Consecutive chapters:4 methods:#9 of 9
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# 10 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE #
# Jul 25, 2000 #
# Rashis 162-162 Of 7800 (2.1%) #
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# Reprinted with permission from Rashi-is-Simple, #
# (c) 1999-Present, Dr. Hendel #
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In this module we explored the 2 dozen Rashis
studying "consecutive paragraphs". Why does it
happen that 2 consecutive Torah paragraphs come one
after the other.
It turns out there are 4 methods by which Rashi
explains consecutive Torah paragraphs.
We now present the GRAND SUMMARY of all 2 dozen examples
First we review each of the 4 methods with an example
METHOD 1: The 1st chapter is a CAUSE of the 2nd chapter
-------------------------------------------------------
EXAMPLE:The chapter on the Nazaarite who abstains from wine
(Nu06) is written right after the chapter on the Temple
rite for the women suspected of adultery(Nu05).
This teachers us the obvious lesson that whoever sees a women
who has to go thru the adulterous wife ceremony(which is
very humiliating) will be so shocked that they will become a
Nazaarite and abstain from wine.
In other words the adulterous wife ritual CAUSES
nazaaritism(Nu06-02a)
METHOD 2: The 1st chapter is a MERIT ENABLING the 2nd
-----------------------------------------------------
EXAMPLE: The chapter on going to war (Dt20) is written AFTER
the chapter on court procedures (Dt19).
This teaches the obvious fact that a just judicial system will
be a MERIT that enables us to win wars(Rashi on Dt20-01a)
METHOD 3: The 2nd chapter holds DESPITE the 1st chapter
-------------------------------------------------------
EXAMPLE: Thus Lv19-03c says "honor your parents" &
observe the Shabbath.
This is interpreted to mean that we should observe the
sabbath DESPITE the fact that eg our parents told us
to desecrate it (In other words if there is a conflict
between honoring ones parents and keeping the
Sabbath the Sabbath wins)
METHOD 4: The 2 chapters have a common theme
--------------------------------------------
In the following examples, Rashi sees a COMMON THEME in
consecutive paragraphs. However, to fully appreciate Rashi
we must not only superficially see this common theme in the
GIVEN TWO paragraphs, we must also see this common theme in
ALL SURROUNDING paragraphs.
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
-----------------------------------------------------------
METHOD 1: In the following Rashis the event mentioned in
the 1st chapter is the CAUSE of the event mentioned in
the second chapter
-----------------------------------------------------------
# VERSE TOPIC IN 1st CHAPTER TOPIC IN 2nd CHAPTER
==== ======== ==================== =====================
(01) Nu06-02a Adulterous wife rite Nazaarite from wine*1
(02) Gn38-01a Brothers sell Joseph Judah leaves brothers*1
(03) Gn23-03c Abraham offers Isaac Sarah dies*1
(04) Gn02-20a Adam Eve are Naked Snake gives Eve Apple*2
NOTES
-----
*1 Thus "whoever see the humiliating Adulterous wife rite"
will be so shocked that he will abstain from wine
Similarly "Judah advised his brothers to sell Joseph"
and so when they regretted it they blaimed him and he
had to "separate from them."
Similarly "Sarah died" from the shock that "Abraham
offered Isaac."
*2 In other words because the snake saw Adam and Eve naked
therefore he became Jealous and wanted Adam killed so
he could marry Eve.
ALthough this sounds a bit wild there is strong supporting
evidence. Gn04-01 uses the past perfect form
"And Adam HAD BEEN FAMILIAR with his wife & they had
a child"
So the sequence of chapters is
"Adam was lonely"
"God makes Eve"
"Adam and Eve are naked"
------------------------"Snake tempts Eve"
"Adam has a child with Eve"
Thus the sequence of chapters (Naked--->child) is
clearly interrupted by the Snake story.
