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Surfing the Talmudic Seas
(C) RashiYomi Incorporated, 2000
Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel
Volume 8 Number 2
Produced Nov 2, 2000
WARNING: USE FIX WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)
WEEKLY PARSHAH SERIES
=====================
Spreadsheet presentation of Flood chronology. Rashis
chronology defended with paragraph methods of Rabbi
Ishmael.
Rashis covered in this issue
----------------------------
VERSE RULE BRIEF DESCRIPTION
======== ============== ================================
Gn07-20a SPREADSHEETS Chronology of Flood events
Gn08-14a SPREADSHEETS Chronology of Flood events
Gn07-12b SPREADSHEETS Chronology of Flood events
Gn08-03a SPREADSHEETS Chronology of Flood events
Gn08-07a SPREADSHEETS Chronology of Flood events
Gn07-11a SPREADSHEETS Chronology of Flood events
Gn08-05a SPREADSHEETS Chronology of Flood events
Gn08-13a SPREADSHEETS Chronology of Flood events
Gn08-04a SPREADSHEETS Chronology of Flood events
Gn08-06a SPREADSHEETS Chronology of Flood events
Gn08-06a SPREADSHEETS Chronology of Flood events
Gn08-13b SPREADSHEETS Chronology of Flood events
Gn08-14b SPREADSHEETS Chronology of Flood events
Gn08-04b SPREADSHEETS Chronology of Flood events
-----------------------------------------------------------------
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
RASHI IS SIMPLE
GOALS: To grammatically defend all 8000 Rashis on Chumash.
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JOURNAL REFERENCE: Pshat & Drash,TRADITION, Win 1980,R Hendel
NOTATION: eg Gn01-02a refers Genesis, Chapter 1, Verse 2,Rashi a
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: Gn07-20a
OVERVIEW:
=========
We present the chronology of flood events according to Rashi.
Some highlights in our presentation are as follows
* The Rashi-Ramban controversy is discussed
* The Rabbi-Ishmael-Paragraph-methods are used to defend Rashi
* We use MONTH NUMBERS vs MONTH NAMES(This clarifies presentation
* We present 3 summary lists
* SUMMARY by DATE
* SUMMARY by EASIEST TO PROVE
* SUMMARY by RASHIS METHODS
* We use Rashis infinitive methods on Gn08-03(This is new)
Let us begin
RULE: In modern notation we use >BLANK LINES< to indicate new
paragraphs. By contrast the Bible uses a variety of methods. In
particular the Bible can use the following format to indicate
paragraphs
>GENERAL THEME<
>DETAILS<
>GENERAL THEME<
In other words a GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL structure (one of Rabbi
Ishmaels rules) indicates a paragraph, a unit of thought.
EXAMPLE1: Gn07-19:20 reads as follows:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL:Gn07-19 The water covered ALL HIGH mountains UNDER HEAVEN
PARTICULAR:--------------15 cubits above, the water was high
GENERAL:Gn07-20 The water covered mountains.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
COMMENT1: Hence we have the Rashi >after the water reached the
mountain tops, the water rose another 15 cubits<. In other words
(cf Sifsay Chachamim) the Biblical phrase >15 cubits ABOVE<
refers to >ABOVE the mountain tops< and this inference comes
from the overall paragraph structure
COMMENT2: The above rule I gave about paragraphs still follows
Rabbi Ishmaels paradigms: The overall paragraph structure
emphasizes that the water was not only 15 cubits above the
average typical mountain, but the water was 15 cubits above
EVERY MOUNTAIN no matter how HIGH.(We gave further details
on the GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL form last digest on Gn07-13a)
COMMENT3: Notice how Rashi does not use a >problem< approach:
Rashi is not bothered that Gn07-19 says >Covered ALL HIGH
mountains UNDER HEAVEN< while Gn07-20 says >Covered mountains<
The paragraph as a whole communicates that every mountain was
covered
Let us give further examples of this paragraph rule
EXAMPLE 2,3: Gn07-12:17 & Gn07-18:24 reads as follows
FLOOD FOR 40 DAYS
----------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL: Gn07-12 The RAIN was on the land 40 day-nights
PARTICULAR:---Noachs family and the animals in pairs came to ark
GENERAL: Gn07-17 The FLOOD was on the land 40 days
----------------------------------------------------------------
EXAMPLE 3: Gn07-18:24 CLOGGED HIGH WATERS FOR 150 DAYS
--------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL: Gn07-18 And the waters were high and plentiful
PARTICULAR:--------The waters rose 15 cubits above all mountains
-------------------All life except Noach perished from the flood
GENERAL: Gn07-24 And the waters were high for 150 days
COMMENTS: Notice how the above forms 2 paragraphs. It is these
two paragraphs which drive Rashis view that first there were
40 day-night pairs of rain (Gn07-12b) and then there were 150
days of water clogging when the water remained above the earth
(Gn08-03a).
