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#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2005, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#
VERSE: Ex13-17b
RASHIS COVERED: Ex13-17b Ex13-18a Ex14-08a Ex14-25a Ex14-25b
Ex13-17b
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04


SUCCINT SUMMARY:
----------------
One of Rashis 5 main goals is the explanation of grammar
similar to the explanations we find in modern textbooks. We
call this the Rashi rule of GRAMMAR.

Most people are familiar with those parts of grammar that
deal with the individual word--for example, the rules of verb
conjugation.

However an equally important part of grammar are the rules
of development in paragraphs: Given a paragraph theme what
types of sentences can exist in that paragraph and what are
their relations to the central theme. The rules of paragraph
development also apply to chapter development: How are the
constituent paragraphs of a chapter related to the central
theme. For this reason we call this Rashi subrule, the rule
of CONSECUTIVE PARAGRAPHS.

Rashi knew 4 means of relating consecutive sentences or
consecutive paragraphs in a paragraph or chapter:
- CAUSE
- CONTRAST
- ENABLEMENT
- UNIFYING THEME.

EXAMPLE Ex13-17b Ex13-18 Ex13-16:18
-----------------------------------
The complete Biblical text is as follows
----------------------------------------------
When Pharoh let the Jews go
God did not guide them thru Philistine land
Because it was a near route
Because if they saw war [AND WERE NEAR EGYPT] they might turn back
[INSTEAD OF LETTING THEM GO THE NEAR-ROUTE]
God turned them to go by the wilderness route
-----------------------------------------------

Rashi makes the comments we have placed in brackets
----------------------------------------------------
The Biblical phrase
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
God turned them by the wilderness
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
is a CONTRASTIVE phrase.
- Instead of the JEWS taking the NEAR-ROUTE
- they will take the WILDERNESS ROUTE(Which is not near)
---------------------------------------------------------

Similarly Rashi makes the following comment
----------------------------------------------------------
The Biblical phrase
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Because it was a near route
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

should be seen as ENABLING or FACILITATING the turning back
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Because if they saw war [AND WERE NEAR EGYPT] they might turn back
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
----------------------------------------------------------


Here Rashi takes two phrases
- because it is a near route
- God turned them towards the wilderness
Rashi does not explain the WORD MEANING of these phrases
Rather Rashi explains the PARAGRAPH CONTEXT of these phrases.
One phrase is CONTRASTIVE; the other phrase is FACILITATING
In other words Rashi explains how these phrases, WHOSE MEANING
WE ALREADY UNDERSTAND, fits in with the paragraph. For this
reason we classify these Rashis as GRAMMATICAL.

EXAMPLE 2: Ex14-08a Ex14-04:08
------------------------------
The Biblical text states
--------------------------------------------
Pharoh found out that the Jews had fled
And he changed his mind about the Jews
He said: What have we done to send the Jews away

He fixed his chariot
He took his nation

He took 600 chosen chariots
and the whole Egyptian army
and appointed leaders on all

[For]God had hardened Pharohs heart
and he pursued the Jews
But the Jews left brazenly and unafraid
----------------------------------------------

Rashi comments
-----------------------------------------
This Biblical phrase
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
God had hardened his heart
- - - - - - - - - - - - -

should be seen as contrastive to the
following Biblical phrases which suggest
doubt
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
And he changed his mind about the Jews
He said: What have we done to send the Jews away
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-----------------------------------------

Here Rashi infers nuance from the paragraph structure.
The two Biblical phrases
- Pharoh changed his heart--he said What have we done
- God hardened his heart and he pursued them
should be seen as contrastive. The first phrase
does not connote a decision but rather connotes
DOUBT. The second phrase--God hardened his heart---
connotes RESOLVE WITHOUT DOUBT

EXAMPLE 3: Ex14-25a Ex14-25b
----------------------------
The Biblical text states
----------------------------------------
God turned against the Egyptians
He removed a wheel from their chariots
He made their drive heavy and difficult
And the Egyptians said:
Lets get out of here
God is fighting for the Jews
----------------------------------------

Rashi comments
----------------------------------------
The successive phrases in the verse
illustrate successful levels of causation
- God removes a chariot wheel--THIS CAUSES
- Heavy riding--THIS CAUSES
- awareness that God is fighting for the Jews
----------------------------------------

Again we emphasize:
- we know the meaning of the words
- GOD REMOVES A WHEEL
- So Rashi explains not MEANING
- but rather GRAMMATICAL CONTEXT
It is for this reason that we have
classified all these examples as GRAMMATICAL

LIST061b below presents several Rashis exhibiting contrast
between verses. LIST061a presents Rashis exhibiting CAUSAL
or FACILITATION in connecting verses.
ITEM DETAIL
RASHI RULE CLASS: GRAMMAR
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS: CONSECUTIVE CHAPTERS
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #9
SEE BELOW LIST061b
A list of paragraphs having a CONTRASTING connection
----------------------- ----------------------------------
SEE BELOW LIST061a
A list of paragraphs having a CAUSAL connection
LIST061b
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-04

