#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
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| Rashi is Simple Version 2.0 |
| (C) RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President |
| http://www.RashiYomi.Com |
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VERSE: Nu05-08a
RASHIS COVERED: Nu05-08a Nu05-08b
======================== RASHI FILLS-IN ==========================
VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
Nu05-06:08 describes a person who stole, feels guilty but
the agrieved has no relatives to return the stolen object to.
The Bible describes a specific atonement procedure. Rashis
task on this chapter is to FILL IN phrases to make the
reading smoother. Rashi identifies the antecedents of
the sentence subjects which continuously change in both
reference and plurality. This helps the reader read the
Biblical paragraph. Rashi also uses the technique of OTHER
VERSES to give a detailed description of how the theft
described could have happened.
----------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE: GRAMMAR
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: FILL-IN
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RULE
-------------------------
Many Rashis focus on the two main concerns of a text:
MEANING and GRAMMAR.
When Rashi focuses on GRAMMAR he might discuss
-- roots and their conjugations
-- subject-predicate/gender agreement
-- constructs, connective prepositions and object designation
-- multi-sentence verses,
-- discuss issues of ellipsis, antecedents, referents etc
The important point to remember in such Rashis is that
Rashi is acting the same way a modern grammar textbook
would act. Very often Rashi can be properly understood
by looking up the above topics in standard textbooks.
STANDARD EXAMPLE
----------------
Perhaps the simplest example of Rashi on grammar is Dt02-16a
There are 6000 Biblical verses. Most of them are complete
sentences. However about 2 dozen of them are part of
multi-verse sentences. Rashi simply alerts the reader to this.
Here is the text of Dt02-16:17
--------------------------------------------------------
Dt02-16 When all the sinners died from the nation
Dt02-17 [Then] God spoke to me (Moses) to say over
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Rashi in effect inserts the elliptical word [Then] to
smoothen the reading of these sentences. Note that if
one tries to read each verse separately then the
verses appear awkward.
(STUDENT) EXERCISES
-------------------
Most readers of Rashi will actually learn the grammar
from Rashi. However for those who wish to put in a little
more effort it is worth the while to take a modern grammar
book (Any one will do) and look up the given topic in that
grammar book. Then apply the technique to the verse in
question. Such an exercise enriches our understanding
of Rashi.
STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
---------------------------------
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/grammar.htm
==================================================================
VERSE BIBLICAL TEXT Plural? WHO
======== ============================ ========= ==================
Nu05-06 When PEOPLE sin Plural*1 Thief
Nu05-06 and HE descecrates God Singular Thief
Nu05-06 and HE feels guilty Singular Thief
Nu06-07 and THEY confess Plural Thief
Nu06-07 and HE returns the principle Singular Thief
Nu06-07 and HE adds a fifth Singular Thief
Nu06-07 & HE returns to the agrieved Signular Thief
Nu06-08 But If HE has no relatives Singular AGRIEVED*2
Nu06-08 to return to theft to HIM Singular AGRIEVED
NOTES
-----
*1 I dont know of an explanation for the changing plurality
in the subjects.
*2 Now we understand Rashis point. All the previous words HE
referred to the thief. But in Nu06-08 the word HE refers to
the AGRIEVED (The person stolen from).
How does Rashi know this? From Context and meaning. Nu06-08
talks about RETURNING THE THEFT TO THE PERSON. So
Rashi-is-Simple--clearly this refers to the person stolen
from.*10
In previous postings we have referred to Rashis of this
type as using the FILL-IN rule since Rashi FILLS IN
antecedents of PRONOUNS
-------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES --------------------------
*10 Rashi now uses the technique of OTHER VERSES. This technique
allows enriching a verse with FURTHER DETAILS from other
verses.
Nu27-06:11 describes the INHERITANCE HIERARCHY.
- 1st: Sons inherit
- 2nd: Daughters inherit
- 3rd: Fathers descendants inherit
If none of the above exists then
- 4th: Grandfathers descendants; Great-Grandfathers
descendants etc.
It consequently follows that every Jew must have some
relative. After all we are all descended from Jacob
so that at the very least we have some descendant
of his close to us.
The only possible exception would be a CONVERT.
Hence Rashi interprets the Biblical phrase
---------------------------------
If the person has no relative
---------------------------------
to mean
--------------------------------
if the person is a convert
--------------------------------
As indicated this uses the technique of OTHER VERSES.
We can go further--why didnt the Bible simply state
---------------------------
If the person is a convert
---------------------------
The answer is
---------------------------------
The Bible used the phrase NO RELATIVE
vs CONVERT to emphasize the total
helplessness of the person--that
he is all alone and someone had
the nerve to steal from him
----------------------------------
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RASHI RULE USED: GRAMMAR
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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 14 Number 3
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 14 Number 3