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VERSE: Nu18-01b
RASHIS COVERED: Nu18-01c Nu18-01d Nu18-01e Nu18-02a Nu18-06a
Nu18-02b Nu18-02c Nu18-04a Nu18-05a Nu18-07a
======================== Nu18-01b ==============================
OVERVIEW
----------------
Today we review the Rashis on the Biblical paragraph
Nu18-01:08. These Rashis use 4 Rashi principles.
SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
A powerful but simple Rashi method is the CITATION or CROSS-
REFERENCING of an OTHER VERSE for the purpose of adding
FURTHER DETAILS to a verse we are studying. We call this
the OTHER VERSE method. There are three submethods to the
OTHER VERSE method.
If the verse actually CITES or refers to an OTHER VERSE we
call this the SUBMETHOD of CITATION.
If the OTHER VERSE explains the meaning of
some term in the first verse we call this the SUBMETHOD
of MEANING.
If the first verse does not cite an other verse and if
no meaning is explained then we call this the SUBMETHOD
of FURTHER DETAILS since the 2nd verse either confirms
the first verse or typically adds FURTHER DETAILS to
the first verse
In Nu18-01:10 there are five uses of OTHER VERSES.
EXAMPLE 1: Nu18-04
------------------
Nu04-15 explicitly states that a DEATH PENALTY
will result if the KEHATITE LEVITES handle the HOLY TEMPLE
VESSELS which is the job of the priests. This OTHER verse
sheds FURTHER DETAIL on Nu18-04 which prohibit
strangers from dealing with the Temple which can cause
God to get angry. The prevention of strangers approaching
the Temple is covered in Rashis: Nu18-01c Nu18-01e Nu18-02b
Nu18-04a
EXAMPLE 2,3:Nu18-05a
-----------------
Nu18-05 speaks about the anger of God
when non-priests and non-Levites deal
with the Temple. This anger is supported
by OTHER VERSES which give further details and examples.
For example Nu17-05 describes Gods anger
at the Korach rebellion in which a Levite,
Korach, sought Priesthood. Similarly Lv10-01:02
describes the death of Nadav and Avihu who sought
to offer uninvited incense to God.
EXAMPLE 4: Nu18-06a
------------------
Nu18-06 describes how the Levites are
given as a gift to the priests. This
is supported by an OTHER VERSE Nu08-14:19
which describes in detail how the Levites
replaced the first born to serve God.
EXAMPLE 5: Nu18-07a
------------------
Chapter Nu18-01:07 describes how the
service of the Priests and Levites is
Protected by death at the hands of heaven
to strangers who attempt to do this work
themselves. Nu18-08 calls the Priesthood
a GIFT. Further details may be found in
the OTHER VERSE Lv22-14:18 which describes
punishment to strangers who eat priestly
gifts in negligence.
LIST210v presents other examples of verse pairs
with one verse illuminating an other verse
SUCCINT SUMMARY:
----------------
One of Rashi's 10 major goals is the explanation of GRAMMAR
the same way modern textbooks explain GRAMMAR. There are three
major GRAMMAR submethods:
(a) The goal of the ROOT submethod is to explain all
conjugations and meanings of Biblical roots.
Biblical roots are conjugated with letter prefixes and suffixes
to indicate (i) tense (ii) person (iii) gender (iv) plurality
(v) mode (vi) object (to whom the activity is done) and (vii)
mood. Each of these conjugations has a specific meaning.
Furthermore, these conjugations take on different forms for
roots with weak letters.
(b) The SENTENCE submethod deals with grammatical attributes
of sentences such as (i) word arrangement (Verb Subject vs
Subject Verb) (ii) sentence type (interrogative, command)
(iii) compound sentences (iv) apposition and (v)
paragraph / sentence development.
(c) The MISCELLANEOUS grammatical methods deal with
(i) agreement (in gender and plurality), (ii) the construct
(iii) pronoun reference (iv) ellipsis (v) noun-verb transforms
(e.g. to dust) (vi) special word usage(e.g. how to use
numbers) (vii) suffix-prefixes (e.g. terminal HEY means
towards).
The SENTENCE submethod presents 3 means of DEVELOPMENT of
consecutive sentences or consecutive paragraphs.
- CAUSE, ENABLEMENT,
- CONTRAST
- UNIFYING THEME.
EXAMPLE Nu18-04a
----------------
Nu18-04 states
------------------------------------
And they shall be joined to you,
and keep the GUARD of the Temple
for all the service of the Temple
SO THAT a stranger shall not come near you.
