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VERSE: Ex18-05a
========================= Ex18-05a ==============================
SUCCINT SUMMARY:
----------------
One of Rashis 5 main goals was the explanation of grammar
similar to the explanations we find in modern textbooks. We
call this the Rashi rule of GRAMMAR.
Most people are familiar with those parts of grammar that
deal with the individual word--for example, the rules of verb
conjugation.
However an equally important part of grammar are the rules
of development in paragraphs: Given a paragraph theme what
types of sentences can exist in that paragraph and what are
their relations to the central theme. The rules of paragraph
development also apply to chapter development: How are the
constituent paragraphs of a chapter related to the central
theme. For this reason we call this Rashi subrule, the rule
of CONSECUTIVE PARAGRAPHS.
Rashi knew 4 means of relating consecutive sentences or
consecutive paragraphs in a paragraph or chapter:
- CAUSE
- CONTRAST
- ENABLEMENT
- UNIFYING THEME.
EXAMPLE Ex18-05a
----------------
The Biblical text states
------------------------------------------------------
Jethro came to moses
-------------------- TO THE WILDERNESS where he camped
-------------------- [TO] the MOUNT OF GOD
------------------------------------------------------
Rashi paraphrased comments
------------------------------------------------------
Note the contrast
- to come to the HONORED MOUNT OF GOD
- one had to also come to the DESPICABLE WILDERNESS
------------------------------------------------------
The two clauses: WILDERNESS vs MOUNTAIN of GOD are
contrastive. That is
- we know the meanings of the words WILDERNESS,GODS MOUNT
- we know the meaning of the sentences: HE CAME THERE
What Rashi adds is FUNCTION OF THE CLAUSES IN THE SENTENCE
-- there is an emphasis of CONTRAST
-- it was the HONORED mount of God
-- but it nevertheless was in the DESPICABLE wilderness
Exegetes sometimes emphasize this contrast
- to become Godly you may have to expose yourself to
- despicable circumstances
LIST061b below presents several Rashis exhibiting contrast
between verses.
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ITEM DETAIL
======================== ===================================
RASHI RULE CLASS: GRAMMAR
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS: CONSECUTIVE CHAPTERS
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #9
SEE BELOW LIST061b
A list of paragraphs having a CONTRASTING connection
============================================================
======================== LIST061b =================================
A list of paragraphs having a CONTRASTING connection
===================================================================
# VERSE TOPIC IN 1st CHAPTER TOPIC IN 2nd CHAPTER
==== ========== ======================== ==========================
(--) Ex18-05a Jethro comes to DESERT comes to Mount of GOD
(--) Ex04-11a Moses cant speak Moses did speak-Ex02-11:14
(--) Ex04-11b Moses afraid of Pharoh God protected Mshe-Ex02-15
(--) Gn47-25a*8 20% Tax:80% Yours Thank you...Good deal
(--) Gn42-10a JOE: You are spies BROTHERS:NO-we are not.*7
(09) Lv26-01a Being a slave to Non Jew Prohibition of Idolatry*1
(10) Dt29-12a Curses We are before God*2
(11) Lv19-03c Fear Parents Watch Sabbaths*3
(12) Dt22-12a No Shaatnez Tzitzith*4
(--) Dt09, Dt10 Jews rebel against God But God still loves Jews*5
(--) Gn31-13d I will go GENTLY You will PASS ME*6
NOTES
-----
*1 Rashi not only connects 2 paragraphs. He also connects
all Biblical paragraphs in this chapter. See
footnote *10 for further details
*2 Dt28 gives a long list of curses if the Jews violate
the commandments.
Dt29-12 says "You are all STANDING before God today" In
other words despite the curses for disobediance you are
still here before God(The implication being that no
matter how angry God gets he will not destroy you)
A further support for this theme can come from the
General-particular-General form
Dt28 GENERAL: Curses for disobediance
Dt29-12 PARTICULAR: You are standing here before God
Dt29-19 GENERAL: Curses for disobediance
Thus the General-Particular-General form shows that Gods
curses still allow us to "Stand before him"--in other
words they are educative curses not punitive.
*3 In other words (always) "Observe the Sabbaths"
DESPITE a request to the contrary "By your parents"
This can happen if eg your parents ask you to
desecrate the Sabbath. You must observe the
Sabbath even if your parents request to
the contrary.
And this can be generalized to all Torah laws(that
they take precedence over your parents request)
*4 Wear Tzitzith DESPITE the fact that they may have Shaatnez
Wool and linen together (In the priestly garments made of
Linen the Tzitzith were made of wool--thus the commandment
of Tzitzith OVERRIDES the prohibtion of wearing wool and
linen)
*5 More specifically Rashi (Dt10-12a) states
---------------------------------------------
Despite the 5 rebellions that the Jews did
against God, nevertheless, God still loves
the Jews. In fact Dt10-12 states that all
the Jews need do to earn this love is to
revere God
---------------------------------------------
*6 Rashis point is that Jacob did not ask Esauv
----------------------------
Past me and leave me behind
----------------------------
Rather Jacob suggested contrast
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- I must go at a gentle pace
- you go at a normal pace
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A logical consequence of this contrast is that
Esauv would pass Jacob and leave him behind.
*7 The full Biblical text shows two rounds of dialogs
between Moses and Joseph
The Biblical text states as follows
----------------------------------------------------
Gn42-09 1 JOE: You are Spies
Gn42-10:11 1 BROHTERS: NO(Contrast)--We are simple people
Gn42-12 2 JOE: NO(Contrast) you are spies
Gn42-13 2 BROTHERS: We are 12 sons;we came for food
----------------------------------------------------
*8 Gn47-25b and Gn47-25a both deal with the contrast of offer
vs Thank you.
---------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES ----------------------
*10
On a superficial level Rashi seems to be connecting 2
verses.
Avoid idolatry DESPITE your being a slave to a non jew
(who encourages its violation). Do not think "I will
worship idols now and when I am free I will go
back to believing in God"
On a profound level Rashi sees a unifying theme to this
whole chapter. The chapter encourages observing the
shimitah laws which encourage abstaining from agriculture
once every 7 years so that people can devote themselves
to God and study. If one violates these laws he is
progressively punished. Here is the sequence of
punishments
{LIST} {Paragraphs in BEHAR}
-------------------------------------------------------
VERSE LAW
------------ ------------------------------------------
Lv25-01:12 Observe the 7 and 50 year Land sabbaticals
Lv25-13:24 If not you will have to sell your MOVABLES
Lv25-25:28 If not you will have to sell your LAND
Lv25-29:34 If not you will have to sell your HOUSE
Lv25-35:38 If not you will have to LOAN
Lv25-39:46 If not you will have to become a SLAVE
Lv25-47:54 If not you'll become a NONJEWISH SLAVE
Lv26-01:03 If not you'll be tempted to IDOLATRY
---------------------------------------------------------
Thus Rashi does not merely teach juxtaposition of verses
but he also teaches juxtaposition of ALL paragraphs in
the chapter.
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Volume 24 Number 21
#*#*#*# (C) 2000-2005, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#
Volume 24 Number 21