The 4 Usages of PLEASE:#9 of 9
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# 10 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE #
# Feb 1, 2001 #
# Rashis 560-560 Of 7800 (7.1%) #
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-- GRAND SUMMARY --
OVERVIEW:
========
RULE:
====
The Hebrew word >NA< is equivalant to the English word
>PLEASE< There are 4 methods by which PLEASE is used.
Here are the 4 methods (Further examples are presented below)
>PLEASE< can be the
-->SOCIAL PLEASE< eg Gn27-22a >PLEASE get up<
-->SUPPLICATORY PLEASE< eg Gn50-17a >PLEASE forgive<
-->CHANGE OF MIND PLEASE< eg Gn22-02a >Sacrifice Isaac<
-->RECONSIDERATION PLEASE< egNu10-31a >PLEASE come with us<
TODAYS UNIT
===========
In todays unit we present the GRAND SUMMARY of examples.
The reader completing this unit will know how to correctly
interpret >PLEASE< in various Biblical verses.
REFERENCE:
=========
This module comes from the following digest in the
Rashi-is-Simple series
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/nu10-31a.htm*1
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 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
-- GRAND SUMMARY --
------------------------------------------------------------
In the following verses >PLEASE< is the >SOCIAL PLEASE<
In other words it is the please used when you ask someone
for a favor. The footnotes give supplementary comments
of Rashi
------------------------------------------------------------
VERSE WHO TO TEXT OF PLEASE WHY PLEASE
SAID WHOM IS USED
PLEAS SAID
======== ===== ======= ======================= ==============
Gn19-02a LOT ANGELS YOU ARE MY LORDS SOCIAL PLEASE
Nu16-08a Moses Korach Korach Listen SOCIAL PLEASE*1
Gn38-16a Judah Harlot Prepare for prostitution SOCIAL PLEASE*2
Gn18-04a Abrm Guests Bathe & relax yourselves SOCIAL PLEASE*3
Nu12-12a Aaron Moses Dont let us die SOCIAL PLEASE
Nu12-13a Moses God Cure Miriam SOCIAL PLEASE
Gn27-22a JACOB ISAAC Get up & eat my food SOCIAL PLEASE*4
NOTES
=====
*1 Rashi notes that first Moses used a soft style >PLEASE LISTEN<
and then changed to a confrontational style >WHO DO YOU
THINK YOU ARE<. Rashi explains that originally Moses was soft
in order to get Korach to repent. However when Korach remained
obstinate Moses became confrontational also (in order to
prevent more people from joining his movement)
*2 There are 2 words in this verse which denote >SOCIAL PLEASE<
--PLEASE
--The Hebrew word >HVH< means to >PREPARE, NEGOTIATE<
Taken together Judah said >Please Let us negotiate a
prostitution charge<. The focus of Rashi was that even with
a prostitute, Judah was considerate.
*3 The paragraph describes how Moses treated the guests. He told
them to bathe, relax, take some food etc. All the verbs are
active (relax, eat...) except for the passive request (>Let
water be taken to you to bathe<). Rashi explains that Abraham
ordered his servants to bathe them (for reasons of modesty)
*4 Rashi notes the contrast that Both Jacob and Esauv asked for
Isaac to partake of food. But only Jacob said >PLEASE<
shwoing superior manners.
------------------------------------------------------------
In the following verses >PLEASE< is the >SUPPLICATORY PLEASE<
In other words the requestor doesnt deserve what (s)he
requests because of some former bad behavior.
The footnotes give supplementary comments of Rashi
------------------------------------------------------------
VERSE WHO TO TEXT OF PLEASE WHY PLEASE IS USED
SAID WHOM
PLEAS SAID
======== ===== ======= ================= =======================
Gn40-14b Josph Princes remember me Joseph He was convicted
Gn44-33c Judah Joseph Replace Benymin*5 Bnyamn He was convicted
Gn50-17a Brthr JOSPH forgive us Brthrs Tried to kill Joe
Gn26-28b Avmlc Isaac*6 Lets have treaty Avmlch Had broken treaty
Gn38-25c Tamar Judah Recognize this Tamar Tamar seduced him
NOTES
=====
*5 Rashi elaborates on this >SUPPLICATORY PLEASE<.Judah in effect
said >Although Binyamin was convicted, nevertheless I would
like to take his place---this will cause no loss since I am
better than the lad in fighting, service, and strength<.
