#*#*#*#*#  (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
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VERSE: Ex18-22b

RASHIS COVERED: Ex13-03a Ex20-08a Nu06-23a Dt15-10a Dt09-21a
                Dt03-06a Nu25-17a Dt16-01a Dt01-15c Dt27-01a
                Ex18-22b Dt31-26a

=========== THE INFINITIVE form CAN DENOTE A GERUND ==========

OVERVIEW
--------
In this posting Rashi reviews certain principles of grammar.
Recall the fact that the 3 basic tenses are PAST, PRESENT,
and FUTURE.

THE GERUND
----------
Most languages have grammatical forms indicating ongoing activity
For example the word RUNNING in the sentence I TRIPPED WHILE
RUNNING indicates, not RUNNING at one point of time, but rather
ONGOING RUNNING over a period of time.

In English this ongoing activity is indicated by the ING of
the Gerund form. In Hebrew, according to Rashi, the INFINITIVE
is used to indicate ONGOING activity.

AN EXAMPLE
----------
The Hebrew root for REMEMBER is ZAYIN-CHAPH-RESH. The command
form is ZeChOR--remember. The infinitive form is ZaChOR--TO
REMEMBER. Hence Rashi interprets Ex13-03a, not as, REMEMBER
THE SABBATH, but rather as BE INVOLVED IN REMEMBERING THE
SABBATH. The legal consequences of such an interpretation are
that A PERSON SHOULD BUY GOOD FOOD FOR THE SABBATH EACH DAY
OF THE WEEK (because the REMEMBERING must be ONGOING).

THE LIST
--------
The following list contains several infinitives which Rashi
interprets as ONGOING activity. The list is copied from
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/inf-3.htm, with 2-3 additions
in the past few months. Today we add Ex18-22b and
Dt03-06a. The footnotes explain further details.
=================================================================
VERSE    TEXT: BE INVOLVED IN           HOW OFTEN
======== =============================  =========================
Ex13-03a REMEMBERING the exodus         Every day
Ex20-08a REMEMBERING the Sabbath        Every day
Nu06-23a SAYING the Priestly blessing   Every Day
Dt15-10a GIVING to the poor             As often as needed
Dt09-21a I crushed it by GRINDING       As often as needed*4
Dt03-06a DESTROYING the enemy cities    As often as needed*1*2
Nu25-17a HATING the Midyanites          As often as needed
Dt16-01a WATCHING the Springtime        Every month during winter
Dt01-15c (To Judges) LISTENING to cases Deliberate on cases
Dt27-01a WATCHING these commandments    Continuously
Ex18-22b EASING your burden             Continuously*1*3
Dt31-26a TAKING this Sefer Torah        Once @ 7 years


NOTES
-----
*1 Added Jan 21 2002

*2 The full verse states
   --------------------------------------------------
   We destroyed them the same way we destroyed Sichon:
   DESTROYING populated cities, the women and children
   --------------------------------------------------

   The idea seems to be that this war was not won in 1 battle
   Rather after winning the war the conquest was ONGOING
   and CONTINUED over a series of battles. Hence the verse uses
   the GERUND to impart the flavor of a CONTINUING WAR
   rather than a war/battle that took place at one point
   of time

*3 Jethro had just advised Moses to create a Judicial
   system with a hierarchy of Judges. In the old system Moses
   judged every case. In the new system Moses would only
   judge the difficult cases while the routine cases would
   be judged by appointed judges. Such a setup would
   CONTINUOUSLY EASE MOSES BURDEN.

*4 Added Oct 25 2001
================================================================

RASHI RULE USED: GRAMMARr
---------------------------------------------------
WARNING: The following additional references may be too wordy
However they frequently contain additional information & lists
The hyperlinks only work on the main website

Volume 12 Number 23


#*#*#*#*#  (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 12 Number 23