LIST854a
(C) Dr Hendel, Jan-03
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We compactly depict below verses with the phrase ON THE MOUTH OF
The fundamental unifying meaning is INTERACTIVELY
We show 3 distinct uses of this idea of INTERACTION
-- situations intrinsically requiring INTERACTIVITY(eg Supervision,Testimony)
-- Prophetically INTERACTING with God
-- KISS DEATH (Death accompanined by prophetic INTERACTION)
We also have occasion to show the very delicate iteraction
between the SIMPLE MEANING of the text and some exotic
HYPERBOLE/AGGADAH of Chazal.
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VERSE
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VERSE TEXT--AL PI means ACCORDING
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AL PI=INTERACTIVELY..that is
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Nu13-03a
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Moses spent spies ACCORDING to God
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PROPETIC INTERACTION *5
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Nu26-56a
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Land divided ACCORDING to LOT
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PROPHETIC INTERACTION *5
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Nu03-16a
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Counted ACCORDING to GOD
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PROPHETIC INTERACTION *5
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Nu09-18a
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Journey ACCORDING TO GOD
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PROPHETIC INTERACTION *5
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COMMENTS
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*5 PROPHECY is simply INTERACTIVE dialogue with GOD
It is important to distinguish between the SIMPLE
MEANING of the text and the particular implementation
of this simple meaning that the sages laid down
The following 4 examples illustrate how to balance
SIMPLE MEANING OF TEXT vs TALMUDIC HYPERBOLE
a) The LAND was DIVIDED BY PROPHETIC ORDER
This is the simple meaning of the text
The sages added hyperbole to this and
stated that the lottery SPOKE and CONFIRMED
all choices *12
b) Moses census of the Jews was mostly done in
traditional manners but some census had to be
done PROPHETICALLY. This is the simple meaning
of the text.
The Sages add the hyperbole that
Moses for reasons of modesty did not want to
go into crowded tents with large numbers of
infants...so therefore too not embarass them
Moses censused these tents prophetically*11
c) The journeys of the Jews in the wilderness were
done prophetically. This is the simple meaning
of the text.
Our sages add the hyperbole that
the Divine Cloud of Honor first stood like a tree
over the Tribe of Judah---this meant they were
to Journey--an announcement was made by the journey
blasts--Moses then sang the song ARISE GOD AND
SCATTER YOUR ENEMIES ...and they journeyed
d) Dt01-21:23 states that the Jews wanted spies. But
Nu13-01:10 says that God wanted them. The simple
meaning of the text is that 1) God promised them
a beautiful land 2) But the Jews wanted to spy
it 3) So Moses asked God Who said it was ok to
send spies since they had doubts and the spies
could either reinforce the doubts or remove them
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LONGER FOOTNOTES
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*12 The Talmud states
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Elazar came dressed in the
full attire of the High Priest with the PERFECTION LIGHT
STONES. These stones represented all letters of the
alphabet.(The High Priest could read prophetic orders
by seeing which letters of the stones glittered)
A person picked a TRIBE from one lottery and a TERRITORY
from another lottery and paired them.
The lottery then spoke and said: I confirm the pairing
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I would (humbly) suggest that the last line should
be amended/modified as follows
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The PERFECTION LIGHT STONES then spelled out a
confirmation of the pairing of the tribe and territory
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In other words I more simply interpret the Talmudic
phrarse THE LOTTERY SPOKE as THE PROPHETIC STONES
CONFIRMED
I think such an approach to Talmudic Hyperbole
is productive and truthful
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