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Surfing the Talmudic Seas
(C) RashiYomi Incorporated, 2001
Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel
Volume 9 Number 15
Produced March 16, 2001
WARNING: USE FIX WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)
Verses/Topics Discussed in This Issue with quicky explanations
HILIGHTS
========
The threads on
* Rashis on the word >THE<
* Rashis describing PICTURES of the Temple
will continue next week.
READER QUESTIONS
================
-- COMING ATTRACTIONS --
Part of the >Dr Hendel meets Rabbi Dr Boncheck< series
We will continue this invigorating series next week
with Rabbi Bonchecks insightful comments on Gn42-27.
>VERSE: And THE one opened his sack::RASHI::THE ONE=LEVI<
WEEKLY PARSHAH SERIES
=====================
For Rashis on this weeks Parshah visit
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/parshah.htm
This issue contains some last minute gems from this weeks
Parshah. For example how did Rashi know that the wash basin
mentioned in Ex30-18a refers to a basin with multiple
spouts that sprinkles out water poured into it?
Rashi is Simple! The Hebrew word used is >KiYoR< whose
meaning is
>KiYoR< (Wash basin) = >Kaph<(Like) >YRH< (Arrows)
Other nuggets in this weeks issue.
Rashis covered in this issue
----------------------------
VERSE RULE BRIEF DESCRIPTION
======== =============== ===================================
Ex30-13d EXAMPLE4 Bible uses a GENERAL-SPECIFIC form
Ex30-14a EXAMPLE4 Bible uses a GENERAL-SPECIFIC form
Ex30-13c OTHER VERSES The Bible refers to other chapters
Ex30-18a WORD MEANINGS KiYoR(Spray basin)=LIKE(Kaph)Arrows(YR)
Ex30-20c SYNONYMS ALTAR can refer to the COPPER or GOLDEN
Ex30-13b NEW MEANINGS Etymology of the concept of COUNTING
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RASHI IS SIMPLE
GOALS: To grammatically defend all 8000 Rashis on Chumash.
METHOD:Rashis are defended with LISTS of comparable cases
INTENDED AUDIENCE: Laymen, Academicians, Yeshiva world
COMMENTS,QUESTIONS: EMail to address below
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:If you want to ask anonymously please ask
(UN)SUBSCRIBE: Email to addresses below with "(UN)subscribe"
JOURNAL REFERENCE: Pshat & Drash,TRADITION, Win 1980,R Hendel
NOTATION: eg Gn01-02a refers to Rashi "a" on Genesis 1:2
SPECIALS:...on Parshah,Rambam,Ramban,Pedagogy,Symbolism
RASHI-IS-SIMPLE RULES Complete set of rules on bottom
EMAIL: RJHendel@Juno.Com, rashi-is-simple@shamash.org,
WEB: http://www.RashiYomi.Com/
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2001 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
VERSE: Ex30-13d
RASHIS COVERED: Ex30-13d Ex30-14a
RULE
====
The Bible will sometimes use a >GENERAL-SPECIFIC< form.
For example the verses Nu05-12:13
----------------------------------------------
GENERAL: When a woman DESCECRATES her husband
SPECIFIC:& SLEEPS with a MAN
----------------------------------------------
Thus the Bible identifies the general category of
>DESCECRATING HER HUSBAND< with >SLEEPING WITH A MAN<
The important point to emphasize here is that >DESCECRATING<
and >SLEEPING< are not 2 distinct acts done by the
woman but rather one and the same act. In other words
the Bible is not saying that the woman did something
called DESCECRATION and then also did SLEEPING but rather
it is saying that the women did a DESCECRATION-BY-SLEEPING
CROSS REFERENCE
===============
For a full list of examples see
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/example4.htm
APPLICATIONS:
============
EXAMPLE 1 Ex30-13c
==================
GENERAL: Every person should give HALF A HOLY DOLLAR
SPECIFIC: With each HOLY DOLLAR equally 20 NICKELS
Thus the Bible identifies the HALF-A-HOLY-DOLLAR required
temple tax as being in units of HOLY-DOLLARS each of
which weighted 20-NICKELS-OF-SILVER.
EXAMPLE 2 Ex30-14a
=================
GENERAL: Everyone counted for the ARMY
SPECIFIC:..20 YEARS AND ABOVE
Thus the Bible is identifying army duty as started at age 20
Again the Bible is not stating two criteria: (a)Eligible
for the army OR (b) 20 years and above. Rather the Bible
is stating one criteria: Eligible for the army=20 years & above
RASHI RULE USED: EXAMPLE4
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VERSE: Ex30-13c
THE VERSE SAYS: give half a dollar in HOLY CURRENCY
THE RASHI SAYS: The phrase >HOLY CURRENCY< refers to
the currency used for transactions
on HOLY items with the temple. This
currency is defined in Lv27.
