This website is devoted to explaining all 7700 Rashis
on Chumash. We are explaining the Rashis by classifying
them each into one of 30 rules.
FOR EXPLANATIONS OF THE 30 RASHI RULES VISIT either
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- http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rule.htm
- http://www.Rashiyomi.com/RashiShortGuideHTMLBook.htm
- http://www.Rashiyomi.com/RashiShortGuide.htm
A new short but lively guide will soon appear.
EXAMPLE 1,2,3,4: Ex28-25c Ex28-25d Ex28-25e Ex28-26a NONVERSE diagram
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Verses Ex26-15:30 describe the construction of the Choshen
the Breastplate
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- And thou shalt make a breastplate ...
- And thou shalt make upon the breastplate plaited chains ...
- And thou shalt make upon the breastplate two rings of gold, ...
- And thou shalt put the two wreathen chains of gold on the two rings
- And the other two ends of the...chains ...put on the 2 settings
- and put them on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, ....
-
- ...make 2 rings of gold, put them upon the two ends of the breastplate,
- ...upon the edge thereof, which is toward the side of the ephod inward.
- And thou shalt make two rings of gold, ...
- And they shall bind the breastplate by the rings...with a blue thread,
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Rashi gives the following picture
-----------------------------------------------------------
== SHOULDER SETTINGS ========= SHOULDER SETTINGS ===========
|| Golden chain || Golden chain (Double over)
|| ||
breastplate ring breastplate ring
breastplate
breastplate ring breastplate ring
|| Blue thread || blue thread
|| ||
------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The breastplate was held by means of 4 breastplate rings
to the Ephod thru golden chains and azure threads.
Rashi interprets the word THEM in Ex26-25c
-------------------------------------------------
and put THEM on the shoulder-pieces of the Ephod
-------------------------------------------------
To refer to the SETTINGS--that is the SETTINGS were
placed on the SHOULDER.
Rashi on Ex26-25d explains
--------------------------------------------
The Gold chains HOLD UP the breastplate so it
shouldn't fall. But like anything that is held above
it can still wobble. Therefore the two bottom breastplate
rings are needed so that the breastplate can be secured
from wobbling with a blue thread which holds it tightly.
--------------------------------------------
Rashi on Ex26-25e discusses the position of the SHOULDER stones
---------------------------------------------------------------
Priest body || Azure coat || Ephod
A A2 B1 B2 C1 C2
---------------------------------------------------------------
Rashi explains that the phrase TOWARDS ITS FACE in Ex26-25
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put them on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod,
TOWARDS ITS FACE
--------------------------------------------------
refers to position C2 not position C1.
Rashi explains
-------------------------------------------------
Position C1 is towards the body of the priest and is
not visible from the outside while position C2
is visible to the outside like the FACE of a person.
Hence the phrase TOWARDS THE FACE OF EPHOD refers
to position C2 not to position C1 That is the
stones were place on the outside not on the inside
of the Ephod
-------------------------------------------------
Rashi on Ex26-26a explains the phrase TWO ENDS OF THE
BREASTPLATE
----------------------------------------------
upon the TWO ENDS OF THE BREASTPLATE, upon the edge thereof
----------------------------------------------
Refers to the bottom two corners of the breastplate on
the left and right.
EXAMPLE 5: Ex28-28a MEANING homographs
--------------------------------------
Verse Ex28-28 states
--------------------------------------
And they shall BIND the breastplate by
the rings thereof unto the rings of the
ephod with a thread of blue, that it
may be upon the skilfully woven band
of the ephod, and that the breastplate
not WOBBLE from the ephod.
--------------------------------------
Rashi explains the Hebrew root, Resh-Caph-Sin (RKS)
as meaning BIND. The root RKS is a HOMOGRAPH
with the following meanings
-----------------------------------------
RKS - clumped hills (BOUND lumps)
RKS - gangs (BOUND together)
RKS - BIND the Breastplate so it doesn't wobble
-----------------------------------------
Proof that RKS means BIND vs UNITE comes from the
verse text in Ex28-28
----------------------------------------------------
that the breastplate NOT WOBBLE from the ephod
----------------------------------------------------
EXAMPLE 6: Ex28-42:43d NONVERSE spreadsheets
-----------------------------------------------
Verse Ex28-43d states
--------------------------------------
And thou shalt make them LINEN breeches
to cover the flesh of their nakedness;
from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach.
