10 Mtzvt mention the exodus:#5 of 5
###########################################################
# 10 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE #
# Jul 31, 2000 #
# Rashis 174-174 Of 7800 (2.1%) #
# #
# Reprinted with permission from Rashi-is-Simple, #
# (c) 1999-Present, Dr. Hendel #
# http://www.RashiYomi.Com/rashi #
# #
#Permission to reprint with this header but not for profit#
# #
# WARNING: READ with COURIER 10 (Fixed width) FONTS #
###########################################################
In the following module we have explored the dozen
commandments where the Bible also mentions the Egyptian
Exodus. A typical commandment might read "Do commandment
so and so because I God took you out of Egypt." The natural
question is "What is the common feature of these dozen
commandments which caused Egypt to be mentioned?"
We have explained 4 methods by which Rashi connects
specific commandments with Egypt. We now present
the grand summary of these 4 methods with all examples.
METHOD 1: Treatment of Slaves, Orphans & Widows
--------------------------------------------------------------
In commandments demanding nice treatment of underprivileged
people the Torah says
>Treat SLAVES nicely because you were a SLAVE
These laws usually demand treating slaves, orphans,
widows or converts nicely. For EXAMPLE, the Sabbath law
states "Let your slaves rest on Sabbath because I took
you out of Egypt where you were slaves"
--------------------------------------------------------------
METHOD 2: Becoming HOLY; separating from unholiness
--------------------------------------------------------------
Commandments that mention "Do such and such in order to
become holy" continue "because I am God who took you out
of the unholiness of Egypt." For EXAMPLE the Kashruth laws
state "Observe Kashruth and become holy for I am God who
raised you from (the unholiness of) Egypt"
--------------------------------------------------------------
METHOD 3: Do not create BUSINESS ANXIETY
--------------------------------------------------------------
There are many commandments that prohibit OUTRIGHT monetary
theft such as the prohibitions of theft, robbery, denial of
loans etc. However commandments prohibiting HIDDEN monetary
theft, such as the use of slightly-off-weights mention Egypt
since the creation of hidden anxiety was a major Egyptian
torture method. For example "be meticulous with proper
weights because I God took you out of Egypt"
--------------------------------------------------------------
METHOD 4: Observe all Commandments
--------------------------------------------------------------
A commandment that encompasses doing ALL commandments or that
is doctrinal is connected with remembering Egypt since we were
freed from Egypt on condition that we do all commandments. For
example "Believe in God since he took you out of Egypt"
--------------------------------------------------------------
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
EXAMPLES
--------
-----GRAND SUMMARY-----
The following are the dozen commandments where remembering
Egypt is also mentioned.
METHOD 1: Treatment of Slaves, Orphans & Widows
--------------------------------------------------------------
In commandments demanding nice treatment of underprivileged
people the Torah says
>Treat SLAVES nicely because you were a SLAVE
These laws usually demand treating slaves, orphans,
widows or converts nicely. For EXAMPLE, the Sabbath law
states "Let your slaves rest on Sabbath because I took
you out of Egypt where you were slaves" *1
--------------------------------------------------------------
EXAMPLE 1: Dt15-15 When you free SLAVES give them GIFTS
EXAMPLE 2: Dt05-15 Let your slaves rest on SABBATH
EXAMPLE 3: Dt16-12 Let your slaves be happy on SHAVUOTH
EXAMPLE 4: Dt24-18 JUDGE orphans & widows PROPERLY
NOTES
-----
*1a Most of these commandments mention not only slaves but also
orphans, widows and converts. For typographical reasons
I only mention Slaves.
*1b In each example the commandment is CAPITALIZED. So eg
EXAMPLE 1 is talking about the Biblical commandment of
giving SLAVES GIFTS
*1c In each example we cite the verse that mentions Egypt
The verses mentioning slaves, orphans etc occur 1 to
2 verses earlier.
METHOD 2: Becoming HOLY; separating from unholiness
--------------------------------------------------------------
Commandments that mention "Do such and such in order to
become holy" continue "because I am God who took you out
of the unholiness of Egypt." For EXAMPLE the Kashruth laws
state "Observe Kashruth and become holy for I am God who
raised you from (the unholiness of) Egypt" *1,2
--------------------------------------------------------------
EXAMPLE 5: Lv11-45 Become HOLY by not eating NonKOSHER food
EXAMPLE 6: Lv22-33 Become HOLY by not DESECRATING Gods name
EXAMPLE 7: Nu15-31 Become HOLY by doing my commandments(TZITZT
EXAMPLE 8: Ex29-46 Become HOLY by offering sacrifices
NOTES
-----
*1 In each example we mention the verse mentioning Egypt.
However 1-2 verses earlier we have a verse mentioning
holiness
*2 This category, of connecting commandments mentioning
holiness with Egypt, is aided by the following list
{LIST1} {Comparison of the Bibles language for
describing the Exodus.Only by commandments
with holiness is the phrased RAISED(vs TOOK
out of Egypt) is used. This has connotations
of being raised FROM unholiness TO unholiness}
VERSE LANGUAGE DESCRIBING THE EXODUS
----- ------------------------------
Dt15-15 I ..God who TOOK you out of Egypt
Dt05-15 I ..God who TOOK you out of Egypt
Dt16-12 I ..God who TOOK you out of Egypt
Dt24-18 I ..God who TOOK you out of Egypt
Lv11-45 I ..God who RAISED you out of Egypt
METHOD 3: Do not create BUSINESS ANXIETY
--------------------------------------------------------------
There are many commandments that prohibit OUTRIGHT monetary
theft such as the prohibitions of theft, robbery, denial of
loans etc. However commandments prohibiting HIDDEN monetary
theft, such as the use of slightly-off-weights mention Egypt
since the creation of hidden anxiety was a major Egyptian
torture method. For example "be meticulous with proper
weights because I God took you out of Egypt" *1
--------------------------------------------------------------
EXAMPLE 9: Lv19-36 Dont use BAD WEIGHTS; they cause ANXIETY
EXAMPLE 10: Lv25-38 Dont LOAN ON INTEREST;it causes ANXIETY
NOTES
-----
*1 Interestingly of the dozen commandments mentioning
Egypt only the anxiety producing commandments have
their verses cited by the Rambam in the Mishneh Toray.
METHOD 4: Observe all Commandments
--------------------------------------------------------------
A commandment that encompasses doing ALL commandments or that
is doctrinal is connected with remembering Egypt since we were
freed from Egypt on condition that we do all commandments. For
example "Believe in God since he took you out of Egypt"
--------------------------------------------------------------
EXAMPLE 11: Ex20-02 Acknowledge GODS EXISTENCE
EXAMPLE 12: Nu15-31 Do ALL my commandments (TZITZT)
EXAMPLE 13: Lv22-33 sanctify me(MARTYRDOM) in the Jewish People
NOTES
-----
*1 See the main posting for many more details including the
one language difference in these 10 verses; or for an
explanation on why the Rambam only cited 2 of these 10
commandments.
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#