nefesh-4


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 GOALS
=====
This module studies the meaning of the Hebrew root N-P-Sh.
Its fundamental meaning is EXPANSIVENESS. From this
fundamental meaning we obtain 6 meanings in 2 broad categories

 THE SIX MEANINGS
 ----------------
 EXPANSIVENESS is indicative of DESIRE. Hence N-Pa-Sh can mean
 * DESIRE
 * INTEREST (either LOSS of INTEREST, or RENEWED INTEREST)
 * The GENERAL CAPACITY FOR ADAPTIVITY & LIFE(i.e. the SOUL)

 Furthermore from this last meaning (ADAPTIVITY,LIFE,SOUL) we
 see that N-Pa-Sh can mean
 * LIVING BEINGS vs property (like SOULS in English)
 * A SOUL-HIT (N-P-Sh HIT) would denote a LETHAL BLOW
 * SOUL-FLESH would refer to a LIVE-ORGAN

This module is an excellent example of the Rashi Rule of UNIFED
MEANING since there are close to 2 dozen Rashis on this
enigmatic word.

TODAYS UNIT
===========
In todays unit we study the traditional non-standard
meanings f N-P-Sh. The person in the street thinks
N-P-Sh means SOUL. In todays unit we see how it can mean
INTEREST.

REFERENCE:
=========
Todays unit comes from the following posting

http://www.RashiYomi.Com/gn09-04a.htm
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h11n6.htm


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


THE WORD soul CAN MEAN interest/desire
 

EXAMPLE 10: Lv26-11b I wont LOSE INTEREST in you
EXAMPLE 11: Nu21-04c We have LOST INTEREST in this food
EXAMPLE 12: Nu21-05c We have LOST INTEREST in this food
EXAMPLE 13: Ex31-17a Gods INTEREST (in the world) were REVIVED
EXAMPLE 14: Nu06-11a Nazarite sinned by LOSING INTEREST IN WORLD

BACKGROUND
----------
The Hebrew language is based on 3 letter roots. Each 3 letter
root has an abstract meaning which can assume further nuances
according to the CONJUGATION of the root.

THE TEXT
--------
There are 2 dozen Rashis commenting on the meaning of the
3 letter root N-P-Sh.

THE RASHI
---------
The root N-P-Sh has a variety of meanings. Today we explore
one of the basic meanings of EXPANSIVENESS: DESIRE/INTEREST

Each day we will present one of the six meanings. We will
present the unifying meaning at the end.
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE MEANING OF Na-Fa-Sh

Lv26-11b my SOUL will not despise you*5 I wont lose INTERSEST
Nu21-04c our SOULS have been SHORTED*6 We have lost INTEREST
Nu21-05c our SOULS are CUT from this food We have lost INTEREST
Ex31-17a God SOULED on the Sabbath*15 His INTEREST returned
Nu06-11a The nazarite sinned against SOUL NO WINE=NO INTEREST*7

COMMENTS

*5  (This advanced footnote can be skipped on 1st reading)
    Rashi also comments on the rare root GAAL which occurs
    11 times in the Bible. Rashi says that the root refers
    to AN EXPULSION OF THINGS INSIDE. Hence it also
    means to DESPISE since when you despise something you
    so to speak get it out of your system.

    Statistically in 9 of the 11 times GAAL means to DESPISE
    In the other 2 cases it refers to the EXPULSION MEANING
    mentioned above. Here are the two cases
    -------------------------------------------------------
    Job21-10 His Oxen will conceive & NOT MISCARRY
    2S1-21 His Shields wax was expuled
    -------------------------------------------------------

    On 2S1-21 Rashi explains that SHIELDS were covered over
    with BOILING WAX which settled in the skin of the shield
    This facilitated repelling arrows that hit the shield.
    However since Saul had died David eulogizes him that
    it looks as if the wax was expuled & therefore he was hit

    On Job21-10 RADACK points out that a more probable meaning
    is that the female oxen will not expul the ox semen.

    Bottom line is that the word GAAL means EXPULSION of a
    hidden substance and hence metaphorically means despise.

*6  The phrase SHORT-SOULED or CUT-SOULED means to be FED UP
    To no longer have the patience to deal with something

    Rashi points out that the phrase
    -----------------------------------------------------
    SHORT SOULED (fed up) is always connected with WHAT
    the person is SHORT SOULED about. Cf the following
    -----------------------------------------------------------
    Zach11-08 My soul was shorted WITH THEM
    Ju10-16   Gods soul was shorted WITH THE TROUBLES OF ISRAEL
    Nu21-04   & The Jews Souls were shorted WITH THE JOURNEYS
    -----------------------------------------------------------
    Hence the verse should be translated as THE JEWS WERE
    FED UP WITH THE JOURNEYS vs THE JEWS WERE FED UP ON
    THE ROAD (Interestingly these are the only 3 verses
    where we have the construction SOUL SHORTED WITH

    Rashi also brilliantly points the amusing consistency
    of metaphors that A BIG BURDEN can cause A SHORTED SOUL
    (BIG vs SHORT).