A list of paragraphs     having a CONTRASTING connection
# VERSE TOPIC IN 1st CHAPTER TOPIC IN 2nd CHAPTER
(--) Ex13-18a Dont take NEAR ROUTE Take wilderness(FAR ROUTE)
(--) Ex14-08a Pharoh DOUBTS-let em go? God HARDENS;Pharoh pursues
(--) Ex04-11a Moses cant speak Moses did speak-Ex02-11:14
(--) Ex04-11b Moses afraid of Pharoh God protected Mshe-Ex02-15
(--) Gn47-25a*8 20% Tax:80% Yours Thank you...Good deal
(--) Gn42-10a JOE: You are spies BROTHERS:NO-we are not.*7
(09) Lv26-01a Being a slave to Non Jew Prohibition of Idolatry*1
(10) Dt29-12a Curses We are before God*2
(11) Lv19-03c Fear Parents Watch Sabbaths*3
(12) Dt22-12a No Shaatnez Tzitzith*4
(--) Dt09, Dt10 Jews rebel against God But God still loves Jews*5
(--) Gn31-13d I will go GENTLY You will PASS ME*6
COMMENTS
*1  Rashi not only connects 2 paragraphs. He also connects
all Biblical paragraphs in this chapter. See
footnote *10 for further details


*2 Dt28 gives a long list of curses if the Jews violate
the commandments.

Dt29-12 says "You are all STANDING before God today" In
other words despite the curses for disobediance you are
still here before God(The implication being that no
matter how angry God gets he will not destroy you)

A further support for this theme can come from the
General-particular-General form

Dt28    GENERAL:    Curses for disobediance
Dt29-12 PARTICULAR: You are standing here before God
Dt29-19 GENERAL:    Curses for disobediance

Thus the General-Particular-General form shows that Gods
curses still allow us to "Stand before him"--in other
words they are educative curses not punitive.


*3 In other words (always) "Observe the Sabbaths"
DESPITE a request to the contrary "By your parents"

This can happen if eg your parents ask you to
desecrate the Sabbath.  You must observe the
Sabbath even if your parents request to
the contrary.

And this can be generalized to all Torah laws(that
they take precedence over your parents request)


*4 Wear Tzitzith DESPITE the fact that they may have Shaatnez
Wool and linen together (In the priestly garments made of
Linen the Tzitzith were made of wool--thus the commandment
of Tzitzith OVERRIDES the prohibtion of wearing wool and
linen)

*5 More specifically Rashi (Dt10-12a) states
---------------------------------------------
Despite the 5 rebellions that the Jews did
against God, nevertheless, God still loves
the Jews. In fact Dt10-12 states that all
the Jews need do to earn this love is to
revere God
---------------------------------------------

*6 Rashis point is that Jacob did not ask Esauv
----------------------------
Past me and leave me behind
----------------------------

Rather Jacob suggested contrast
------------------------------------------------
- I must go at a gentle pace
- you go at a normal pace
------------------------------------------------

A logical consequence of this contrast is that
Esauv would pass Jacob and leave him behind.


*7 The full Biblical text shows two rounds of dialogs
between Moses and Joseph
The Biblical text states as follows
----------------------------------------------------
Gn42-09    1     JOE:      You are Spies
Gn42-10:11 1     BROHTERS: NO(Contrast)--We are simple people
Gn42-12    2     JOE:      NO(Contrast) you are spies
Gn42-13    2     BROTHERS: We are 12 sons;we came for food
----------------------------------------------------

*8 Gn47-25b and Gn47-25a both deal with the contrast of offer
vs Thank you.

LONGER FOOTNOTES
*10

On a superficial level Rashi seems to be connecting 2
verses.

Avoid idolatry DESPITE your being a slave to a non jew
(who encourages its violation). Do not think "I will
worship idols now and when I am free I will go
back to believing in God"

On a profound level Rashi sees a unifying theme to this
whole chapter. The chapter encourages observing the
shimitah laws which encourage abstaining from agriculture
once every 7 years so that people can devote themselves
to God and study. If one violates these laws he is
progressively punished. Here is the sequence of
punishments

{LIST} {Paragraphs in BEHAR}
-------------------------------------------------------
VERSE        LAW
------------ ------------------------------------------
Lv25-01:12   Observe the 7 and 50 year Land sabbaticals
Lv25-13:24   If not you will have to sell your MOVABLES
Lv25-25:28   If not you will have to sell your LAND
Lv25-29:34   If not you will have to sell your HOUSE
Lv25-35:38   If not you will have to           LOAN
Lv25-39:46   If not you will have to become a  SLAVE
Lv25-47:54   If not you'll become a  NONJEWISH SLAVE
Lv26-01:03   If not you'll be tempted to    IDOLATRY
---------------------------------------------------------


Thus Rashi does not merely teach juxtaposition of verses
but he also teaches juxtaposition of ALL paragraphs in
the chapter.
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2005, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#