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VERSE: Lv02-03c
RASHIS COVERED: Lv02-03c Lv05-13c
======================== Lv02-03c ==============================
SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
One of Rashis 10 main goals was the resolution of
contradictions. These contradictions typically arise
from two verses stating contradictory things.
We call this the RASHI RULE OF CONTRADICTION.
Rashi had three methods to resolve contradiction. If
the CONTRADICTION could be resolved by viewing the
contradictory verses as two aspects of the same item then
we employ the TWO ASPECTS method of resolution. If
the CONTRADICTION could be resolved by viewing the
contradictory verses as two stages of the same process then
we employ the TWO STAGES submethod. Finally if the
CONTRADICTION could be resolved by retranslating the verses
using broader or more literal meanings then we use the
BROAD-LITERAL submethod.
EXAMPLE Lv02-03c
----------------
Verses Lv02-02:03 state
------------------------------------------
The MINCHAH FISTFUL will be offered on the ALTARS FIRE
The MINCHAH REMAINS belong to the
priests HOLIES FROM ALTAR FIRE
-------------------------------------------
There is a modest CONTRADICTION here-
- If the MINCHAH FISTFUL is offered on the ALTAR FIRE
Then what REMAINS are given to the priests?
- If the PRIESTS eat the remains of the minchah not
offered then why say it is FROM the altar fire.
Rashi resolves this CONTRADICTION by using the rules
of BROAD-LITERAL interpretation.
The word FROM, literally means FROM A PLACE. However
more BROADLY the word FROM means FROM A POINT IN TIME
Hence Rashi interprets the two verses as follows
-----------------------------------------------
The MINCHAH fistful will be offered on the ALTAR
FIRE. The MINCHAH REMAINS belong to the priests
FROM THE TIME that the other part of the Minchah
is offered on the Altar fire
-----------------------------------------------
LIST520a below gives other examples of CONTRADICTORY
verses resolved thru TWO ASPECTS
EXAMPLE 2: Lv05-13c
-------------------
Lv05-11 describes
-------------------------------------
If he is too poor he brings 2 birds
for a SIN OFFERING
-------------------------------------
But then 2 verses later in Lv05-13 it states
--------------------------------------------
The priest will atone...and IT WILL BE
FOR THE PRIEST LIKE A MINCHAH OFFERING
--------------------------------------------
We see the CONTRADICTION: Which is it? Is
the offering a MINCHAH or SIN offering?
Rashi resolves this using the TWO ASPECTS
method of resolving CONTRADICTION
-----------------------------------------
- The STATUS of the offering is a SIN OFFERING
- but the EATING RIGHTS are identical to
those of a MINCHAH offering
-----------------------------------------
Note that SIN OFFERINGS were not eaten. But
MINCHAH offerings
- were eaten by the priests UNLESS
- the Minchah OWNER was himself a priest(in
such a case no one ate the MINCHAH)
In short ALL MINCHAH laws apply.
LIST510a below gives other examples of CONTRADICTORY
verses resolved thru TWO ASPECTS
=================================================================
ITEM DETAIL
======================== ========================================
RASHI RULE CLASS: CONTRADICTION
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS 2 ASPECTS
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #14
SEE BELOW LIST510a
List of verses with Contradiction resolved by 2 cases
---------------------- --------------------------------------
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS BROAD-LITERAL
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #17
SEE BELOW LIST520a
A list of verse pairs with BROAD-LITERAL usage
=================================================================
=================== LIST510a =================================
List of verses with Contradiction resolved by 2 cases
==============================================================
VERSE-1 VERSE-2 HOW THE TWO TEXTS ARE COMBINED
======= ======= ==============================================
Lv05-13 Lv05-11 Its a SIN SAC;EATING rights are as MINCHAH*17
Ex25-03 Ex30-13 Two sources: REQUIRED silver tax &VOLUNTARY*16
Ex24-12 Nu27-05 The 10 commmandments cover all areas of law
