words denoting >DAUGHTERS< or
---topics that are traditionally male (like burial, war..)
Examples are presented in the LIST below.
APPLICATION
===========
Gn28-23a says that >Jacob took his 11 CHILDREN<
Rashi on this verse says >Where is Dinah, his daughter and
12th child? We must therefore assume that Jacob hid Dinah
so that she shouldnt get involved with Esauv<
DISCUSSION: Most people erroneously think that the Midrash
is derived from the emphasis on >11< children. Actually
this Rashi is derived from the rare word >CHILDREN< which
occurs only 4 times in the Bible and is always used to
emphasize BOTH male and female children.
Hence we conclude that the Bible excludes the one female
daughter, Jacob had, Dinah. It is then reasonable to conjecture
that Jacob hid Dinah so that she shouldnt get involved with
Esauv. (In fact the Midrash Rabbah from which Rashi gets his
ideas, criticizes Jacob: >If Dinah was forward and got involved
with men maybe it would have been better to let her marry
Esauv who probably needed a forward woman<) More can be said
on this topic but right now we are only concerned on the
difference between >CHILDREN< and >SONS<
EXAMPLES
========
{LIST}
This list contains the only 4 times that the word >CHILDREN<
is used. In these verses there is an emphasis on BOTH male
and female. Then there are verses where it says >SONS and
DAUGHTERS< or >SONS and HOUSEHOLD<. Finally there are verses
where it just says >SONS< because the topic is male dominated
such as WAR, BURIAL etc
=============================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------
These are the only verses in the Bible using the word CHILDREN
There is an emphasis on BOTH male and females
-----------------------------------------------------------------
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE WHY MALE & FEMALE
======== ================================= =================
Isa29-23 Jewish CHILDREN will sanctify God Martyrdom*1
Zac13-03 False prophet CHILDREN are smitten Any false prophet
Job38-41 The Ravens CHILDREN ask for food Both male/female
Gn32-23a Jacob took his 11 CHILDREN MALE & Female
NOTES
=====
*1 Rashi (on Isa) says that >SANCTIFY GOD< refers to Martyrdom
It is well known that during the middle ages not only men
but women were also forced to commit martyrdom though each
gender used to commit martyrdom for its own unique reason
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Here are sone verses containing the phrase
>SONS and DAUGHTERS< or >SONS & HOUSEHOLD<
-----------------------------------------------------------------
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE
======== =================================
Gn07-07 Noach came to the ark: his SONS & WIFE & wives children
Gn18-19 In order that Abraham command his SONS & HOUSEHOLD
Gn31-17 and he fled..he took his SONS & WIVES
Gn32-01 And Laban got up ..& kissed his SONS & DAUGHTERS
Gn37-35 And all his SONS & DAUGHTERS got up to comforted him
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Here are sone verses containing the phrase
>SONS and DAUGHTERS< or >SONS & HOUSEHOLD<
-----------------------------------------------------------------
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE WHY MALE & FEMALE
======== ================================= =================
Gn25-09 His SONS buried im Burial by men only
Gn50-13 His SONS carried & buried him Burial by men only
Gn30-35 ..and He gave the flock to his SONS Shepards-men only*1
Gn49-01 Jacob called his SONS Estates-men only*2
Ex28-41 & Dress Aaron & his SONS(priesthood Priest--men only*3
NOTES
=====
*1 Of course the BIble calls RACHEL a >SHEPARDESS< so there are
obviously female shepards. But in Labans household only the
men were allowed managerial jobs.
*2 Jacob was giving his last will and testament & instructions
Under Jewish Law women do not inherit when there are men
*3 The verse is speaking about dressing Aaron and his sons in
the garb of priesthood. Only male priests were allowed to
perform the service.
RASHI RULE USED: SYNONYMS
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VERSE: Gn32-08a
RASHIS COVERED: Gn32-08a Gn32-09b
{LIST}
Rashi uses the principle of CLIMACTIC DEVELOPMENT OF VERSES. Here
is the Biblical text
=================================================================
VERSE EMPHASIS
===== ========
And Jacob feared (from Esauv) He was afraid he'd be murdered
And Jacob was distressed*1 *2 Should he be defensive/agressive
He divided the camps into 2 *2
If one camp goes,Ill save other We will fight with the 2nd camp*2
NOTES
=====
{LIST}
*1 The phrase >Distresses him< can be used to indicate not FEAR
but a difficult decision between unpleasant ALTERNATIVES
For example
=============================================================
VERSE EVENT THE CHOICES CAUSING THE DISTRESS
===== ===== ================================
2S24-14 Punishment of David He was given 3 choices
2S13-2 Amnons sickness To abstain Or Rape
2S30-6 Davids army angry To desert them or fight for them
Lv18-18 Man with 2 wives*a Which one should he chose
Gn32-08 Esauv coming to Jacob Start with attack;or wait & see
NOTES
=====
*a That is the word DISTRESSOR refers to a CO-WIFE
apparently because the two women fight over who
will have him
{END LIST}
*2 Our point is, that the CLIMACTIC development is dictating
meaning.
