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VERSE: Nu21-08a
RASHIS COVERED: Nu21-08a Ex09-20a Nu21-08a Nu26-10a
Ex17-15a Ex20-17a Ex20-17b
========================== Nu21-08a ==============================
SUCCINT SUMMARY
---------------
One of Rashis 6 main goals is to explain meaning the same way
the dictionary explains meaning. Rashi had a variety of vehicles
to explain meaning. One of Rashis more delightful methods was the
method of UNIFIED MEANINGS. In this method Rashi takes what other
early authorities consider disparate meanings and shows an
unexpected commonality.
EXAMPLE
-------
The roots with N-S can mean
- FLEE (N-v-S)
- FLAG/BANNER (N-S)
- TO RAISE (N-S-S)
- MIRACLE/SIGN (N-S)
- TO TEST (N-S-h)
Quite elegantly Rashi sees a common unifying these
-------------------------------
N-S = MOTION AGAINST RESISTANCE
-------------------------------
Hence we have
- FLEE - Motion in the HORIZONTAL direction (from a danger)
- RAISE- Motion in the VERTICAL direction (Against gravity)
From these meanings we derive standard metaphoric meanings
- FLAG - something RAISED ON HIGH
- TEST - Something that RAISES YOUR RANK(Note English metaphor)
- MIRACLE/SIGN - something that RAISES your spirits
The examples below give further details. We also explain the
very difficult Dt34-07 where N-S seems to mean the Arabic
DRIED UP (I suggest a different approach).
This posting is a must for those who wish to seriously understand
controversy among the early authorities in meaning
==================================================================
ITEM DETAIL
======================== =========================================
RASHI RULE CLASS: WORD MEANINGS
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS UNIFIED MEANING
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #7
SEE BELOW LIST862a
List of meanings of roots with N-S
==================================================================
======================= LIST862a ======================================
List of verses with roots with N-S. We show the common unifying
theme to n-s roots is MOTION AGAINST RESISTANCE whether HORIZONTAL
RESISTANCE (Fleeing) or VERTICAL RESISTANCE (raising).
=======================================================================
ROOT MOTION VERSE TEXT OF VERSE WITH MEANING of n-s CAPPED
===== ========== ======== =============================================
N-W-S Horizontal Is30-16 we will FLEE on a horse
N-W-S Horizontal Gn39-13 he FLED outside
N-W-S Horizontal Ex09-20a made them FLEE to house(From hail)*1
----- ---------- -------- ---------------------------------------------
N-S Vertical Is30-17 Like a FLAG/BANNER on a mountain*2
N-S Vertical Is05-26 Raise a FLAG/BANNER to nations
N-S Vertical Is33-23 They have not raised the ship MAST*2
N-S Vertical Nu21-08a Place (the image) on a POLE
----- ---------- -------- ---------------------------------------------
N-S*3 Vertical Ps60-06 God gave His devotees a FLAG/VICTORY
N-S*3 Vertical Nu26-10a incense-sticks are a SIGN
N-S*3 Vertical Ex17-15a God has RAISED us (by this VICTORY)*6
N-S*3 Vertical Ps60-06 They have a VICTORY that makes them HIGH
----- ---------- -------- ---------------------------------------------
N-S-S Vertical*4 Ps60-06 They have a VICTORY that RAISES them
N-S-S Vertical*4 Is10-18 Like a FLAG-RAISER that gets depressed
N-S-S Vertical*4 Za09-15 The Priest-Establishment is HIGH RANKED*7
N-S-S Vertical*4 Is59-19 Gods spirit will OUTRANK(OVERPOWER)the enemy
----- ---------- -------- ---------------------------------------------
N-S-H Vertical*5 1S17-39 I have not been TESTED in these weapons
N-S-H Vertical*5 Ex17-07 You TESTED God(To see if He could give water)
N-S-H Vertical*5 Gn22-01 God TESTED Abraham
N-S-H Vertical*5 Ex20-17a God TESTS you(RAISES your RANK among nations)
N-S-H Vertical*5 Ex20-17b God TESTS you(RAISES your RANK among nations)
NOTES
-----
*1 Rashi also makes a grammatical point: The grammatical form
Ha-NiS is CAUSATIVE MODE, PRESENT, SINGULAR, MASCULINE for
the 1-Vav-3 roots. See Ibn Shoshan Dictionary, Volume 5,
table 6. Hence the interpretation: CAUSED HIS SERVANTS TO