Gn37-10 Gn37-11 PUBLICLY:Jacob disagreed;PRIVATELY:agreed*15
Gn27-05 Gn27-05 Esauv went to HUNT food;if not-to buy/steal
Gn08-17 Gn08-17 LET the animals go out;if they dont EVICT them
Dt16-22 Gn28-18 1-stone Altar:OK for Patriarchs;not for us*6
Dt`6-22 Nu13-30 The MINORITY repor of the spies was: Land Good
Lv19-20 Lv20-10 adultery: With free person,death;with maid,no
Lv19-13 Dt24-15 day worker:Pay by morn;Night labor by sunset
Lv13-33 Lv13-33 DONT shave[near]leprosy;DO shave rest of head
Lv13-40 Lv13-43 leprosy on baldness:like SKIN,not HEAD,leprosy
Ex09-03 Ex09-09 FIELD livestock died;HOUSE livestock had boils
Ex09-03 Ex09-09 HOUSE livestock who returned outside HAILED
Ex09-19 Ex14-07 FIELD livestock died;HOUSE animals for Chariot
Gn36-02 Gn36-24 Daughter of FATHER & GRANDFATHER=illegitimate
Gn24-08 Gn24-08 DONT marry CANAANITE;can marry out of family
Gn06-19 Gn07-02 Noach took:7 KOSHER animals;2 NON-KOSHER ones
Dt12-18 Nu18-24 Levites get 1st TITHE;also get GIFTS TO POOR
Dt12-30 Ex22-19 SPECIFIC idol worship OR general SACS wrong
Ex30-19 Ex40-31 Tmpl Basin for Priests;Moses was Priest once*5
Ex21-03 Ex21-04 Master only gives a slavegirl to a married man
Ex12-02 Ex12-03 God told Moses on FIRST: Tell Jews on TENTH...
Ex01-16 Ex01-12 EGYPTIANS hated ALL JEWS;PHARAOH hated MALES*4
Ex02-06 Ex02-06 She saw a BABY(in age);a CHILD(in demeanor)*3
Gn18-06 Gn18-06 FINE FLOUR for food;COARSE for pot*2
Dt08-02 Lv26-06 WHEN OBSERVANT God protects;ELSE not*1
Nu21-21 Dt02-26 MOSES sent delegates on behalf of ISRAEL
Nu05-08 Nu05-08 Stolen goods given to PRIESTS on behalf of GOD
Ex20-19 Ex19-20 Gods voice in HEAVEN;His FIRE on EARTH
Ex40-35 Ex25-22 Moses at Entrance; Gods by Crubim
Ex28-37 Ex39-30 Priest MASK went AROUND and OVER head
Ex25-03 Ex30-12 TAXES for base;VOLUNTARY for vessels
Nu04-05 Nu04-15 PRIESTS pack; KEHATHITES carry*10
NOTES
-----
*1 See Lv26-03. Thus Lv26-03:06 explicitly states that
when we observe, God will remove wild animals. Dt08-02
by contrast, explains that conquest of Israel will
happen slowly FOR IF IT HAPPEEND QUICKLY WILD ANIMALS
WOULD COME (because the Jews moral nature was not
yet perfected and the protection of Lv26-03:06
does not yet apply) *11
*2 COARSE flour was used in cooking to wash the pot
sides to clear it from rust producing agents and
rotted food particles.
*3 I should mention the Brilliant Malbim who points
out to a repeated object denoting emphasis
-----------------------------------------
She opened it and saw HIM -- a CHILD
-----------------------------------------
Thus the child had a certain regality *12
*4 This distinction is explicitly mentioned in Ex01-10
Pharoh was concerned that the Jewish minority would
align with an Egyptian enemy. Hence he killed the
males. *13
*5 See Lv08-16:21 for Moses acting as a Priest. During
this brief period Moses used the Temple Basin.
*6 First we note that MONUMENTS (MCBA) were made of
1 stone. Compare the following verses
- Gn31-45 Jacob took the STONE and made MONUMENT
- Gn28-18 Jacob took the STONE and made Monument
Next we note that God found the MONUMENT that
Jacob made (and declared to be a house of God),
God found this altar pleasing.
-----------------------------------------------
- Gn31-13 I am the God of Beth El where you made
a monument --[I am with you] Therefore leave
this place
-----------------------------------------------
Finally we compare the following 4 contradictory
verses
------------------------------------------------
Ex20-21:22 You can make altars of EARTH, STONES
Dt27-05 Make altar of stones when coming to Israel
Dt16-22a Don't make MONUMENT
Dt16-22b Don't make MONUMENT, hated by God
Gn28-18 Jacob took the stone and made a MONUMENT
------------------------------------------------
In this discussion we treat ALTARS and MONUMENTS
the same. The contradictory verses can be resolved
as follows
- ONE-STONE altars/monuments are
- - prohibited to us and hated by God
- - permitted to Patriarches and liked by God
- MANY STONE altars/Monuments are permitted*14
----------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES --------------
*10 Rashis point is strengthened by the abrupt change
of subject
-----------------------------------------------
Nu04-04 This is the job of the KEHATHITES
Nu04-05 The PRIESTS come and cover the articles
...
