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VERSE: Nu14-36a
RASHIS COVERED: Nu14-36a Nu14-36b Gn37-02e
Gn37-02f Dt01-27a Dt33-25b
NOTES:
======
I have started to rely on the Davka Rashi-Chumash CD
(version IId) in classifying Rashis. If e.g. you look
in the Stone Chumash, there are MORE than 2 Rashis on
Nu14-36 (thus there is Nu14-36a, Nu14-36b, Nu14-36c
etc). However the DAVKAH Chumash has exactly 2 Rashis
on Nu14-36 and this is the version I am using.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
================
* To ANONYMOUS for bringing up this fascinating question
* To Harry & Alan from My Shomrey Emunah Rashi class
for suggesting many helpful modifications of the
words I used to capture Rashis interpretation of DBH
* In passing this is an excellent Rashi by which to
review how word meanings are inferred -- these Rashis
clearly show the tools and issues involved.
========= BACKGROUND: THE METHOD OF CONTEXT & SYNONYMS ==========
We introduce the method of CONTEXT and SYNONYMS.
CONTEXT AND SYNONYMS is a powerful technique by which to
ascertain the precise meanings of words that occur only
a few times in the Bible. The general technique consists of
-1st: identify a GENERAL IDEA from the context or dictionary
-2nd: use context & similar words to identify SPECIFIC NUANCES
(The idea of using comparable English words as a vehicle for
understanding Rashis translation of Biblical words was
advocated in my article PESHAT & DERASH, Tradition,Winter 1980)
The Hebrew roots DBH, DBA, RGN are a classic example. DBH
occurs in 9 verses and only 6 distinct contexts. RGN also
occurs only 6 distinct times in the Bible. Let us see how
Rashi analyzes their meaning.
Let us proceed to STEP 1: GET THE GENEREAL IDEA
As the LIST below shows, the GENERAL IDEA of DBH is SPEECH
=================================================================
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE WITH dbh TRANSLATED AS bad talk
======= ========================================================
Gn37-02 Joseph brought bad TALK about them to his father
Nu13-32 The spies released TALK ABOUT ISRAEL that it was bad*1
Jr20-10 For I have heard the TALK of the multitudes*2
Song7-10 Your palate like good wine to a lover,like TALK in sleep
Prv25-10 Dont slander lest you make up & cant retract your TALK
NOTES
=====
*1 DBH occurs in connection with the Spy episode in several
verses. However for practical purposes this is only one
occurence
*2 The phrase the TALK OF THE MULTITUDE occurs in several
verses but we are counting it only once
=================================================================
====================== STEP 1: FIND THE GENERAL IDEA ============
Just as the GENERAL IDEA of the Hebrew root DBH is TALK
so to the GENERAL IDEA of the Hebrew root RGN is BAD TALK
Here are most of the verses with RGN in the Bible
=================================================================
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE WITH rgn TRANSLATED AS bad talk
======== ======================================================
Prv18-8 The words of a BAD TALKER are like swords
Dt01-27 You SPOKE BADLY ..you said God hated you
Prv16-28 BAD TALK separates you from a teacher
Prv26-20 with no BAD TALK, the fight will subside
Isa29-24 Fools will learn understanding and BAD TALKERS, ethics
=================================================================
===== STEP 2: FIND APPROPRIATE NUANCES FOR EACH TYPE OF talk ====
We have already established the GENERAL IDEA of DBH as
Some type of TALK and RGN as some type of BAD TALK. Now
we must seek the precise nuances of each word.
