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CHET-TAUV means to RAKE |
RASHIS COVERED:Nu16-06b Ex27-03f Nu04-14b Chet-Tav means to RAKE
REFERENCE: http://www.RashiYomi.com/h14n9.htm
VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
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Rashi explains that the root Chet-Tauv means to RAKE. That
is to stir coals/ashes and to remove them from a fire.
The MACHTAH is the name of a UTENSIL (like a dustpan) that
was used to remove ashes from the Altar fire every morning.
SPECIAL ON RASHIS DATABASE GENIUS
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Rashi had
-- that the FUNCTION of the machtah is to RAKE Altar ashes
-- it looked like a dustpan(Closed on 3 sides & open on 4th)
-- Other verses support that Chet-Tauv means to RAKE
-- it had a handle
-- it could come in various sizes
Most scholars would have stated these 5 points and overwhelm
the student with detail
Not so Rashi. Rashi knew there were 5 Biblical verses where
the Machthah is mentioned.
So Rashi skillfully dropped ONE and only one of these details
in each Rashi. This allowed the student time to digest each
detail. Presumably when the student went over the Bible the
second time the student might gather all these Rashis and
become aware of the 5 facets of the commentary.
Truly--Rashi was the King of Databases.
Here is the list of verses and what Rashi contributes on
each one.
|
| VERSE |
ASPECT |
What Rashi says about CHet-Tauv on this verse |
| Ex25-38b |
FUNCTION |
Remove ashes every monring from the altar |
| Ex27-03f |
VERSES |
CHET-TAUV means to Rake cf Is30-14 Ps52-07*1 |
| Nu04-09b |
FORM |
Like a DUSTPAN:3 closed sides with 4th open*2 |
| Nu04-14b |
FORM |
Like a DUSTPAN:3 closed sides with 4th open*2 |
| Nu16-06b |
FORM |
Raking utensils that have a HANDLE |
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COMMENTS |
*1 There are only 4-5 verses with the verb form Also see
Prv06-27 Prv25-22 (Radack includes Prv17-10)*10
*2 These two Rashis are almost the same. There are however
subtle differences
-- in one Rashi compares them to a PAN
-- in the other Rashi compares them a SPOON
(So these raking utensils come in 2 sizes)
Rashi also mentions that it has a simple border
------------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES ---------------------
*10 Chet-Tauv is normally translated as DRAWING/TAKING motion
applied to coals or Ashes. Some examples are
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Isa30-14 To TAKE (CHET TAUV) a splinter from a fire
Ps52-07 They will TAKE(CHET TAUV) you from your tent
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But the other two verses where Chet-Tauv occur use the
prepositional connectives TAKE ON and TAKE IN. This
doesnt sound right.
I therefore translate it as RAKE which has a dual connotation
-- taking the ashes away
-- stirring and ordering the ashes
Thus we have
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Prv06-27 Would a person STIR(RAKE) coals on his
chest (Similarly is the playing with
a married woman)
Prv25-22 For you thereby STIR/RAKE coals on
his head(By feeding your enemy you STIR
up guilt feelings in his head)
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See my article PSHAT & DRASH: A NEW INTUITIVE ANALYTIC
APPROACH (TRADITION WINTER 1980) where I advocate
that the translators job is to find good semantic models
in other languages that capture nuances.
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