Thus we see that Rashis focal point is that the word >PLEASE<
is >SUPPLICATORY<
*6 Rashis actual words are >(Avimlch said) Let us renew the
treaty between your father Abraham and my nation<
However I interpret this as a focus by Rashi on >SUPPLICATORY<
PLEASE<, since the previous chapter shows several violations
of the treaty by Avmlch (And Indeed Isaac greets him with
>But you threw me out<. So the emphasis is that >even though
we violated the treaty and dont deserve it PLEASE let us
renew<
------------------------------------------------------------
In the following verses >PLEASE< is used by a requesting
person who had just promised the opposite!
Eg God promises Abraham that Isaac will be his son
and then asks Abraham to sacrifice him.
The footnotes give supplementary comments of Rashi
------------------------------------------------------------
VERSE WHO TO TEXT OF PLEASE WHY PLEASE IS USED
SAID WHOM
PLEAS SAID
======== ===== ======= ================= ========================
Gn22-02a GOD ABRAHAM sacrifice son GOD: Promised son
Gn18-02b LOT*7 ANGELS COME THE BACK WAY Lot: You're my lords*8
Gn12-11a Abe Sarah*7 Say you're sister Abrhm: Your beautiful*8
NOTES
=====
*7 Rashi explicitly sees Gn18-02b and Gn12-11a as having a
similar style. Thus in Gn18-02 Lot 1st says >You my guests
will be treated as lords< and 2nd requests >But come the
back way to my house!<. Similarly in Gn12-11a Abraham
1st says to his wife >You are beautiful< and 2nd says
but >deny our marriage and say you are my sister<
Thus in both cases the PLEASE contradicts a previous statement
of the requestor.
*8 Rashi on Gn18-02b notes that the Bible has two usages of the
verb >DEPART<. >DEPART FROM< means to >LEAVE<. By contrast
>DEPART TO< means to >GO STEATHILY<. Examples of
these Biblical usages are as follows: >DEPART FROM< means
>LEAVE< in eg Nu16-26, Ps6-9, Ps139-19, 1Sam15-6. >DEPART TO<
means to >GO STEATHILY< as in Jud4-18, Nu19-02
------------------------------------------------------------
In the following verses >PLEASE< is used in the sense of
>PLEASE RECONSIDERATION<.
eg. God told Moses >You cant go to Israel<
and then Moses says >PLEASE let me go< ie >PLEASE
reconsider your refusal and let me go<
The footnotes give supplementary comments of Rashi
------------------------------------------------------------
VERSE WHO TO TEXT OF PLEASE WHY PLEASE IS USED
SAID WHOM
PLEAS SAID
======== ===== ======= ================= ========================
Dt03-25a Moses God let me go Israel Moses: God swore:No Isrl
Gn33-14a JACOB ESAUV go ahead of me Esauv: Wanted to stay
Gn33-10a JACOB ESAUV Take gift*9*10 Esauv: Said he forgave
Gn19-19c LOT ANGELS Dont send me*10 Angels:Promised freedom
Nu10-31a MOSES JETHRO come with us JETHRO:I wont come
NOTES
=====
*9 Rashis actual language is >Even though Esauv forgave Jacob (eg
he called him BROTHER and said KEEP WHAT IS YOURSPlease take my gift
because ...you look like an Angel<. Thus Jacob implied to
Esauv that he frequently saw Angels(and therefore Esauv
should be afraid to start up with him)
*10 Both these verses, Gn33-10a and Gn19-19c have the following
form: >PLEASE DONT PLEASE....<. In other words >PLEASE DONT
SAY THAT but instead PLEASE ...do the opposite<.
It would appear that this double form >PLEASE DONT PLEASE<
is especially used when requesting a person to reconsider
a previously made statement.
----------------------FURTHER NOTES------------------------------
*1 The following Rashis were originally explained in the main
posting as a Rashi comment on >PLEASE<. I am not inclined
to view these Rashis as speaking about other matters.
Consequently I have not included these verses in the above
list and am explaining them differently.
Gn24-17b Gn18-21a Gn18-03c Gn27-03b
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