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VERSE: Lv25-05c

RASHIS COVERED: Ex29-06a Lv25-05c Lv22-02a Nu06-02b Dt33-16d

================== NZR = UPPER CLASS ============================

VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
The root Nun-Zayin-Resh is best translated as the UPPER CLASS
It can refer to (a) KINGS and CROWNS(NZR), (b) PRIESTS (NZR)
or the (c) NAZARITE (Abstains from wine). The traditional
translation of NZR is SEPARATION. But NZR means more than
SEPARATION--it means SEPARATION in the sense of the SEPARATION
of HIGHER SOCIETY. Thus the KING separates from the rif-rafs
(Social higher society), the PRIEST separates from the rif-rafs
(Spiritual higher society) and the NAZARITE separates from
rif-rafs(traditional higher society).Lv25-05c talks about
specially picked(separated)grapes used for HIGHER SOCIETY WINES


BACKGROUND
----------
Lv22-02 speaks about the need for the PRIESTS TO SEPARATE FROM
THE SACRIFICES WHILE THEY ARE RITUALLY IMPURE.

The Hebrew word for SEPARATE has the root Nun-Zayin-Resh.

This root also can refer to the
-- NaZaRiTE--someone who separates from wine
-- NaZer   --the CROWN-someone you should keep your distance

THE RASHI RULE USED
-------------------
Rashi of course is explaining the MEANING of WORDS here the
same way a dictionary explains words.

One of the challenging items in a Rashi explanation of words
is to find SPECIAL NUANCES. We call this the SYNONYM rule.
It is part of the rule of WORD MEANINGS.

NZR
---
We know that NZR means SEPARATION. But what type of SEPARATION?
Many Biblical roots mean SEPARATION such as Beth-Dalet-Lamed
or Pay-Resh-Shin.

CAN WE ANSWER SUCH QUESTIONS?
-----------------------------
Some students of Bible are TURNED OFF by such questions
They claim that such questions lead to Talmudic pilpul--
to assertions that sound nice but which cannot be defended.

Actually one standard technique is used to answer such
questions--a review of lists of verses containing the
roots in question. Very often such lists TALK TO US
and tell us something more specific about the meaning.

In my fundamental paper -- PSHAT & DRASH: A NEW ANALYTIC
& INTUITIVE APPROACH (Tradition Winter 1980) I advocated
the method of SEMANTIC MODELS--that is explaining a
Hebrew word by finding a COMPARABLE English (or French
or Russian or German) word which captures the NUANCES of
the Biblical word in question.

An examination of the verses in the list below shows that
the best translation of NZR is UPPER CLASS. The UPPER
CLASS PEOPLE may have a CROWN (Social upper class)
separating them from the rif-rafs, or the UPPER CLASS
PEOPLE may abstain from WINE(emotional upper class)
separating them from the rif-rafs or the UPPER CLASS
PEOPLE many abstain from RITUAL IMPURITY (the PRIESTLY
upper class--separating oneself from the spiritual
rif rafs).

True there is the idea of SEPARATION--but there is a
nuance of CLASS SEPARATION. Please read the list
below and the verses cited to see if you agree or
if you have a better formulation. This-- the review
of lists and formulation of unifying themes--is the
essence of Rashi study as it applies to DICTIONARY
MEANING
=================================================================
VERSE    MEANING OF NZR   How is it UPPER CLASS
======== ================ =======================================
Ex29-06a NZR=TZITZ        TZITZ=HIGH PRIEST=UPPER SPIRITUAL CLASS
Dt33-16d NZIR=CROWN       NZR=CROWN=SOCIAL UPPER CLASS(King)*1
Nu06-02b NAZIR            NAZARITE=No wine;SOCIAL UPPER CLASS
Lv22-02a Holy separation  PRIESTS; UPPER SPIRITUAL CLASS *2
Lv25-05c FENCED GRAPES    Allocated to special occasions*3
Ez14-07  Religious NZR    Priests--upper spiritual class*4
Isa01-04 PRISHAH



NOTES
-----
*1 Rashi and Radack seem to disagree here. Actually they
   are simply complementing each other by stating different
   nunaces. RADACK explicitly mentions the idea that Joeseph
   was KING.

   Rashi by contrast mentions that JOSEPH WAS SEPARATED (BY
   KIDNAPPING) FROM THIS BROTHERS.

   It appears as if Rashi is interpreting NZR as the
   SEPARATION OF THEFT AND KIDNAPPING.

   But this contradicts all the other verses!!!!

   Thus Rashi is simply stating that the separation from
   his brothers WHO DIDNT BELIEVE JOSEPH WOULD BE KING
   ACCORDING TO HIS DREAMS led him to develop his inner
   resources until he became VICE-KING and the Brothers bowed
   to him.

   As usual: We read here Rashi in LIGHT of related verses

*2 The verse requires priests to separate from sacrifices
   during periods of ritual impurity. We interpret this
   separation as the typical separation of the UPPER CLASS
   from the LOWER CLASS. LOWER CLASS can refer to people
   who overindulge in tempation. Or it can refer to socially
   lower class. Or in this case it refers to a SPIRITUAL LOWER
   class--people who are in ritual impurity.

*3 Recall that wine symbolized two oppostites
   It could symbolize the lower classes who overindulge
   in wine--hence we have the NAZARITE.

   Wine could also symbolize HIGHER SOCIETY which is known
   for their WINING and DINING. Think of all the SPECIAL
   HIGHER SOCIETY WINES.

   Thus the simple meaning of NZR GRAPES would be GRAPES
   separated and set aside for HIGHER SOCIETY SOCIALS

*4 Ezekiel, of course is being cynical here.
   The actual verse describes people who SEPARATE FROM GOD
   AND GO WORSHIP IDOLS.

   Ezekiel cynically describes this with the word NZR
   In other words these people treat IDOLATRY as the true
   UPPER CLASS and JUDAISM as the lower class.

   Thus the verse speaks about the people who UPPER CLASS
   AWAY FROM JUDAISM TOWARDS IDOLATRY.

   The cynical way of describing these people is biting--
   if they wanted to be upper class they could just as
   easily have become Jewish Nazarites. In fact Ezekiel
   was a priest and he was addressing the psychology of
   these deviants.

   True, people have needs to BELONG and BE BETTER. But
   these people could have easily become NAZARITES and
   dedicated to God. Instead they call IDOLATRY the
   true upper class and the Temple the lower class.
   (They of course were severely punished).

   For a comparable verse see Is01-04
=================================================================


RASHI RULE USED: SYNONYMS
---------------------------------------------------
WARNING: The following additional references may be too wordy
However they frequently contain additional information & lists
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Volume 13 Number 23


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