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VERSE: Lv13-14a

========================== LEPROUS SCABS ========================

VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
The Rashi on Lv13-14a has 2 parts. First Rashi explains that LIVE
SKIN means SCAB. The relationship between LIVE and SCAB was fully
explored in http://www.rashiyomi.com/gn18-10a.htm. The 2nd part
of Rashi studies why the phrase LIVE SKIN (scab) is repeated 3
times in these verses. Rashi uses the rule of REPEATED NOUNS.
According to this rule  REPEATED NOUNS refer to UNUSUAL CASES.
Thus Rashi enumerates all cases where a scab causes impurity
a) A scab in leprous spot b) a scab in a fully leprous person
c) a scab on eg the thumb*1 Thus the REPEATED PHRASE, LIVE SKIN,
emphasizes the UNUSUAL case of LEPROUSY+SCAB ON THE THUMB

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RULE
-------------------------
There are many Biblical verses where a word
is repeated. We can think of this REPETITION
of a word in a Biblical context as similar to
the use of BOLD in modern writing notation.
The REPETITION or BOLD suggests EMPHASIS.

We have identified 4 methods by which this
emphasis is implemented in interpretation. One
of these 4 methods is where the word is translated
in an UNUSUAL, NON-STANDARD or BROAD manner.

The standard example illustrates this.

STANDARD EXAMPLE
----------------
A good punchy clear example of BROAD INTERPRETATION
from a repeated word occurs in Gn26-13a
-----------------------------
And the man(Isaac) GREW
and he went, going and GROWING
until he GREW alot
------------------------------

STUDENT EXERCISES
-----------------
- What words are REPEATED in the above verse?

- Are the words repeated ONE AFTER THE OTHER?
If not HOW does the REPETITION occur?
How could the verse be rewritten without the REPETITION?

- Apply the rule: REPETITION indicates UNUSUAL MEANING
Give an UNUSUAL NON STANDARD meaning to the repeated
word(s) in the above verse


RASHIS SOLUTION
---------------
ANSWERS TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS:
- The word GROW is repeated (3 times!)
Also (in Hebrew) the verb TO GO (Hey-Lamed-Caph)
is repeated (And the man WENT, GOING...)

- The repetition is not a consecutive word repetition
The repetition occurs by repeating the whole sentence
or phrases of it. The verse could be rewritten in many
manners such as
-- The man WENT, GOING and GROWING

The verse could even be rewritten with ONE repetition
instead of TWO repetitions
-- The man GREW until he GREW alot

Quite simply the verse could simply say
-- The man GREW ALOT
As this the last example hilights the concept of
GROWING occurs 3 times.

- The word GROW usually refers to GROWING IN ASSETS
WEALTH and INFLUENCE.

Rashi, following the Talmud interprets the word
GROWING in a non-standard manner
- Even the MANURE of Isaac was coveted

In other words Isaac GREW in all his assets so much
that even trivial things like his manure was coveted

COMMENTS:
---------
Again, if this sentence was written in modern day
notation we would use BOLD, ITALICS or CAPS to
indicate the emphasis. So eg using CAPS we would
write the verse as
------------------------------------------
And the man went, going and GROWING alot
------------------------------------------
The CAPPED or BOLDED word suggests an emphasis
which we then implement by giving a non-standard
interpretation.

Another comment is the following: The idea of finding
SOME unusual interpretation is easy. If you found SOME
non-standard interpretation then you understand the
Rashi and the technique he is using. The Talmudic sages
may have come up with a different interpretation. Sometimes
there interpretation is due to advanced application of
logical techniques.

The Bible at Dt17-11 gives final authority to the Talmudic
sages. This determines what law we follow. However as the
Talmud explicitly says, THESE (interpretations of GREW) AND
THESE (interpretations of GREW) ARE BOTH WORDS OF THE LIVING
GOD. In other words, all interpretations have validity but the
final authority of action belongs to the Talmudic sages.


STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
---------------------------------
A standard reference for Rashis using climax may
be found at http://www.RashiYomi.com/doubl-14.htm

Also visit the Rashi calendar at
http://www.RashiYomi.com/calendar1.htm
The DOUBLE series was presented from Mid December 2000
to Mid January 2001

One can also visit directly
http://www.RashiYomi.com/doubl-1.htm
http://www.RashiYomi.com/doubl-2.htm....

The above are all summarized at doubl-14 at
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/doubl-14.htm

HOW TO USE THESE LISTS FOR SCHOOL PROJECTS
------------------------------------------
You can use the LISTS referenced above for
school projects. Here is how. If you are a
teacher then you can use the above resources
to display verses with repeating words.

You can then have the students do the 3 exercises
listed above:
(a) Find the repetition
(b) Suggest a rewriting of the verse
(c) Try and guess at a non-standard interpretation of the word

The students can then compare their analysis with that
of Rashis. This leads to greater appreciation of Rashi.

TODAYS LIST
-----------
We give several examples of verses where a repetition indicates
a non standard meaning
=================================================================
VERSE    TEXT OF VERSE                     REPETITION Means...
======== ================================= ======================
Gn26-13a & Isaac GREW GREW*2               Even his HORSE MANURE
Nu17-28a All who come NEAR NEAR*3          Even if ACCIDENTAL
Nu05-12a A MAN MAN who suspects his wife   Even if PARANOIC*4
Gn08-21b God will NOT DESTROY NOT DESTROY  Even if very EVIL*5
Lv13-14a SCABS SCABS make impure           Even if ON THUMB*6

NOTES
------
*1  Ordinarily a leprous thumb spot doesnt cause impurity
    because you cant see all of it. A requirement in  Leprousy
    is that the leprousy be FULLY VISIBLE AT ONCE. Hence
    Leprous thumb spots(Which cannot be viewed at once on all
    sides of the thumb) do not confer impurity. BUt a leprous
    thumb spot with a scab in the center (on the tip of the
    thumb) does create IMPURITY

*2 Isaac GREW NON-STANDARDLY--even if his HORSE MANURE was
   coveted (Usually growth means your wealth is coveted)

*3 All who come NEAR NEAR to the temple--even if by accident
   from a crowded room--will suffer extinction

*4 A MAN MAN--even if paranoic--who suspects his wife can
   put her threw this ceremony (This interpretation comes
   from the Midrash Rabbah---the main posting reviews
   several other interpretations including Rashis--they
   all are non-standard)

*5 God promises not to DESTROY DESTROY the world after
   the flood---even if people are very evil and they
   deserve it

*6 SCABS SCABS always cause IMPURITY even if on the
   thumb which normally doesnt receive leprous impurity
=================================================================

RASHI RULE USED: DOUBLE NOUNS
---------------------------------------------------
WARNING: The following additional references may be too wordy
However they frequently contain additional information & lists
The hyperlinks only work on the main website

Volume 16 Number 10


#*#*#*#*#  (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#