------------------------------------------------------------
METHOD 2: In the following Rashis the event mentioned in
the 1st chapter is a MERIT enabling the event mentioned
in the 2nd chapter
------------------------------------------------------------
# VERSE TOPIC IN 1st CHAPTER TOPIC IN 2nd CHAPTER
==== ======== ======================== =====================
(05) Dt20-01a Judicial process Laws of War*1
(07) Nu20-02a Miryams death And there was no water*1
(08) Gn21-01a Egypt had chidren Sarah had a child*2
NOTES
-----
*1 In the merit of our following "Judicial process" we will
be able to "win wars"
Similarly after Miryams death there was no water. Thus
we have that in the merit of "Miryam" the Jews had water
*2 Again a close examination of the BIblical text shows a
past perfect
"And God punished Avimelech and his household"
"And Abraham prayed for Avimelech & his household"
"But God HAD ALREADY VISITED Sarah with a child"
In other words Sarah had already had a child.
The Bible deliberately juxtaposes "sarah having a child"
with "Abraham praying for Avimelechs household to have a
child" to teach us
"That whoever is a kind person and
prays for others will have their own
needs met first"
-----------------------------------------------------------
METHOD 3: In the following Rashis the event or command in
the 2nd Rashi happens DESPITE the presence of the event
or command in the 1st Rashi
-----------------------------------------------------------
# VERSE TOPIC IN 1st CHAPTER TOPIC IN 2nd CHAPTER
==== ======== ======================== =====================
(09) Lv26-01a Being a slave to Non Jew Prohibition of Idolatry*1
(10) Dt29-12a Curses We are before God*2
(11) Lv19-03c Fear Parents Watch Sabbaths*3
(12) Dt22-12a No Shaatnez Tzitzith*4
NOTES
-----
*1 On a superficial level Rashi seems to be connecting 2
verses.
Avoid idolatry DESPITE your being a slave to a non jew
(who encourages its violation). Do not think "I will
worship idols now and when I am free I will go
back to believing in God"
On a profound level Rashi sees a unifying theme to this
whole chapter. The chapter encourages observing the
shimitah laws which encourage abstaining from agriculture
once every 7 years so that people can devote themselves
to God and study. If one violates these laws he is
progressively punished. Here is the sequence of
punishments
{LIST} {Paragraphs in BEHAR}
VERSE LAW
===== ===
Lv25-01:12 Observe the 7 and 50 year Land sabbaticals
Lv25-13:24 If not you will have to sell your MOVABLES
Lv25-25:28 If not you will have to sell your LAND
Lv25-29:34 If not you will have to sell your HOUSE
Lv25-35:38 If not you will have to LOAN
Lv25-39:46 If not you will have to become a SLAVE
Lv25-47:54 If not you'll become a NONJEWISH SLAVE
Lv26-01:03 If not you'll be tempted to IDOLATRY
Thus Rashi does not merely teach juxtaposition of verses
but he also teaches juxtaposition of ALL paragraphs in
the chapter.
*2 Dt28 gives a long list of curses if the Jews violate
the commandments.
Dt29-12 says "You are all STANDING before God today" In
other words despite the curses for disobediance you are
still here before God(The implication being that no
matter how angry God gets he will not destroy you)
A further support for this theme can come from the
General-particular-General form
Dt28 GENERAL: Curses for disobediance
Dt29-12 PARTICULAR: You are standing here before God
Dt29-19 GENERAL: Curses for disobediance
Thus the General-Particular-General form shows that Gods
curses still allow us to "Stand before him"--in other
words they are educative curses not punitive.
*3 In other words (always) "Observe the Sabbaths"
DESPITE a request to the contrary "By your parents"
This can happen if eg your parents ask you to
desecrate the Sabbath. You must observe the
Sabbath even if your parents request to
the contrary.
