*1 Literally: WHERE FROM THIS YOU

*1 See LIST854e below for Biblical examples

*2 See LIST854c below for further Biblical examples

*3 Probably when people had a sexual fight (who did what)
they could SPREAD THE GARMENT to clearly prove their
point*10

*4 Many idioms in this list are examples of SYNECDOCHE,
the use of the (distinguished) PART to indicate the
WHOLE. Thus honey is a GOOD EXAMPLE of something
sweet, bread is a GOOD EXAMPLE of food, day(12
hours) is a GOOD EXAMPLE of the 24 hour period. Hence
almost all languages develop idioms: HONEY=SWEET,
BREAD=FOOD, DAY(12 HOURS)=DAY(24 HOURS).

Similarly in the above live SPEADING THE GARMENT
is a GOOD example of PROVING MATTERS (In sexual
disputes), the SUN SHINING is a good example of
CLARITY, GIFT OF HIS HAND is a good example of
a HIGH INCOME LEVEL.

*5 Cf However Lv15-08a Spit ON Him = Actually spit on him
The rule seems to be that SPIT ON HIM is literal
whereas SPIT ON FACE (use of FACE vs FULL PERSON) means
SPIT TOWARDS HIM

*6 eg If I am angry and mentally curse or if I
am angry and start ranting and raving without
however fully articulating everything on my mind
-- in these two cases I may have sworn IN MY MIND
but I have not sworn WITH MY LIPS (Explicitly)

*7 Contrast Ex20-03a OTHER GODS=GODS OF OTHER PEOPLE
vs Ex21-02a JEWISH SLAVE = SLAVE AND JEWISH

Technically the possessive --OF-- can mean
- OWNED BY (eg OTHER GODS = gODS of OTHERS)
- PROPERTY (eg JEWISH SLAVE=SLAVE who is JEWISH)
- ASSOCIATED WITH (eg BELT OF GARMENT=Belt USED
with Garment)

Note Rashi proves the JEWISH SLAVE=SLAVE WHO
IS JEWISH by citing an other verse Dt15-12 *11

*8 For the relationship between TIME and DESIGNATION
cf the English APPOINT-APPOINTMENT

*10 (The following comes from my article PSHAT & DRASH
TRADITION Winter 1980)

We must distinguish between
- HOW we know what the idiom means
- WHY the idiom means this

HOW we know what the idiom means comes from USAGE
It can usually be inferred from context. Thus
the Biblical verses here state
when a person slanders his newly married
wife...then the womens parents shall sue
him and SPREAD THE GARMENT before the judges
-------------------------------------

Hence SPREAD the GARMENT is simply an idiom
for PROVING ONES POINT.

By contrast the question of WHY the idiom
means what it does is something more
speculative--maybe I am right that frequently
in sexual fights a SPREAD GARMENT proved a
point. But maybe I am wrong...in such a case
I am still sure about WHAT the idiom means.
I am just not sure about WHY it means this.

Another example occurs at Lv23-40a and Lv23-40b.
I am certain that the ETHROG was called the
GORGEOUS FRUIT but I am not quite sure why. Rashi
offers two explanations

EXPLANATION 1:
The ethrog is an EVERGREEN and DWELLS YEARLY
(This uses a pun on EVERGREEN=HADAR vs
HODOR=GORGEOUS)

EXPLANATION 2
-------------
The TREE and FRUIT taste the same; Hence
the tree is Gorgeous.

EXPLANATION 3
-------------
Rav Hirsch offers a 3rd explanation. Rav
Hirsch reviews botanical classifications and infers
that the Ethrog is one of the more advanced
fruits in the tree Kingdom.

I am still not sure WHY the phrase GORGEOUS
FRUIT means ETHROG but I am sure that this
phrase was used to denote the ETHROG


*11
Here is another example:
GARMENT OF CAPTIVITY does NOT mean
- the GARMENT she wore WHEN captured
(That is the GARMENT with the PROPERTY that
it was worn at the time of capture) but rather means

- the GARMENT she put on in case she is captured
(That is the garment ASSOCIATED with the
possibility of CAPTURE)

Rashi explains that non-jewish women would have
special garments they wore in case they were
captured during a war in order to seduce their
captors and prevent themselves from being murdered.

*1 The rest of verse is consistent with this emphasis of
DEVIATION EVEN A LITTLE (eg walk in WHOLE PATH)*10

*2 The rest of verses are consistent with this emphasis
of DEVIATION EVEN A LITTLE (eg remove CROOKEDNESS;
go STRAIGHT)

*3 The rest of verses are consistent with this emphasis
of DEVIATING EVEN A LITTLE (eg STRENGTHEN, MURMUR ALWAYS
IN WORDS OF TORAH)

*4 These two verses illustrate nuance of EXPANSION*11

*5 These two verses illustrate nuance of EXPANSION in
NEARBY communities (more CHILDREN, WIDER TENTS,...)

*10 Rashi-s actual language is
-------------------------------------
Obey the law even if it calls LEFT, RIGHT
-------------------------------------

Such an interpretation however is simply a clever
pun.

AS THE OTHER VERSES IN THIS LIST SHOW THE REAL
MEANING OF THE PHRASE left and right IS A LITTLE
BIT and this is consistent with Rashis other comments

*11
(Rashi points out that this interpretation of nearby
is consistent with the fact that Abraham came to
Lots help when he needed it (Gn14))

*1 Rashi makes a further stylistic note:
When God enters into (prophetic) conversation
with someone He very often uses conversational
openers to calm the person down. See
LISt605e for more examples of the
conversational opener method.

*1 Note that God spoke to Adam, Eve and the snake after the
sin in Gan Eden. To Adam and Eve he used a conversational style
("Where are you") while with the snake there was no "conversational
opener" Hence we classify the dialogue with the snake as "sudden"
and "cold"

*2 All of Nu22 Nu23 and Nu24 show that Bilam wanted to curse the
Jews--hence the prophecies that the Jews would be blessed were
said suddenly to him

*3 Rashi

*4 Said when God punished Miriam for slandering Moses

*5 Said when God warned Laban from starting a fight with Laban

*6 Repetition of names denotes endearment

*7 These 4 examples use COLD LANGUAGE to introduce a punishment
by God

*1 Rashi also makes  comments on the  deliberate
misspelling of this word. MISSPELLING is a Biblical
technique and will be discussed in the  next digest when
we complete the lists here.