Rabbi Ishmael Example Method:#30 of 36
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BACKGROUND EXAMPLE
------------------
Dt25-04a Dont muzzle an OX while threshing:
RASHI: Dont muzzle ANY ANIMAL

Lv01-02c Offer ANIMALS--Offer OXEN SHEEP
RASHI: You can **ONLY** offer OXEN and SHEEP

Dt18-03b These are the laws for those who offer sacrifices
         Whether from Oxen or Sheep
RASHI: So these laws only apply to OXEN and SHEEP not to
       beasts and birds

Why the difference? Why in one verse do we generalize OXEN to any
animal, while in the other verse we restrict the law to ONLY oxen


OVERVIEW
--------
This module (which we have called CLIMAX) deals with the rules
governing the interpretation of Biblical examples. If the Torah
for example said "Eat apple pies" how should this be interpretd?

--Should we say "Eat apple pies" means **ONLY** eat apple pies
--Should we say "Eat apple pies" means eat ANYTHING TASTY
--Should we say "Eat apple pies" means eat FRUIT pies

In other words, how do we interpret the Biblical EXAMPLE
apple pie. Here are the rules governing interpretation
of Biblical EXAMPLES---the EXAMPLES summarizing the past
month will follow.



                -GRAND SUMMARY PART 2-


                -IN METHOD 1 WE GENERALIZE-


METHOD 1: GENERALIZE
--------------------
EXAMPLES                    METHOD OF INTERPRETATION
--------                    ------------------------
Eat APPLE PIES              CONCLUSION: Eat ANY FOOD TREAT
Dt25-04 Dont muzzle an ox   CONCLUSION: Dont muzzle ANY ANIMAL



RULE:
-----
Every Biblical example of a law SHOULD be generalized
(unless otherwise indicated).*1



EXAMPLES
--------
(1) Ex21-28a When an OX gores..then pay damages
    RASHI: The law applies when ANY animal gores
    The Bible used 'OX' since that was a typical animal owned

(2) Ex21-17a A FEMALE witch should not be allowed to live
    RASHI: The law applies to ANY witch--male or female
    The Bible used 'FEMALE' witch since most witches were
    women

(3) Ex22-21a If you hurt an ORPHAN or WIDOW I(God)will punish you
    RASHI: God will punish you if you cause anguish to ANY person
    The Torah used 'ORPHAN/WIDOW' since these people are usually
    picked on.


(4) Ex22-30b A DISEASED ANIMAL in a FIELD should not be eaten
    RASHI: ALL DISEASED ANIMALS should not be eaten. The
    Torah used 'diseased animals in a FIELD' because that
    is typically where they are typically found

(5) Dt22-23a '..& he found her IN THE CITY & raped her...'
    RASHI:The laws of rape apply even if he raped her in the
    HOUSE. The Torah used 'in the CITY' because that is where
    rapes typically happen


(6) Dt23-11a 'A man who is Not Pure from a NOCTURNAL emission'
    RASHI: These laws apply to ANYONE who has an emission.
    The Torah used 'NOCTURNAL emission' because that is the
    typical time they occur.


(7) Dt13-07f When someone seduces you IN PRIVATE to worship idols
    RASHI: These laws apply even if the seduction was in public
    The Torah used 'IN PRIVATE' because that is the normal way
    seduction takes place (steathily)

(8) Dt15-19b Don't WORK with 1stborn of OX,
             Don't SHEAR 1stborn SHEEP
    RASHI:It is also prohibited to WORK with the 1stborn of SHEEP
    or to SHEAR the hide of an OX. But the Torah used 'WORK..OX'
    and 'SHEAR..SHEEP' because this is the typical usage.


(9) Dt25-04a Don't muzzle an OX while it works
    RASHI: It is prohibited to muzzle ANY ANIMAL while it works
    The Torah used 'OX' because this is the typical animal owned



NOTES
-----
*1 This rule appears strange and contradicts the usual notion
   that every 'letter and word' in the Bible has SOME meaning
   Actually though Rabbi Ishmael had a dictum that
   the Bible uses human style--it prefers a good example, like
   "ox" to an abstract concept like "animal".



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