And this can be generalized to all Torah laws(that
they take precedence over your parents request)
*4 Wear Tzitzith DESPITE the fact that they may have Shaatnez
Wool and linen together (In the priestly garments made of
Linen the Tzitzith were made of wool--thus the commandment
of Tzitzith OVERRIDES the prohibtion of wearing wool and
linen)
--------------------------------------------------------------
METHOD 4:In the following verses Rashi notes a common theme to
TWO consecutive chapters. Please however see the footnotes to
see how ALL surrounding chapters deal with the common theme
--------------------------------------------------------------
# VERSE COMMON THEME CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 2
=== ======== =============== =============== ================
*13 Nu13-02a Slander Miryam on Moses Spies on Israel
*14 Nu26-64a Entry to Israel Census Girl inheritance
*15 Nu27-12a Entry to Israel Girl inheritance Joshua and Moes
*16 Nu15-41d Important Laws Idolatry Sabbath
*17 Dt33-07a Repentance Reuven Judah
*18 Nu08-02a Temple gifts Gold vessels Service
*19 Ex17-08a God cares for us Water-Manna Defeat of Amalek
*20 Ex21-01a A Just life The Altar Monetary Law
*21 Nu20-01b Atonement Red Heiffer Miryam's death
NOTES
-----
*13 We have already explained that much of the book of numbers
deals with incidents of slander {LIST1} and punishments
for incidents of slander {LIST2}.
Thus Rashis real point is not so much that the incident
of the spies came after the incident of Miriam but
rather that the whole book of Numbers deals with this
sin.
Rashi will typically summarize a technical abstract
point by noting some irony or pun. In this case
Rashi says "If the spies had listened to Miriam
they wouldn't have failed".
{LIST1} {Incidents of SLANDER in the book of numbers}
REF INCIDENT OF SLANDER VERSE
==== ============================================== ==========
Nu11 The people SLANDER God's food,the Manna,as bad Nu11-06:07
Nu12 Miryam SLANDERS Moses as being too haughty Nu12-02:03
Nu13 The spies SLANDER Israel Nu14-32
Nu16 Korach SLANDERS Israel Nu16-03
Nu20 Moses INSULTS/SLANDERS the Jews Nu20-10
Nu21 The people SLANDER the MANNA (again) Nu21-05
Nu22 Bilam attempts to CURSE the Jews Nu24-08
{LIST2} {List of punishments for SLANDER}
REF WHO SLANDERED WHO DID THEY SLANDER PUNISHMENT
=== ============= ==================== ==========
Nu11 Jews The Manna Vomiting disease
Nu12 Miriam Moses Leprosy
Nu13 Spies Land of Israel Death
Nu16 Korach Moses Earthquake/Fire
Nu20 Moses Jews Can't go to Israel
Nu21 Jews Manna Snake attack
Nu22 Bilam Jews Lost life in War
*14 Rashis real point is that all of the surrounding
*15 chapters deals with the PREPARATION TO ENTER
ISRAEL {LIST3}.
Again Rashi expresses this as a pun---"The census
was taken because of the spies who did NOT want
Israel while the following paragraph dealing
with the inheritance rights of the daughters
of Zlafchad deals with girls who DID want
land in Israel"
Despite the cuteness the deeper approach is to
view the entire set of chapters as dealing
with the preparations for entering Israel
{LIST3} {Chapters dealing with preparations for
entering Israel}
VERSE TEXT--CONNECTION WITH ISRAEL
========== ===============================================
Nu26-52:56 Laws of inheritance upon entry into Israel
Nu26-57:65 No more deaths from spy sin;punishment complete
Nu27-01:11 Inheritance laws in families without men
Nu27-12:23 Moses appoints Joshua to succeed him
Nu28-01:39 The holiday sacrifices (Unites Jews in Israel)
Nu31-01:54 Moses' final defensive battle (Nu31-02)
Nu32-01:42 Request of Gadites to have land outside of Israel
*16 As Rashi explicitly says
"This entire chapter deals with laws which are EQUAL
in importance to the whole Torah and all of Judaism"
See {LIST4}
{LIST4} {Commandments equal in importance to the whole Torah}
VERSE MITZVAH WHY THIS COMMANDMENT IS FUNDAMENTAL
========= ======== ===================================
Nu15-22:31 Idolatry Acceptance of God is fundamental