------------------------------------
Rashi
-------------------------------------
We have added the CAPPED words SO THAT
in the translation of Nu18-04 to hilight
that the first part of the verse--
keep the GUARD of the TEMPLE has as its
purpose an ENABLEMENT that no STRANGER
shall come near the Temple
-------------------------------------
In other words Nu18-04 defines the purpose
of the TEMPLE GUARD as PREVENTING strangers
from approaching the temple.
This theme that strangers should not come
near the Temple is further supported in
Rashis Nu18-01c Nu18-01e Nu18-02b Nu18-04a
LIST061c summarizes this argument as well
as presents other Rashis focusing on the
causal/enabling nature of the two verse
segments.
SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
Some Rashi comments deal with FORMATTING.
Modern authors FORMAT using such techniques as
BULLETS, PARAGRAPHING, BOLD, ITALICS and UNDERLINE.
The Biblical Author achieved these effects but thru
different means.
For example a modern author might hilight distinct
items using BULLETS. The Biblical Author hilights
distinct items using REPEATING KEYWORDS.
We call this the Rashi rule of FORMATTING with the Rashi
subrule of KEYWORDS AS BULLETS
Rashi could also infer from the general PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE
(without any keywords). We call this the the Rashi rule of
FORMATTING with the Rashi subrule of PARAGRAPHS.
EXAMPLE Nu04
------------
Nu04-04:33 describes the duties of the Levite
subfamilies in the temple.
-----------------------------------------------
VERSE LEVITE SUBTRIBE TASKS OF THAT TRIBE
---------- ---------------- -------------------
Nu04-04:20 Kehatite tasks TEMPLE VESSELS
Nu04-21:28 Gershonite tasks Curtains, hooks
Nu04-29:33 Merarite Tasks Boards, sockets
-----------------------------------------------
This list is used in conjunction with an ALIGNMENT
illuminating Rashis Nu18-01a Nu18-01d and Nu18-02a
The ALIGNMENT is immediately presented below.
LIST108h below summarizes this paragraph.
SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
Rashi frequently makes powerful inferences from
- the ALIGNMENT,
- that is, the word by word comparison,
of almost identical verses.The minor variations
between these almost similar verses suggests nuances
and differences or even meaning. We
call this the Rashi rule of ALIGNMENT
-When Rashi identifies two cases from the ALIGNMENT we call
this the Rashi subrule of TWO CASES
-When Rashi infers nuances from the variations between the
almost similar verses (or verse phrases) we call this the
Rashi subrule of NUANCES.
-When Rashi infers MEANING from the ALIGNMENT of almost
identical phrases we call this the Rashi SUBRULE of MEANING.
EXAMPLE Nu18-01:08
------------------
In examining Nu18-01:02 we find 3 groups of
people addressed
------------------------------------------------------
GROUP TASK
--------------------------- --------------------------
you,sons,father's house Bear iniquity of Temple
you,sons Bear iniquity of priesthood
Brothers,Levi Minister,Temple Watch,
------------------------------------------------------
The ALIGNMENT of these verses distinguishes between
- You[Aaron] and Sons
- You[Aaron] and sons and HOUSEHOLD
- Brothers Levi
Rashi makes the following associations
The ALIGNMENT of these verses distinguishes between
- You[Aaron] and Sons----------------PRIESTS
- You[Aaron] and sons and HOUSEHOLD--PRIESTS/KEHATHITES
- Brothers Levi--------------OTHER LEVITES(Gershon,Merari)
NOTE: As we noted above Nu04-04:20 indicates the
prohibition of the KEHATITES from touching the Temple
vessels which echoes (OTHER VERSE METHOD) the theme
of Nu18-01:08 that Priests and others should prevent
strangers from coming near. This OTHER VERSE motivated
Rashi to identify HOUSEHOLD with KEHATHITES
Rashi then associates BROTHERS LEVI with other
LEVITES. In summary to properly understand this Rashi
we need both the FORMATTING of Paragraph Nu04
as well as the ALIGNMENT of Nu18-01:02. This
ALIGNMENT and FORMATTING provide explanation to
Rashis Nu18-01a Nu18-01d and Nu18-02a
Note that this ALIGNMENT of 3 verses combines both the
NUANCE and 2-CASE method.
LIST314p presents this ALIGNMENT.
A final ALIGNMENT summarizes several verses which
distinguish the tasks of Levites vs Priests.
