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      2. RASHI METHOD: WORD MEANING
      BRIEF EXPLANATION: The meaning of words can be explained either by
      • (2a) translating an idiom, a group of words whose collective meaning transcends the meaning of its individual component words,
      • (2b) explaining the nuances and commonality of synonyms-homographs,
      • (2c) describing the usages of connective words like also,because,if-then, when,
      • (2d) indicating how grammatical conjugation can change word meaning
      • (2e) changing word meaning using the figures of speech common to all languages such as irony and oxymorons.
      This examples applies to Rashis Dt20-20a
      URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w34n9.htm
      Brief Summary: The Hebrew root Yud-Resh-Dalet can mean a) to fall b) to conquer

When Rashi uses, what we may losely call, the hononym method, Rashi does not explain new meaning but rather shows an underlying unity in disparate meanings. Rashi will frequently do this by showing an underlying unity in the varied meanings of a Biblical root.

In my article Peshat and Derash found on the world wide web at http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rashi.pdf. I advocate enriching the Rashi explanation using a technique of parallel nifty translations in modern English. Today's examples show this.

The Hebrew root Yud-Resh-Dalet means both to fall and to conquer. The relation of these two meanings should be clear. When you beat a person up they typically fall to the ground. Similarly when you defeat or destroy a city its buildings typically are felled to the gound.

We apply the above to verse Dt20-20a. If we translated Yud-Resh-Dalet as meaning fall then we would translate the verse as follows: Only the trees which you know are not trees for food, you shall destroy and cut them down; and you shall build siege works against the city that makes war with you, until it has fallen. Already the Davka translation of this verse which I frequently use in this email list translates the Hebrew root Yud-Resh-Dalet as meaning subdue. Only the trees which you know are not trees for food, you shall destroy and cut them down; and you shall build siege works against the city that makes war with you, until it is subdued. Conquered could be an alternate translation, 


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