The 4 Usages of PLEASE:#6 of 9
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# 10 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE #
# Jan 29, 2001 #
# Rashis 553-555 Of 7800 (7.1%) #
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OVERVIEW:
========
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 where >PLEASE< refers to
a request from a person whose previous behavior or actions
or statements showed disinterest.
As a simple example: If I say a person is
miserly and then request a loan then the word >PLEASE< denotes
asking for something that I had previously shown disinterest in.
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 15: Gn33-10a
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BACKGROUND
----------
Jacob had met his brother Esauv after a long separation. Jacob
offers a present to Esauv.
VERSE
-----
>But Esauv said I have plenty: My Brother, keep what is yours<
>And Jacob said PLEASE DONT....PLEASE...take<
RASHI:
------
The word >PLEASE< refers to a petition after an initial
denial--->PLEASE< take my gift even though you initially
said you would not*1
EXAMPLE 16: Gn33-14a
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BACKGROUND
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After the reunion Esauv offers to travel with Jacob. But
Jacob refuses and states
VERSE
-----
>PLEASE go on ahead of me<
RASHI
-----
This >PLEASE< denotes a petition contradicting an initial
request. Esauv said >Let me travel with you< and Jacob said
>PLEASE go on ahead of me<--the emphasis seems to be even
though you said you wanted to travel with me please go on
and dont wait >AT ALL< for me*2
EXAMPLE 17: Gn18-03c
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BACKGROUND
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God had appeared to Abraham. But Abraham sees guests and
wants to rush off to help them.
VERSE
-----
>God, PLEASE dont go away< (Abraham then turns to his
passerbys and says) >Please take some water....<
RASHI
-----
The word >PLEASE< indicates that even though God had come
to visit He should nevertheless do the contrary and wait
for Abraham while Abraham goes away*3
---------------------NOTES--------------------------------
*1 In the original posting I classified Gn33-10b as a Rashi
on PLEASE. But as I review this today I am convinced this
is an error. The Rashi Rule governing Gn33-10b is different.
Furthermore some readers may wish to classify Gn33-10a, not
as a Rashi on >PLEASE< but rather as a Rashi on ELIPTICISM.
In other words Rashis point could be that the verse must
be filled in: That is the purpose of Rashi is to explain
that >PLEASE DONT< really means >PLEASE DONT--say you wont
take it<. In any event the word >PLEASE< functions here as
a petition for something that was initially denied.
*2 These nuances were emphasized by the Sifsay Chachamim
*3 I am a bit surprised at all the Rashis that I classified
incorrectly in my original posting. It seems more reasonable
to interpret this Rashi as discussing >WHO< Abraham was
talking to.
Was he talking to the Angels (>PLEASE dont pass by< in
which case this was a social PLEASE)
Or was he talking to both God and the Angels.
>GOD Please dont go away< >Angles please take water..<
In that case >PLEASE< would refer to the a >PLEASE<
that requests an overturn of an initial behavior.
In passing my best present defense for the view that
Abraham was talking to God is the triple repetition of
the word >AND HE SAW< which indicates 3 different visions
as follows
>And GOD APPEARED to Abraham< (Vision 1)
>And Abe lifted his eyes and SAW 3 angels(Vision 2)
>And Abe SAW and he ran to the tent door &
prostrated (To God as he left the tent!) and said
GOD PLEASE dont go away(Vision 3)
The rest of the chapter shows how he served the angels
and was informed of the Birth of Isaac.
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