--------------------------------------------------------------
TEMPLE VESSELS ALTAR(Sacrifices) HOLY HOLY GUARD
--------- -------------- ----------------- --------- -----
PRIESTS Yes YES YES
LEVITES No No No Yes
--------------------------------------------------------------
The following verses make these distinctions explicit
* Nu04-19 gives the Priest/Levite distinction for Temple Vessels
* Nu18-03 gives the Priest/Levite distinction for Vessels/Altar
* Nu18-07 gives the Priest/Levite distinction for Altar/Holies
* Nu18-03:04 identifies Levite task as a GUARD
Hence the Rashi
-----------------------------------------
[How did the Levites accomplish their guard?]
- They were an honor guard for the Temple Gates
- They were in charge of keys
- They were in charge of money chests for Temple repairs
-----------------------------------------
The Honor guard of the Levites is mentioned in Rashi Nu18-02c
Finally LIST314q summarizes a variety of verses
which distinguish the tasks of LEVITES vs PRIESTS.
==================================================================
ITEM DETAIL
======================== =========================================
RASHI RULE CLASS OTHER VERSES
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS FURTHER DETAILS
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #1
SEE BELOW LIST210v
List of verses pairs with one verse illuminating another
---------------------- ------------------------------------
RASHI RULE CLASS: GRAMMAR
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS: CONSECUTIVE CHAPTERS
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #9
SEE BELOW LIST061c
A list of paragraphs having a CAUSAL,ENABLEMENT connection
---------------------- ------------------------------------
RASHI RULE CLASS: BULLETS
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS KEYWORDS AS BULLETS
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #26
SEE BELOW LIST108h
PARAGRAPH structure of Nu04-Kehatites, Gershonites, Merarites
---------------------- ------------------------------------
RASHI RULE CLASS: ALIGNMENT
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS 2 CASES
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #10
SEE BELOW LIST314p
List of verses with 3 GROUPS watching temple
---------------------- ------------------------------------
RASHI RULE CLASS: ALIGNMENT
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS 2 CASES
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #10
SEE BELOW LIST314q
List of verses with PRIEST-LEVITE differences in Tmpl Guard
================================================================
=================== LIST210v ====================================
List of verses pairs with one verse illuminating another
LIST210v CONTINUES LIST210a LIST210z LIST210y LIST210x LIST210w
=================================================================
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE OTHER VRSE DETAILS
======== ======================== ========== ====================
Nu18-04a Guard Temple-no stranger Nu04-15*4 Levi no touch vessel
Nu18-05a NoAnger on Tmpl nearness Nu17-05 Korach caused anger
Nu18-05a NoAnger on Tmpl nearness Lv10-01:02 Aarons sons die*1
Nu18-06a Levites are gift Nu08-14:19 Replace firstborn*2
Nu18-07a Temple service is GIFT Lv22-14:18 Other PRIEST GIFTS*3
NOTES
-----
*1 Some commentators believe this Rashi comment comes
from the word NO MORE
-----------------------------------------
there will be NO MORE anger on Temple
-----------------------------------------
Hence the comment
--------------------
NO MORE implies there already was
times when God got angry
--------------------
However my position is that OTHER VERSES justify
a Rashi commment even if there is no verbal
hint towards this OTHER VERSE in the original verse
*2 Some commentators argue that Rashi dwelt on the phrase
---------------------------------
Levites...to serve SERVICE OF GOD
---------------------------------
Hence the comment
-------------------------------
SERVICE of GOD not SERVICE of MAN
Levites could not do personal service for Priests
They could only help out in Temple.
-------------------------------
However I see no need to dwell on words and phrases
The OTHER VERSE Nu08-14:19 makes it clear that
the Levites REPLACE the FIRST BORN. Just as the
FIRST BORN serve God so too the Levites serve God.
I believe the OTHER VERSES has sufficient force
to justify this conclusion without focus on words
and phrases. However the words SERVICE OF GOD
do offer FURTHER SUPPORTIVE evidence for this Rashi.
This explains Rashi Nu18-06a
*3 Nu18-01:08
* calls PRIEST TEMPLE SERVICE a GIFT
* declares Gods anger on violations of this gift
Lv22-14:18 similarly
* discusses other temple gifts (Sacrifices, holy items)
* declares penalties for violations of this gift
Thus we call the TEMPLE SERVICE a GIFT because it
has the characteristics of OTHER GIFTS. In fact the
rest of Nu18 discusses the other TEMPLE gifts.
An alternate derivation could focus on the double
language I WILL GIFT SERVICE GIFT (GIFT ...GIFT).
The GIFT GIFT repetition creates an emphasis...
the word GIFT is literal...the service itself is
a GIFT.
