#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
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VERSE: Ex27-19b
RASHIS COVERED: Ex27-19b Ex35-18a Ex35-18b Nu03-26a Nu04-32a
======== THE HEBREW WORD YaThaYD Means PEG =====================
The hebrew word YaThaYD in Hebrew has two meanings:
* It can refer to a TENT PEG--something pointed that you
hammer into the ground
* It can refer to a weaving PEG (on which the loom is set up)
Ex25 thru Ex27 describes the Mishkan including its many skin
coverings Hence it would make sense that PEGS refer to TENT
PEGS. This in fact is consistent with calling the Mishkan the
MEETING TENT(eg Lv01-01)
But the Hebrew word for PEG, YaThaD also can mean a weaving
PEG.*1 Perhaps, then, the tent pegs were simply HEAVY OBJECTS
whose weight prevented the tent-skins from flopping in the
wind.
Rashi answers his own question by bringing supporting verses
showing that whenever PEG is used with a TENT it refers to a
HAMMERED-IN-PEG*2
RADACK in his book roots also explains YaThayD as a tent peg
that is hammered in. However unlike Rashi Radack simply states
this as fact. Radack does not suggest any other possibility*3
By bringing in the other meaning of YaThayD (Weaving Peg) we
enrich our understanding of Rashi. Hence Rashi-is-Simple:
There are 2 meanings to YaThayD so indeed both interpretations
are possible.However by examining verses were see that YaThaYD
when used with tents means a a tent-peg that is hammered in.*4
Rashi here is analyzing meaning based on its usage in other
verses This corresponds to the Rabbi Ishmael rule of
GENERALIZATION FROM MANY VERSES.
The usage of the tent pegs is summarized in the footnotes is
summarized in further tables
=================================================================
VERSE Text of Verse:YATHAYD refers to a tent peg hammered in
========= =======================================================
Isa33-20 Tent...its PEGS will not be dislodged
Dt23-14 PEG ..to dig and cover bathroom remains
Ju04-21 She HAMMERED the PEG into his head (& killed him)
Isa54-02 widen your tent/lengthen its CORDS/strengthen its PEGS
Ex27-19b the pegs for the Mishkan and Courtyard were Copper
NOTES
=====
*1 e.g. Ju16-14
*2 Rashi only brings Isa33-20. But the other verses that I have
brought in the above list are consistent with this theme.
*3 To be fair Radack does bring BOTH meanings of Yathayd and
includes the verse mentioned in footnote #1. However Radack
does not mention the possibility that the Yathayd in the
Mishkan refers to the weaving peg. Rashi does mention this
possibility and then resolves it by looking more closely at
verses.
*4 Rashis language APPEARS less definite. Rashi states
----------------------------------------------------------
I dont know if Yathayd refers to a tent peg or weaving peg
----------------------------------------------------------
Rashi concludes
--------------------------------------------------------
These verses (brought in the list) help SUPPORT me
--------------------------------------------------------
My opinion however is that Rashi conclusively believed that
Yathayd means tent peg. I in fact once heard from Rav Shalom
Kaminetsky that everytime the Rambam says IT APPEARS TO ME
it doesnt mean that Rambam had doubts--rather Rambam was
certain of the law but he had no explicit tradition and
source for the law. So too I would suggest that Rashi here
is certain but has no explicit source for his interpretation.
================================================================
===== The Hebrew YTR means CORD--UNIFED MEANING APPROACH ========
Rashi on Ex35-18b says that YTR means a CORD
How do we know that the Hebrew word YTR means CORD?
There are 2 approaches to explaining this meaning.
We present both approaches and then show which one
is preferable.
First we use the technique of UNIFIED MEANINGS. RADACK
presents a LIST of meanings of YTR in his book ROOTS.
The unified meaning is LEFTOVER in the sense of SLACK
Notice how the following list leaves a person with a
an empty unsatisfied feeling. We havent really proven
our point. Indeed, the LIST appears homiletic.
