HITPAEL MODE=INTERACTIVE:#3 of 5
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# 10 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE #
# Sep 27, 2000 #
# Rashis 341-342 Of 7800 (4.4%) #
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OVERVIEW:
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In this module we review the meaning of the HITPAEL mode.
Recall that every Hebrew root can be conjugated in any of
7-8 grammatical modes. Each MODE (BINYAN) of the verb has
a different meaning. The hitpael is usually taken to mean
REFLEXIVE ACTIVITY. Actually as we shall show below,
the HITPAEL means INTERACTIVE ACTIVITY.
Today we get a chance to defend one of those Talmudic statements
which don't look like they have a defense. On Nu22-29 "And
Bilam said to the donkey 'because you harassed me'" the
Talmud says "He used to sin (sexually) with his donkey"
Wow! How can that be defended grammatically. Certainly looks
like a classical rankout. But read below to see how Chazal
were just being simple and grammatical.
Those who wish to review the examples should consult
one of the following URLS.
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h7n17.htm
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EXAMPLES:
(6) Ex10-02a
(7) Nu22-29a
The original meaning of the root AYIN-LAMED-LAMED
is to prune grapes from a vine.
Hence in the Kal Mode it can also mean to HARASS
To eg continuously bicker away at somebody till
he gives in.
The clearest proof of this is Jer6-9 "And they
will HARASS (Ayin-Lamed-Lamed) away at the Jews
the way a grape-vine is pruned (Ayin-Lamed-Lamed)"
In the hitpael mode Ayin-Lamed-Lamed would mean
to interactively harass---I guess the closest
meaning would be 'to sport' with someone.
The difference between HARASS and SPORT is that
in HARASS you just want to eat away at someone.
By contrast, when you SPORT with someone you
don't just harass someone but you also provoke
them into fighting with you.
Rashi actually brings a list of verses to
support this distinction.
{LIST} {Verses where the root AYIN-LAMED-LAMED can mean
harass to 'to sport'}
VERSE Ayin-Lamed-Lamed Text
----- ---------------- --------------------------------
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In the following verses Ayin-Lamed-Lamed means harass
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Lam1-22 Harass Harass them,God,like they did to me
Lam1-12 Harass The harassment that God brought on me
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In the following verses Ayin-Lamed-Lamed means to sport
Thus God 'provoked' Egypt into fighting back by
hardening Pharohs heart in order to show Gods might
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Ex10-02a To Sport How I sported with Egypt
Jud19-25 To Sport*1 They sported with her all night
Nu22-29a To sport*1 I am the donkey you always sport with
*1 In both these verses 'to sport' is interpreted sexually.
Note how the Talmuds assertion that Bilam 'sported' with his
donkey means sexual interaction,is based on grammar (use of
the hitpael) not on politics or a desire to defame him.
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