The Ramban gives several suggestions including the idea that
the 150 days INCLUDED the 40 days. I think the strongest
defense of Rashi that the 40 days and the 150 days
are distinct comes from the overall paragraph units.
The 40-day-paragraph and the 150-day-paragraph are distinct
units.
--------------------------------------------------------------
We now complete the analysis that the whole incident of Noachs
ark took a full year or 365 days
--------------------------------------------------------------
RULE: In making computations it is helpful to use a spreadsheet
approach. In particular sometimes it is clearer to work
backwards.
We now breakdown the 365 days in 9 steps
STEP 1:--The 365 days of flood
======
Gn08-14a Two verses state that
--Gn07-11>The flood started on year 600 of Noach,Month 2,day 17<
--Gn08-14>The flood ended-- on year 601 of Noach,Month 2,day 27<
RASHI:Hence the flood took 12 months of 29 1/2 days each=354 days
------Plus the number of days from 17 to 27---------------11
-----------------Thus we have a total of-----------------365 days
Note that the Ramban does not disagree with this
STEP 2:--57 days from the DRYING to the HARDENING of the ground
======
----------------------------------------------------------------
Gn08-13>In year 601 of noach,month 1,day 1--the ground DRYED<
Gn08-14>In-------------------month 2,day 17-the ground HARDENED<
----------------------------------------------------------------
RASHIS: Gn08-13b, Gn08-14b. Rashi uses the method of double
parshas(comparison of the 2 verses) to see the ground first
DRIED and then HARDENED. (Note that the Ramban does not
disagree with this)
NOTE: The 57 days might be 56 days (because of 29 day months)
STEP 3:--21 days of sending out the Dove to see if land dried
=======
Gn08-08 >Sent dove to see if land dried<
Gn08-10>Waited 7 days AGAIN and sent Dove to see if land dried<
Gn08-12>Waited 7 days AGAIN and sent the Dove<
RASHI: Gn08-08a: From the word AGAIN we learn that Noach waited
7 days the first time also. Hence we have 3 sets of 7 days or
21 days. Again, the Ramban does not disagree with this.
STEP 4: 40 days between >seeing hilltops< and >opening ark<
======
Gn08-05 >the waters receded till the hilltops were seen<
Gn08-06 >After 40 days Noach opened the ark window<
Again the Ramban does not disagree with this
STEP 5: 40 days of flood
======
See paragraph Gn07-12:17 >There was a flood 40 days<
STEP 6: 150 days of water clogging
======
See paragraph Gn07-19:24 >There was clogging 150 days<
As commented above, the Ramban does disagree (in one of
his versions) and suggests that the 40 days was part of
the 150 days. I think the strongest argument to defend
Rashi is the 2 separate paragraphs--there was 40 days
of rain followed by 150 days of water clogging.
STEP 7: 58-60 days left for water recession
=======
{LIST}
We can now compute how many days we have available for
the water recession
=============================================================
NUMBER OF DAYS EVENT THAT TOOK PLACE
============== =====================
365 days All flood episode
-------- ------------------------
57 days Dry to hardening of land
21 days Sending of Dove
40 days hilltops to opening ark
40 days Flood
150 days Water clogging
-------- ------------------------
307 days accounted for Subtotal
-------- ------------------------
58 days Leftover for recession
STEP 8:--The water recession started after the 150 days clogging
======
The Ramban disagrees with Rashi here. There is one verse which
people have overlooked which seems to defend Rashi.
STEP 8a
-------
Gn08-07a>And the raven was >COMING AND GOING<<
RASHI simply explains the phrase >COMING AND GOINGONGOING ACTIVITY< (See
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/ex13-03a.htm
STEP 8b
-------
Applying this infinitive principle to Gn08-03 we translate
Gn08-03>And the waters were returning over the land, COMING &
GOING: The waters (only) started receding after 150 days<
Thus we conclude that the waters started receding to the hilltops
150 days after the end of the 40 days of rain. Hence as indicated
above we have 58-60 days left to account for the recession of the
waters to the hilltops.
The Biblical language here is very difficult. Rashi and Ramban
do have differences. However the defense of Rashi is that we
work backwards and have left only 58-60 days.
