Why are words REPEATED REPEATED:#8 of 14
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OVERVIEW:
========
This module deals with Rashis which comment on verses with
>REPEATED WORDS<. The basic technique for >REPEATED WORDS<
was succinctly formulated by the MALBIM
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When a word is >REPEATED< unnecessarily then the
sentence with that word refers to >NON-STANDARD NUANCES<
The examples will illustrate how this is implemented
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TODAYS UNIT
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In todays unit we review an unusual case.
There are two possible interpretations of the REPETITION,
both without much support. This will be our last example
in this series. A GRAND SUMMARY will appear tomorrow along
with numerous references, Talmudic citations, and footnotes
on talmudic examples.
REFERENCE: NOSTALGIC MEMORIES
=========
Material in this module comes from the very first
volume of Rashi is Simple. That volume contains
some of my favorites.
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h1n1.htm
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/dn.htm
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
EXAMPLE 15: Gn28-11a
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THE VERSE
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And Jacob left Beer Sheva and went towards Charan. And he
>BUMPED< into >THE PLACE< and he stayed over there because
the sun was setting; and he took from the stones of >THE PLACE<
and he placed them on his head
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THE REPETITION
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Notice that the word >THE PLACE< is repeated. We have already
explained in example 14 that proper grammar requires use of a
>PRONOUN< to replace a >REPEATED NOUN<. So at the very least
it should have said >and he took from ITS stones<, not
>and he took from the stones of the PLACE<.
A further complication on this verse is the use of the definite
participle >THE<. >THE< always refers to something specific,
something previously named. This is the >ONLY VERSE< in the
Bible where the word >THE PLACE< occurs without a previous
reference (eg It could have just said
>And he bumped into A place<). We will have a separate series
on use of the word >THE< in later issues of RashiYomi.
A NON-STANDARD NUANCE
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Because of the repetition we use a non-standard use of the
word >PLACE<. Place can also refer to >THE TEMPLE MOUNT< or
to >GOD<(we will document this below) Thus we translate the
verses as follows
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And Jacob left Beer Sheva and went towards Charan. And he
>PRAYED< by the >TEMPLE MOUNT< and he stayed over there because
the sun was setting; and he took from the stones of >THE PLACE<
and he placed them on his head
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COMMENTS
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COMMENT 1
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The Hebrew verb >Pey-Gimel-Ayin<,>bumped into<,CAN refer to Prayer
(i.e. bumped into a sudden situation that required prayer) Note:
No one DERIVES the fact that Jacob Prayed from the verb
>Pay-Gimel-Ayin<--since >Pay-Gimel-Ayin< CAN mean Prayer
but it does not have to.
COMMENT 2
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The translation of the Hebrew word >PLACE< as >GOD< occurs in
our daily prayers. Unfortunately although,this is a frequent
meaning of >PLACE< in talmudic Hebrew, it is an extremely rare
occurence in Biblical Hebrew. Radack in his book ROOTS,
notes that the Talmudic meaning of >PLACE< is >GOD< and cites
all the verses in the list below(Except for Ez03-12)
Rashi however brilliantly slightly adjusts this meaning as
follows: >PLACE< refers to >THE PLACE<--the Temple Mount which
is the >HOME< of God. So >He Prayed to THE PLACE< would be
better translated as >He Prayed by the TEMPLE MOUNT< Similarly
Ez03-12 would be better translated as >Blessed be God from
his Temple Home<.
This adjustment of Rashi would explain why he brought both
interpretations on Gn28-11a (PLACE=TEMPLE; PLACE=GOD).
{LIST}
The phrase >THE PLACE< can refer to the TEMPLE
MOUNT, the >HOME OF GOD< and can indicate >PRAYER TO GOD<
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VERSE TEXT OF VERSE
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Gn28-11 And he (Jacob) prayed to God by the Temple mount PLACE
Ez03-12 Praised Be God from his Temple Mount PLACE
Dt33-27 The God of Ancient days has a HOME*1
Es04-14 If you dont help,salvation will come from out TEMPLE
NOTES
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*1 The Hebrw word for place in this verse is >Mem-Ayin-Nun<
not >Mem-Kuf-Vav-Mem<.
{END OF LIST}
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