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COMMAND can mean ASSIGN |
RASHIS COVERED: Dt03-28a Dt03-28b TSAV can mean COMMAND || ASSIGN
VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
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The Hebrew word TSAV usually means COMMAND some order. However
TSAV can also mean to ASSIGN SOMEBODY (To COMMAND him to take
a post). Using this distinction of COMMAND vs ASSIGN we can
easily understand the Rashi on Dt03-28a,b. Rashi translates
the verse as follows
- And [you Moses] ASSIGN Joshua; strengthen and encourage
- him THAT he will lead the people into the promised land
Conceptually Rashi links the subordinate clause HE WILL LEAD
THEM with the STRENGTHENING & ENCOURAGEMENT
TODAYS RASHI RULE: MULTIPLE RULES
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- We use the Rashi rule of WORD MEANINGS-SYNONYMS to distinguish
between COMMAND and ASSIGN
- We use the Rashi rule of SPECIAL WORDS to interpret KI as
meaning THAT vs BECAUSE. That is we translate Dt03-28a as
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ASSIGN Johsua and strengthen him into believing
THAT he will lead the people over to the promised land
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We ignore the translation of KI as because
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And COMMAND Joshua [to be leader] (and strengthen him)
BECAUSE he has been picked to be the leader
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We ignore this translation because the phrase [to be leader]
is not in the verse. The lack of a specific command in the
verse motivates us instead to translate the verse as ASSIGN
TODAYS LIST
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We LIST below verses where TSAV means TO ASSIGN vs TO COMMAND.
You can distinguish between the two meanings by the prepositional
connective used: Thus Dt28-08 states, God will ASSIGN WITH YOU
a blessing. Cf this with Is05-06, I will order the clouds FROM
giving dew. The context usually clarifies this.
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| VERSE |
TEXT OF VERSE WITH tsav TRANSLATED AS assign vs command |
| Dt28-08 |
God will ASSIGN WITH YOU blessings in your harvest |
| Ne11-23 |
For the meal of the singers was AN ASSIGNMENT of the King |
| Lv25-21 |
I-ll ASSIGN my blessings to you & you-ll have a good crop |
| Dt03-28 |
And ASSIGN Joshua and strengthen him;for he will lead |
| Is05-06 |
I will ORDER/COMMAND the clouds FROM giving dew *1 |
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COMMENTS |
*1 This is brought for contrast. Is05-06 contains a COMMAND
-- COMMAND
-- TO the clouds
-- FROM giving dew
This contrasts with e.g. dt28-08 where God
- ASSIGNS
- WITH YOU Blessings
The connectives (WITH YOU vs TO and FROM) indicate that
the meaning is ASSIGN vs COMMAND.*10
----------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES -----------------------
*10 Rashis actual comments on this verse are
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And God said to Moses: ASSIGN Joshua the task of leadership
RASHI: That is, Moses: Tell Joshua about the hardships
of leadership and how the nation isnt always (immediately)
receptive.
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This comment of Rashi is consistent with the translation
of the Hebrew word TSAV as ASSIGN but does not follow from
the translation COMMAND
In other words to ASSIGN SOMEONE TO A POST means to tell
him what that position involves--its hardships and
rewards.
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