STEP 9
======
Step 9a: Hilltops were seen on Month 11, Day 1
-------
{LIST}
We have the following sequence of verses
=====================================================
VERSE EVENT MENTIONED IN VERSE AND DATE
======== ============================================
Gn08-05a On month 10, day 1 the hilltops were seen
Gn08-06 40 days later Noach opened window
Gn08-08 7 days later Noach sent dove 1st time
Gn08-10 7 Days later Noach sent dove 2nd time
Gn08-12 7 days later Noach sent dove 3rd time
Gn08-13 The waters dried on Year 601, Month 1, day 1
NOTES
=====
Rashi explicitly states that 40+7+7+7=2 months. Hence
2 months before Month 1, Day 1 the hilltops were seen.
Hence this must have been on Year 600 of noach,month 11,day 1
But the verse says Gn08-05a: >Month 10, day 1<
Rashi resolves this contradiction with the following principle
----------------------------------------------------------
Dates with years are ABSOLUTE.
Dates without years(only months) may be RELATIVE
Once the YEAR is stated it need not be repeated in
IMMEDIATELY consecutive verses
-----------------------------------------------------------
Hence the following are absolute dates
Year 600 of Noach, month 2, day 17---the flood starts
Year 601 of Noach, month 1, day 1----the ground dries
and in ------------month 2, day 27---the flood ends
However because of the spreadsheet calculations
Rashi is forced to interpret
Gn08-05 >On Month 10(from the start of the flood) day 1,
the hilltops were seen<
Thus we have that the hilltops were seen in the 10th month
from the start of the flood which happened in month 2. Hence
the hilltops were seen in year 600 of Noach, month 11.
Again: Nobody is claiming that this is a simple approach.
However the approach is forced on us by the remaining
calcluations
Step 9b: The waters started receding on Year 600,month 9,day 1
-------
{LIST}
Let us review how we know this
==========================================================
EVENT SOURCE
========================================= =============
land dried on year 601, month 1, day 1 Gn08-13
21 days of sending dove 3 times Gn08-08,10,12
40 days from >hilltops seen to send dove< Gn08-06
------------------------------------------ -----------
Hilltops seen on year 600,month 11, day 1 COMPUTATION
60 days left for recession of waters COMPUTATION
------------------------------------------ -----------
Recession begins at year 600,month 9,day 1 COMPUTATION
-------------------------------------------------------
Now let us interpret the verses
----------------------------------------------------------------
Gn08-03>The waters started receding 150 days AFTER THE END
of the 40 days of Rain(150 days= 5 months + a few days)<
Gn08-04>And in the 7th month (AFTER THE END OF THE 40 days of
Rain) on the 17th day the ark rested on Arrarat<
----------------------------------------------------------------
So the recession began in the 7th month after the end of
40 days of rain (1 month 10 days) after Year 600,month 2, day 17
We conclude that the recession began in year 600, month 9, day 1
----------------------------------------------------------------
The above completes the 9 steps defending Rashis chronology
To complete the analysis and to further clarify we present
3 SUMMARYS: A
-SUMMARY BY DATE
-SUMMARY BY EASE OF PROOF
-SUMMARY BY RASHI METHODS
{LIST}
A Summary of Flood chronology. We list the events according
to what is easiest to prove. Proofs consist of EXPLICIT
verses or computations from those verses
================================================================
EVENT DATE--TOTAL DAYS PROOF
============= ======================== =======
Flood starts Year 600, month 2,day 17 Gn07-11
Flood Ends Year 601, month 2,day 27 Gn08-14
------------- ------------------------ -------
Total days 365 COMPUTE
------------- ------------------------ -------
Flood days 40 Gn07-12
Clogging days 150 Gn07-24
------------- ------------------------ -------
Subtotal 175 COMPUTE
------------- ------------------------ -------
open window after hilltops seen 40 Gn08-06
Wait to send dove 1st time 7 Gn08-08
Wait to send dove 2nd time 7 Gn08-10
Wait to send dove 3rd time 7 Gn08-12
------------------------------- ------------------------ -------
Subtotal 114 COMPUTE
------------------------------- ------------------------ -------
Land dries to land hardens 57/58 COMPUTE
------------------------------- ------------------------ -------
Subtotal 57 COMPUTE
------------------------------- ------------------------ -------
Time available for recession 2 months
{LIST}
Summary of chronology of Flood BY DATE. Where possible
verses are provided to support the ideas
======================================================
