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VERSE: Nu27-21b

======================== Nu27-21b ============================

SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
One of Rashis 10 main goals was the resolution of
contradictions. These contradictions typically arise
from two verses stating contradictory things.
We call this the RASHI RULE OF CONTRADICTION.

- If the CONTRADICTION could be resolved by viewing the
contradictory verses as two aspects of the same item then
we employ the TWO ASPECTS method of resolution.

- If the CONTRADICTION could be resolved by viewing the
contradictory verses as two stages of the same process then
we employ the TWO STAGES submethod.

- Finally if the CONTRADICTION could be resolved by
retranslating the verses using broader or more literal
meanings then we use the BROAD-LITERAL submethod.

EXAMPLE Nu07-84a
-----------------
Compare the CONTRADICTION in the following
two verse phrases in Nu27-21
-------------------------------------------
The KING shall stand before Eliezer the PRIEST
-- and ask URIM JUDGEMENT before God
-- by his [ELIEZER's] word
will the go out to war and go in to war
-------------------------------------------

We see the CONTRADICTION. Which is it?
- Does the King get advice from the URIM
- OR, Does the King get advice from ELIEZER

Rashi resolves this CONTRADICTION using
the 2 STAGE method of RESOLUTION
--------------------------------
- STAGE 1: King asks God's guidance thru URIM
- STAGE 2: King receives URIM guidance and
  its INTERPRETATION from Eliezer the priest
--------------------------------

The followin background may clarify this:

Perhaps some elaboration would help:
The Urim and Tumim had the names of
the 12 tribes written with gems and stones.
All letters of the Hebrew alphabet were present.
When a priest asked a question of God
the letters spelling his answer lit up on the Urim.
Consequently he might only receive a 1 or 2
word answer to his inquiry. This is consistent
with the Jewish conception of Prophecy that Moses
had a verbal relationship with God while other
prophets had an image relationship with God.
Clearly a one or two word response has the same
level of detail as an image and differs from
a full verbal response.

This raises the question of how to proceed
after the priest delivers the one-two word
response from God! Does the King or legislature
have the right to interpret the response?
Or is the interpretation of the response
delegated to the inquiring priest?
Rashi answers the latter. That is, the priest
both delivers the message as well as interprets it.
Hence Nu27-21 states that (a) the inquiry will
be made of the Urim and (b) that the Priest
will give his word [that is interpretation]
on the Urim response.

LIST530b summarizes the resolution of CONTRADICTION
and brings other Rashis using the CONTRADICTION method.
===================================================================
ITEM                     DETAIL
======================== ==========================================
RASHI RULE CLASS:        CONTRADICTION
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS      TWO-STAGES
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #15
SEE BELOW                LIST530b
Verse pairs illustrating 2 stages to a process
==================================================================

======================= LIST530b ===================================
Verse pairs illustrating 2 stages to a process
LIST530b continues LIST530a
=====================================================================
VERSE-1 VERSE-2  HOW THE TWO TEXTS ARE COMBINED
======= ======== ====================================================
Nu27-21 Nu27-21b 1st)King advised by URIM;2nd)Priest INTERPRETS answr
Nu07-88 Nu07-84a 1st)Annoint the Temple;2nd)Consecrate it ON SAME DAY
Lv01-03 Lv01-03d 1st)Beat him until 2nd)he says he want to bring it
Ex07-10 Ex07-12a 1st)SNAKE become RODS;2nd)RODS to SNAKES;3rd)Devour
Ex03-18 Ex05-01  1st)Elders-Moses: go to Phroh;2nd)Elders chicken out
Gn46-08 Gn46-15  1)32 CAME to Egypt; 2nd)One BORN on Road*16
Gn29-25 Gn29-23  1)Leah FLIRTS like Rachl;2)After marriage herself*10


NOTES
-----

----------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES -------------------------

*10
Rashi literally states
---------------------------------------------------
Laban gave Leah to Jacob for the wedding night.
But Jacob and Rachel had personal signs and Rachel
gave these to Leah. So Jacob only fully became aware
at morning that Leah was really Leah
---------------------------------------------------

This Rashi has been interpreted to mean that
- Jacob and Rachel had little contact during the 7 years!
- Jacob had no memory of the women he was in love with!
- Jacob needed special signs to remind him who he was with
- Jacob did not know who he was with on his wedding night!
Remarkable: Even the lowest rif-rafs know who they are
with on a wedding night.

I think a more palatable approach to this Rashi is the
following:
------------------------------------------------------
Traditionally men are in interested in physical
characteristics while women are interested in the person.
The Bible EXPLICITLY states that Jacob loved Rachel
because of her figure and good looks (No mention of
personality!). As is well known men and women can flirt
with each other by glances and smiles. Rachel quickly
found out what Jacob liked and taught Leah how to flirt
with him. Laban told Jacob at the BEGINNING of the 7
years that he couldn't marry the younger daughter
before the older daughter. Jacob was at first relunctant
But when Leah started flirting with him the way he
liked he decided to marry Leah. However after the
wedding night Leah 'had what she wanted' and had no
reason to placate Jacob. She started acting herself.
It was only at this point that Jacob realized he was
double-crossed and not getting the physical flirtations
he wanted from a wife. Laban simply reminded him of
the deal they had made SEVEN YEARS AGO but offered
him Rachel also
-------------------------------------------------------

The above approach to Rashi makes 'sense.' It also
has RELEVANCE. It is well known that INCIDENTS OF THE
PATRIARCHS mirror EXPECTATIONS TO THE CHILDREN. No
Jew really worries about being double crossed in whom
he marries. But it is relevant to religious men to
be aware that women play such games with them--Rachels
will frequently help fellow women like Leah to catch
men. Women think it silly that men are interested in
physical attributes and not in personality. So this
incident as interpreted above has extreme relevance
to us.

======================================================================
---------------------------------------------------
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Volume 30 Number 9


#*#*#*#  (C) 2000-2006, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#
Volume 30 Number 9