Nu15-32:36 Sabbath Acknowledging Gods creation
Nu15-37-41 Tzitzith Helps remember ALL commandments(Nu15-40)
*17 Rashi--the master of puns and coincidences. Rashi notes
that Reuben repented from the sin of inteferring with
his fathers marital life. Rashi notes
"Reuben repenting from his sin encouraged Judah
to repent from his sins (of recommending selling
Joseph and of sentencing Tamar to death)"
Actually, Rashi suggests that the WHOLE chapter of Dt33
is organized by the theme of repentance. Those tribes
that are known for their repentance are listed first
while those who are not so well known are listed later
See {LIST5}
{LIST5} {Ordering of Dt33 by the common theme of repentance}
Tribe What sin did they abstain/repent from
====== =====================================
Reuben He inteferred with his fathers marital life (Gn49-04)
Judah He repented from trying to execute Tamar(Gn38-26)
Levi This tribe did not sin with the Golden calf(Ex33-26)
Bnyamin Binyamin never sinned(see our explanations of Gn45-14)
Joseph Joseph outgrew his immaturity & became king(Gn37-02)
*18 Rashis point is that
--the other tribes brought RESOURCES for the temple
such as animals for sacrifices and vessel
--by contrast the priests contribute SERVICES to the
temple
*19 Rashi again makes some puns and associations
"I (God)just gave you the Manna and you think I don't
care for you. So I will let Amalek attack you and
then you will have to pray to me and be aware that
I do care for you"
But Rashis real point is that ALL the surrounding chapters
(not just 2) deal with Gods care for the Jews {LIST6}
{LIST6} {Chapters showing Gods care for the Jews}
VERSE HOW GOD CARES FOR US
========== ============================================
Ex13-17:22 God takes us out of Egypt
Ex14-01:25 God splits the sea to save us from Egypt
Ex14-26:31 God drowns the Egyptians in the sea
Ex15-22:26 God sweetens sour water for the 600,000 Jews
Ex16-01:36 God provides the Jews with Manna food
Ex17-01:16 God saves the Jews from Amalek
*20 Again Rashi by way of pun notes that the Parliament sat
IN the temple and "therefore the altar is mentioned
near the Judicial code"
But Rashi is not connecting JUST 2 chapters but rather
Rashi is connecting a whole sequence of chapters dealing
with laws that enable us to live a just & good life
See {LIST7}
Some hilights are as follows: While Ex23 deals with
the laws for HOLIDAYS and the 7th YEAR nevertheless
the emphasis in Ex23 is on letting the STRANGER
and POOR have a respite(eg Ex23-09, Ex23-12)
Furthermore the ALTAR was an intrinsic part of the
Judicial code--for all law is based on the backup
of court procedures which in turn is based on the
oath. If a person took an oath falsely he had
to bring a sacrifice (Lv05). Similarly if a
person robbed a convert who had no children
then he needed a sacrifice to atone (Lv06).
Thus the altar was an intrinsic part of the
judicial code.
{LIST7} {Chapter deals with living a just & good life}
VERSE CONNECTION WITH THE "JUST AND GOOD LIFE"
========== ==============================================
Ex20-01:14 God gives the 10 commandments
Ex20-15:23 Altar atones for oaths & certain theft(Lv05:06)
Ex21:22 God gives us the Monetary Judicial Code
Ex23 God gives holidays & 7th year to help the poor
*21 Rashi superficially notes that both the Red Heiffer and
the death of the righteous (ie Miryam) atones. But on
a profound level the surrounding chapters are all
dealing with atonement. See {LIST8} which is greatly
curtailed but gives much food for thought.
{LIST8} {Chapters dealing with atonement}
VERSE CONNECTION WITH ATONEMENT
========== ===============================
Nu17-01:05 The robs of the rebellion ATONE
Nu17-06:15 The Ketoreth offering ATONES
Nu17-16:28 The flowering sticks ATONE
Nu18-01:20 The Priestly gifts ATONE
Nu18-21-32 The Levite gifts ATONE
Nu19-01:22 The Red Heiffer ATONES
Nu20-01:29 The death of the Righteous(Miriam,Aaron,Moses)ATONES
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#