#*#*#*#  (C) 2000-2005, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#
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  |      Rashi is Simple Version 2.0                         |
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VERSE: Nu21-06a

RASHIS COVERED: Nu21-06a Nu14-44a

======================= Nu21-06a ======================

SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
One of Rashis 10 main goals is the explanation of
meaning the same way a dictionary explains meaning.
We call this the Rashi method of WORD MEANING.
Today we examine two meaning submethods of Rashi.


EXAMPLE: NAMING BY FORM/FUNCTION/FEEL
-------------------------------------
Rashi frequently identifies meaning by focusing
on the FORM and FUNCTION or FEEL of words. For example:
Both the UNITED NATIONS and PENTAGON are institutions
that protect but the PENTAGON is named by its FORM,
while the UNITED NATIONS is named by its GOAL and
PURPOSE to unite nations. Similarly words like
HARDship and inFLAMMATION name events by how they FEEL.

EXAMPLE: BURNING snake venom
----------------------------
Nu21-06a refers to the
----------------
BURNING snakes.
----------------

Rashi explains
---------------------------------
The venom of a snake bite feels
like a BURN
---------------------------------

LIST819a below presents several examples of naming by FEELing

EXAMPLE: PROVIDING A UNIFIED MEANING for VERSES
----------------------------------------------------------
The root Ayin-Pay-Lamed only occurs about a dozen times in Tanach.
This is a peach of an example of how to infer meaning of rare
verses
- Rashi states (Nu14-44a) it means STRONG
- Radack however states it means HIGH--Radack explains
  Rashis STRONG as HIGH OF HEART (Strong willed)
- Also: Rashi himself explains the meaning HEMMOROIDS as
  HIDDEN (1S05-06)

Let us summarize: By looking at Rashi on SEVERAL verses and
by looking at SEVERAL commentators we have the meanings
- STRONG
- HIGH
- HIDDEN

This example shows
- the danger of simply reading one verse with commentary and
thinking that understanding has been obtained
- the necessity of checking several verses and commentaries

We suggest the basic meaning THICK/IMPENETRABLE. Hence we have
- thick/impenetrable fortress
- thick hemmoroids
- (Nu14-44a) thick impenetrable storming of enemy
  Such a wild storming is frequently unorganized indicating
  spontaneousness and lack of leadership(Rashi's 2nd explanation)

Note Rashi's STRONG is a misnomer--Rashi really meant something
HARD and THICK, not necessarily strong. This is consistent
with usages in other verses.

LIST864a below summarizes this approach with sample verses
==================================================================
ITEM                     DETAIL
======================== =========================================
RASHI RULE CLASS:        WORD MEANINGS
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS      8 METHODS OF NAMING
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #7
SEE BELOW                LIST819a
List of words            named by FEELING(e.g. HARDship)
-----------------------  ---------------------------------------
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS      UNIFIED MEANING
SEE BELOW                LIST864a
List of verses with      Root Ayin-Pay-Lamed=thick / impenetrable
==================================================================

======================== LIST864a =================================
List of verses with      Root Ayin-Pay-Lamed=thick / impenetrable
===================================================================
VERSE    MEANING      UNITY IDEA   TEXT OF VERSE
======== ============ ============ ================================
2C33-14  FORTRESS     IMPENETRABLE Build around IMPENETRABLE fortrs
Ne11-21  FORTRESS     IMPENETRABLE Nethinim sat in FORTRESS
Mi04-08  IMPENETRABLE IMPENETRABLE IMPENETRABLE?It will come on you
Nu14-44a THICK        THICK        THICKLY swarmed the mount*1 *10
1S05-06  HEMMOROIDS   Its THICK    God smite them with HEMMOROIDS

NOTES
-----
*1 The idea of THICK SWARMING suggests an unorganized military
   strike--this is consistent with
   - the Jewish sin of IMPETUOUSLY following whims instead
     of doing something stable
   - Rashi's second explanation (They went in darkness--that
     is without military leadership)


-------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES --------------------------

*10 A preliminary discussion of this root appeared on the
    email group, MAIL JEWISH this week. At the time I
    - emphasized thickness
    - used the idea of a dark cloud

    However there is NO verse where Ayin-Pay-Lamed means
    cloud (This was pointed out in my posting). While
    preparing this weeks Rashi I came up with the idea
    of IMPENETRABLE
==================================================================


======================== LIST819a ===============================
List of words            named by FEELING(e.g. HARDship)
=================================================================
VERSE    WORD MEANS         FEELS LIKE The FOLLOWING
======== ================== ========== ==========================
Nu21-06a snake BURN         venom bite of snake FEELS/LIKE burn
Lv12-02d MENSTRUAL period   Feels/ like YICKYness*1
Ex30-34c The FATTY perfume  Feels/Smells like PUTRID FAT
Dt32-22a SPARK              Feels like THROBBING,PRICKLING pain
Dt28-21b ACHE   (QDXTh)     Feels like SPARKS pricking me
Dt28-21c inFLAMmation (DLK) Feels like a FLAME
Dt28-21d Fever (XrXr)       Feels like being BURNT
Dt29-16a IDOL(SQTz)         Feels like DISGUSTING ($QC)
-------- HARDship           Feels like something HARD

NOTES
-----
*1 The Hebrew root used--Daleth-Vav-Hey--has a general meaning
   of either sickness or YICKYness
=================================================================
---------------------------------------------------
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Volume 26 Number 12


#*#*#*#  (C) 2000-2005, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#
Volume 26 Number 12