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VERSE: Nu23-08a
RASHIS COVERED: Nu23-08a Nu23-08b Nu23-09a Nu23-09c
Nu23-10a Nu23-10b Nu23-10c
===================== Nu23-08a ==================================
SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
One of Rashis tasks is the explanation of POETIC
passages. Many people think that you need fancy degrees
to interpret POETRY. Actually POETRY can be interpreted
simply by BULLETING the phrases in the passage and
following these basic principles
- What is the MAIN THEME of the passage
- How SHOULD that MAIN theme DEVELOP
- What phrases seem to coincide with this DEVELOPMENT
- Interpret the other phrases using the NEEDED DEVELOPMENT
Another way to look at this is to differentiate between
POETRY and PROSE.
- In PROSE we FIRST interpret the words and then combine
the words into sentences
- In POETRY we FIRST identify the main theme and then
interpert the words based on the main them.
It is for this reason that Poetic interpretation sometimes
appears homiletic. However if we recall the basic idea
of the THEME and of the THEME EXPLAINING THE MEANING OF
WORDS then interpretation follows smoothly.
EXAMPLE Nu23-08:11
------------------
The Main theme is that JEWS CANT BE DESTROYED
This main theme is DEVELOPED using the SUBTHEMES
- JEWS CANT BE CURSED
- JEWS CANT BE HURT BY DIMINISHING THEIR NUMBERS
- JEWS CAN BE INSTIGATED TO FIGHT WITH EACH OTHER
Each theme then drives the interpretation of the verse.
The first DEVELOPED THEME is JEWS CANT BE DESTROYED
It is developed as follows
- How shall I curse if God hasnt
- How shall I instigate if God hasnt
The next theme is JEWS CAN BE HURT BY DIMINISHING NUMBERS
This theme is developed as follows
- The Patriarchs (eg Abrahama and Jacob) had small forces
when they opposed their enemies
- The leaders (eg Judah Joseph Moses) overthrew their
enemies with small forces
To accomplish this interpretation we interpret
MOUNTAINS and HILLS to mean PATRIARCHS
and LEADERS
- The Jews are an ALONE nation
- They dont care about HOW MANY THEY ARE
(Proofs for this come from many explicit verses)
The last theme is that the Jews lack STRIFE
This theme is developed as follows
- The Jews arent petty(eg They do many commandments
involving DUST)
- When Jews dont get along they live apart
(The FLAGS of TRIBES were organized in 4 QUARTERS
consistent with who gets along and who doesnt)
- Oh If Only I (Bilam) could die like Jews
=================================================================
ITEM DETAIL
======================== ========================================
RASHI RULE CLASS: BULLETS
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS POETRY
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #26
SEE BELOW LIST110a
List of phrases in Nu23-08:11;JEWS CANT BE DESTROYED
------------------------ ----------------------------------
RASHI RULE CLASS: ALIGNMENT
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS NUANCES
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #11
SEE BELOW LIST306c
List of phrases in Dt27-12:13(BLESS NATION vs RECITE CURSE)
---------------------- --------------------------------
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #11
SEE BELOW LIST306d
List of verses with CURSES:(CURSE YOU vs CURSE ANGER)
---------------------- --------------------------------
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS BROAD
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #12
SEE BELOW LIST343g
List of phrases in Nu23-11 (Die nice death=Death of Jews)
=================================================================
======================= LIST110a ===========================
List of phrases in Nu23-08:11;JEWS CANT BE DESTROYED*10
============================================================
THEME DETAILS SUPPORT
=========== =================================== ============
NO DESTROY How can I curse If God hasnt *1
NO DESTROY Instigate? If God Hasnt *2
---------- -------------------------------- -----------
NO DIMINISH FOUNDERS(Patriarchs)were this way *3
NO DIMINISH LEADERS were this way *4
NO DIMINISH They are a no-herd nation *5
NO DIMINISH They dont care about numbers *5
---------- -------------------------------- -----------
NO STRIFE They dont mind pettiness *6
NO STRIFE They separat if they dont get along *7
NO STRIFE If only I could die properly *8
NO STRIFE If only I could die like them
NOTES
-----
*1 The main proof that the Jews cant be cursed comes from
- Gn27-33 (Although Jacob fooled Isaac nevertheless
Isaac affirmed his blessings of Jacob--HE WILL BE BLESSED)
The above is a main proof: Further supportive proofs
from nuances inferred from alignment may be found in
LIST306d and LIST306c
*2 Nu25-01:09 shows how Bilam INSTIGATED God against the
Jewish people by getting them to sin sexually. That Bilam
instigated this is clear from Nu25-07:08 and Nu31-08 and
Micha-06:05. However God controlled himself and refused
to destroy the Jewish people *11
*3 Several Jewish leaders were known for THEIR SMALL NUMBERS
- Jacobs children overthrew a city despite being
outnumbered (Gn34-30)
- Abraham defeated a whole alliance with only 318 men
(Gn14-34) and believed that his descendants would one
day inhabit the world (Gn15-05)
*4 Several secondary Jewish leaders were known for their
winning against numerical odds
- Joseph was totally helpless in Egypt, a prison mate,
but became Vice President (Gn41-14)
- When Judah had difficulties with his brothers he
left them (Gn38-01) only to return and save the
day (Gn44-18:34)
- Moses with no help (from people)
