#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
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VERSE: Nu07-19b
====================== OVERVIEW OF SYMBOLIC METHODS ============
Nu07-12:17 describes the gifts that each prince brought when
the Temple was first consecrated in the Wilderness.
Rashi suggests that the proper way of understanding this gift
is to use symbolic methods: The Temple gifts, according to
these methods, symbolize the totality of human-Jewish history
I emphasize that such an interpretation should be regarded as
the simple straightforward meaning of the text. To appreciate
this viewpoint we must first give an overview of symbolic
methods.
Rav Hirsch in his basic essay, GROUNDLINES OF JEWISH SYMBOLISM,
asks the following fundamental questions:
* Are we ever FORCED to symbolically interpret a Bible narrative
* If we are so FORCED then how do we interpret it
I have summarized this beautiful 100 page essay in 4 delightful
pages with 2 tables: I highly recommend reading my Genesis 1
paper at URL: http://www.RashiYomi.Com/gen-1.htm I now present
a very brief summary.
RULE: One is FORCED to interpret a Biblical narrative as
symbolic when the following five criteria hold
---------------------------------------------------------------
* There is a chapter/paragraph with many DIVERSE items
* These items use words with clear SYMBOLIC meaning
* The Symbolism is inferred from FUNCTION,FORM,ROOT,ASSOCIATION
* There is a simple UNIFYING THEME declared in the chapter
* The theme is CONSISTENT with the symbolism of the items
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RULE CONTINUED: Under the above 5 circumstances one is
forced to interpret the Narrative symbolically. The
interpretation is then governed by the unifying theme along
with the symbolism of the items which follows from FUNCTION
FORM ROOT ASSOCIATION
Multiple approaches are allowed PROVIDED they meet the above
5 criteria. In practice usually only 1 or 2 interpretations
are discovered.
Examples are presented in the table below.
A reader who wishes to do more indepth study should read
these chapters with any standard Hebrew or English
translation to appreciate that the symbolism is natural
and follows naturally. Some further details are also
presented in my article
================================================================
CHAPTER THEME ITEM EXAMPLE SYMBOLIZES WHY
======= ======= ============ ============ ====================
Ecc12*1 Old Age Grinders Teeth Function(Teeth grind
Ecc12 Old Age Closed doors Constipation Form(Cant come out)
Isa11 Peace Wolf & Sheep Co-Existence Biblical usage*2
Ps80 Exodus Tree shoots Infants Same hebrew root*3
NOTES
=====
*1 Ecc12-01 states
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Remember your Creator while you are still young
lest you wait till the age when you have no desire(Old age)
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*2 That is, throughout the BIble, WOLF and SHEEP symbolize the
AGRESSOR and SIMPLE FOLLOWER. There are many verses
supporting this. One good example is Ps23 which portrays
God as leading the individual, the faithful sheep.
The 4 Biblical verses in which WOLF occurs symbolizes
aggresion (Jer05-06, Ez22-27, Zeph03-03, Hab01-08).
Thus in this case I am aware of the symbolism of WOLF
because of its BIBLICAL USAGE (Note the contrast to the
other examples in the table where symbolism is inferred
from a common FORM, FUNCTION or linguistic ROOT)
*3 Ps80-08:13 talks about the VINE that God took from
Egypt. The VINE was well taken care of, but now enemies
are plundering it. The Psalmist asks God to have mercy
on the vine.
In describing the vine the Psalmist says that it had
-- good roots (=Israel established in its land)
-- plenty of shade(=commerce benefits to surrounding nations)
-- strong boughs(=Leaders)
-- sea centered branches (=happy teenagers)
-- river centered shoots (The Hebrew YNK means INFANT/SHOOT)
=================================================================
=================== OVERVIEW OF SYMBOLISM OF Nu07 ==============
We follow the guidelines of symbolism presented in the above
LIST. We now verify the 5 criteria.An overview of the symbolism
is then presented in the LIST. Details of each section of
the SYMBOLISM is presented in the following lists.
Here are the 5 criteria.
CRITERIA 1: A chapter with many diverse items
The gifts consisted of
* Bowl---weight of 130
* Cup---weight of 70
* Spoon--weight of 10
Offerings of
* Ox
* Ram
* Sheep
* He Goat
* Ox Pair
Peace offerings of
* 5 Rams
* 5 ELDER Goats
* 5 YOUNG Sheep
CRITERIA 2: Items with Well known symbolic meanings
The symbolism of the animals is inferred from Biblical usage
and is well known in Biblical poetry
* Ox = CO-Worker
* Ram = Leader
* Sheep= Follower
* Goat = Resistance
* Old = Mature
* Young= Young and inexperienced
It would take us to far afield to cite many verses for this
symbolism. However I can refer the reader to Gn49 which
shows that it was taken for granted that animals symbolize
personalities in the Bible.
