Ideas and Model Lessons in Learning Rashi-#15
Copyright RashiYomi Inc 5-8-2005
Adapted From Rashi-is-Simple
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/
Written by Dr. Russell Jay Hendel; A: REVIEW
This is the 15-th in a 30 part series on the methods that are useful for teaching Rashi. Parts 1 - 14 may be accessed on the Rashi website at http://www.Rashiyomi.com/wbook.htm in the workbook series. Part 1 contains useful information on our notation and methods - to best understand this chapter the reader should be familiar with our conventions.

B: THE CONTRADICTION METHODS
Chapter 14 began a three part subseries reviewing the 3 Rashi methods of resolving contradiction. In Chapter 13 we showed how contradiction could be resolved by viewing the two verses as 2 aspects of one state. In this chapter we show how contradiction can be resolved by viewing the two verses as two-stages of one process.

C: EXAMPLE 1: Ex15-01d
The following two superficially contradictory verses illustrate this method:
Ex15-01d: God threw Pharoh and his chariots into the sea
Ex15-04: God shot Pharoh and his chariots into the sea
As we noted in the last chapter it is not necessary to view these two verses as directly contradictory. We may instead view these verses as contrastive. It is in fact normal in poetry to use slightly different words - such as threw and shot - when repeating a theme. Rashi explains the contrast by using the method of two-stages: First God threw the Egyptians up into the air and then they fell straight down, like a shooting arrow, into the sea.

D: EXAMPLE 2: AN OUTRIGHT CONTRADICTION
The following two verses almost appear outright contradictory:
Nu08-24b The Levites, starting at age 25, come to serve in the Temple service
Nu04-03 Make a census of Levites, from age 30, those who come to do work in the Temple
The contradiction is clear: Are Levites eligible for Temple service from age 25 or 30? Rashi resolves the contradiction using the method of two-stages: The Levites begin the learning of Temple service starting at age 25. This is a five year learning program. Upon graduation from the program at age 30 they are eligible to serve in the actual Temple.
Note that this resolution of Rashi is not explicitly indicated in the verses. The verses at most hint that actual Temple work begins at 30 while general Temple service begins at 25. As we have noted in the last chapter, very often, common sense must be employed to resolve contradictions.

E: EXAMPLE 3-HOMEWORK--HARDENED HEART
Perhaps the most famous example of this Rashi method of resolution of contradiction through two stages is the following set of contradictory verses on the hardening of Pharoh's heart.
Ex07-01:04 God sends Moses to Pharoh: "And I, God, will harden his heart"
Ex07-22 [First plague] Pharoh hardened his own heart
Ex08-11 [Second plague] Pharoh hardened his heart
Ex08-15 [Third plague] Pharoh hardened his heart
Ex08-28 [Fourth plague] Pharoh hardened his heart
Ex09-07 [Fifth plague] Pharoh hardened his heart
Ex09-12 [6h plague] God hardened Pharoh's heart
Ex09-35 [7th plague] Pharoh hardened his heart
Ex10-20 [8th plague] God hardened his heart
Ex10-27 [9th plague] God hardened his heart
The homework exercise requires the student to
State the contradiction or contrast implicit in the above verses
Show how the contradiction can be resolved using the concept of two-stages

F: SOLUTION TO HOMEWORK
These verses appear contradictory. On the one hand Ex07-01:04 clearly states that God will harden Pharoh's heart while many of the other verses state that Pharoh hardened his own heart.

The classical resolution of this contradiction uses the concept of 2 stages.
Pharoh was initially given the freedom of will to let the Jews go or refuse
This freedom was given to him during the first 5 plagues and also on the 7th plague
Starting with the 8th plague God removed Pharoh's freedom and hardened his heart
Seeing the contrast of the 6th and 7th plague it would appear that God sent Pharoh a warning in the 6th plague showing him how He could harden his heart and then God offered him one more chance to repent in the 7th plague after which God permanently denied him the right to repent. [This last point seems to be a novelty discovered by us in writing this chapter]

G: EXPLICIT, HINTED, & ASSUMED 2-STAGES
In the previous example the idea of two-stages naturally emerged from the verses cited. In the first example the idea of two-stages, even though not explicit, was hinted at by the words in the verses (Levites come to work vs. come to service). In the next example there is not even a hint at the two stages. Rather the blatantly contradictory verses must be resolved by assuming two stages even though there is no further support from the verses.

