LIST314a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03
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We show contrasting verses which demonstrate that a principle
function of the Levites was to HONOR GUARD the temple and
warn the Jews against coming near it (A lay Israelite
could not come near the Temple)
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VERSE
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Jew or Levites
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vs Levites Priests
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VERSE
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Nu18-08
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Levites Watch temple
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`
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`
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Nu18-08
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Levites not near utensils
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`
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`
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Nu18-08
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Levites not near Altar*1
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Priests Do altar matters
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Nu18-08
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`
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`
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Priests do Holy of Holies
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Nu18-08
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Nu18-22
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Jews not get near temple
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Levites will serve*2
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Nu18-23
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Nu18-22
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Jews not die
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`
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`
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Nu18-23
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They bear sin*10
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`
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`
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COMMENTS
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*1 Hence Rashi on Lv03-10b---Priests are responsible for altar
matters like sprinkling of blood, offering organs etc
*2 The alignment suggests that the LEVITES SERVE by GUARDING
temple against unwanted intrusion by non-priest and non-levite
Jews(That is the word SERVE aligns with GETTING NEAR TEMPLE)
Both Rashi (Nu03-08a) and Rambam point out that the
Levites did not just guard temple against unwanted invasion
-- they also performed an honor guard
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LONGER FOOTNOTES
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*10 Rashi states
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AND THEY WILL BEAR THEIR SIN---that is, the
Levites will bear sin if non-Levite Jews enter
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Thus Rashi seems to identify the phrase THEY with
the LEVITES who will bear sin
But the simple meaning of the text is that it refers
to the JEWS not the levites.
Indeed all PLURAL references are to the Jews while
singular references are to the Levites. In fact
the verse says
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The JewS should not come near temple
for THEY would then die
But each Levite HE Should serve in temple
(for otherwise) THEY will die
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In other words this phrase seems to refer to
the death of Jews who transgress and come near
TEmple.
I would therefore suggest that Rashi indeed
took the verse this way
- If the Levites watch then the Jews will bear sin
The contrapositive of this is that
- If the Levites do not watch & warn Jews then
the Levites will bear sin
So Rashi was indeed accepting the simple grammatical
meaning of the text and simply showing the other
side of the implication
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