This supports Rashi Nu18-07a
*4 The requirement to prevent strangers from coming near
is mentioned in Rashis Nu18-01c Nu18-01e Nu18-04a Nu18-02b
=================================================================
===================== LIST061c ============================
A list of paragraphs having CAUSAL connection
LIST061c continues LIST061a
===========================================================
VERSE TOPIC IN 1st CHAPTER TOPIC IN 2nd CHAPTER
======== ===================== ============================
Nu18-04a Levite Temple Guard Strangers shouldn't approach
Lv27-33a Passing by DYED rod Each 10th was DYED,set aside
Gn41-48a Stored city food Stored it near its city*2
Gn41-44a I am Pharoh King Hence I grant you power
Gn24-29a Laban saw BRACELETS Laban ran to get servant*1
Gn20-01a Lot incests daughters Abraham runs away from there
Ex33-08b pitches tent outside when he went outside
NOTES
-----
*1 Hence the Rashi
- Laban was interested in the possibility of becoming
rich from Abraham.
*2 Presumably each city had its own method of preserving
food (e.g. use natural nutrients in the fields).
Hence the second sentence of the verse HE STORED EACH
CITIES FOOD NEAR IT is seen as ENABLING the first
sentence HE STORED THE FOOD OF THE SEVEN YEARS
=================================================================
====================== LIST108h =============================
PARAGRAPH structure of Nu04-Kehatites, Gershonites, Merarites
=============================================================
VERSE LEVITE SUBTRIBE TASKS OF THAT TRIBE*1
========== ================ =================================
Nu04-04:20 Kehatite tasks TEMPLE VESSELS
Nu04-21:28 Gershonite tasks Curtains, hooks
Nu04-29:33 Merarite Tasks Boards, sockets
NOTES
-----
*1 LIST108h supports inferences from the ALIGNMENT in
LIST314p explaining Rashi Nu18-01b Nu18-01d N18-02a
=============================================================
====================== LIST314p ========================
List of verses with 3 GROUPS watching temple
========================================================
GROUP TASK
=========================== ============================
you,sons,father's house*2 Bear iniquity of Temple*4
you,sons*1 Bear iniquity of priesthood
Brothers,Levi*3 Minister,Temple Watch,*4
NOTES
-----
*1 YOU and SONS clearly refers to PRIESTS
(Rashi Nu18-01d)
*2 The ALIGNMENT shows difference between
-------------------------
you, sons
you, sons, Father's house
-------------------------
Based on LIST210v Rashi suggests
-----------------------------------------------------
YOU, SONS,FATHER'S HOUSE refers to PRIESTS/KEHATHITES
-----------------------------------------------------
Rashi bases this on Nu04-04:20 discussing the
Kehatite obligations and Nu04-15 which mentions
the PROHIBITION against coming near the TEMPLE
VESSELS less death happen Rashi suggests that
---------------------------------
YOU, SONS, FATHER'S HOUSE=PRIESTS/KEHATHITES
---------------------------------
LIST108h also hilights that the KEHATITES deal
with the Temple vessels (and had to avoid directly
handling them. (See Rashi Nu18-01b)
*3 Quite simply
----------------------
BROTHERS LEVI
----------------------
refers to ALL LEVITES.
However in footnote #2 we have seen that reference
has already been made to the KEHATHITES. Hence
Rashi interprets
---------------------------------------
BROTHER'S LEVI = GERSHONITES, MERARITES
---------------------------------------
(Rashi Nu18-02a)
This is also supported by LIST108h which shows
the tasks of each of the Levite tribes.
*4 The meanings of these other phrases will be
discussed in LIST314q.
========================================================
======================= LIST314q ===============================
List of verses with PRIEST-LEVITE differences in Tmpl Guard
================================================================
WHO TEMPLE VESSELS ALTAR(Sacrifices) HOLIES HOLY GUARD
======== ============== ================= ====== ===========
PRIESTS Yes*1 *2 YES*2 *3 YES*3
LEVITES No*1 *2 No*2 *3 No*3 Yes*4
NOTES
-----
*1 Nu04-19 gives the Priest/Levite
distinction for Temple Vessels
*2 Nu18-03 gives the Priest/Levite
distinction for Vessels/Altar
*3 Nu18-07 gives the Priest/Levite
distinction for Altar/Holies
*4 Nu18-03:04 identifies
Levite task as a GUARD*10
------------------------ LONGER FOOTNOTES --------------------
*10 Based on the above table of what the LEVITES cannot do
Rashi offers the following possibilities for the
Temple Guard
- Levites were an Honor Guard for the Temple Gate
- Levites were in charge of Gate Keys
- Levites were in charge of money for Temple repairs
(See Rashi on Nu18-02c for these additional Levite tasks)
================================================================
---------------------------------------------------
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Volume 30 Number 7
#*#*#*# (C) 2000-2006, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#
Volume 30 Number 7