H: EXAMPLE 3: Nu26-11a
The following verses are contradictory regarding the status of Korach's sons:
Nu16-32 An earthquake swallowed them and their houses and all people belonging to Korach
Nu26-11a Korach's sons did not die.
The verses don't even hint at a resolution. Rashi resolves the resolution by assuming two stages: Korach's sons were swallowed in the earthquake because of their sins. But they then repented, miraculously fell into a cleft, and escaped and didn't die.

I: EXAMPLE 4-HOMEWORK
The following homework example gives further practice in assuming 2 stages to resolve outright contradictions. The example will be presented at two student levels.

J: EXAMPLE 4-THE SALE OF JOSEPH
At the Advanced student level
Instruct the students as follows:
Review the story of the sale of Joseph
How many people bought Joseph
Using the method of contradiction / 2 stages identify all relevant verses with contradictions
Use the contradiction / 2 stages method identify the first buyer, second buyer etc.
At the Intermediate/Elementary Level
Instruct the students as follows:
Read the following verses dealing with the sale of Joseph
Gn37-27 Gn37-28 Gn37-36 Gn39-01
From each verse identify each seller-buyer pair of Joseph
Identify all contradictions
Resolve these contradictions using the method of 2 stages
More specifically identify the full sequence of sellers and buyers: BROTHERS ---> .... ---> POTIPHAR.
Every buyer and seller you have seen should be reflected in this full sequence.
How does this full sequence help resolve the contradiction.

K: SOLUTION TO HOMEWORK 4 -- THE VERSES
There are 4 verses which we will label A, B, C, D. Here is the text of these 4 verses and the inferences on buyer-seller pairs that we make from each verse.
A: Gn37-27. Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brothers were content.
From this verse we would infer the seller-buyer sequence:
Brothers ---> Ishmaelites
B: Gn37-28. Then there passed by Midianite merchants; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out from the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver; and they brought Joseph to Egypt.
From this verse we would infer the contradictory buyer-seller sequences:
Brothers-->Midianites;
Brothers-->Ishmaelites
C: Gn37-36. And the Midianites sold him towards Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, and captain of the guard.
From this verse we would infer the buyer-seller sequence:
Midianites ---> Egypt
D: Gn39-01. And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the hands of the Ishmaelites, who had brought him down there.
From this verse we would infer the buyer-seller sequence:
Ishmaelites ---> Egypt

L: THE CONTRADICTIONS
Verses A and B contradict each other: Did the Brothers sell Joseph to the Midianites or Ishmaelites? Indeed verse B, Gn37-28, contradicts itself since it indicates that the brothers sold Joseph to the Midianites and the Ishmaelites.
Similarly verses C and D contradict each other: Who brought Joseph down to Egypt -- the Midianites or Ishmaelites?

M: THE IDEA FOR RESOLUTION
In reviewing the contradiction of cases C and D above notice the added emphasis in verse D: from the hands of the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. This suggests the following resolution of the contradiction.
Midianites ---> Ishmaelites ---> Egypt.
That is, the Midianites were travelling towards Egypt, bought Joseph, and on the way there sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites. The Midianites themselves never went to Egypt. Rather the Ishmaelites brought him down to Egypt.
This resolution uses the principle of 2 stages:
First: The Midianites bought Joseph
Second: Then the Ishmaelites bought him
Third: Then the Egyptians bought him
Such a sequence is consistent with both a sale of the Midianites to Egypt and the Ishmaelites to Egypt. Such a resolution is also consistent with the language of the biblical texts:
Gn37-36 only states that the Midianites sold Joseph towards Egypt.
Gn39-01 explicitly states that it was the Ishmaelites who brought Joseph down there (to Egypt).

O: RESOLUTION DETAILS AND SUMMARY
We can resolve the contradictions by assuming 3 sales
Brothers ---> Midianites
Midianites ---> Ishmaelites
Ishmaelites ---> Egypt
We then understand the text: Let us sell him to the Ishmaelites to mean let us sell him to the Midianites who in turn will sell him to the Ishmaelites. Similarly the text the Midianites brought Joseph down towards Egypt is understood to mean that the Midianites sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites who finally brought him to Egypt.
Throughout, we resolve the contradiction using the principles of 2 stages: We assume that the sale of Joseph took place in three stages.

P: THE RASHI WEBSITE AS A RESOURCE
The Rashi website can be used as a resource to provide examples for the contradiction method.
The Home page for the Rashi website is located at http://www.Rashiyomi.com/
The Main Rashi Database is located at http://www.Rashiyomi.com/lists.htm
Scroll down in the left hand frame till you find CONTRADICTION / 2 stages
Click on the link
The right frame will now contain the links to examples of the contradiction method
The main table for contradiction resolved by 2 aspects is LIST530a.