CROSS REFERENCE: See http://www.RashiYomi.Com/other-20.htm
This reference from the Daily Rashi series
presents the 6 usages of other verses.
RASHI RULE USED: OTHER VERSES
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VERSE: Ex30-18a
RULE
====
{LIST}
Rashi believed in the 3 letter root theory by which
we conjugate verbs. This theory is adequately explained
in many modern books. For example from the 3 letter root
>Shin-Mem-Resh< we obtain >ShMaRTi<(I watched), >TiShMoR<
you will watch, >ShMoR< (Watch).
Rashi also believed in a complementary 2 letter semantic
root theory. According to this theory the meaning of
every 3 letter root can be obtained by examining the
meaning of the component 1 and 2 letter roots.
Thus Rashi believed in two types of roots. He believed
in 3 letter roots which goven grammatical conjugation.
He also believed in 2 letter roots which determine meaning.
This is a fundamental principle in Rashis approach to
meaning.
EXAMPLE
* The Hebrew root meaning >CRUEL< is spelled >KUF-Zayin-Resh<
We can see the 3 letters-->KUF<, >ZAYIN<, >RESH<
* But the last two letters, >ZAYIN< >RESH< spell the word >ZR<
which means >STRANGER<.
* Similarly the first letter >KUF< when used as a prefix
means >LIKE<.
Thus the three letters taken together say
>KUF< (Like) a >ZAYIN RESH< (Stranger).
This has a proper ring to it. Since the word CRUEL in fact
does mean LIKE A STRANGER.
We can summarize this whole derivation in one pithy equation
>KZR< (Cruel) = >K< (Like) >A Stranger< (ZRH)
Other examples are compactly presented in the table below
following this format.
=============================================================
ROOT MEANING 1st LETTER MEANING LAST 2 MEANING
KZR (Cruel) K (Like) ZRH (Someone strange)
KSR (Proper) K (Like) YSR*1 (Proper)*1
KVR (Strong) K (Like) BRH (Plump)
KRH (Dig) K (Like) RVH (Spatious)*2
KYR (SprayPan) K (Like) YRH (Arrows)*3
NOTES
=====
*1 In modern Hebrew this root is used to denote
Kosher food. But in the Bible it is used to denote
anything (food or otherwise) that is proper(Cf Es08-05)
Technically speaking YSR is itself 3 letters. The
last two letters of >KShR< are >ShR<. However since
the >YUD< is a weak letter we treat >YSR< like a
2 letter root.
*2 In other words when you dig a pit you so to speak
make the ground spatious.
*3 Thus the KYR was not a traditional washbasin where
you placed your body in the water but rather
the KYR was a washbasin that you filled with water
The water then came out of the sprays in the basin
on bottom. The water emitting from the sprays
looked like SHOOTING ARROWS and hence the name.
{END OF LIST}
RASHI RULE USED: WORD MEANINGS
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VERSE: Ex30-20c
RASHIS COVERED: Ex30-20a Ex30-20c
RULE
====
The word >ALTAR< in the Bible can refer EITHER to the
--->COPPER ALTAR< on the temple grounds (Ex27-01:09)
--->GOLD ALTAR< in the temple (Ex30-01:10)
The decision of which >ALTAR< a verse is referring to
will therefore depend on CONTEXT.
APPLICATION
===========
Ex30-20 states that Aaron will wash either
-------------------------------------------
--when he >COMES< to the >TEMPLE< or
--when he >APPROACHS< to the >ALTAR<
*1 *2
-------------------------------------------
NOTES
=====
*1 Recall the rule that parallel structure
in verses creates a BULLET like effect.
(In other words when we wish to use BULLETS
today we use Word or WP or LOTUS; when the
Bible wished to create BULLETS they used
a parallel structure which suggested the
bullets.
In this verse the parallel structure is
indicated the repeated VERBS (>Come<
>get near<) even though the actual
roots used are different.
For further examples of using PARALLEL
STRUCTURE to indicate BULLETS see
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/ex18-01d.htm
*2 Therefore Rashi interprets the BULLETED
verse as indicating two conditions:
---When you come into the temple proper
---When you come into the outer courtyard
where the COPPER altar existed.
{END OF LIST}
FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN RASHI
=============================
Rashi gives further insights by giving >EXAMPLES<
of each of these.
---The priests would come into the temple itself for
----------Offering incense
----------Certain high priest offerings
----------Certain idolatry offerings
All these offerings happened on the GOLDEN ALTAR as
is indicated by explicit verses (Eg Ex30-07)
---The priests would come to the COPPER ALTAR to
----------offer ordinary sacrifices
NOTE
====
I preferred to classify this Rashi as using SYNONYMS
I didnt classify it as illustrating rules about
THE SENTENCE (Parallel structure) because the
parallelism is weak here.
