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VERSE: Nu34-06c
RASHIS COVERED: Nu34-06c Nu33-40a
======================== Nu34-06c =============================
SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
The FORMATTING rule seeks to explain Rashis based on
the FORMATTING of the Biblical text. FORMATTING techniques
in modern writing include use of bold, italics,underline,
bullets, paragraph indentation and similar items. The Bible
indicated FORMATTING using its own techniques: For example
- the Bible indicates bold,italics, underline thru REPETITION
- the BIble indicates bulleting, thru REPEATING keywords
The Bible can also indicate FORMATTING thru meaning without
any formal structure.
EXAMPLE Nu36-04c
----------------
Note the repetition of BORDER in verse Nu36-04
-----------------------------------------------------
And the WESTERN BORDER:
- includes the Mediteranean Sea
- and [its] BORDERS
-----------------------------------------------------
Rashi, commenting on the REPETITION, states
-------------------------------------------
The REPETITION creates an emphasis, broadening
the term BORDER, to include all items that
could be referred to by BORDER. Hence the BORDER included
- the Mediteranean Sea
- the ISLANDS in that sea [i.e. the BORDERS of the sea]
---------------------------------------------------
LIST150a below presents other examples where verses are
interpreted broadly because of a REPETITION.
EXAMPLE Nu33-40a
----------------
The following REPETITION is a bit unusual. It is not a
REPETITION within a verse but rather REPETITION across
two verses. Furthermore, the REPETITION does not indicate
an emphasis in a word or phrase but rather, the repetition
indicates an emphasis in juxtaposition--two events are seen
as cause and effect.
Nu20-22:29, Nu21-01 states
-------------------------------------------------
- Aaron died on HOR HAHAR
- The Aradite Kingdom heard when the Jews came to SPY-PATH
And Arad waged war on Israel
--------------------------------------------------
Nu33-38:40 states
-------------------------------------------------
- Aaron died on HOR HAHAR.
- The Aradite kingdom heard when the Jews came to SPY-PATH
And Arad waged war on Israel
-------------------------------------------------
Rashi commenting on the REPEATED juxtaposition of
these two verses
- the verse(s) of Aaron's death
- the verse of Israel coming to SPY-PATH
[Rashi] comments as follows.
-------------------------------------------------
The REPETITION creates emphasis. This teaches
that Aaron's death was a contributing factor
in the declaration of War by Arad. [Rashi then
conjectures that Aaron, as High Priest, was a spiritual
force not only for the Jews but for surrounding nations.
When he died Arad decided the Jews would lack their
spiritual backup and decided it was time to declare war]
-------------------------------------------------
LIST160a below presents other examples where verses are
interpreted restrictively because of a REPETITION.
==================================================================
ITEM DETAIL
======================== =========================================
RASHI RULE CLASS: REPETITION
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS BROAD
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #20
SEE BELOW LIST150a
List of verses with REPEATED words interpreted broadly
--------------------- ------------------------------------
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #19
SEE BELOW LIST160a
List of verses with REPEATED words interpreted restrictvely
==================================================================
========================= LIST150a ===========================
List of verses with REPEATED words interpreted broadly
==============================================================
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE EMPHASIS...DO IT...
======== ====================== ==============================
Nu33-40a Aaron died;Arad wars Aaraon's death encouraged war
Nu36-04c BORDER:Sea & BORDERs BORDER=SEA BORDER=Islands
Nu22-21b Went with MOAB MOAB a)went physicaly b)agreed with
Nu13-30c we-ll GO UP GO UP we-ll WIN WAR no matter what
Lv20-09a PARENTS...PARENTS EVEN after death
Lv19-22a the SIN HE SINNED WHETHER willful or inadvertent
Dt13-16a HIT HIT by sword EVEN by Fire
Dt15-08b GIVE GIVE charity EVEN by loaning
Dt16-20a PURSUE PURSUE Justice EVEN for mistaken aquitals
Ex12-09c COOK COOK in water EVEN in other liquids
Lv13-35a SPREAD SPREAD after OK EVEN if SPREAD while impure
Lv17-13a HUNT A HUNT*10 EVEN for a non-hunted animal
------- --------------------- -----------------------------
Nu05-22c women says AMEN AMEN*5 Adultery from marriage:engaged
Lv25-26c no menial work(repeat) Master to slave;King to subjct
Lv20-02b EXECUTE EXECUTE EVEN by the masses*1
Lv07-19b MEAT:all MEAT eatable Even if PART of organ bad*3
Lv05-15b TRESPASS TRESPASS tmpl Not only eating;any benefit*2
Lv13-44a DECLARE DECLARE impure EVEN if not a head leprosy*4
NOTES
------
*1 Supported by Dt17-06:07 which states
--------------------------------------
..first the witnesses execute...then the people execute
--------------------------------------
*2 See http://www.Rashiyomi.com/lv05-02a.htm for a full
discussion of the three Rashi methods connected with
this verse.