saved the Jews from Egypt
5 See the proofs mentioned in footnotes #3 and #4.
The clearest statements that Jews dont depend on
numbers occur at
- Dt07-07 God did not chose you because of your
multitude but rather because of his love of the
Patriarchs
- Is31-01 Isiah rebukes the Jews for making an alliance
with the numerically stronger Egypt
- Is37 describes how Chizkiyahu thru Prayer defeated
the numerically stronger Assyria*14
*6 The THEME of this
verse is that JEWS LIVE and DIE PROPERLY--hence,
it would be CONSISTENT with this theme if the
verse describes how Jews dont mind pettiness (Since
pettiness leads to argument and strife).
Notice here how the interpretation of the verse is
derived not from the words but from the basic theme*12
*7 Again we derive meaning from the basic theme not
the words. The theme of the verse is HOW JEWS LEAD
UPRIGHT LIVES. Consistent with this theme would be
the idea that if two tribes dont get along with each
other then they dont live together.
This idea: That people who fight should live
separately was introduced by the Patriarch Jacob
and implemented by Moses who assigned each tribe
to a separate FLAG and place*13
*8 Rashi focuses on the alignment of these last two phrases
The alignment EXPLAINS the meaning of the phrases
- if only I could die a proper death, THAT IS, die like
Jews See LIST343g
---------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES --------------------
*10 Recall that POETRY is not read like PROSE
- PROSE is read by linking WORDS to SENTENCES to PARAGRAPHS
- POETRY is read by converting THEMES to SENTENCES to WORDS
That is in poetry you start with the IDEA and develop it.
The interpretation of the poem is not based on the actual
words used but rather on the intended idea.
The THEME of this poem is JEWS CANT BE DESTROYED
This main theme is DEVELOPED by showing that the Jews
- cant be cursed
- cant be hurt by diminishing their numbers
- cant be hurt thru self strife and inner fighting
Each DEVELOPED idea is detailed in the footnotes
*11 A famous cryptic Aggadah (AZ 4 and Sanhedrin 105) states
that Bilam could compute the exact moment that God lost
his temper which lasted 1/53848th of a second.
It is of course rediculous, preposterous and blasphemous
to say that God is governed by time. Rather the reference
in the Agaddah is that God loses his temper when people
sin sexually---Bilam knew how to instigate people
sexually and turn God against them.
The number 53848 refers to
- 8 The circumcision day--the circumcision organ is used
in sexual sin
- 4 The Hebrew word for 4 means copulate (Getting down
on all fours!)
- 53 Numerologically means GARDEN and refers to the
GARDEN of EDEN where man lived without sin.
Thus Bilam knew how to turn God against people by making
them sin(Leave paradise and sin with that organ)
Nevertheless, God controlled Himself and didnt destroy
the Jewish people
*12 The actual text of the verse states
-----------------------------------
Who can count the DUST of Jacob
-----------------------------------
Rashi interprets this to refer to the numerous commandments
that avoid dust (Like sprinkling with the dust of
the red cow or covering slaughtered blood with dust)
But recall the basic principle of poetry. The words
dont determine meaning; rather the theme determines
meaning.
Hence if the theme is THEY LEAD PROPER LIVES then
it would be proper to interpret this detail to mean
THEY ARE NOT PETTY (e.g. they dont mine commandments
which involve ashes and dust).
