>IF< can sometimes mean >WHEN<:#2 of 4 ########################################################### # 10 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE # # Nov 14, 2000 # # Rashis 400-401 Of 7800 (5.1%) # # # # Reprinted with permission from Rashi-is-Simple, # # (c) 1999-Present, Dr. Hendel # # http://www.RashiYomi.Com/ # # # #Permission to reprint with this header but not for profit# # # # VISIT THE RASHI YOMI ARCHIVES # # # # If you want to catch up on any Rashi Yomi postings # # Visit http://www.RashiYomi.Com/calendar.htm # # # # TO BUSY? Then just browse the BEIGE postings # # which are the SUMMARIES # # # # WARNING: READ with COURIER 10 (Fixed width) FONTS # # # ########################################################### OVERVIEW: ======== The following module will focus on the fact that the word >IF< can sometimes mean >WHEN<. >IF< makes the sentence sound OPTIONAL while >WHEN< makes it sound OBLIGATORY Examples are brought below REFERENCES: ========== The following references contain the material covered http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h7n24.htm http://www.RashiYomi.Com/ex21-30a.htm #*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#* EXAMPLE 4: ========= Nu36-04a says >IF< the Jubillee comes Lv25-08:12 says that you **must** call a Jubillee every 50 years Hence a preferable interpretation is Nu36-04a >WHEN< the Jubillee comes Actually Rashi states >Since the Bible literally says >IF the Jubilee comes< we infer that the Jubilee would eventually cease from Israel. But implicit in this Rashi is the fact that the verse means >WHEN the Jubilee comes then such and such could happen< We have already pointed out yesterday the difference between >IF< and >WHEN<. >WHEN< denotes >INEVITABILITY< while >IF< denotes >POSSIBILITY<. Therefore if the Bible uses >IF< in a situation (eg the Jubillee) when the event **must** happen then a) we should translate the verse as >WHEN< (Since it must happen) b) we should seek some possibility of non-occurence (This is what Rashi does...he points out that the Jubillee will eventually stop because of our sins). In my Shomrey Emunah Rashi class I offered a more complicated explanation of why the word >IF< occurs based on the fact that the verse is an >IF< statement with a compound hypothesis. But the above should suffice for now. EXAMPLE 5 ========= Gn28-20a says >IF< God is with me Gn28-15 says I (God) >will< be with you Hence a preferable interpretation is Gn28-20a >WHEN< God is with me It would appear that Jacob used the phrase >IF< God will be with me vs >WHEN< God will be with me as an expression of >HUMILITY<...in other words he spoke in a submissive tone (It however cannot be imagined that he doubted God since God had told him only 5 verses earlier that He will be with him---this explanation resolves the problems raised by the Ramban) #*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*