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Surfing the Talmudic Seas
(C) RashiYomi Incorporated, 2001
Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel
Volume 8 Number 25
Produced Jan 23, 2001
WARNING: USE FIX WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)
Verses/Topics Discussed in This Issue with quicky explanations
READER QUESTIONS
================
Gn47-27a
AITHAN SPIEGEL continues the question of YOSSI
ZOIMAN about the 2 pronunciations of RAAMSAYTH.
Read this exciting Controversy among Rishonim
We will give this exciting posting next time!
v9-1-23a
SEARCH ENGINE FEATURE for Rashi is Simple using
the famous GOOGLE site. Info from the famous
Shamash web master.
HILIGHTS
========
Ex05-08a
This continues our series on controversies among
the early authorities. THIS POSTING IS AN EXCELLENT
example of how to study and resolve controversies
among Rishonim. Those who wish to seriously pursue
Biblical study should study this posting.
PARSHAH SERIES
==============
Ex05-23a
Rashi will teach grammar if the forms are rare or
the roots are very week
Ex05-08a
Come see an exciting controversy among Rishonim.
Does T-C-N mean (a) number (b) fix (c) content?
Read a simple resolution of this entanglement
using the Rashi-is-Simple rule of UNIFIED
MEANING.
Rashis covered in this issue
----------------------------
VERSE RULE BRIEF DESCRIPTION
======== =============== ================================
Ex05-08a UNIFIED MEANING >TChN< means >STANDARDS<
Ex05-08c UNIFIED MEANING >TChN< means >STANDARDS<
Ex05-18a UNIFIED MEANING >TChN< means >STANDARDS<
Ex30-32c UNIFIED MEANING >TChN< means >STANDARDS<
Ex30-32d UNIFIED MEANING >TChN< means >STANDARDS<
Ex30-37a UNIFIED MEANING >TChN< means >STANDARDS<
Ex05-23a GRAMMAR Conjugation of Doubly Weak Verbs
Ex05-14c GRAMMAR Conjugation of Doubly Weak Verbs
Ex03-02c GRAMMAR Conjugation of Doubly Weak Verbs
-----------------------------------------------------------------
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2001 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
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 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,
WEB: http://www.RashiYomi.Com/
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2001 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: v9-1-23a
Those who wish to SEARCH the Rashi website can
* Go to google (http://www.google.com/)
* Use the advanced search by site
* EXAMPLE: If I wanted all Rashis that were PEACHES I would
type in the GOOGLE SEARCH DIALOG BOX the following:
>PEACH site:www.RashiYomi.Com<
* The key point is to place the phrase
>site:www.RashiYomi.Com<
in your search request
I learned of this from the Shamash Web staff---here are
some relevant comments.
Here is an abridged form of their email
Russell-
SEARCH: is a new service we are finishing setting up...
See here for criterion building:
http://www.google.com/intl/en_extra/help/index.html
Google does not "backup" anything really... it does index
the whole web, including shamash's public list archives.
When it indexes those pages, it does cache them short term
until the next re-indexing. This is not truely
a backup, but a temporary mirror on the Google site.
Please note that Google says on the aforementioned web page:
"We add and update new sites to our index each time we crawl
the web, and we invite you to submit your URL here. We do not
add all submitted URLs to our index, and we cannot make any
predictions or guarantees about when or if they will appear."
Warmly,
Shamash Staff
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2001 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: Ex05-08a
RASHIS COVERED: Ex05-08a Ex05-08c Ex05-18a Ex30-32c
Ex30-32d Ex30-37a
RULE
====
The fudamental unified meaning of the Hebrew root >T-Ch-N< is
>STANDARDS<. The comments below relate this suggested unifying
meaning to what appears to be a 3-way controversy among the
early authorities. First we give some examples*1
*1 (The root >T-Ch-N< occurs only 24 times in the Bible--
the list below gives 25% of the occurences).
EXAMPLES
========
{LIST}
In the verses below we translate the Hebrew root >T-C-N<
as >STANDARDS<. Notice in each case how the concept of
>STANDARDS OF PRODUCTION< leads naturally to the idea of
>PROPORTIONS/NUMBERS OF INGREDIENTS<
=================================================================
VERSE TRANSLATION OF VERSE WITH >T-C-N< meaning >STANDARDS<
======== ========================================================
Ex05-08a The STANDARD(ie number)of Brick production is the same*1
Ex05-08c >T-C-N< refers to a >STANDARD OF PRODUCTION(ie number)<
Ex05-18a You must produce the STANDARD PRODUCTION(ie #) OF BRICKS
Ex30-32c Do not make oil according to this STANDARD*2 *3
Ex30-32d >T-C-N< refers to a >STANDARD OF PRODUCTION(ie number)<
Ex30-37a Do not make incense according to this STANDARD*4
NOTES
=====
*1 Recall that Pharoh had provided the Jews with Mortar to
produce bricks. Now Pharoh demanded that
--the Jews make their own Mortar AND
--the standards (ie Number) of Brick production remain stable
*2 That is do not make an oil with the same PROPORTION(=STANDARD)
of ingredients.
