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  |      (C) Dr Hendel, Summer 2000                          |
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VERSE: Nu19-02a

RULE: There are 5 main words that the Bible uses to describe
commandments. There are 2 further words that are used only
by certain commandments. Each word can refer to ALL OF GODS
COMMANDMENTS or to a SPECIFIC CLASS. These 7 terms are listed
below with a brief characterization and examples. This
classification system was inspired by Rabbi Hirsch.*1

EXAMPLES
--------
(1) MISHPAT--Regulations--Social laws which make sense
    EXAMPLE: Prohibitions of Theft, Murder, false testimony



(2) MITZVAH--Commandments--Rational Commandments between God-Man
    EXAMPLE: Benching, Prayer....(These commandments are rational
    since you talk to God and thank him for His Favors instead
    of taking everything for granted)



(3) CHOK---Decree--Commandments between God-Man whose violations
                   have long term effects but not short term effects
    EXAMPLES: Passover (If you don't observe Passover nothing
        immediate will happen...but over a long term you might
        forget you were in Egypt---thus the commandment is rational
        but its effects are long term*2)




(4) TOROTH--Guidance--COMPLEX commandments with many parts
             whose purpose is to plant symbolic seeds for long
             range development
    EXAMPLE: TOROTH is usually used by Sacrifices whose goals
             were rectification of the personality



(5) MISHMAR--Safeguards---These refer to Rabbinic commandments
                        whose goal is to protect the law


----------------------------------------------------------------
(6-7) The following terms are only used by specific commandments
----------------------------------------------------------------

(6) EDAH Only applies to Passover and seems to refer to
        commemorative commandments

(7) PEKUD only refers to the commandment to guard the temple




NOTES
-----
*1 The literature on this is vast. For example Rav Hirsch's
   CHOREV is based on these breakdowns and Rav Hirsch actually
   classifies each Biblical commandment. Thus the reader
   should perceive this as only a sketch.


*2 The following verses show that the standard translation
CHOK = IRRATIONAL is not adequate.

VERSE   WHAT IS "DECREED"
======= ==========================================
Gn47-22 Egyptian priests get 20% of land produce
Prv30-8 ..Give me my daily decreed bread
Ex12-14 Commemorate the exodus once a year(Passver)
Lv07-10 Priests eat the breast & thigh of Shlamim*1
Jb28-26 Made a path for lightning;a portion for dew
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Volume 2 Number 21


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