####################################################### # 12 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE # # Aug 5th, 2002 # # Rashis 1557-1559 Of 7800 (20.0%) # # # # VISIT THE RASHI YOMI ARCHIVES # # ----------------------------- # # http://www.RashiYomi.Com/calendar.htm # # # # Reprinted with permission from Rashi-is-Simple, # # (c) 1999-2002, RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President # # Permission to reprint with this header PROVIDED # # it is not printed for profit # # # # WARNING: READ with COURIER 10 (Fixed width) FONTS# # # ####################################################### |
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RASHIS COVERED: Dt17-16a Dt17-17a No Excess money ...for Kings Dt17-17a Dt17-17b VERY BRIEF SUMMARY ----------------- The Bible in Dt17 states that it is prohibited to have -- excessive MONEY, -- excessive WIVES -- excessive HORSES The exact phraselogy is -- The King should not have alot FOR HIMSELF The phrase FOR HIMSELF when combined with a Hebrew verb always denotes PERSONAL USE. Hence Rashi simply states that -- Kings can have MONEY, WIVES and HORSES for regal use but not -- for personal display.Other verses help illustrate how much TODAYS RASHI RULE: GRAMMARR TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: INDIRECT PRONOUN (FOR HIMSELF) TODAYS RASHI RULE: OTHER VERSES TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: FURTHER DETAILS Brief description of rule In Hebrew, adding the indirect pronoun (FOR ME, FOR HIMSELF) denotes that the activity is done FOR PERSONAL REASONS. For many illustrations of this principle see the RashiYomi grammar page http://www.RashiYomi.htm/grammar.htm Very often when a verse states a general principle--e.g. a king should not have TOO MUCH of women, money horses--we can infer further details by examining OTHER VERSES which shed light on the definition. TODAYS LIST We list the 3 items prohibited to Kings. We provide other verses showing that Kings can have AS MUCH AS NECESSARY FOR REGAL USE. Hence we interpret the verses as THEY CANT HOWEVER HAVE FOR PERSONAL USE. Footnotes amplify the supporting verses | |||
| Verse | Kings shouldnt have alot of | Meaning of Many | Support |
| Dt17-17b | Money | For Staff & guests | 1K10-14*1 |
| Dt17-16a | Horses | Regal transport | 1K10-29*2 |
| Dt17-17a | Women | 18 wives | 2S12-08*3 |
| COMMENTS | |||
*1 This verse is not brought by Rashi but it shows that Kings may have much wealth as King Solomon had much wealth (The Bible only criticizes him for taking more wives than allowed) Hence the defining criterion is ---More than is needed for personal regal use *2 This verse is brought by Rashi. It shows that Kings may have large amounts of horses for chariots (Again the BIble only criticizes King Solomon for taking many wives). As long as the horses are for Regal matters it is not considered -----Making alot for himself *3 The Bible criticizes King Solomon for taking too many wives. It is however no where explicitly defined what TOO MANY WIVES means. Tradition states 18. There are obscure derivations from 2S12-08 which speaks about King David -------------------------------------------- Being allow wives AND MORE AND MORE -------------------------------------------- The double AND MORE AND MORE suggests that King David could have had 3 times the number of wives he had (3 x 6 =18). Rambam (Kings 3 and 4) simply states that this is a TRADITION (That is--it is known but not really derived from the verses). I would argue that the concept of PERSONAL ALLOWANCE would entitle a King for a different wife for every day during the minimal Biblical female cycle. Since the minimal Biblical female cycle is 18 days (Rambam Forbidden Intercourses Chapter 6) it would follow that a King could have 18 wives. More than that would be considered MARRIAGE FOR POLITICAL REASONS (As King Solomon did). (I hasten to add that while the above is logical it is nevertheless speculative) | |||