The LIST below lists 7 words denoting TALKING. As can be seen
each one has a distinct NUANCE. We will in later lists justify
our assertions that the Hebrew DBH means to CHATTER while the
Hebrew RGN means to TALK PARNOICALLY
=================================================================
HEBREW ROOT MEANING TALK NUANCE OF THIS ROOT
======================== ===================
AMR Speak
DVR Cite
DVV Chatter
RGN Paranoia
LOTz Mockery
LShN Slander
RChL Gossip
=================================================================
======= STEP 2: THE NUANCES OF THE HEBREW dbh IS to chatter =====
The ultimate test of nuances is CONTEXT. Does it FIT
just right? Does it RING properly? Judge for yourself. Here
are the exact same verses that were LISTED above. Feel the flow
and punchiness of the translation
-------------------------
DBH=CHATTER (vs just talk)
-------------------------
By CHATTER I am not just referring to the DRUNKARDS murmur. I
am rather referring to any habitual non-focused chatter. See
footnote *3 (after reading the list) for exact citations from
Rashi justifying interpreting DBH as CHATTER.
In my Shomrey Emunah class we came up with the following
alernative words (Due to Harry and Alan): \
* MURMUR,
* CHATTER,
* CONVERSATIONAL,
* INFORMAL TALK,
* GRUMBLING,
* IMPULSIVE TALK
For translations of other Rishonim see footnote *4 which
discusses the underlying methodological controversy between
Rashi and other Rishonim.
The unusual Dt33-25b (the only occurence of DBH with an
ALEPH) is discussed in footnote *5
==================================================================
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE WITH dbh TRANSLATED AS murmur
======== =========================================================
Gn37-02 Joseph CHATTERED badly about them to his father*1
Nu13-32 The spies released a CHATTER that Israel was bad*2
Jr20-10 For I have heard the CHATTER of the multitudes*6
Song7-10 Your palate like good wine to a lover,MURMERS in sleep
Prv25-10 Dont slander lest you cant retract your CHATTERINGS*7
NOTES
=====
*1 Thus Gn37-02 is not talking about a REPORT from Joseph to his
father. Rather it is talking about the constant day to day
talk, the MURMURINGS/CHATTERINGS he had with his father.
*2 The spies didnt just REPORT that Israel was bad. They
continuously MURMURED about what they had gone thru.
They created a MURMUR throughout the camp that Israel was
bad. This is consistent with the final complaint of the Jews
that they should return to Egypt
*3 Here is my evidence that Rashi translated DBH as MURMUR:
--On Gn37-02e and Gn37-02f Rashi states that DBH is
saying EVERYTHING you can (A chatterer)
--On Nu14-36a Rashi states that DBH denotes any type of
HABITUAL TALK (=chatter!) whether for good or bad
(I benefited from the Silverstein Chumash who cross
references Jer23-31 which uses the exact same phrase
as Rashi does. As METZUDATH TZION points out the Hebrew
MALKICHIM LESHONAM used by Rashi would mean MAKE A HABIT.)
--Rashi on Gn37-02e and Nu14-36a brings Song7-11 THE MURMURS
OF THE LIPS OF SLEEPING PEOPLE to prove that MURMUR
need not be bad.
In summary Rashi defines DBH as a
-----------------------------------------------------
HABITUAL TALK of EVERYTHING whether for GOOD OR BAD
-----------------------------------------------------
In other words DBH, according to Rashi, means MURMER/CHATTER/
CONVERSATIONAL.
*4 RDACK and RAMBAN seem only to use STEP 1 of our
analysis. They both hold that DBH is speech (WITHOUT
further nuances). They suggest (With no list to back
them up) that BRINGING DBH is SAYING TRUTH while
LETTING OUT DBH is SAYING FALSEHOOD.
Thus the controversy between Rashi and Radack-Ramban
might be one of METHOD. Rashi might hold that we
are justified in seeking nuances of words EVEN when
they only occur rarely in half a dozen verses. By
contrast the RDACK and RAMBAN may be more conservative
holding that all we can infer from context is the
GENERAL IDEA without nuances.
*5 We explain Dt33-25b. This is the only time
in the Bible that DBA occurs with an ALEPH vs a HEY.