CRITERIA 3: Symbolism comes from FUNCTION,FORM,ROOT,ASSOCIATION
As already mentioned the animal symbolism comes from Biblical
associations.
The symbolism of OLD=MATURE and YOUNG=INEXPERIENCED comes
from FUNCTION & FORM.
The symbolism of 10 and 70 is also well documented throughout
the Bible
* 10 symbolizes the 10 commandments
* 70 refers to the 70 nations
I dont believe the symbolism of 130 is well known. However
the symbolism of 10 and 70 is well known and we will interpret
130 by a Biblical association consistent with 10 and 70. This
is done below
Finally we use the principle of FUNCTION to interpret BOWL, CUP
and SPOON -- they correspond to 3 levels of containers.
CRITERIA 4: A unifying theme
The chapter is clearly talking about the consecration of the
temple -- an important moment in Jewish history. Thus the
unifying theme is AN IMPORTANT MOMENT IN HISTORY.
Rav Moshe HaDarshan therefore suggests that the UNIFYING
THEME OF THE CHAPTER is
-----------------------------------
A REVIEW OF HUMAN JEWISH HISTORY
-----------------------------------
CRITERIA 5: The unifying theme is consistent with the symbols
This correspondence is presented in the following LIST
with further details in footnotes and the following lists
=================================================================
HISTORY ITEM Items in Nu07 SYMBOLISM
=============== ====================== ==========================
WORLD STRUCTURE Cup of 70,spoon of10*1 70 Nations:Jews(decalogue)
WORLD LEADERS Ox,Ram,Sheep,Goat,2 Ox Patriarchs, Joseph,Moses*2
JEWISH NATION Rams,Goats,Sheep*3 Leaders,Support,Followers
NOTES
=====
*1 The BOWL, CUP, SPOON symbolize the WORLD which CONTAINS
people. The cup of weight 70 symbolizes the 70 nations
The spoon of weight 10 symbolizes the decalogue & Jews
Thus we have 3 epochs in human history:
--its beginning (The world--the bowl)
--the 70 nations (The Cups)
--The Jews (The spoons)
*2 I think the symbolism of the Leaders is clearest.
The Ox, Ram, Sheep etc symbolize the major Jewish leaders
such as the Patriarchs Moses etc
*3 The Jewish nation consists of Priests, Levites and
Israelites which correspond to Leaders, Followers
and ordinary Jews. We will further develop this
below
=================================================================
========= BOWL CUP SPOON = 3 LEVELS OF WORLD STRUCTURE ==========
Recall that the fundamental theme of the chapter was
REVIEW OF HUMAN HISTORY
Recall that the FUNCTION of BOWL-CUP-SPOON is TO CONTAIN
Hence the BOWL-CUP-SPOON correspond to 3 levels of the
world (Where the world is seen as a Bowl that holds people)
The LIST below shows that these 3 levels of WORLD STRUCTURE are
-- introduction of Prophecy (by Adam)
-- introduction of coexistence(70 nations of Noach)
-- introduction of Mosaic prophecy (The Jews)
Here are the details
=================================================================
WORLD STRUCTURE PERSN Nu07-13 WEIGHT SYMBOL
=============== ===== ======= =========== =======================
Prophecy Adam Bowl*1 130(silver) Prophet marriage at 130
Cosmopality Noach Cup*2 70(silver) 70 nations
Mosaic Prophecy Moses Spoon*3 10(gold) 10 Commandments
NOTES
=====
*1 Nu07-19b Nu07-19c
As I have shown in http://www.RashiYomi.Com/gen-1.htm, Adam
was not the first PERSON but rather the first PROPHET.
Thus Adam introduced the idea of Prophecy into the world
structure.
Adam is so to speak the father of the world which is
symbolized by the BOWL.
Although Adam was always a prophet he lived with
non-prophet girlfriends for quite a while until
he realized that only a female prophet could satisfy
him. He in fact remarried at 130 when he had his first
child after the expulsion from Paradise.
The above can be justified by a rich variety of Rashis
(such as Gn02-23a, Gn04-25a -- some of these are on
the Rashi website: It would take us too far afield to
summarize the defenses of all these Rashis here)
The above is contained in Nu07-19b and Nu07-19c. Note
that we have avoided the Gematria of Rashi. We reach
Rashis SAME conclusion but have replaced the logic with
a sounder emphasis on FORM-FUNCTION
(the Bowl/world contains)
We have also beefed up the weak association of 130
and Adam. The BOWl-CUP-SPOON corresponds to 3 levels
of world structure. The 70 and 10 are clear. And
hence the 130 and Bowl refers to Adam.