=================================================================
MEANING Relation to LEFTOVER VERSE Text of Verse
======== ===================== ===== ======================
Leftover Leftover 1Sam15-14 We destroyed the rest
More LEFT OVER / SLACK Ecc7-12 More to those who see
Finger SLACK of LIVER *1 Ex29-13 Finger of liver
BowString Slack String on bow*2 Ps11-02 Arrow on bowstring
TentCord Slack Cord for tent*3 Ex39-40 Tent peg & cord
NOTES
=====
*1 That is, the FINGER OF THE LIVER (Gall bladder?)
looks like a protrusion, a SLACK or LEFT OVER
protrusion from the LIVER
*2 Bow strings arent just strings---they function
by providing slack to shoot
*3 A tent cord is not just any cord but rather a
cord that provides slack by which to hold
tight the tent
=================================================================
==== The Hebrew YTR means CORD-- MEANING BY USAGE APPROACH ======
Rashi on Ex35-18b says that YTR means a CORD
How do we know that the Hebrew word YTR means CORD?
There are 2 approaches to explaining this meaning.
We present both approaches and then show which one
is preferable.
We use the method of INFERRING MEANING FROM USAGE
IN VERSES. Notice the punchiness of this derivation.
Notice our feeling of certainty after reviewing this
list. *4 *5
=================================================================
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE WITH THE HEBERW YTR MEANING CORD
======== ========================================================
Isa54-02 Widen your tent..Lengthen its cords..strengthen its pegs
Jer10-20 My tent plundered..its cords broken..they do not support
Ex39-40 The courtyard curtains..their pegs and cords *1
Ps21-13 Prepare your bowstring against them*2
Ps11-02 They prepare their arrows on bowstrings *3
NOTES
=====
*1 The phrase THEIR PEGS AND CORDS occurs almost identically
in several other verses such as Nu03-37, Nu04-32.
We might also mention the parallel phrase of PEGS AND ROPES
of a tent in Isa33-20 where the Hebrew word for ROPE
is CHEVEL not YTR
*2 In this verse YTR refers to a BowString not to a tent string
but the idea of string is the same
*3 This verse uses the Hebrew YeTeR without the prefix MEM
as in MaYThaR. Both mean slack-cord.
*4 MYTR only occurs 9 times in the Bible; 6 referring to the
temple
*5 In conclusion: The method of INFERRING MEANING BY USAGE
IN VERSES is seen as superior---this corresponds to the
Rabbi Ishmael rule of GENERALIZATION FROM SEVERAL VERSES.
The method of UNIFIED MEANING can however supplement
this method by making us aware of nuances. In this case
we became aware that YTR refers not to any cord but rather
to SLACK CORD.
===============================================================
================ PURPOSE OF THE PEGS =================
Two purposes are presented for the tent pegs
======================================================
AUTHOR PURPOSE
====== =======
Rashi Pegs prevented tent skins from flapping*1
Chizkuni Pegs gave taut to ceiling--prevent cave in
NOTES
=====
*1 Ex27-19b
======================================================
============== WHO CARRIED PEGS/ROPES ================
This is a delightful exercise in exegesis. The
verses at first glance are very confusing and 3
approaches -- Rashi Sifsay Chachamim
and Ramban -- arise on who carried the pegs and
ropes when the Jews journeyed.
I am following a simple but insightful commentary in
the Silberstein translation of Rashi which resolves
the issues brought up by Sifsay chachamim and Ramban
and settles them grammatically.
First recall the Biblical phrase THE PEGS & CORDS
OF THE TEMPLE & THE COURTYARD (e.g. Ex35-18, Ex38-20
Nu04-32 etc). In fact there were curtains in the
TEMPLE proper as well as in the COURTYARD. These
curtains required pegs and cords to hold them down.
