Guidelines for Poetic Verses:#2 of 10
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# 10 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE #
# Oct 4, 2000 #
# Rashis 343-349 Of 7800 (4.5%) #
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# Reprinted with permission from Rashi-is-Simple, #
# (c) 2000, RashiYomi Inc #
# Written by Dr. Russell Hendel #
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OVERVIEW:
--------
RULE: We have frequently indicated that POETIC verses are
governed by the Rabbi Ishmael rule of CONTEXT. Very often poetic
verses REPEAT the same theme several times. In interpeting these
verses the following guiding principles are helpful:
GUIDELINES FOR INTERPRETING POETIC VERSES
-----------------------------------------
* First, find the overall UNIFYING principle
* Next, try and recognize the WORDS that YOU do KNOW
* Further try and find the SPECIAL NUANCES in the words you know
* Then infer the meanings of other words using PARALLEL STRUCTURE
* Try and find all SUBCATEGORIES of the UNIFYING theme
* Make a ONE TO ONE CORRESPONDENCE between the subcategories of
The unifying theme and repeated stanzas of the verse based on
the nuances you recognize in the repeated words.
In a nutshell whereas legal language is analytic, poetic language
is evocative The phrases don't define properties by themselves but
rather evoke an image.
Those who wish to see this posting on the website should
visit http://www.rashiYomi.com/h7n18.htm
NOTE: Because this posting has 6 Rashis, double the usual amount
this posting will suffice for 2 days. Those who wish too may
therefore read it lightly today and more seriously tomorrow
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EXAMPLES:
---------
(Comment: This 1 example covers the 6 Rashis on Dt32-07)
VERSE: Dt32-07a
RASHIS COVERED: Dt32-07a Dt32-07b Dt32-07c
Dt32-07d Dt32-07e Dt32-07f
BACKGROUND: Dt32-05 thru Dt32-06 and Dt32-08 thru Dt32-09
speak about the fact that people shouldn't be wicked but
rather they should belong to God. In Dt32-07 Moses
admonishes people to learn this from History.
RULE: We have frequently indicated that POETIC verses are
governed by the Rabbi Ishmael rule of CONTEXT. Very often poetic
verses REPEAT the same theme several times. In interpeting these
verses the following guiding principles are helpful:
GUIDELINES FOR INTERPRETING POETIC VERSES
* First, find the overall UNIFYING principle
* Next, try and recognize the WORDS that YOU do KNOW
* Further try and find the SPECIAL NUANCES in the words you know
* Then infer the meanings of other words using PARALLEL STRUCTURE
* Try and find all SUBCATEGORIES of the UNIFYING theme
* Make a ONE TO ONE CORRESPONDENCE between the subcategories of
The unifying theme and repeated stanzas of the verse based on
the nuances you recognize in the repeated words.
EXAMPLE: Dt32-07
The actual verse states as follows
{LIST}
PARALLEL STRUCTURE OF DT32-07 *1
--------- ------------ -------------
REMEMBER The days of the world
UNDERSTAND the years of generations
ASK Your Father & he'll TELL you
Your Elders & they'll STATE it
NOTES
*1 The first two phrases are parallel to each other
Similarly the last two phrases are parallel
Finally note how there are 4-5 phrases of
Communication: REMEMBER, UNDERSTAND, ASK, TELL,STATE
Let us now apply the 6 guiding principles from the above rule.
UNIFYING PRINCIPLE:
As can be seen all 4 phrases in the verse state that
You can see Reward and Punishment in History.
WORDS YOU KNOW: All words in the verse have well
known meaning.
SPECIAL NUANCES: The 4 phrases use the 5 words,
REMEMBER, UNDERSTAND, ASK, STATE,TELL.
PARALLELISM: As can be seen from the TABLE below, the
first 2 phrases are parallel (Similar) The last
two phrases are also similar.
SUBCATEGORIES OF STUDYING HISTORY: 1 to 1 CORRESPONDENCE:
The subcategories of "Studying history" are presented compactly
in the following TABLE.
{LIST}
CORRESPONDENCE OF STUDY HISTORY & DT32-07
-----------------------------------------
Dt32-07 HOW TO STUDY HISTORY
---------- ------------------------------------
REMEMBER Study history*1
UNDERSTAND Bad generations get punished*2
Good generations get rewarded*2
ASK Ask Prophets to confirm principles*3
STATE Ask Rabbis-Sages for guidance*4
NOTES
*1 The word REMEMBER vs the word UNDERSTAND has as emphasis
On the past. Rashi suggests some obvious examples from
History. The generations of the flood or of Sedom
And Amorah are clear examples of generations dying
Because they rebelled against God.
*2 The word UNDERSTAND vs the word REMEMBER has no special
Emphasis in time. Hence (as the Sifsay, Chachamim, points
Out) while REMEMBER refers to the PAST, UNDERSTAND refers
To both the PAST and FUTURE. The request is to understand
Both the good and bad throughout history as coming from God
As acts of Reward and punishment
*3 We emphasize that the word FATHER doesn't necessarily
Mean PROPHET anymore than the word TELL means guiding
Principles. However
The CONTEXT demands that some new aspect of studying
History be attached to this phrase---since one of the
Meanings of FATHER is PROPHET (as listed by the RADACK
In the book of ROOTS), therefore, because of the
Principle of CONTEXT Rashi interprets this & the
Next phrase (FATHER-ELDER) To refer to asking prophets
And Rabbi-Sages.
*4 Interestingly, Rashi points out that the Biblical sentence
"Ask the Rabbis and they will TELL YOU" links back to
The beginning of the verse "REMEMBER HISTORY" "UNDERSTAND
THE GENERATIONS" We have emphasized this parellilism
Thru a table.
SUMMARY: The verse simply says to Learn about God thru
history. The nuances of the verse evoke an image of the
4 aspects of learning history: a) Record/remember history
b) Understand relationships in history (evil deeds lead
to decay while good deeds lead to growth c) Prophets
confirm these principles d) Rabbis and Sages guide you.
RULE USED: EXAMPLE8
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