And they shall be UPON AARON, and upon his sons,
when they go in unto the tent of meeting,
or when they come near unto the altar
to minister in the holy place;
THAT THEY BEAR NO INIQUITY AND DIE
it shall be a statute for ever unto him
and unto his seed after him.
--------------------------------------
Since the verse states
-------------------------------------------------
LINEN ..ON THEM...THAT THEY BEAR NO INIQUIY & DIE
-------------------------------------------------
I infer that if the priest served without proper
priestly garments then he is liable to a death
penalty at the hands of heaven.
EXAMPLE 7: Ex29-02b ALIGNMENT 2cases
---------------------------------------------
Verse Ex29-02 states
-------------------------------------------
and unleavened bread,
and CAKES unleavened MINGLED with oil, and
WAFERS unleavened SPREAD with oil; .....
-------------------------------------------
Based on the ALIGNMENT Rashi states
----------------------------------------------
- There are two cases on Minchah
- CAKES are raw flour MINGLED with oil
- WAFERS are cooked flour SPREAD OVER with oil
----------------------------------------------
NOTE: Rashi's inference that CAKES are RAW while
WAFERS are COOKED uses NONVERSE methods
- you cant MINGLE a cooked hard object with oil
- you cant SPREAD a raw object with oil
Hence Rashi assumes that the MINGLING must be
with Raw flour while the SPREADING must be with
a cooked object.
EXAMPLE Ex29-02b: NON-VERSE->realWorld
--------------------------------------
Verse Ex29-02 ALIGNS two types of minchahs
-----------------------------------------
......
and cakes unleavened mingled with oil,
and wafers unleavened spread with oil;
.......
-----------------------------------------
Hence we infer that
- CAKES are MINGLED with oil, while
- WAFERS are SPREAD with oil
Rashi now uses the Non-Verse method
to add some logical consequences based
on reality
----------------------------------
- You MINGLE oil with RAW FLOUR
- You SPEAD oil on BAKED MATZOH
----------------------------------
To put it another way you
- don't mingle oil with something hard/cooked
- don't spread oil on something fine like flour
Example 8: Ex29-36c GRAMMAR->miscellaneous->Pronouns
----------------------------------------------------
Verse Ex29-36, discussing the consecration
of the temple states
----------------------------------------
And every day shalt thou offer
the bullock of sin-offering,
beside the other offerings of atonement;
and thou shalt do the purification
upon the altar when thou makest atonement
for it;
AND THOU SHALL ANNOINT ONLY IT to sanctify it
---------------------------------------------
We translated Aleph Tauv Vav as ONLY IT (or ALL
OF IT). This is based on a principle of the
Malbim that there are two indications of
pronouns in Hebrew
- suffix VAV indicates IT
- word ALEPH TAUV VAV indicates ALL OF IT/ONLY IT
That is, use of a WORD for a PRONOUN vs a SUFFIX
LETTER indicates emphasis.
Rashi interprets this emphasis to mean that you
don't simply ANNOINT IT but rather you ANNOINT
ALL OF IT. Instead of putting a slab of oil you
---------------------------------------------
Pour the oil in a criss cross manner to cover
all of it like an English L
----------------------------------------------
This emphasis of annointing ALL of it comes
from the WORD form of the pronoun
EXAMPLE Ex29-12b MEANING->specialWords
--------------------------------------
Verse Ex29-12 discussing an offering states
-----------------------------------
And thou shalt take
of the blood of the bullock,
and put it upon the
horns of the altar with thy finger;
and thou shalt pour out
ALL THE REMAINING BLOOD
at the base of the altar.