By contrast the Chizkuni, a major commentator on Rashi tried
to find nuances in the word >DISTRESSED< vs the word
>FEAR<. In other words the Chizkuni tried to suggest that
it was the >NUANCES< of the words >DISTRESS< and >FEAR<
that caused Rashi to interpret the word >DISTRESSED< as
meaning >Should I fight or defend--how should I approach
Esauv<
We suggest that Rashi inferred this meaning from the
CLIMACTIC progression of the verses. It is the verses
that EXPLICITLY state that >If Esauv hits one camp then
the other one will be saved<.
So Rashi interpreted this to mean that Jacob chose a semi-
defensive stand: He divided his camps and decided to wait
to attack 2nd not first and only on destruction of the
other camp.
(This possibly has relevance to the situation
today in Israel--defensive vs aggressive stand--but we
refrain from making any further political statements
However we explicitly note that former premier Golda
Meirs statement >We will forgive those who have killed
us but will not forgive those who made us murder< is
taken almost verbatim from this Rashi and Midrash Rabbah
Again the point is that Jacob preferred to risk losing
50% of his population rather than INITIATE an offensive
position).
For those trained in war note that had Jacob chosen to
take an offensive stand he would say have divided his
army into 4 camps(which is an OFFENSIVE position). The
2 camp position is more a defensive position since
there is greater vulnerability
{END OF LIST}
RASHI RULE USED: EXAMPLE9
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VERSE: Gn32-09a
COMMENT:
=======
This is one of those rare Rashis where Rashi explicitly defends
himself using a LIST OF EXAMPLES, the way we do, in this email
list.
RULE
====
In Hebrew, unlike English, every word has a >Gender< and this
effects conjugation of verbs.However certain words are bi-gender
That is these words can appear with both masculine and feminine
gender
{LIST}
A collection of words that have both MASCULINE and FEMININE
forms. For each word we give a verse where it is conjugated
in MASCULINE and a verse where it is conjugated FEMININE
===========================================================
WORD MASCULINE FORM FEMININE FORM
==== ============== =============
Camp Gn33-08 Ps27-03
Sun Gn19-23 2K3-22
Wind Job1-19 Job1-19
Fire Ps104-04 Nu16-35
Road*1 Jer23-22 Jon3-10
NOTES
=====
*1 This example was not in this Rashi
{END LIST}
RASHI RULE USED: GRAMMAR
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VERSE: Gn32-13a
RULE:
====
The Bible can use the technique of REPEATED WORDS. The REPEATED
WORD indicates an >EXTRA< meaning, something beyond the normal
meaning of the word. It is repeated to suggest something
extra and non standard.
EXAMPLE
=======
{LIST}
Verses where a REPEATED WORD denotes that something applies
to BOTH the person spoken to as well as the father or son
For further EXAMPLES of repeated words see the URL
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/dn.htm
============================================================
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE MEANING OF REPETITION
======== ========================== ======================
Gn29-13a I will be GOOD GOOD to you Good to YOU and FATHER
Gn22-17a I will BLESS BLESS you Bless YOU and SON
Gn22-17b I will MULTIPLY MULTIPLY you Multiply YOU and SON
Gn26-28a We have SEEN SEEN in you Seen by YOU & YOUR FATHER
RASHI RULE USED: DOUBLE NOUN
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VERSE: Gn32-13b
RULE
====
Rashi will sometimes explain a verse using the technique
of >OTHER VERSES<. In particular when the Bible says
>AS SO & SO SAID< Rashi will frequently give the verse
where this is SAID. This is called the technique of
CROSS REFERENCING.
The following LIST of examples may be found at the URL
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/other-20.htm
{LIST}
METHOD 1: CROSS REFERENCING CITATIONS--Here is an example
----------------------------------------------------------
Dt26-18a says >And God SAID He will make you a TREASURED NATION<
Rashis cites Ex19-05 where it says >& you'll be to me TREASURED<
Thus Rashi is confirming the CITATION.
The verses in this example always have the words >AS IT SAYS<
and thus require a cross reference. The examples in the table
below refer to the series named >OTHER< which you can find on
the Rashi Yomi Calendar (http://www.RashiYomi.Com/calendar.htm)
================================================================
EXAMPLE # VERSE TEXT OF VERSE VERSE:
Refers to Book The actual verse concludes This verse
Example #s Chapter >AS IT SAYS< which confirms the
in Rashi Verse requires cross referencing cross
Yomi OTHER reference
series
========== ======== ========================== ==============
EXAMPLE 9 Dt19-08a God will give us more land Gn15-19:21
EXAMPLE 7 Dt18-02d Levites will not inherit Nu18-20
EXAMPLE 8 Dt26-18a Jews will be TREASURED Ex19-05
EXAMPLE 10 Dt26-19a Jews will be HOLY Lv20-26
EXAMPLE 18 Gn21-01c God gave Sarah a child Gn17-19
EXAMPLE 25 Ex12-25b God will give us Israel Ex06-08
{END LIST}
Gn29-13b is unusual in that it uses an ITERATED CROSS
REFERENCE.