*2 Nu07-19d Nu07-19e
If Adam introduced Prophecy to the world, then Noach
introduced Cosmopality & Heterogeneity. The 70
nations that comprise the world are all mentioned in
Gn10 as coming from Noach. Noach saw that the only
way to avoid world destruction (The flood) was for
different people to agree to live with each other.
As such Noach was the percusor of the Patriarch
Isaac; he was even the percusor of Democracy!
The number 70 as symbolizing the 70 nations of the
world is famous thoughout Talmudic-midrashic
literature.
If the world is symbolized by a BOWL then each nation
is a CUP dipped into the BOWL. Hence the CUP vs
the BOWL is an apt symbol of Noach vs Adam
Our identification of nations with Prophet types
may appear peculiar in a secular world. But the
fundamental belief of the Torah is that every nation
has its Prophet and a Prophetic Vision whose force
guides that nation (even if the nation does not
explicity acknowledge it).
(Do not be surprised at the assertion that the world
is guided by prophecy. For thus we find that famous
aetheists like Bertrand Russell and Hitler, may the
name of the wicked rot, acknowledged God in their
writings. Russell explicitly has dreams about God.
The above is contained in Rashis Nu07-19c and Nu07-19d
Again we have replaced the Gematria of Nu07-19c with
a firmer argument based on FORM and FUNCTION. Rashis
argument concerning the position of ONE will be
explained when we explain Nu07-15a: Roughly speaking
Rashi suggests that ONE can mean either ONE or
UNIQUE depending on its position in the sentence
(Thus we could have 1 SILVER BOWL or the UNIQUE
SILVER BOWL)
*3 Nu07-20a Nu07-20b Nu07-20c
Of course everyone knows that 10 symbolizes the 10
commandments. If the world is the BOWL and its nations
are CUPS then MOSAIC PROPHECY is the SPOON by which
the BOWL fills the CUPS.
Again I have replaced the Gematrias in Rashi with
an emphasis on symbolism thru function and form.
I have also added the (Messianic) idea that
the SPOON (Jews) feed the CUP(70 nations) from
the WORLD BOWL.
===========================================================
============= Ox,Ram,Sheep..SYMBOLIZE Patriarchs etc ============
This LIST is straightforward. After describing world structure
we now describe World LEadership. The 5 most famous leaders
are selected
=================================================================
LEADER ANIMAL SYMBOL SACRIFICE TYPE SYMBOLIZING
=========== ============= ================== ==================
Abraham 1 Ox*1 Co Worker with God
Isaac 1 Ram*2 Leader of people
Jacob 1 Sheep*3 Elevation Offering Follower
Joseph 1 Goat*4 Sin offering Resistance
Moses/Aaron 2 Oxen*5 Peace Offering Societal Harmony
NOTES
=====
*1 Nu07-21a
The OX in the sacrifices symbolizes the Co-Worker. This
best describes Abraham who was a Co-Worker with God in
spreading Gods teaching over the world.
Note how the association between OX and ABRAHAM is
conceptual and fundamental vs accidental. True, Rashi
says Abraham is symbolized by an Ox because he served
an Ox in Gn18-07. So what?!?! Does it really enhance
Rashis or the Bibles honor if symbols are so flimsy?
Rather a more satisfying approach is that Abraham
always (not just once) was a co-worker with God like
an Ox in a field. One nifty example of Abraham being
a coworker is Gn18 where exalted angels appeared
as wandering Arabs while Abraham gave them food
(Symbolizing that Abraham, like God, could give
direction to Angels).
This approach, looks at examples --
(like Abraham serving the angels -- as ARCHETYPICAL
vs exclusive. It is called the method of
ARCHETYPICAL EXAMPLES (in my Article, Peshat and
Derash (Tradition, Winter 1980).)
*2 Nu07-21b
The Ram in the sacrifice literature always symbolizes
the leader (like the Animal Ram who leads). Indeed,
the Bible vividly portrays Isaac as leading Jacob
and Esauv---by balancing power in the world
Again Rashi picks on an archetypical example of
Isaacs leading, by using the Akeydah -- The Knife
about to cut Isaac symbolizes Esauv(Knife) about
to destroy the Jews (Isaac) who are saved thru
their belief in prophecy (The angel stops them)
*3 Nu07-21c
It is well known that Jacob symbolizes the Exile.
Indeed Jacob had an Exile life---he was double
crossed in his job, had to work to marry the woman
he loved, had his sons trying to murder each other,etc
The exile is symbolic of the sheep-follower
existence. Thus paradoxically, Jacob was the LEADER
of all FOLLOWERS.