FLEE TO THE HOUSE FROM THE HAIL
*2 Both the flag and pole FLEE from GRAVITY. The contrast is
that FLEEing is HORIZONTAL while FLAGGING is VERTICAL. The
commonality is that it is MOTION AGAINST A RESISTANCE
*3 In these examples N-S has the METAPHORIC meaning of FLAG/BANNER
-- namely a SIGN,MEMORIAL. Something that RAISES our hopes
aspirations or fears (Rashi Ex20-17a and Nu21-08a explicitly
connects N-S with RAISING and SIGN---in this respect Rashi
is more detailed than the RADACK--note however Ps60-06
(which Radack brings but not Rashi) in which the verb form
TO RAISE and the noun form, FLAG-SIGN are both brought)
Finally note that a VICTORY is something that FLAGS the
nation and inspires it
(The later Talmudic meaning of N-S
is miracle - this corresponds to the nuance of RAISING HIGH)
*4 Here N-S-S means TO RAISE HIGH. It can also have the
metahporic meaning of GIVING HIGH RANK(Note the equivalant
English metaphor).
As we have already noted: RAISING HIGH is FLEEING from gravity
Both involve motion against resistance (horizontal or
vertical)
*5 Cf Ex20-17a and Ex20-17b. Rashi explains that the goal
of a TEST is to RAISE THE RANK of the testee (Cf the
equivalant metaphor in English).
A TEST however is a WEAKENED raising (Since the testees
rank is ONLY raised if he passes; if he fails his rank
is lowered)
Finally the Radack notes that Controversy of Rav Yonah
and Rav Yehuda on whether TEST has 1 or 3 usages (eg
TESTING Abraham had POSITIVE connotations since he
passed it and had his spiritual rank ELEVATED; by
contrast TESTING GOD has NEGATIVE connotations since
it implies being a nuisance and doubting Gods capacity)
*6 Rav Breuer in his book on cantillations explains Rashis
grammatical point
-------------------------------------------------
The words in the verse can be interpreted in two ways
- And he called it God-my miracle
- And he called in His name: God who is my miracle
-------------------------------------------------
In general the Bible uses the PAUSE cantillation when
it wishes to indicate an unusual syntax Here are some
examples from Breuers book In the following examples
the PAUSE cantillation distinguishes between 2 equally
valid interpretations of the same words
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gn32-28 And he said: Jacob (vs And Jacob said)
Gn18-15 And he said: No
Dt06-04 God is our Lord--God is one (vs God our lord is the one God)
Nu03-02 Aarons son are:Eldest is Ndv (vs Aarons sons are Nadav the eldest)
Ex17-15 He called Him:God is our banner (vs He called it(the altar) God our miracle
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*7 This follows Rashi that N-Z-R refers to the PRIESTS.
Radack and Ibn Ezra give alternate explantions.
Following Rashi I have also interpreted STONE as
LEADERSHIP (Cf Gn49-24)
-------------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES ----------------------
*10 Rashi on Dt34-07a translates N-S as DRIED UP!!!
---------------------------
Moses was 120:
His Vision was not dimmed
His fluids had not DRIED UP
---------------------------
How does N-S come to mean DRY UP?
There are 3 attempts
ATTEMPT 1 (Traditional attempt)
---------
This fluids had not FLEED
(RADACK observes that this is an awkward metaphor)
ATTEMPT 2 (RADACKS FATHER)
---------
N-S in Arabic means DRY
So Radack takes this as an Arabic word
ATTEMPT 3
---------
When fluids dry up (like water becoming icicles
or dung or snot hardening) it becomes stuck to its
place. Thus
- water trickles down while icicles do not
- snot on a wall trickles down while congealed snot sticks
- dung stains wash off while hardened dung sticks
The stuck icicle, snot or dung is something that remains
and does not fall from gravity. Hence an appropriate metaphor
would be FLAGGED ICE (It remains on high like a flag). Similarly
FLAGGED SNOT would be old-age dryness when things stick to skin
====================================================================
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Volume 18 Number 13
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 18 Number 13