>SR< means CHIEF & has 3 usages:#1 of 1 ########################################################### # 10 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE # # Feb 15, 2001 # # Rashis 584-589 Of 7800 (7.6%) # # # # # # http://www.RashiYomi.Com/ # # # # # # Reprinted with permission from Rashi-is-Simple, # # (c) 1999-Present, RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President # #Permission to reprint with this header but not for profit# # # # # # # # VISIT THE RASHI YOMI ARCHIVES # # http://www.RashiYomi.Com/calendar.htm # # # # # # WARNING: READ with COURIER 10 (Fixed width) FONTS # # # ########################################################### -GRAND SUMMARY- OVERVIEW: ======== The Hebrew word >SR< means >MASTER<*1. It has 3 usages in the Bible. It can refer to --->WHAT< a person is master over --->WHERE< a person is master (ie what country/city he came from) --->HOW MANY< a person is master over(ie # of subordiantes) Dt01-15c says "I will appoint CHIEFS OF THOUSAND" Rashi comments "CHIEFS OF A THOUSAND" means CHIEFS OVER A THOUSAND This rustic Rashi with its almost country like naivitee looks innocent. Yet it is a peach of Rashi. In fact it is one of the most profound Rashis in all of Chumash. WHAT IS BOTHERING RASHI: ======================= This Rashi is fundamental in understanding the difference between a Rashi which comments on a problem and a Rashi which makes an esoteric problem. TODAYS UNIT =========== In todays unit we present the grand summary, reviewing the 6 Rashis on the subject REFERENCE: ========= This module comes from the following digests in the Rashi-is-Simple series For the original source of the grand summary see http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h7n3.htm #*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2001 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#* -GRAND SUMMARY- RULE: ---- The Hebrew word >SR< has 3 usages. It is best translated as CHIEF or MASTER--for example MASTER BAKER or CHIEF BAKER. However the word >SR< can indicate -- >WHAT< a person is >MASTER< of -- >WHERE< a person is >MASTER< (ie country he came from) -- >HOW MANY< a person is >MASTER< of (ie # of subordinates) Here are the examples USAGE 1: ----------------------------------------------------------- The word >SR< can refer to >WHAT< the person was MASTER OVER ----------------------------------------------------------- VERSE TEXT ======= =========================== Gn37-36 Master Chef Gn39-21 Master of Prisons Gn40-02 Master Bartender Gn40-16 Master Baker Ex01-11 Master of Taxes Jud9-30 Master of the city(Mayor) 2C32-06 Masters of War USAGE 2: ----------------------------------------------------------- The word >SR< can refer to >WHERE< the >SR< was MASTER ----------------------------------------------------------- VERSE TEXT ------- --------------------------- Jud7-25 Midianite Masters Jud8-6 Succothian Masters Nu22-12 Moabite Masters Nu22-12 Balaks Masters Jos5-14 Master (0fficer) of the Army USAGE 3 ------------------------------------------------------------- The word >SR< can refer to >HOW MANY a person is MASTER over ------------------------------------------------------------- EXAMPLE # VERSE TEXT ========= ======== =================== EXAMPLE 1: Dt01-15d CHIEFS over a 1000 EXAMPLE 2: Dt01-15e CHIEFS over a 100 EXAMPLE 3: Ex18-21e CHIEFS over a 1000 EXAMPLE 4: Ex18-21f CHIEFS over a 100 EXAMPLE 5: Ex18-21g CHIEFS over 50 EXAMPLE 6: Ex18-21h CHIEFS over 10 Isa3-03 CHIEFS over 50 2Kn1-10 CHIEFS over 50 COMMENT ------- We are now in a position to explain the 6 Rashis listed in USAGE 3. Why did Rashi comment on the meaning of >SR< only here. Every other place where SR occurs in the Bible it means either a (a) CHIEF from some place (eg Midianite master) (b) MASTER of some activity (master baker, master chef...) Therefore in Dt01-15 and Dt18-21 it would be natural to interpret the word 'SR' the same way. Since the word ALF means BOTH 1000 and TEACHER/TRAINER we would therefore interpret SR ALF as 'CHIEF TRAINER' or MASTER TEACHER. We could similarly interpret SR CHMASIM as MASTER OF ARMS since CHMASH besides meaning 50 also means ARMS. Rashi must therefore WARN us against such a natural attempt. Rashi does this by emphasizing a 3rd usage of the Hebrew word SR. This is why Rashi comments only on the 3rd usage of >SR<. It is the only usage which occurs rarely (about half a dozen times in the whole Bible) In summary, most people read the verse and simply understand it as >MASTER over a 100,1000,50 etc<. Such people do not need the Rashis. However those familiar with other usages of >SR< need the Rashi to alert them to the fact that this is the 3rd usage. ----------------------------NOTES---------------------------- *1 A popular English translation of the Hebrew word 'SR' is OFFICER or GENERAL since the word frequently occurs in military situations. Hence if you know nothing else it is natural to interpret 'SR 1000' to mean OFFICER OVER A THOUSAND #*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2001 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*