*3 e.g. If PART of meat fell outside temple (and is thereby
impure) then you can still eat the part of the meat
that remained inside the temple (even though the two
parts are connected)
*4 The text of Lv13-32:45 is as follows
----------------------------------------------------
If on his baldness there is pinkish affiction then
leprosy is sprouting in his baldness; the priest
reviews and confirms the pinkish affliction in his
baldness just like skin leprosy...[then] this person
is leprousand is ritually impure; the priest shall
DECLARE DECLARE him impure and the lepor with the
affliction: his garments shall be rent and his head
left wild....
-----------------------------------------------------
The words DECLARE DECLARE encourage a BROAD
interpretation of this chapter: The requirements of
declaration, garment renting and head left wild apply
not only to the subject of the chapter---a bald person
with leprosy---but apply to ANY lepor
*5 Rashi actually brings down THREE consequences of
the broad interpretation emanating from the repeated
word
------------------------------------------------------
The word AMEN signifies acceptance of an oath of curse
- ACCEPTANCE whether she committed adultery from
the suspected person OR from any other person
- ACCEPTANCE whether she cheated while married or
whether she cheated while (BiblicallY) engaged
- ACCEPTANCE of both the OATH (I didnt commit adultery)
as well as the consequent CURSE (May I be punished
if I did commit adultery)
------------------------------------------------------
From these three distinct interpretations we infer
that the basic idea of Rashi is that
-----------------------------------
The repetition indicates ACCEPTANCE
IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES
-----------------------------------
*6 An alternative approach not based on repetition
reviews all references to MOAB in Nu22-10:21. They
are referred to as
- Moabs princes
- Balaks servants
- Them
- people
If in Nu22-21 it refers to them as MOAB PRINCES
-----------------------------
Bilam went with Moabs princes
-----------------------------
The emphasis seems to be that he went with them
and the Moabite philosophy (He agreed with them)
*7 Several points should be made on this unusual repetition
- the repetition is not a repetition of a word or phrase
within one verse but rather a repetition in separate
verses
- the repetition does not suggest an emphasis in a word
or phrase but rather an emphasis in a juxtaposition--
two juxtaposed events are seen as causing or enabling
each other
-- Aaron's death
-- the war by Arad
The repeating sets of verses are
- Nu20-22:29, Nu21-01 and
- Nu33-38:40 states*11
------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES ----------------------
*10 Rashi citing the Talmud asks
------------------------------------------------
But if the law applies to HUNTED or DOMISTICATED
(non-hunted) animals why does the bible use the
phrase HUNT alltogether? ANSWER: The Bible speaks
about a TYPICAL SITUATION: One normally should not
eat meat except on special occassions and after
significant work like a hunt
------------------------------------------------
*11 It is instructive to compare our explanation with
Rashi's wording. Rashi states on the verse
----------------------------------------------
And king of Arad HEARD when Jews came to SPY-ROAD
----------------------------------------------
Rashi states on Nu21-01a
-------------------------------------------
What did he HEAR? He heard that Aaron died
-------------------------------------------
This of course is rediculous. The verse
explicitly states
----------------------------------------
He HEARD that the Jews came
----------------------------------------
But Rashi HIMSELF clarifies his position
on Nu33-40a Rashi states
---------------------------------------
The set of verses relating a) Aarons death
and b) the declaration of war by Arad, is
repeated to emphasize that one caused the
other*12
---------------------------------------
Thus we see that Rashi HIMSELF contradicts his
early play on words WHAT DID HE HEAR? HE HEARD
OF AARONS DEATH. Such play on words is typical
in Rashi---Rashi lived before the printing
press-- by phrasing homilies in turns of
word plays he facilitated memorization
and retention in students.
*12 Rashi provides a possible explanation as to why
Aaron's death would encourage Arad to declare war
Rashi conjectures that Aaron, as High Priest,
was a spiritual force not only for the Jews but
for surrounding nations.When he died Arad decided
the Jews would lack their spiritual backup and
decided it was time to declare war.