Again, I view the example brought by Rashi -- the
sheep that Jacob watched when he worked for his
crooked father-in-law -- as an archetypical example
of the Exile experience (Working for crooked bosses)
The three Patriarchs are associated with the Elevation
offering -- they lead the way UP to God
*4 Nu07-22a
The goat universally symbolizes STUBBORNESS. The goat
is frequently used in the sin offerings, since to resist
sin one must be stubborn. Joseph is the LEADER of
stubborness -- he stuck to his belief that his brothers
would one day bow down to him -- he stuck to this
belief despite being murdered by his brothers, being
sold into slavery, being double crossed by his masters
wife, and being thrown into prison. He indeed is the
model of goat like stubborness.
*5 Nu07-23a
I think the symbols here are obvious
* The number 2 corresponds to 2 leaders: Moses & Aaron
* The OX symbolizes Co-Workers: Moses & Aaron worked
with God by delivering prophecies to the Jewish people
* The PEACE OFFERING symbolizes societal harmony between
God, Priest and Jew. Of all characterizations of the
Torah none is more poignant than PEACE -- the purpose
of THE LAW is to hear both sides and resolve
controversies in a manner that appeal to all sides.
===========================================================
==== RAM ELDER YOUNG symbolize LEADER SUPPORT FOLLOWER ====
We review the following symbols
* RAM = LEADER = PRIEST
* ELDER GOAT = SUPPORTER TYPE = LEVITE
* YOUNG SHEET = FOLLOWER TYPE = ISRAELITE
* 5 = A HANDFUL: MULTIPLE TYPES
===========================================================
FOLLOWER SYMBOLIZING Nu07-32b
=========== ========================= =====================
Priests Multiple leader types 5 Rams*1
Levites Multiple supporters types 5 Elder goats*2
Israelites Multiple follower types 5 Young sheep*3
NOTES
=====
*1 Recall that RAMS symbolize LEADERSHIP (Since they lead
the flock). Similarly the Priests symbolize LEADERSHIP
as it explicitly says, THE LIPS OF THE PRIEST WATCH
(TORAH) KNOWLEDGE (MAL-2-7).
5 here, symbolizes THE HANDFUL -- multiplicity. Not
just LEADERSHIP but all TYPES of LEADERSHIP. As an
example, the Bible in its 5 books shows the
multiplicity of leadership types. Thus ABRAHAM in
Genesis, MOSES in Exodus, AARON in Leviticus, KALEV
in Numbers (Who lead the opposition to the spys) and
JOSHUA in Deuteronomy (Who SUCCEEDED Moses) all denote
different types of leaders.(It is for this reason, in
my opinion, that Rashi mentions the 5 books of the
Bible since 5 symbolizes multiplicity)
*2 The Levites traditionally symbolize the SUPPORT of
the priesthood (E.g. Nu18). The Levites SUPPORT the
priests by RESISTING attacks on the Priesthood and
holiness. The classical example of this is the Levite
resistance to the production of the Golden calf and
their execution of those who served it(Ex32-26:27).
I have translated the Hebrew ATUDIM as ELDER GOATS
vs GOATS. This follows RADACK in his book ROOTS
who translates ATUD as an ELDER GOAT while by
contrast SEIR is a YOUNGER GOAT. ELDERNESS here
would denote the maturity of experience gained
by years.
Again the number 5 symbolizes HANDFUL and multiplicity;
like the multiplicity of resistance exhibited by Levi
in the 5 books of the Bible: In Genesis, Levi declared
war on a city to save a raped sister; in Exodus, Levi
executed those who worshipped idols; in Leviticus,
Moses the Levite helped inaugurate Aaron; in Numbers,
Levy opposed the heresy of the spies; while in
Deuteronomy, the Levites are instructed to
help guard the Torah.(Again I believe Rashi cited
5=5 Books of Bible, to indicate 5=multiplicity).
*3 Sheep in the Bible traditionally indicate followers
Young sheep would indicate inexperienced followers--
simple folk. Again 5 indicates HANDFUL/MULTIPLICITY
--in other words all types of young sheep.
========================================================
It was the custom of Rabbi Shimon Son Yochai, the so called
Holy Lamp, and founder of the FRIENDS OF THE SAGES, that when
he completed an especially profound lecture he would say
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Praise be Him who chose the Sages of Israel and their Learning
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I think it obvious here that Rav Hirsch has opened up for us
new vistas in Biblical interpretation and understanding.
RASHI RULE USED: OVERALL STRUCTURE
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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 10 Number 10
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 10 Number 10