RASHI RULE USED: SYNONYMS
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VERSE: Ex30-13b
THE VERSE SAYS: All who >PASS< the army will give half a dollar
THE RASHI SAYS: The word >PASS< refers to >COUNTING< since it
is the nature of counters to eg >PASS< the
dollars they are counting from their hand to
the pile of counted dollars(Rashi then gives
other examples where PASS means counting--see
the list below).
So according to Rashi the verse says
>All who are COUNTED for the Army give ..<
BRIEF EXPLANATION:
=================
Notice how at first glance Rashi appears slightly homiletic.
However the Rashi can be made simple by perceiving Rashi as
presenting a >DICTIONARY USAGE< of >PASS<. In other words,
the word >PASS< in both Hebrew and English can mean >COUNT<
Here is an analogy. Suppose I told you that
>BREAKFAST< refers to the first meal of the day BECAUSE
after a night of sleep and no eating you so to speak
>BREAK< your >FAST< by eating in the morning.
No doubt you would consider this homiletic, not necessary,
and non-simple.
However if I first told you that
The >DICTIONARY DEFINITION< of >BREAKFAST< is the 1st
meal of the day. AND...
>BREAKFAST< is called >BREAKFAST< because you >BREAK
your FAST<
then you would consider this a simple explanation
(Dictionary definition) supplemented with a possible
deriviation of meaning.
So too, Rashi here is giving us a dictionary definition.
Rashi supplements the dictionary definition with a
probable derivation.
This is an important concept in studying Rashis.
Two related lists are presented below
{LIST}
Verses where >TO PASS< means >To COUNT<
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE WITH >TO PASS< meaning >TO COUNT<
===== ===============================================
Lv27-32 Every sheep COUNTED by the rod
Ex30-13 Every one COUNTED in the Army*1
Jr33-13 The sheep will again be COUNTED by a counter
Gn23-16*2 400 (good) coins (that are) COUNTED by merchants
Ez20-26*2 When they COUNTED all first born animals*
NOTES
=====
*1 Ditto for Ex30-14 and Ex38-26. We follow our custom of
not counting DUPLICATE verses when creating LISTS.
*2 In these verses >PASS< has more of a meaning of >Used
For PAYMENT< which is similar to >COUNTING<.
{END OF LIST}
{LIST}
Brief overview of meanings of the Hebrew root
>Ayin-Beth-Resh<. *1 The footnotes show the
relation of these usages with they unifying
theme of >TO PASS< More specifically >TO PASS<
means >TO PASS FROM ONE TERRITORY TO ANOTHER<
The TERRITORY can be physical or metaphorical
This list with 15 meanings is my favorite
example of UNIFYING MEANINGS.
================================================
VERSE MEANING TEXT OF VERSE WITH HEBREW >AVR<
===== ======= ===============================
Gn33-03 PASS And he PASSED over them 7 times
Dt17-02 VIOLATE And they VIOLATED his treaty*2
Ps17-03 UTTER My thoughts will not be uttered*3
Ex36-06 ANNOUNCE And they PASSED an announcement*4
Gn32-23 MOUNTAIN the MOUNTAIN PASS
2S19-19 CANNOE the CANNOE to transport*5
Gn23-16 PAYMENT*6 400 coins used in PAYMENT by merchants
Jr23-09 DRUNK like a man DRUNK from wine*7
2S18-23 OVERTAKE And the black OVERTOOK the messenger*8
1K05-04 SIDE ....it on all its SIDES*9
Jn01-09 HEBREW The people from the OTHER SIDE*9
1K06-21 BOARDED He BOARDED it with golden slabs*10
Dt03-26 ANGER God BLEW UP at me*11
Js05-11 PRODUCE They ate from the PRODUCE of the land*12
2S12-12 FOR FOR THE SAKE of the child you fasted*13
Jb21-10 PREGNANT They get PREGNANT without miscarriage*14
NOTES
=====
*1 Interestingly RADACK (from whom we obtain our
word lists) does NOT list >TO COUNT< as a separate
meaning while Rashi does list it. Such controversies
between the early authorities on the usages of words
are frequent and greatly illuminating.
*2 The treaty is perceived as permissable territory.
Hence to violate the treaty is to PASS OVER to
another territory. Cf The English usage of the
term >BORDERS< as it refers to personality quirks
*3 or literally >My thoughts will not PASS my lips<
I emphasize that this is metaphorical since thoughts
do not really travel.
*4 Cf Lv25-09 >PASS a rams blast< (ie ANNOUNCE?!)
