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      5. RASHI METHOD: CONTRADICTION
      BRIEF EXPLANATION:Rashi resolves contradictory verses using 3 methods.
      • (5a) Resolution using two aspects of the same event
      • (5b) Resolution using two stages of the same process
      • (5c) Resolution using broad-literal interpretation.
      This examples applies to Rashis Nu35-02a Nu35-04a
      URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w34n4.htm
      Brief Summary: Brief Summary: a) The city OUTSKIRTS = 1000. b) From city border to end = 2000. 1st 1000 for gardens; 2nd 1000 for vineyards and fields.

The table below presents two contradictory verses. Both verses talk about the outskirts of the Levite cities The underlined words highlight the contradiction. One verse says the outskirts of the city will be 1000 cubits while the other verse says from the city border to end will be 2000 cubits. Which is it? Are the outskirts 1000 or 2000 cubits Rashi simply resolves this using the 2-aspects method: a) The outskirt of the city - the place set aside for gardens and city beautification - occupied 1000 cubits. b) The remainder of outside of the city - the next 1000 cubits - was set aside for planting fields and vineyards.

Summary Verse / Source Text of verse / Source
The outskirts (for gardens and city beautification) is 1000 feet. Nu35-04 And the outskirts around the cities, that you shall give to the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city outward a thousand cubits around
The total distance from the city border is 2000 cubits. The 2nd 1000 cubits is for planting fields and vineyards. Nu35-05 #####
Resolution: 2-Aspects a) The outskirt of the city - the place set aside for gardens and city beautification - occupied 1000 cubits. b) The remainder of outside of the city - the next 1000 cubits - was set aside for planting fields and vineyards.

Advanced Rashi: Today we have a special treat. Normally we only review Rashi in this email group. However as the yearly cycles grow repetitiously we try and add items. Today we add a controversy between the Rambam and Rashi on how to interpret these contradictory verses. For if the contradiction method only explained Rashi it would not be universal but specific to one commentator. Our goal in this email list is to show that the 10 Rashi methods and 30 Submethods are universal to all commentators. To prove this we must show how the Rambam, using the same method, arrived at a different conclusion!

While Rashi resolves the contradiction presented above using the 2 aspects method, Rambam resolves the contradiction presented above using the 2 stages method. The Rambam holds that in the first stage of creating city outskirts we lay out 1000 cubits on each side for city gardens and city beautification; in the 2nd stage of creating city outskirts we measure out an additional 2000 cubits on each side of the city plus garden outskirts. These 2000 cubits are for planting fields and vineyards.

Thus the superficial controversy between Rashi and Rambam is whether we have 2000 cubits of outskirts (Rashi) or 3000 cubits of outskirts (1000 cubits plus 2000 cubits according to Rambam).

But the deep controversy between Rashi and Rambam is whether we resolve the contradiction through the 2 aspects or 2 stages method.

As the yearly cycle evolves we hope to have more applications of our 10 basic methods and 30 submethods to controversies among the early authorities.


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