Such ALEPH appendages to words do happen. Rashi suggests
2 possible explanations
EXPLANATION 1
-------------
DVA = OLD AGE = The age when you CHATTER(You ooze out speech)
So Dt33-25 should be translated MAY YOUR AGE OF CHATTER(OLD
AGE) BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS YOUR (GOOD) YEARS (MIDDLE AGE)
EXPLANATION 2
-------------
DVA = The MURMURINGS of surrounding nations about Israel;
the nations chatter that money/commerce should be placed
in Israel because of its good produce. So Dt33-25 should
be translated as MAY THE CHATTERINGS OF YOUR SURROUNDING
COUNTRIES BE AS GOOD AS YOUR (GOOD) YEARS
Note that according to Explanation 2, DVA would not
mean CHATTERING per se but rather it would refer to
the CHATTERINGS THAT OTHERS MAKE ABOUT YOU (i.e. your
PERSONAL chatterings --- thus this would be consistent
with the Rashi-Hirsch view that ALEPH as a root letter
denotes something PERSONAL)
Since this spelling of DBA occurs once and since the
verse is highly poetic it does not seem possible to
reach a definite conclusion.
*6 I think this verse in particular helps show that
CHATTER is a better translation than TALK. The phrase
CHATTER OF THE MULTITUDES is superior to TALK OF
THE MULTITUDES in showing what was bothering Jeremiah.
*7 The previous verse says IF YOU MUST FIGHT WITH A FRIEND
DO SO, BUT DONT REVEAL THE SECRETS OF OTHERS
The text continues:
LEST YOU LOSE THE ARGUMENT AND YOUR CHATTERINGS (About
others secrets) CANT BE RETRACTED
Again CHATTER vs TALK seems a more focused translation
=================================================================
==== STEP 2:THE NUANCES OF THE HEBREW rgn IS--talk parnoically ==
The ultimate test of nuances is CONTEXT. Does it FIT
just right? Does it RING properly? Judge for yourself. Here
are the exact same verses LISTED above. Feel the flow and
punchiness of the translation
----------------------------------------
RGN=TALK PARANOICALLY (vs just talk bad)
----------------------------------------
The main argument used here is one of CONTEXT. I believe
this a strong and sufficient argument. However for defenses
using Rashis highly conjectural 2-letter-semantic-theory
please see footnote *2.
=================================================================
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE WITH rgn TRANSLATED AS paranoia
======= ========================================================
Prv18-8 The words of a PARANOIC person are like swords*1
Dt01-27 You SPOKE PARANOICALLY ..you said God hated you
Prv16-28 PARANOIA separates the teacher*1
Prv26-20 with no PARANOIA the fight will subside
Isa29-24 Fools will learn understanding;the PARANOID,ethics
NOTES
=====
*1 Note the enriched meaning of the verse. It is not BAD TALK
SEPARATES A TEACHER since most people dont talk BADLY.
Rather it is PARANOIA, a mistrust of the teachers goals
that will prevent a student from devoting alot of time
towards goals
Similarly it is not BAD TALK IS LIKE SWORDS but rather
PARANOIA IS LIKE SWORDS. PARANOIA is hard to fight
logically and therefore paranoic talk is sharp like a
sword
*2 I have no internal evidence that Rashi believes that
RGN means PARANOIA -- all he says on Dt01-27a is that
it is slanderous. However PARANOIA does fit the verses
nicely (the argument of CONTEXT). Furthermore Rashi
believed in the 2-letter theories and as the
list below shows RGN means a DEFENSIVE (GNN) SPIRIT(RUACH)
(i.e. paranoia)
------------------------------------------------------------
RGN (Paranoia) means a GNN(Defensive) RUACH (Spirit)
RGZ (Anger) means a GZZ(Cutting) RUACH (Spirit)
RMS (Stomping) means a MSS(Despising) RUACH (Spirit)
RZM (Flirting eyes) means a ZMM(Lewd) RUACH (Spirit)
RDM (Sleepy) means a RDM(Quiet) RUACH (Spirit)
=================================================================
RASHI RULE USED: SYNONYMS
---------------------------------------------------
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Volume 10 Number 15
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 10 Number 15