*3 Rashi points out a DOUBLE PARSHAH theme on this verse
The verse is talking about the ANNOINTING OIL. Ex30
describes the STANDARDS for making ANNOINTING OIL
------------------------------------------------------
This Oil.............do not annoint a person with it
With this standard...do not make other oils
*a *b
------------------------------------------------------
*a So there are two distinct prohibitions
--it is prohibited to ANNOINT with THAT OIL
described in Ex30
--it is prohibited to PRODUCE other oils
according to the STANDARDS (ie proportions of
ingredients) in the ANNOINTING OIL
In particular
--it is prohibited to make other similar oils EVEN if
you dont annoint yourself with it
--it is NOT specifically prohibited to annoint yourself
with a similarly made oil
*4 ie Do not produce a perfume whose ingredients are in
the same proportions as the Temple incense (ie do not
produce other perfumes according to these standards)
{END OF LIST}
COMMENTS
========
We now analyze in greater detail what >T-C-N< means.
As the LISTS below show
--there are two competing meanings; QUANTITY & FIXED UP
--there are verses which clearly support each of these
--there is controversy between commentators on meaning
--also the SAME commentary will provide 2 meanings!
Here are the LISTS
{LIST}
This list presents opinions of commentaries.
Not only is there severe controversy between the authorities
on the meaning of the Hebrew root >T-C-N< but the authorities
even contradict themselves! The same authority will say
contradictory things. All this on a root that occurs only
24 times in the Bible. Here are some commentaries
==============================================================
PERSON VERSE TEXT OF COMMENTATOR or TEXT OF VERSE
======= ========= ==========================================
RASHI Ex05-08c >T-C-N< refers to NUMBER & PROPORTION
RADACK ROOT BOOK >T-C-N< means FIXED UP by NUMBER/WEIGHT
RADACK ROOT BOOK >T-C-N< refers to the COMPOSITION
RADACK Ez45-11 These measures will have the same QUANTITY
RASHI Ez45-11 These measures will have the same QUANTITY
RASHI Ez18-29 Gods paths are not FIXED UP!?!?
IBNEzra Prv16-02 It is God who FIXES UP peoples SPIRITS
RASHI Prv16-02 It is God who COUNTS peoples SPIRITS
Mtzdth Prv--All >T-C-N< refers to the >INNER QUALITY<
Mtzdth 1S1-3 >T-C-N< refers to >QUANTITY<*1
NOTES
=====
The Mtzudoth takes the word >T-C-N< as the word >T-Ch<
which means >INSIDE< with a >MAGNIFYING TERMINAL NUN<
So >T-Ch-N< would mean >INNER QUALITY<. We have in the
past provided lists of words ending in NUN. However
this comment of the Mtzudoth is not needed for the
mainstream analysis
{END OF LIST}
{LIST}
Here is a summary from the point of view of TRANSLATIONS
We show those verses which clearly support each meaning
========================================================
MEANING VERSE TEXT OF VERSE
======= ======= ================================
FIXED UP Ez18-29 Gods Paths are FIXED & WELL KEPT
QUANTITY Ez45-11 The same QUANTITY to all WEIGHTS
{END OF LIST}
The reader now understands why I sought a UNIFIED EXPLANATION
The concept of >PRODUCTION STANDARDS< invovles both
---items that are FIXED UP (according to specification)
---items that have appropriate MEASURES/PROPORTIONS
In other words by finding the UNIFIED EXPLANATION we avoid
all controversy and obtain a deeper appreciation of verses.
As a simple example Prv16-02 would now be translated as
>Who sets the STANDARDS for SOULS< which could EQUALLY mean
>Who FIXES UP souls< or >Who sets the PROPORTIONS, NUMBER
and TYPE of SOULS< (Or possibly it means both)
Similarly Ex45-11 is not just saying that liquid and dry
measures should have the same quantity---the verse is saying
that liquid and dry measures should have the same STANDARDS.
I believe this method, first advocated in my article, PSHAT
& DRASH: A NEW INTUITIVE & ANALYTIC APPROACH, Tradition, Winter
1980, can significantly enrich Biblical interpretation.
RASHI RULE USED: UNIFIED MEANING
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2001 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: Ex05-23a
RASHIS COVERED: Ex05-23a Ex05-14c Ex03-02c
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
===============
The lists in this posting come from the recently published
Grammatical Form Konkordance published by Moshe Silberman.
RULE
====
Hebrew verbs, denoting activity, are conjugated from 3 letter
roots. Each 3 letter root is conjugated according to 8
dimensions of activity:
--WHO did the the activity (me, you, him)
--HOW MANY did the activity (me,us)
--WHEN the activity took place(now, past, future)
--Did I DO IT/RECEIVE IT (passive/active)
--Am I MALE/FEMALE (Gender)
--TENSE( Active, Intense, Interactive, Causative..)