*7  The actual verse simply (and enigmatically says)
    ------------------------------------------------------------
    The Nazarite brings a sacrifice for SINNING AGAINST THE SOUL
    ------------------------------------------------------------

    The obvious question is how did the Nazarite sin against
    a soul. Rashi brings two opinions.
    ---------------------------------------------------------
    --Perhaps the Nazir came in contact with a dead person
      This is against the law and therefore he requires a sin
      offering
      (But this approach is unsatisfying---why should the
      Nazarite DEFINITELY bring a sin offering if he PERHAPS
      came in contact with the dead)
    --Rashi therefore cites a second opinion which interprets
      the word SOUL in its meaning of INTEREST/DESIRE. By
      not drinking wine the Nazarite attacked his capacity
      to have DESIRE, to BE INTERESTED (In new things). This
      is a sin and he must atone for it.
    ----------------------------------------------------------

    Note how this interpretation with its deep philosophical
    connotations flows naturally and effortlessly from
    the LIST of meanings of NAFASH
   --a BLOOD SPILL destroys the body
   --a CHOKING cuts off a LIFE supply.
   Hence the Torah advises us that cutting of a LIFE SUPPLY
   has the same (Murder) status as actually destroying the body

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

THE WORD soul CAN MEAN interest/desire
EXAMPLE 10: Lv26-11b I wont LOSE INTEREST in you EXAMPLE 11: Nu21-04c We have LOST INTEREST in this food EXAMPLE 12: Nu21-05c We have LOST INTEREST in this food EXAMPLE 13: Ex31-17a Gods INTEREST (in the world) were REVIVED EXAMPLE 14: Nu06-11a Nazarite sinned by LOSING INTEREST IN WORLD BACKGROUND ---------- The Hebrew language is based on 3 letter roots. Each 3 letter root has an abstract meaning which can assume further nuances according to the CONJUGATION of the root. THE TEXT -------- There are 2 dozen Rashis commenting on the meaning of the 3 letter root N-P-Sh. THE RASHI --------- The root N-P-Sh has a variety of meanings. Today we explore one of the basic meanings of EXPANSIVENESS: DESIRE/INTEREST Each day we will present one of the six meanings. We will present the unifying meaning at the end.
VERSE	TEXT OF VERSE	MEANING OF Na-Fa-Sh
Lv26-11b	my SOUL will not despise you*5	I wont lose INTERSEST
Nu21-04c	our SOULS have been SHORTED*6	We have lost INTEREST
Nu21-05c	our SOULS are CUT from this food	We have lost INTEREST
Ex31-17a	God SOULED on the Sabbath*15	His INTEREST returned
Nu06-11a	The nazarite sinned against SOUL	NO WINE=NO INTEREST*7

COMMENTS
5 (This advanced footnote can be skipped on 1st reading) Rashi also comments on the rare root GAAL which occurs 11 times in the Bible. Rashi says that the root refers to AN EXPULSION OF THINGS INSIDE. Hence it also means to DESPISE since when you despise something you so to speak get it out of your system. Statistically in 9 of the 11 times GAAL means to DESPISE In the other 2 cases it refers to the EXPULSION MEANING mentioned above. Here are the two cases ------------------------------------------------------- Job21-10 His Oxen will conceive & NOT MISCARRY 2S1-21 His Shields wax was expuled ------------------------------------------------------- On 2S1-21 Rashi explains that SHIELDS were covered over with BOILING WAX which settled in the skin of the shield This facilitated repelling arrows that hit the shield. However since Saul had died David eulogizes him that it looks as if the wax was expuled & therefore he was hit On Job21-10 RADACK points out that a more probable meaning is that the female oxen will not expul the ox semen. Bottom line is that the word GAAL means EXPULSION of a hidden substance and hence metaphorically means despise. 6 The phrase SHORT-SOULED or CUT-SOULED means to be FED UP To no longer have the patience to deal with something Rashi points out that the phrase ----------------------------------------------------- SHORT SOULED (fed up) is always connected with WHAT the person is SHORT SOULED about. Cf the following ----------------------------------------------------------- Zach11-08 My soul was shorted WITH THEM Ju10-16 Gods soul was shorted WITH THE TROUBLES OF ISRAEL Nu21-04 & The Jews Souls were shorted WITH THE JOURNEYS ----------------------------------------------------------- Hence the verse should be translated as THE JEWS WERE FED UP WITH THE JOURNEYS vs THE JEWS WERE FED UP ON THE ROAD (Interestingly these are the only 3 verses where we have the construction SOUL SHORTED WITH Rashi also brilliantly points the amusing consistency of metaphors that A BIG BURDEN can cause A SHORTED SOUL (BIG vs SHORT). *7 The actual verse simply (and enigmatically says) ------------------------------------------------------------ The Nazarite brings a sacrifice for SINNING AGAINST THE SOUL ------------------------------------------------------------ The obvious question is how did the Nazarite sin against a soul. Rashi brings two opinions. --------------------------------------------------------- --Perhaps the Nazir came in contact with a dead person This is against the law and therefore he requires a sin offering (But this approach is unsatisfying---why should the Nazarite DEFINITELY bring a sin offering if he PERHAPS came in contact with the dead) --Rashi therefore cites a second opinion which interprets the word SOUL in its meaning of INTEREST/DESIRE. By not drinking wine the Nazarite attacked his capacity to have DESIRE, to BE INTERESTED (In new things). This is a sin and he must atone for it. ---------------------------------------------------------- Note how this interpretation with its deep philosophical connotations flows naturally and effortlessly from the LIST of meanings of NAFASH --a BLOOD SPILL destroys the body --a CHOKING cuts off a LIFE supply. Hence the Torah advises us that cutting of a LIFE SUPPLY has the same (Murder) status as actually destroying the body