===========================================================
=================== LIST160a =====================================
List of verses with REPEATED words interpreted restrictively
==================================================================
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE MEANING OF REPETITION
======== ================================ ========================
Nu30-03a vow to PROHIBIT a PROHIBITION Prohibit NEUTRAL*12
Nu04-04a The HOLY of HOLIES Holiest part of temple
Ex31-15a A SABBATH of SABBATHS*1 Even cooking prohibited
Lv13-49a Y-R-K-R-K (GreenReen) The GREENEST of GREENS*2
Lv13-49b A-D-M-D-M (Reded) The REDEST of REDS*2
Gn28-11a He prayed by THE PLACE..PLACE*3 >THE PLACE<=the Temple
Gn37-15a And a MAN found him..THE MAN.*4 >THE MAN<=AProphet/Angel
-------- ------------------------------- -----------------------
Nu12-01h HAD been married HAD been .... She is now DIVORCED
Lv01-08d wood on fire ON ALTAR ON ALTAR No wood protruding*5
Lv14-17a Blood on ear;Oil on ear ON BLOOD BLOOD must be first*5
Lv21-03a NonMarried sister-close to brthr single or engaged*6
Lv21-03b NonMarried sister-close to brthr single or engaged*6
Lv22-22f Dont offer Dont offer..blemished ANY act of offering*7
Lv21-21b BLEMISHED BLEMISHED priests... If still blemished*8
Lv06-20c Blood on GARMENT,SPRINKLED PART Only SPRINKLED PART*9
Lv22-13b STRANGER STRANGER cant eat Trmh Only stranger*11
Lv22-15b Sell according to YEARS YEARS*12 At least 2 yr for sale
Lv22-15a Sell according to YEARS YEARS*12 At least 2 yr for sale
NOTES
------
*1 Ex31-15b further points out that all holidays which are
referred to as >SABBATH of SABBATH< (Ex31-15, Lv23-32)
have prohibitions of both WORK and EATING. By contrast
all holidays which are only called >SABBATH< (Lv23-23
and Lv23-39) only have a prohibition of Work but not
a prohibition of COOKING. This is fully discussed at
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h6n12.htm)
*2 This is fully discussed in http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h1n23.htm
Ibn Ezra seems to disagree and state that GReenReen means a
light green (which would contradict this list). But as I
show in that posting, Ibn Ezra retracted what he said in his
commentary on Ps45-03. In fact Ibn Ezra simply points out
that he was testing the consistency of this rule against all
doubled roots. To make a long story short we reviewed all
roots & found possible problems with only 2 verses, Ps38-11
and Songs6-1. However we can properly translate these verses
Ps38-11 would be translated as >My heart FLUTTERS (intense
back and forth motion)<; Similarly Songs6-1 would be
translated as >Dont avoid me simply because I am very
SUNBURNED (an intense form of DAWN-COLOR)
*3 Many of the examples in this list are CONSTRUCTS
e.g. The HOLY of HOLIES. Future additions to this
list will emphasize examples similar to Lv01-08d
*4 So the repeated word MAN must refer to the narrow meaning
of the Hebrew ISH which means A DISTINGUISHED man such
as an Angel or Judge.
*5 In legal terminology the repetition creates ESSENTIALITY
- The wood is on the altar; and MUST be on the altar
- Blood on ear; oil on ear; and the blood MUST come first
*6 In other words the priest can defile himself to a sister
who is REALLY NOT MARRIED (not married and still CLOSE
to her brother the Priest)--thus the priest can defile
himself to a SINGLE and ENGAGED sister but not to a
MARRIED sister
*7 If you review Lv22-17:25 you will find 3-5 repetitions
of the concept that BLEMISHED ANIMALS SHOULD NOT BE
OFFERED (or PLACED ON FIRE) TO GOD. Therefore the
REPETITION applies to ANY PART OF THE OFFERING
PROCEDURE. The main parts of the OFFERING PROCEDURE are
- DEDICATION of the animal
- SLAUGHTER of animal
- RECEIPT of animal blood
- OFFERING ON FIRE of organs*10
*8 In other words only is he is REALLY BLEMISHED = STILL
BLEMISHED (But if he recovered from the Blemish then
the law does not apply and he can offer offerings)
*9 The verse states
----------------------------------------------------
If blood falls on a GARMENT, then wash in the temple
THAT ON WHICH IT FELL
----------------------------------------------------
The capped words indicate a quasi repetition. This
repetition creates emphasis. ONLY the part of the
garment on which the blood is sprinkled need be
washed.
