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WATCH..MAKE IT YOUR BUSINESS |
RASHIS COVERED: Dt13-01b WATCH the law=MAKE it your business
Dt12-13a Dt12-19a
VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
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One of Rashis main tasks is to explain the meaning of words
the same way a dictionary does. Sometimes Rashi takes a word
WHOSE MEANING is KNOWN and carefully delineates its nuances.
The Hebrew root Shin-Mem-Resh means to WATCH. Rashi however
explains that it would parallel the English idiom MAKE IT
YOUR BUSINESS. Rashi in fact gives 4 NUANCES to watch
-- Assign a JOB to someone (Their business)--Nu03-07
-- Create vocational (business) standards (Rabbinic fences)
-- TRAIN--make it your business--so you know how to do it
-- Do not avoid it---Make it your business (Dt12-19a)
STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
The RashiYomi Dictionary page--http://www.RashiYomi.com/words.htm
Previous analysis of WATCH--http://www.Rashiyomi.com/watch-6.htm
A posting on WATCH--http://www.RashiYomi.com/nu03-07a.htm
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| VERSE |
INTUITIVE TRANSLATION |
MEANING of Sh-M-R |
| Nu03-07a*1 |
RESPONSIBLE in OFFICE |
OFFICE APPOINTMENT |
| Dt11-22a*2 |
....to do the commandments |
Training-learning |
| Lv22-31b*2 |
....to do the commandments |
Training-learning |
| Dt04-06a*2 |
....to do these commandments |
Training-learning |
| Dt12-28a*2 |
....to do these commandments |
Training-learning |
| Gn26-05b*3 |
....to do my biddings |
Rabbinical fences |
| Lv18-30a*3*4 |
....to do these laws |
Rabbinical fences |
| Lv26-03b*4 |
....to walk in my ways & do |
Rabbinical fences |
| Ex12-17a*5 |
....to make the MATZOH |
Rabbinical fences |
| Lv22-09a*3*6 |
...to follow the TERUMAH laws |
Rabbinical Fences |
| Dt13-01b*8*7 |
...WATCH to DO |
Do and Dont |
| Dt12-13a*7 |
...not to offer outside temple |
Do and Dont |
| Dt12-19a*7 |
...not to avoid the Levites |
Do and Dont |
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COMMENTS |
*1 We consider this the MAIN Rashi on Sh-M-R
*2 Note how all these verses state WATCH & DO
WATCH=LEARN
DO =ACTION
*3 Note the double verb in the actual Biblical text
--WATCH the WATCH
Such a phrase has the same type emphasis as MAKE
IT YOUR BUSINESS
*4 The principle of CLIMACTIC interpretation applies here
Both verses are interpreted in a climax of 3 stages
(Rashi explicitly points this out on Lv26-03)
*5 Although Rashi only gives an EXAMPLE here
--avoid the Matzoh becoming puffy
He nevertheless concludes with a GENERAL approach
(Watch ALL commandments (by making fences))
*6 Although Rashi applies this verse specifically to Terumah,
(See Sifsay Chachamim who points out that this is in context)
nevertheless TERUMAH is surrounded with a rich rabbinic
lore of fences (such as 'washing the hands before a meal')
This confirms or is consistent with our thesis
*7 Rashi on these 3 verses interprets WATCH as indicating
DONTS beside the DOs. Thus for example Dt12-18:19 state
- You will eat before God...you ..your children & the Levite
- ...Make it your business not to avoid the Levite
Thus
- Eat before God....you...& the Levite
is a positive commandments
While
-- make it your business not to avoid the Levite
is a negative commandment
*8 Rashi clarifies here what he means by DO and DONT
--The DONT implied by the root WATCH is not a traditional
--DONT which gets lashes
In other words the word WATCH simply has a NUANCE of
AVOIDANCE without it being technically classifed as
a DO NOT. This is consistent with our thesis.
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