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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 Gn36-35a
      URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w34n22.htm
      Brief Summary: Hadad King of EDOM conquered Midyan in MOABITE fields Rashi: EDOM was a MOABITE ally and Midayn a MOABITE enemy

The table below presents two contradictory verses. Both verses speak about Hadad.rule The underlined words highlight the contradiction. One verse says And these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the people of Israel while the other verse states And Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place; and the name of his city was Avith. We see the contradiction--- If Hadad was King of Edom why was he fighting in a Moabite field? Rashi simply resolves this using the 2 Aspects method: Moab and Edom were allies. Midyan was an enemy of Moab. When Midyan attacked Moab, Edom, Moab's ally came to his aid.

Summary Verse / Source Text of verse / Source
Hadad was king of Edom Gn36-31 And these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the people of Israel
Hadad defeated Midyan in Moabite fields Gn36-31 And Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place; and the name of his city was Avith.
Resolution: 2 Aspects Moab and Edom were allies. Midyan was an enemy of Moab. When Midyan attacked Moab, Edom, Moab's ally came to his aid.

Advanced Rashi: One can legitimately ask, How did Rashi know Edom and Moab were allies or that Moab and Midyan were enemies? This is one interesting attribute of the contradiction method - the contradiction itself intrinsically justifies making reasonable assumptions to resolve the contradiction. Hence Rashi reasonably assumes that if Midyan was conquered in a Moabite field then they - Moab and Midyan - must have been enemies. Similarly Rashi reasonably assumes that if Edom was in the Moabite field they - Moab and Edom - must have been allies.

Rashi uses this verse to explain another contradiction. We just established that Moab and Midyan were allies. But in Nu22-04 Moab asks Midyan for help! Rashi explains: Although they - Moab and Midyan - were enemies, their common hatred of the Jews overrode their own hatred of each other.


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