Gn28-15 says >I(God) will not desert you(Jacob) till I have
done WHAT I PROMISED CONCERNING YOU<
We find this PROMISE CONCERNING JACOB in
Gn22-17 >For I will multiply you like the SAND ON THE SEA<
Thus Rashi confirms the cross reference in Gn29-13b which
says >And You (God) promised me(Jacob) to make my
descendants as numerous as the SAND ON THE SEA<. To confirm
the cross reference Rashi must use both verses Gn28-15 and
Gn22-17
RASHI RULE USED: OTHER VERSES
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VERSE: Gn32-18a
RASHIS COVERED: Gn32-18a Gn32-18b Lv05-24c Nu07-02b
RULE:
=====
(a) >POSSESION< in Hebrew is primarily indicated by the Hebrew
word >Shin-Lamed-Yud< which means possesion.
(b) >POSSESION< can also be indicated by the letter >LAMED<
or equivalantly by the word >LAMED YUD<
The letter >LAMED< is normally translated >TO<.
We are therefore suggesting that >TO< indicates >POSSESION<
For example the sentence >This seal is TO Judah< means
that >Judah OWNS this seal<. The >LAMED< is more frequently
used to indicate >BELONGING< while >Shin-Lamed-Yud< is more
used to indicate >ACTUAL POSSESION<
EXAMPLES
========
{LIST}
The following verses show the use of either >LAMED< or
>LAMED-YUD<, which is normally translated as >TO<, to mean
>SHIN-LAMED-YUD< which we would translate as >BELONGING< or
>POSSESSION< Thus the verse >this seal is TO WHOM< realy
should be translated as >this seal BELONGS TO WHOM<
The footnotes show the difference between the
>BELONG< and >POSSESION< nuances.
===============================================================
TRANSLATION USING WHY USE >TO<
VERSE ACTUAL TEXT TO=BELONGING versus >OWNED<
======= ============== ===================== =================
Gn32-18 who are you TO TO whom do you BELONG Human belonging*1
Ru02-05 she is TO who she BELONGS TO whom Human belonging*1
1S30-15 you are TO who to whom do you BELONG Human belonging*1
Gn38-25 the seal TO who Who does it BELONG to Former possesion*2
Gn31-43 these are TO me these BELONG to me Former Possesion
Lv05-24 that is TO him that BELONGS to him Something owed*3
Nu07-02 he guilted TO his guilt BELONGS Someting owed*3
Gn32-18 these are TO who who MANAGES them MANAGED vs OWNED*4
NOTES
=====
*1 In these footnotes we clarify why >TO< is used vs >OWNED<
In these 3 examples we are speaking about people and where
they come from (eg what country or whom they work for).
Thus the proper formulation of the question is not
>What country or boss OWNS you< but rather >To whom
do you BELONG<. In other words, the word >BELONG< is
less strong than >OWN<. In Hebrew we use the word >TO<
to indicate the DIRECTION to which a person belongs(but
is not really owned) Thus in Hebrew we say >TO whom are
you< meaning >Where do you belong<
*2 Recall Judah had slept with Tamar and paid her
with his seal. Tamar did not say >I slept with
whomever OWNS this seal< because Judah no longer
owned it. Rather Tamar said >I slept with whomever
this seal BELONGS TO< (The point being that you can
use >BELONG< vs >OWN< on a former possesion. In Hebrew
we say the former object was >TO a person< vs
>OWNED by the person<
Similarly Laban said to Jacob >everything you see
BELONGS to me< But Laban no longer owned them since
Jacob had acquired them as wages. So again the word
>BELONG< is used vs >OWNED<.
*3 The English idiom is >My guilt BELONGS to so and so<
indicating that this is the person sinned against.
In Hebrew you use the idiom >My guilt is TO so and so<
Obviously in both English and Hebrew the phrase
>My guilt is OWNED by so and so< would be inappropriate
since you dont >OWN< someones sin; rather the sinner has
an >OBLIGATION< to you.
*4 When Esauv saw the huge herd he had no way of knowing they
belonged to one person. So the proper formulation of the
question is not >who OWNS these< but rather either
>who do these BELONG to< or >who MANAGES these<. Again the
word >MANAGE< or >BELONG< has a softer connotation than
>OWN<.
{END LIST}
RASHI RULE USED: SYNONYMS
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THE 2 DOZEN RASHI-IS-SIMPLE RASHI RULES
=======================================
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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