-----------------------------------
The SPECIAL WORD, ALL, can mean NO EXCEPTIONS
Rashi illuminates
----------------------------------------
ALL the blood is spilt including the
LEFTOVER blood after pouring it
-----------------------------------------
EXAMPLE Ex30-33a MEANING->specialWords
--------------------------------------
Verse Ex30-33 discussing the
annointing oil states
--------------------------------------
Whosoever compoundeth any like it,
OR
whosoever putteth
any of it upon a stranger,
he shall be cut off from his people.
--------------------------------------
We have CAPPED the translation of
the word VAV which means OR
Rashi uses the principle here that the
Hebrew letter VAV can mean
- AND
- OR
- BUT
etc.
In the above sentence VAV does not mean AND
------------------------------------------
Whoever
- 1st make his own annointing oil and then
- 2nd annoints with it
that person shall be cut off
------------------------------------------
Rather in the above sentence VAV means OR
---------------------------------------
IF you
- create your own annointing oil and annoint yourself, OR
- you annoint yourself without making the oil,e.g.
you annoint yourself with the oil made by Moses
that person shall be cut off
---------------------------------------
The classical verse illustrating that VAV
can mean OR is verse Ex21-15
---------------------------
And he that smiteth
his father,
OR
his mother,
shall be surely put to death.
---------------------------
EXAMPLE Ex29-30d CONTRADICTION->2Cases
-----------------------------------
Verse Ex29-30 discussing the
inauguration ceremony of high
priests states
--------------------------------
Seven days shall
the son that is priest in his stead put them on,
who cometh into the tent of meeting
to minister in the holy place.
--------------------------------
This verse must be contrasted with
another verse discussing successor priests
Verse Lv16-32 states
-------------------------------------
And the priest,
a) WHOM he shall anoint,
b) and WHOM he shall fill to minister
in the priest’s office in his father’s place,
shall make the atonement,
and shall put on the linen clothes,
the holy garments;
----------------------------------------
Here the repeated word WHOM creates a BULLET
effect emphasizing two distinct types of
replacement for the high priest
- taking his father's place OR
- annointed for the job.
Rashi clarifies the CONTRADICTION between
-Lv16-32 which presents 2 methods of selecting
a high priest
-Ex29-30d which presents only 1 method of
selecting a high priest
-----------------------------------
If the current High Priest has a
son who is highly skilled and moral
then he replaces his father as High
Priest. But if the current son is not
worthy then a replacement is made
from all available priests
------------------------------------
The same two options are indicated
above in Ex29-30 (Except there is
no repeating keyword to clearly indicate
an intent of two types of replacement)
EXAMPLE: Ex29-30c REFERENCE->details
------------------------------------
Verse Ex29-30 discussing the
High Priest states
---------------------------
Seven days shall the son
that is priest in his stead
put them on,
even
HE WHO COMETH INTO THE TENT OF MEETING
TO ATONE IN THE HOLY PLACE
---------------------------
The CAPPED WORDS,
-----------------------
ATONE IN THE HOLY PLACE
-----------------------
or
-----------------------
COME INTO THE HOLY PLACE
-----------------------
echo the almost identical
phrases
------------------------
Thus shall Aaron COME
INTO THE HOLY PLACE;
with a young bull
for a sin offering,
and a ram
for a burnt offering.
------------------------
in Lv16-03
and
------------------------
And he shall make an atonement
of the holy sanctuary
-------------------------
in Lv16-33
or
-----------------------
And he shall make an atonement
on the holy place
-----------------------
in Lv16-16
Hence the Rashi comment based
on these OTHER VERSES
------------------------------
Ex29-30 is discussing the
Yom Kippur service since
the High Priest is the only
Priest eligible to perform
the Yom Kippur service.
EXAMPLE: Ex29-25b MEANING->IDIOM
--------------------------------
Verse Ex29-25 discussing the consequences
of a properly offered sacrifice states
----------------------------------------
And thou shalt take them from their hands,
and make them smoke on the altar upon
the burnt-offering,
for a RESTFUL SCENT before HaShem;
it is an offering made by fire unto HaShem.
----------------------------------------
Rashi explains the phrase RESTFUL SCENT
as an IDIOM.