DATE EVENT VERSE
========================= ==================== =======
Year 600, Month 2, Day 17 Flood begins 40 days Gn07-11
Year 600, Month 2, Day 27 150 days of clogging Gn07-24
Year 600, Month 9, Day 1 Recession begins Gn08-03
Year 600, Month 11,day 1 Hilltops seen
Year 600, Month 12,day 10 Window of ark opened Gn08-06
Year 600, Month 12,day 17 Dove sent 1st time Gn08-08
Year 600, Month 12,day 24 Dove sent 2nd time Gn08-10
Year 601, Month 1 ,day 1 Dove sent 3rd time;land dry Gn08-13
Year 601, Month 2, day 27 Land hardened Gn08-14
SUMMARY OF RASHIS COVERED, WhAT THEY SAY, AND REASONS
========================================================
Gn07-20a Ark was 15 cubits above mountain tops
Rashi infers this from the GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL form
Gn08-14a Flood lasted 365 days
Rashi derives this from the following 2 verses
Flood begins in Year 600, Month 2, day 17
Flood ends in Year 601, Month 2, day 27
(Jewish Years) consist of 12 months of 29 1/2 days=354 days
Add 11 days (27-17+1) to the 354 = 365
Gn07-12b, Gn08-03a---Dates of end of flood and water clogging
Flood starts on Year 600, Month 2, day 17
Flood lasts 40 days Year 600, Month 3, day 27 or 28
Water clogginh 150 days Year 600, Month 9, day 1
Note: That Rashi contradicts himself (On Gn07-12b he says
the flood ended on day 27 while on Gn08-03a he says the flood
ended on day 28). The simplest resolution is that the flood
STARTED in the middle of the day (gn07-13) and lasted 40
day-nights. So the flood ended on the evening following the
27th which of course is the beginning of the 28th.
Gn08-07a Gn08-03 COMING AND GOING;
Rashi learned this from the fact that the infinitive means
ongoing activity (http://www.RashiYomi.Com/ex13-03a.htm)
NOTE: WE APPLY THIS INTERPRETATION TO Gn08-03. Hence
we conclude (Gn08-03) that the recession of waters ONLY
began after 150 days.
Gn07-11a, Gn08-05a, Gn08-13a Month counting for the flood
Rashi mentions that there are two schemes (the 1st
month is Nissan or the 1st month is Tishray)
We have avoided this problem raised by Rashi by using
NUMBERS not NAMES in describing the flood. Thus we
say Year 600, Month 2, Day 17. This is less confusing.
Gn08-04a, Gn08-06a Relative dating if no year is used
The date Year 600, Month 2, day 17 is absolute
The phrase >month 2< means the 2nd month (eg February)
By contrast if no year is mentioned the dating can be
relative. For example >7th month< can be >7th month
from start of flood or from end of flood<
We emphasize that Rashi only interpreted these dates
as relative BECAUSE OF THE OTHER CALCULATIONS. THE
OTHER CALCUALTIONS LEFT 2 MONTHS FOR THE RECESSION.
Hence we interpret the dates to be consistent with this
Gn08-06a 40 days AFTER SEEING MOUNTAIN TOPS Noach opened ark
Ruth Shain of my Shomrey Emunah Rashi class pointed out
that to present Rashis chronology you need to assume that
all the verses are SEQUENTIAL WITHOUT GAPS.
So in Gn08-06a >40 days after Noach opened the window<
Rashi explains >40 days after the ark rested Noah
opened the window<
Gn08-13b Gn08-14b
The earth first DRIED and then (57 days later) became HARDENED
Rashi learns this by comparing the 2 verses.
Gn08-04b Rashi derives that the 1/3 of the ark was below water
The computations are as follows
-------------------------------------------------------------
Water level was 15 cubits above mountains Gn07-20
2 months for waters to recede to mountain tops Computation
So waters recede at 1 cubit per 4 days*1 2 months/15
But ark rested on mount arrarat after 17 days Gn08-04
So waters receded 4 cubits in 17 days 17 day/4 @ day
Hence water level was 11 cubits above mountains 15 cubits-4
Hence ark was immersed 11 cubits in water
-------------------------------------------------------------
NOTES
=====
*1 Notice how Rashi assumes a straight linear descent.
Ramban demurs. But Rashi agrees with Rambans principle!
Rashi held there were 3 stages in the water recession
--150 days of water clogging (no recession)
-- 60 days of recession @ 1 cubit per 4 days
--Water recedes to ground
The rambans ONLY objection to Rashi is that water recession
is never uniform all the way! But Rashi agrees! Rashi simply
posited there was a uniform COMPONENT till the hilltops were
seen. It thus appears that Rambans refutation is not valid
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
THE 2 DOZEN RASHI-IS-SIMPLE RASHI RULES
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/rules.htm
=======================================
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/rules9-6.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 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*