*5 This is conjectural. Radack conjectures the word
means BOAT while I have used the more focused type
of boat the canoe which is used for >PASSING<
*6 Coins >PASS< hands in sales and hence >PASS< can
refer to >PAYMENT< (RADACK)
*7 Literally the drunk has the WINE pass thru him.
*8 ie OVERTOOK = PASSED OVER
*9 The >SIDE< is called >PASS< since you have to
>PASSOVER< the >SIDE< to >PASS< from where you are.
*10 That is you strengthen the structure by putting boards
on the SIDE to hold the structure together
*11 In English we say >BLEW UP< or >LOST HIS MIND< In Hebrew
we say >HE passed HIS OWN BORDERS<
*12 The >PRODUCE< of the field is that part of the field
that you >PASS< or take away from it.
*13 Thus 2S12-12 reads >FOR the child you fasted<
This views the >FASTING< as a territory and views
>SAVING THE CHILD< as what happens when you >PASS<
from the territory of >FASTING<. In other words
it views >SAVING THE CHILD< as the >CONSEQUENCE<
of >FASTING<
*14 A women gets pregnant by her husband PASSING over
to her.
{END OF LIST}
RASHI RULE USED: NEW MEANINGS
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THE 2 DOZEN RASHI-IS-SIMPLE RASHI RULES
=======================================
I: RASHI gives MEANING
======================
A: NEW MEANINGS--(eg)"on the face of"=during the lifetime
Volume 2 Number 9, http://www.rashiyomi.Com/Nu04-04a.htm
B: SPECIAL WORDS--(eg)ACH=USUALLY;USUALLY observe shabbath!
Rashi Yomi Summaries,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Ach-6.htm
C: SYNONYMS--(eg)AMR=to speak; DBR=to cite or to quote;
Volume 2 Number 1, http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Lv20-02a.htm
D: WORD MEANINGS-Thermos(TzNTzNTh)=doubly(TZN TZN) Cold(TZN)
Volume 1 Number 9,23,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Ex31-15a.htm
E: UNIFIED MEANINGS-PAAM=Repeated action:To Ring,Hammer,Step
Volume 1 Number 3,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Gn41-08a.htm
II: RASHI teaches GRAMMAR/STYLE
===============================
F: CLASSICAL GRAMMAR--(eg)QUESTION = HEY+CHATAF PATACH
Volume 3 Number 22,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Gn04-09z.htm
G: USAGE(NEW GRAMMAR)--(eg)INFINITIVE="be involved in";
Volume 5 Number 24,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Ex13-03a.htm
H: ROOT+PREPOSITION--(eg)ChZK B="to hold";ChZK M="overpower"
Volume 1 Number 7,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Ex04-04a.htm
I: THE SENTENCE--2 verses can make 1 sentence-eg Dt02-16:17
Volume 3 Number 7,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Dt19-06a.htm
J: STYLE--REPETITION denotes Endearment;eg 'Jacob Jacob'
Volume 1 Number 12,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Gn46-02a.htm
K: DOUBLE NOUNS--(eg)"GIVE GIVE";if not CHARITY then LOAN
Double Noun page, http://www.RashiYomi.Com/DN.htm
L: PRONOUNS-(eg)IMCHAH=with you; ITCHAH=Accompanying you;
Volume 3 Number 13,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Ex22-24c.htm
III: OVERALL TEXTUAL STRUCTURE
==============================
M: OTHER VERSES--Aaron SAW(Ex32-05)...the brawl(Ex32-18)
OTHER VERSE page, http://www.RashiYomi.Com/ov.htm
N: EXTRA SENTENCES-eg[GIVE HIM][WHAT HE NEEDS](Not if rich)
Volume 2 Number 20,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Dt15-08c.htm
O: DOUBLE PARSHAS-'he WILL pray'-'he WON'T pray';So Optional
Volume 3 Number 12,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Dt24-14a.htm
P: CLIMAX-(eg Dt19-11)(a)Hate, (b)spy, (c)confront,(d)Murder
Climax Page, http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Climax.htm
Q: OVERALL STRUCTURE-growing nails=despisement(from context)
Volume 3 Number 8,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Dt21-11a.htm
R: SPREADSHEETS-What is the marriage loophole in inheritance
Volume 2 Number 23,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Nu36-03a.htm
IV: BEYOND THE TEXT
===================
S: MORAL LESSONS/REASONS-God explains BEFORE punishing;
Volume 2 Number 12,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Nu12-09a.htm
T: RabbiIshmael-(eg)"When an OX gores";(Or ANY animal gores)
Volume 4 Number 21,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Dt25-04a.htm
End of Rashi-Is-Simple Digest
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