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VERSE: Nu09-03a

RASHIS COVERED: Nu09-03a Nu09-03b

======================== Nu09-03a ===================

VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
One of Rashis 6 main goals is to explain word meanings
the same way a dictionary does. There are a variety
of vehicles by which Rashi explains word meanings.

One particular vehicle is the clarification of synonym
nuances. Three words might have almost the same meaning--
but Rashi shows the particular nuances of each one.

EXAMPLE
-------
- Both Chet-Kuph and Shin-Pay-Tet refer to REGULATIONS
- Chet-Kuph means regulations INTRINSIC to an item
- Shin-Pay-Tet means regulations governing RELATIONSHIPS

As a simple example
- Laws of theft govern RELATIONSHIPS with others--S-P-T
- Laws of ritual impurity govern the soul---------Ch-K
- Regulations relating Passover,Matzah & Herbs----S-P-T
  Since they govern relations between offering and
  other items
- Regulations governing Passover sacrifice are----Ch-K
  They govern the items intrinsically needed by the
  animal (Such as age, lack of blemish etc)
See the footnotes below for a lively discussion on
all the confusion that has arisen from these terms
=====================================================
ITEM                     DETAIL
======================== ============================
RASHI RULE CLASS:        WORD MEANINGS
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS:     SYNONYMS
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #7
SEE BELOW                LIST950d
Lists of roots/verses    dealing with REGULATIONS
======================================================

===================== LIST950d ============================

We list verses illustrating the basic thesis that
- CHOK refer to regulations INTRINSIC to an item while
- SHPHAT refer to regulations RELATING items to others*10
===========================================================
ROOT  VERSE   Laws discussed-are they RELATIONAL/INTRINSIC
===== ======= =============================================
S P T Ex21    Laws governing social RELATIONSHIPS*1
S P T Nu09-13 Laws RELATING Pesach sac to other items*2
S P T 2K01-07 How does this person coming RELATE/BEHAVE*3
S P T Ex18-22 JUDGES judge disputes between people
S P T Dt18-03 This is what the priests TAKE*7
----- ------- ---------------------------------------------
Ch K  Nu19-01 Laws regulating purity of SOUL
Ch K  Is22-16 ...who STAMPS in the cliffs a nest*4
Ch K  Pr30-08 Give me, God, my DAILY-BREAD*5
Ch K  Lv18-04 Abstain from sexual excesses*6
Ch K  Gn47-22 This is the TAX for Priests*7

NOTES
-----
*1 Laws like theft, torts, slaves etc govern human-human
   interaction

*2 Rashis point is that some Passover laws are INTRINSIC
   to the animal while other laws deal with the
   RELATIONSHIP with other PASSOVER ITEMS
   -- Passover offerings must be a YEAR, UNBLEMISHED
      (These are intrinsic laws)
   -- Passover offerings are eaten WITH Matzoh and
      bitter herbs (These are laws governing
      relationships)

*3 Literally HOW DOES THIS RUNNER RUN/BEHAVE (In other
   words How does he RELATE to other people) Here the
   root SPT does not refer to JUSTICE but rather
   SOCIAL INTERACTION

*4 Here ChK does not mean LAW but to STAMP (Because
   the Judge stamps laws). Also because ENGRAVING
   and STAMPING in stone makes something INTRINSIC
   to the stone

*5 Here ChK does not refer to laws but rather daily
   needs or to use our lingo OUR INTRINSIC NEEDS
   (How much bread do we really need)

*6 Sexual excesses (eg marrying ones sister) does
   not intefer (immediately) with our social
   relationships. Rather over a period of time
   they corrupt our soul. These laws are intrinsic
   to our spiritual nature

*7 Cf these two verses which both refer to the rights
   of priests to receive items from the nation
   (Dt18-03 Gn47-22). In one case the law is
   - RELATIONAL-- the person offers a sacrifice
   but must remember the priest who takes certain organs

   In the other case the law is
   - INTRINSIC--Egyptian priests received a 20% stipend
     This stipend was independent of any relation with
     the people

------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES --------------------

*10 Traditionally Chok has been translated as NON-RATIONAL
    while SPHT is translated as social laws which are
    rational.

    Such a translation contradicts the verses above
    eg GIVE ME MY IRRATIONAL BREAD (vs INTRINSIC DAILY
    BREAD) or PHAROH GAVE THE PRIESTS AN IRRATIONAL
    (vs an INTRINSIC)20% TAX.

    Similarly 2K01-07 WhAT IS THE manner OF THE PERSON
    RUNNING UP TO YOU does not refer to a rational
    social manner (since the person might have a rude
    manner)--rather the word SFHT refers to how things
    relate.

    So bottom line: Chok means INTRINSIC LAWS -- LAWS
    governing the intrinsic being. Rashi on Nu19-02
    talks about these laws as being the source of
    ridicule by the nations of the world--but this
    is not because they are irrational--rather it
    is because it is traditionally hard to see
    the needs of an INTRINSIC law (eg What would
    be so terrible if a brother and sister on an
    island married each other--how is their
    inner soul harmed---but the law is not irrational
    just something very deeply needed)
==========================================================
---------------------------------------------------
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Volume 18 Number 2


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