Rashi suggests that the pegs and cords served 2
purposes
--to hold down the tent skins to prevent flapping
--to support poles from which curtains hung
We shall see the proof of these functions below
This LIST compactly displays who carried each
peg and cord
===========================================================
ITEM USED IN CARRIED BY VERSE PROVING THIS
==== ========== ========== ==================
Cords Temple Gayrshon Nu03-26a*1
Cords Courtyard Gayrshon Nu04-26 *2
Cords poles Merrari Nu04-31
Pegs Temple Merrari *3
Pegs Courtyard Merrari Nu04-32a *3
Pegs Poles Merrari Nu04-32a *4
NOTES
=====
*1 The following is a translation of Nu03-25:26
---------------------------------------------
The Gayrshonites watched (a,b) the temple-tent
(skins) (c,d) their skin coverings (e) the skin
door of the temple (f) the courtyard curtains
(g) the courtyard door (h) and ITS cords
---------------------------------------------
Note the phrase ITS CORDS (vs THEIR CORDS).
Silberstein brilliantly points out that the
Hebrew phrase ITS CORDS has a singular referent
not a plural referent. Hence, concludes
Silberstein, the phrase could NOT refer to the
courtyard curtains (which are plural). We are
FORCED (By the grammar) to refer the phrase
ITS CORDS back to the TEMPLE-TENT unit.
We conclude, says Silberstein, that Nu03-25:26
says that Gayrshonites only carried the cords
of the temple-tent BUT NOT the cords of the
courtyard poles. This is exactly what Rashi
says: THE CORDS OF THE TEMPLE-TENT BUT NOT
THE COURTYARD. Now please read footnote
#2 as it occurs in the above list.
*2 Using Silbersteins principle of PLURAL
SINGULAR we translate Nu04-25:26 as follows
----------------------------------------
(Gayrshon) Carried (a) Temple skins (b)
tent (Skins) (c) its covering (d) its
Tachash covering (e) Tent curtain door
(f) the courtyard curtains (g) the
courtyard door (h) and THEIR CORDS
----------------------------------------
Notice the plural THEIR CORDS referring
to the plural COURTYARD CURTAINS.
Thus we are forced to admit that Gayrshon
carried cords of the COURTYARD CURTAINS
also.
*3 My opinion is that the simplest approach
to this is to assume that there is NO
verse for who carried the Temple Pegs!!!!
Instead we use an approach of logic!!
It is clear from Nu03-26 & Nu04-26
that Gayrshon carried all non-hard items
such as skins and cords. By contrast
Nu04-31:32 makes it clear that Merrari
carried all hard items such as poles,
sidebars and pegs.
Hence using the method of Generalization
we infer that Merrari also carried the
temple pegs(Which were hard items)
I think this approach, deriving it from
logic rather than by twisting a verse
is simple and straightforward
This approach(Of a unified theme--Gayrshon
carried soft objects while Merrari carried
hard objects) also justifies the assumption
that the courtyard pegs were solely carried
by Merrari.
This is explicitly stated
in Nu04-32 as well as by the observation
of the Rambam that throughout, the Bible uses
the phrase PEGS AND CORDS except in Nu03-26,
Nu04-26 where it just uses the phrase CORDS hinting
that Gayrshon ONLY carried cords and not pegs
*4 As is clear from Footnotes #1 #2 Gayrshon
carried the cords of the courtyard.
Assuming the reasonable assumption that
no two Levite tribes had different
tasks (justified by many verses) it
follows that Merrari must have carried
a peg that was neither for the Temple
nor for the courtyard curtains.
Rashi therefore explains that Merrari
carried the cords that supported
the poles from which the curtains
hang.
Silverstein explains that the cords
attached to these pegs formed one
unit with the pegs since the FUNCTION
was to suspend the pole from which
the curtains hung. Hence, says
Silberstein, Merrari carried the
PEG-CORD unit (even though, the cord
was not hard).
I believe this approach answers the
Rambans objection: BUT WE FIND NO
EXPLICIT SOURCE THAT THE POLES HAD
PEGS.
True enough. But we know that the
curtains had to hang from something
and that hanging pole had to be
supported, presumably by pegs and
cords. Again we have an inference
by logic rather than textual
================================================================
RASHI RULE USED: WORD MEANINGS
---------------------------------------------------
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Volume 10 Number 9
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 10 Number 9