-------------------------------------
RESTFUL SCENT means that the offering
is PLEASING before God
--------------------------------------
Example Ex29-27c MEANING->synonym
---------------------------------
Ex29-27c discussing the offering procedures states
----------------------------------------
And thou shalt sanctify
the breast of the wave-offering,
and the thigh of the heave-offering,
which is WAVED, and
which is HEAVED up,
of the ram of consecration,
even of that which is Aaron's,
and of that which is his sons'.
----------------------------------------
Rashi explains the CAPPED SYNONYMS
---------------------------------
- WAIVED means a to-fro motion
- HEAVED means an up-down motion
---------------------------------
Example: Ex29-25a REFERENCE->details
------------------------------------
Verse Ex29-25a discussing the Priest
inauguration ceremony states
---------------------------------
And thou shalt take
them from their hands,
and make them smoke
on the altar BESIDES THE BURNT OFFERING
for a sweet savour before HaShem;
it is an offering made by fire unto HaShem.
----------------------------------
Rashi clarifies the meaning of the
capped phrase
------------------------------
BESIDES THE BURNT OFFERING
-----------------------------
by cross referencing an OTHER VERSE
Ex29-15:18 which describes another part
of the Priest Inauguration ceremony
-----------------------------------
You shall also take one ram;
and Aaron and his sons shall ...
And you shall burn the
whole ram upon the altar;
it is an UP offering...to the Lord
-----------------------------------
Example Ex29-30a GRAMMAR->miscellaneous->SevenOfDays
----------------------------------------------------
Ex29-30 discussing the Priest Inauguration Ceremony
states
----------------------------------------
A SEVEN OF DAYS shall the son that is priest
in his stead put them on,
even he who cometh into the tent
of meeting to minister in the holy place.
----------------------------------------
Rashi clarifies that
-----------------------------------
Use of the construct with days-
A SEVEN OF DAYS- indicates a WEEK.
That is
- a WEEK = 7 CONSECUTIVE days
- 7 days = ANY 7 days
-----------------------------------
Example Ex29-30d: FORMAT->paragraph
-----------------------------------
The structure of Ex29-01:37 is as follows
-------------------------------------------------------
- Ex29-01:29 Aaron's High Priest Inauguration procedure
- Ex29-30:31 Similar procedure for High Priest's son
- Ex29-32:37 Continuation of Aaron's Inauguration
-------------------------------------------------------
Rashi makes a simple inference based on this
paragraph structure
-----------------------------------------
In other words when the High Priest's son
replaces his father, he receives a similar
inauguration procedure for 7 days
-----------------------------------------
Here Rashi is avoiding an interpretation that
say the High Priest's son must say do this
procedure annually. Rashi's comment is so
obvious that we might overlook it. All Rashi
is saying is that when the Bible says that
---------------------------------
the son's procedure is similar
---------------------------------
it means that the son receives a similar
INAUGURATION procedure.
Example Ex29-16a: DATABASE->patterns
------------------------------------
We ask the following query
-----------------------------
What WORDS are used to describe
the BLOOD procedures of offerings
-----------------------------
The DATABASE query uncovers 3-4 items
(actually there are more but these
will suffice for our purposes)
----------------------------------------------
- THROW AROUND - e.g. Lv03-08,Lv-03-13,Lv01-05
- PLACE ON HORNS - e.g. Lv04-18,Lv04-07, Lv04-30,Lv04-34
- SPRINKLE 7 times - e.g.Lv04-17,Lv16-19
- SQUEEZE out - Lv01-15
----------------------------------------------
The above database query gives rise to several
Rashi comments. On this verse we have 2 comments
-----------------------------------------
- Only sin offerings have PLACEMENT OF BLOOD on horns
- THROW AROUND means standing on the ground and
throwing the blood with a utensil upward
WHILE
PLACING ON HORNS means going up on altar and
actually place the blood
------------------------------------------
Note the fact that THROWN BLOOD is done with
a UTENSIL is inferred using the Non-Verse->RealWorld
principle since you can't throw a liquid with your
bare hands.
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