----------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES -------------------
*10 An important point about learning Rashi should be
emphasized. Many Rashi commentators play NUMBER GAMES
- they count FOUR repetitions of DONT OFFER
- they then note FOUR applications of emphasis in Rashi
(to a) Dedication b) Slaughter c) receipt of blood
d) offering
However our approach in this list has always been
conceptual. The REPETITION denotes EMPHASIS. The
EMPHASIS in turn simply includes ALL CASES--ALL PARTS
OF THE PROCEDURE. We think this a mature and satisfying
approach to Rashi.
*11 The whole verselet A STRANGER CANNOT EAT TERUMAH is
repeated. The simple way of taking it is that
- ONLY strangers are restricted from eating TERUMAH
- ALL other PRIESTS (EVEN SUCh AND SUCH) may eat TERUMAH
The details of the EVEN SUCH AND SUCH are not
necessarily explicitly mentioned and must be guessed
at by those knowledgeable of Jewish law.
Rashi(Lv22-13b) applies the EVEN SUCH AND SUCH (Lv22-13b)
to a Priest whose relative just died and prior
to burial. EVEN THOUGH a BEFORE-BURIAL PRIEST MAY NOT EAT
SACRIFICIAL ITEMS nevertheless he MAY EAT TERUMAH
*12
Note the following repetition
-Lv25-15b buy from colleagues by NUMBER YEARS SINCE JUBILEE
-Lv25-15b sell -------------- by NUMBER YEARS OF PRODUCE
Without the REPETITION I would simply state (as Rashi does)
-----------------------------------------------------------
So eg if your field produces an average yield of $1000 a
year then in year 0 of the Jubilee it would be worth 50,000
because the buyer would expect $1000 x 50 years=50,000;
by contrast in year 40 of the Jubilee it would be worth
10,000 because the buyer only expect $1000 x 10 years=10,000
In other words the
VALUE OF THE FIELD = YIELD PER YEAR x NUMBER OF YEARS
If however a person sold the field for $50,000 in year 40
he would be overcharging for the field and violating a
Biblical law
-----------------------------------------------------------
It is important to emphasize that, as Rashi states
----------------------------------------------------
Whatever other meaning we derive (from the repetition),
these OTHER MEANINGS, are BESIDES the simple meaning
of the text
----------------------------------------------------
Without the REPETITION I would look at the PLURAL WORD
YEARS in the verse and simply state
---------------------------------------------------
Most sales are for YEARS (vs 1 year). Hence the
law is stated using typical examples. However the
law applies EQUALLY whether you sold the field for
one YEAR or many YEARS.
---------------------------------------------------
Here I used the Rashi rule of GENERALIZATION--which
requires that verses are seen as stating laws using
typical examples.
However we dont use the rule of GENERALIZATION when
the verse has some limitation.
Thus using the Rashi rule of REPETITION we see that
- the REPETITION requires EMPHASIS
- the EMPHASIS requires RESTRICTIVE meaning
I therefore infer that
--------------------------------------------------
A sale of land requires a minimum of 2 years.
We infer this from the REPEATED word, YEARS
which indicates AT LEAST TWO YEARS
--------------------------------------------------
To recap:
- It would be a mistake to think that Rashi
arbitrarily picked on the word YEARS and
required all sales to be two years
- Indeed in many cases Biblical laws are
stated using typical examples and generalized
to other cases
- However SINCE there is a REPETITION in the
verse therefore I am justified and required
to interpret the verse literally---a sale
must be for at least YEARS (that is 2 years)
The above is a peachy example of Rashi...it shows
that pickiness and restrictive meaning is only
one tool available to the Biblical student--this
tool may ONLY be used when required. In this
verse it is the repetition that requires it--
without the repetition I would not have come
to this conclusion.
This is fundamental to understanding Talmudic homiletics
*13 You can vow to PROHIBIT a PROHIBITION on something NEUTRAL
but you cannot vow to prohibit an OBLIGATION (Such as
a vow to abstain from the Passover offering which you
are obligated to eat)
=================================================================
---------------------------------------------------
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Volume 26 Number 21
#*#*#*# (C) 2000-2005, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#
Volume 26 Number 21