The 4 Usages of PLEASE:#4 of 9
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# 10 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE #
# Jan 26, 2001 #
# Rashis 546-548 Of 7800 (7.0%) #
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OVERVIEW:
========
RULE
====
RULE:
====
The Hebrew word NA is equivalant to the English word
PLEASE. There are 4 methods by which PLEASE is used.
TODAYS UNIT
===========
In todays unit we review examples of where >PLEASE< refers to
a request for something that you dont really deserve. We will
call this the >PETITIONARY PLEASE<
REFERENCE:
=========
This module comes from the following digest in the
Rashi-is-Simple series
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/nu10-31a.htm
The following references are a bit longer
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h4n12.htm
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h4n14.htm
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h2n12.htm
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2001 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
EXAMPLES
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EXAMPLE 10: Gn40-14b
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BACKGROUND
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Joseph had been falsely imprisoned. In prison he did a high
ranking Egyptian official a favor by interpreting a dream
THE VERSE
---------
>PLEASE remember me to the King (Pharoh) to help release me from
prison<
THE RASHI
---------
The word >PLEASE< denotes a PETITIONARY REQUEST for something
that is not deserved.
EXAMPLE 11: Dt03-25a
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BACKGROUND
----------
Moses had sinned by losing his temper and not showing faith by
the waters of Merivah. God punished him by not allowing him to
enter Israel. Moses was now praying for this decree to be
rescinded.
THE VERSE
---------
>PLEASE let me go over and see this good land<
THE RASHI
---------
The word >PLEASE< denotes a PETITIONARY REQUEST
EXAMPLE 12: Gn44-33c
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BACKGROUND
----------
Benjamin had been caught by Egyptian officials with stolen
goods. Joseph wanted to punish him by enslaving him and not
allowing him to return. Judah in turn begs Joseph to release
Benjamin and let himself Judah, serve the slave sentence
instead
THE VERSE
---------
>PLEASE let me be enslaved in place of the lad(Binyamin)<
THE RASHI
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Judahs argument was that Joseph was not losing anything since
--Judah surpassed Binyamin in STRENGTH
--Judah surpassed Binyamin in FIGHTING CAPACITY
--Judah surpassed Binyamin in WORK CAPACITY
I would explain this Rashi as occuring in two stages
-STAGE 1: PLEASE implies something not deserved (ie Binyamin
was caught and he deserved to be enslaved)
-STAGE 2: Judah offers arguments why this favor (of letting
himself substitute for Binyamin) should be granted
The reason I interpret this Rashi this way is because of the
other two Rashis which clearly identify >PLEASE< as a
>PETITIONARY PLEASE<
----------------------------NOTES--------------------------------
* In the original posting I also bring the example of Gn24-17b
However closer examination shows that the focus of Rashi on
Gn24-17b is not on the meaning of the word >PLEASE< but
rather on the meaning of the word >GMA< which means >to Gulp<
Hence I am retracting and deleting this example from the LIST
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