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CLIMAX |
For the past 3 postings we have been reviewing the
Rashis on the Biblical paragraph Lv26-27:33 which
describes the punishment of exile.
This Biblical paragraph describes the EXILE punishment
using 7 phrases. Rashi, using the Rashi rule of CLIMAX
which allows poetic license in interpreting these
verses, interprets these 7 phrases as 7 stages of exile
We now present a final summary
The Bible in Lv26-27 EXPLICITLY states
I will bring 7 punishments on you
Hence both Rashi and I count 7 stages.
But the text we have of Rashi appears to stop in the
middle of the Biblical paragraph! I have taken the text
naturally which starts at verse Lv26-27 and finishes at
Lv26-33.
I therefore list here the 15 verse phrases in Lv26-27:33
(using one phrase per verse). I then add my classification
and Rashis classification. I change two words in Rashi
which makes our two interpretations identical.This approach
of minor word correction was advocated (when necessary by
the Vilna Gaon).
The footnotes also lightly review the principle of CLIMAX which
we have been studying
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| VERSE |
TEXT OF BIBLICAL PHRASE |
WHICH STAGE OF EXILE? |
| Lv26-29 |
eat your boy children |
Starvation *1 |
| Lv26-29 |
eat your girl children |
Starvation *1 |
| Lv26-30 |
destroy statutes |
No Crutches*2 |
| Lv26-30 |
destroy roof gods |
NO Crutches*2 |
| Lv26-30 |
die on statutes |
NO Personal visions*3 |
| Lv26-30 |
no visions/dreams |
NO Personal visions*3 |
| Lv26-31 |
no metropolitases |
No Central Temple*21 *4 |
| Lv26-31 |
No Temple Synagogues |
No central Temple *4 |
| Lv26-31 |
No Temple sacrifices |
No Central temple *4 |
| Lv26-32 |
Exiled from land |
Homeless Exile *5 |
| Lv26-32 |
Land uninhabitable |
Homeless exile *5 |
| Lv26-33 |
Exile without unity |
Troops in SYNAGOGUES*22 *6 |
| Lv26-33 |
massive terrorism |
Troops in SYNAGOGUES *6 |
| Lv26-33 |
No hope of return |
No HOPE for sacrifices*23 *7 |
| Lv26-33 |
No hope of cities |
No HOPE for sacrifices *7 |
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COMMENTS |
*1 Clearly EATING CHILDREN refers to STARVATION
*2 The point: A starving person may think of seeking
refuge. The next 3 footnotes show 3 outlets
that the starving person will not have
They will not have a local religion providing food
*3 (See footnote *2). They will also not have any
personal visions keeping them alive
*4 (See footnotes *2 *3) They will not even be able
to return to their established ancestral religion
*5 Not only will the Jews be exiled and homeless but
their land will be uninhabitable (No hope of return)
*6 Besides the exile, the terror will continue in their
new abode with troops in the synagogues and lack of unity
*7 Finally the Jewish land will be KNOWN as desolate so
there is no hope of return
*21 Rashi says THE DEPARTURE OF THE DIVINE PRESENCE
It is therefore tempting to say he was referring to
the last phrase in Lv26-30 talking about LACK OF VISIONS
But quite simply I interpret it as referring to the
DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE (SEAT OF THE DIVINE PRESENCE)
*22 I have changed the word TEMPLE to SYNAGOGUES. That is
instead of TROOPS (of JEWS) GOING TO TEMPLE we translate
TROOPS (Of Foreign nations) GOING TO SYNAGOGUES (And
preventing UNITY. This requires a change of one word
*23 Rashi states NO SCENT OF SACRIFICES which clearly echoes
Lv26-31. I changed the word SCENT to HOPE. So the
Rashi text reads NO HOPE FOR SACRIFICES. This is consistent
with Rashis OWN interpretation of Lv26-33
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