--TO WHOM was the activity done (to you, to him, )
--Relation of ACTIVITY to RECIPIENT (ON HIM, TO HIM, etc)
SIMPLE EXAMPLE
==============
>Sh-Ma-R< means to >WATCH<. >Sh-MaR-Ti-Chah< means >I HAD
WATCHED YOU<
COMMENT:
=======
One of the triumphs of the middle ages is the complete
understanding of the laws of Hebrew conjugation. These laws are
taught in introductory Hebrew courses and can be obtained from
many standard books.My favorite book is the IBN SHOSHAN
DICTIONARY--which has a good brief 20 page summary at its end.
However when a 3 letter root has WEAK letters then the rules
of conjugation change. These WEAK LETTER conjugations may also
be found in many standard books. When there are 2 weak letters
there are in fact still further conjugations. We bring
below examples of either DOUBLY WEAK LETTER roots or else
of VERY RARE GRAMMATICAL FORMS.
EXAMPLES
========
EXAMPLE 1
---------
The root >R-A< means >BAD< so that Ex05-23a means
>TO TREAT BADLY< (Causative).
Rashi on Ex05-23a indicates the conjugation of the doubly
weak 3 letter root: >Resh-Ayin-Ayin<. This root
---has the 2nd and 3rd letter identical
---has a guttural letter in the 2nd and 3rd letter
Here is the LIST
{LIST}
Moshe Silbermans Grammatical Form Konkordance gives the
following list for the PAST SINGULAR CAUSATIVE 3rd PERSON
CONJUGATION in 1-X-X roots. See Rashi on Ex05-23a
=========================================================
ROOT VERSE CONJUGATION
==== ===== ===========
D-K-K 2K23-15 Hay-Da-K
M-R-R Job27-02 Hay-Ma-R
P-R-R Gn17-14 Hay-Fa-R
K-L-L Is08-23 Hay-Ka-L
R-C-C Job23-16 Hay-Ra-Ch
R-A-A Ex05-23 Hay-Ra-A
S-X-X Is25-12 Hay-Sh-Ch
T-Z-Z Is18-05 Hay-Ta-Z
{END OF LIST}
EXAMPLE 2
---------
Ex05-14c contains a DOUBLY WEAK root in a rare MODE.
The root >N-C-H< means to >HIT<. Hence Ex05-14c means
>THEY WERE HIT< (Passive Causative)
{LIST}
Moshe Silbermans Grammatical Form Konkordance gives the
following list for the CAUSATIVE PASSIVE PLURAL PAST
3rd PERSON See Rashi on Ex05-14c.
There are only 3 examples in the whole Bible, of ANY
root in this type of conjugation! No wonder Rashi
felt obligated to explain the grammar on this particular
verse
=========================================================
ROOT VERSE CONJUGATION
==== ===== ===========
N-C-H Ex05-14 Vay-YooC-Coo
N-C-H Is01-05 TooC-Coo
N-C-H 1Sam5-12 HooC-Coo
{END OF LIST}
EXAMPLE 3
---------
>A-C-LEAT<. Hence in the
INTENSE-PASSIVE mode it means >TO BE DESTROYED<
(Notice how in English also, >TO EAT< can mean
>TO DESTROY<)
In our last example there are no weak letters in
the root. However the tense, INTENSE-PASSIVE, is
very rare.
{LIST}
Moshe Silbermans Grammatical Form Konkordance gives the
following list for the INTENSE PASSIVE SINGULAR PAST
3rd PERSON See Rashi on Ex03-02c. Although this root
has no weak letters nevertheless the INTENSE PASSIVE
tense is very rare which is WHY Rashi commented on this
root
=========================================================
ROOT VERSE CONJUGATION
==== ===== ===========
A-C-L Ex03-02 OOCh-ChaL*1
G-L-Ch Ju16-22 GooL-La-Ch
X-B-R Ex39-04 XooB-Ba-R
L-M-D Jr31-17 LooM-Ma-D
L-K-X Is53-08 LooK-Ka-X*2
NOTES
=====
*1 Moshe explicitly encourages us to read Rashi who
says that the meaning of A-C-L is >Be destroyed<
because it is in the PASSIVE-INTENSE mode (In
the NON-INTENSE-ACTIVE mode the root means >EAT<
In English also the word >EAT< can mean >DESTROY<)
*2 Moshe Silberman points out there are 9 roots in
all of the Bible that are conjugated this way
By contrast many ACTIVE-NON-INTENSE conjugations
have dozens of examples. It is this rarity that
prompted Rashi to comment
{END OF LIST}
RASHI RULE USED: GRAMMAR
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2001 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
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
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2001 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*