As long as you focus on the main THEME the Rashi
appears as reasonable and logical
Rashi does give a second explanation
----------------------------------------------
Who can count the multitudes (dust) of the Jews
Who can account for their marital lives
----------------------------------------------
Such an interpretation WHILE CONSISTENT WITH THE
WORDS, is not consistent with the final phrase
of the verse---OH THAT I COULD DIE LIKE THE JEWS
In other words, Bilam yearns for a life where
- he could tolerate pettiness
(i.e. doing commandments of DUST)
- he could avoid living with people he didnt
get along with
It is for this reason that Rashi interpreted
the verse the way he did. Again: The principle
of poetry requires that interpretation follow
NOT the words but the general theme!
*13 For a full explanation of this idea see
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gn50-13a.htm
which explains the famous COFFIN-FLAG midrash.
Note: The actual verse speaks about COUNTING
THE FOURS OF ISRAEL. Rashi interprets FOUR
poetically to refer to the FOUR SIDES OF THEIR
ENCAMPMENT (So people who didnt get along avoid
each other). Rashi so interprets (FOUR as MEANING
FOUR SIDES) because in poetry (unlike Prose)
it is the THEME that drives word meaning (not
vice versa). Hence since the theme is that Jews
get along with each other therefore Rashi interprets
the Biblical word FOUR to refer to the FOUR SIDED
encampment.
*14 Rashi gives slightly different details
----------------------------------------------------
- When Jews are hurt they arent completely destroyed
- When Jews rejoice they dont invite nonjews
----------------------------------------------------
However a careful reading of Rashi and the verse shows
that the main emphasis is that JEWS DONT CARE ABOUT
NUMBERS. There are many ways to develop this theme
================================================================
======================== LIST306d ====================
List of verses with CURSES (CURSE YOU vs CURSE ANGER)
======================================================
VERSE WHO ToWhom BIBLICAL TEXT OF CURSE
======== ===== ====== ================================
Gn49-07a Jacob Shimon YOUR ANGER is cursed
Gn03-14 GOD SNAKE YOU are now cursed
Gn04-11 GOD KAYIN YOU are now cursed
Gn09-25 Noach Canaan Cursed be CANAAN
Dt27-15 Jews Sinner Cursed be HE WHO MAKES IDOLS
Differs *1
NOTES
-----
*1 Note how Jacob cursed the ANGER of Shimon vs
cursing THE ACTUAL PEOPLE. The nuance suggested
is that the Jews shouldnt be explicitly cursed
This lends support to the developed theme in
LIST110a that the Jews cant be cursed. The main
proof comes from Gn27-33.
========================================================
======================== LIST306c ==============================
List of phrases in Dt27-12:13(BLESS NATION vs The CURSE)
================================================================
VERSE Phrase1 PHRASE#2 #3 PHRASE#4
======= ================ ==================== ==== =============
Dt27-12 These will stand TO BLESS the PEOPLE ON Mount Grizim
Dt27-13 These will stand ON THE CURSE IN Mount Ayval
Differs *1 *2 *3 *4
NOTES
-----
*1 This phrase is the same in both verses
*2 Notice how it is TO BLESS THE NATION vs ON THE CURSE.
The nuances imply that we shouldnt be anxious to CURSE
THE NATION. This gives support to the idea that the
Jews cant be cursed (See LIST110a; Gn27-33 is the main
proof that Jews cant be cursed)
================================================================
=============== LIST343g ================================
List of phrases in Nu23-11 (Die nice death=Death of Jews)
=========================================================
ELLIPTIC PHRASE#1 PHRASE#
======== =================== ==================
May I die the death of PROPER people
May my end be like the Jews
*1 *2 *3
NOTES
-----
*1 Both verses elliptically use the word MAY
*2 MY SOUL DIES and MY END
are two ways to refer to the same item.
*3 The alignment of these phrases sheds light on
meaning. Bilam ultimately died by the sword
(Nu31-08). He led a life of criminality.
But he saw that the Jews live peaceful
lives and die ordinary deaths. Hence
he desired to die like them.
Hence the phrases DEATH OF PROPER PEOPLE and
MY END LIKE THE JEWS are the same---that
is, Bilam wished he had his life to live
over again so he could die like the
proper people of the Jews.
================================================================
---------------------------------------------------
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Volume 22 Number 13
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 22 Number 13