Nu04-15 ..and AFTERWARDS the KEHATHITES come
-----------------------------------------------
If one just reads Nu04-04 and Nu04-05 by themselves
it appears as if the PRIESTS mentioned in Nu04-05
refer back to the KEHATHITES mentioned in Nu04-04
*11 Interesting Rashi cites a verse in Job rather
than the explicit Lv26-03:06. Rashi also does
not explicitly mention that he is using the rule
of resolving 2 contradictory cases.
But that IS what Rashi does. It seems rather
straightforward to introduce Lv26-03:06. Rashi
probably expected the reader to know this verse
since it comes in the great REBUKE---Rashi complements
this verses with complementary verses in Job
*12 Rashis actual language is that
------------------------------------
She saw Gods presence with him
------------------------------------
I have tempered this a bit as follows
---------------------------
She saw the childs regality
---------------------------
I think Rashis point is to explain why
she risked her life to save a Jewish child
This child was different--he had a certain
regality...why not raise him as an Egyptian
He would fit in well with the Royal house
*13 Rashi actually says
------------------------------------------
Pharohs astrologers said that the Jews
have just had a male savior born.
Pharoh therefore decreed the death of
the male Jews
------------------------------------------
However the REAL driving force of Rashi
is the contradictory verses and the
resolution from an explicit verse.
Rashi avails himself of OTHER VERSES
which show that Pharoh always consulted
with his astrologers (eg Ex08-12:15).
Thus Rashi is simply dressing up the
contradiction. The real point of Rashi
is the contradiction and the distinction
between the people(hated all) and the King.
(concerned about security)
*14 Rashi does not give a reason why 1-stone altars
are prohibited but many-stone are ok. I would
suggest that 1-stone altars are so to speak
BLEMISHED altars-altars made on the rush.
Throughout the offering literature blemished items
are considered poor taste. The patriarchs however
were busy converting people frequently. Hence,they
made altars on the go (one stone altars) and this
was liked by God.
*15 PUBLICLY: He disagreed so as not to further inflame
the brothers who hated Joseph
PRIVATELY: He agreed because he believed in the dream
*16
Ex25-01:03 states
-----------------------------------
Command the Jews to take DONATIONS
whoever wishes to DONATE.
And these are the DONATIONS you should take
...gold SILVER and COPPER
-----------------------------------
But Ex30-11:13 states
-------------------------------------
When you make a CENSUS people
should give HALF A SHEKEL of silver
-------------------------------------
This is further spelled out at Ex38-25:28
--------------------------------------------
The silver from the half shekels was so much
and so much and used to make the silver stands
for the boards and the curtain hooks
--------------------------------------------
We see the CONTRADICTION: Was the silver a VOLUNTARY
donation or a REQUIRED TAX?
Rashi answers by distinguishing TWO CASES of the silver
-----------------------------------------------------
- There was a REQUIRED TAX of HALF SHEKEL used for the
stands and curtain hooks
- There was an ADDITIONAL VOLUNTARY TAX---the silver
gathered was used to make silver utensils in the
sanctuary
-----------------------------------------------------
*17 The Minchah Eating rights are as follows
- Sin offerings are never eaten by priests
- Ordinary Minchahs are eaten by Priests
- Minchahs with a Priest owner are not eaten
In short all MINCHAH EATING laws apply.
There is an ironic subtlety here.
The verse says
------------------------------
It will to the PRIEST as a MINCHAH
-------------------------------
Rashi literally says
---------------------------------------------------
If a PRIEST offered it no one would eat it
---------------------------------------------------
It thus APPEARS that Rashi is PUNNING on the
word PRIEST---
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It will be to a PRIEST OWNER like a MINCHAH
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
But this is not necessary. The verse simply
means
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It will be to the PRIEST [offerer] as a MINCHAH
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
This implies
----------------------------------
- If it is an ordinary Minchah the
PRIEST OFFERER can eat it
- If it is a PRIEST OWNED Minchah
then no one eats it
----------------------------------
Thus Rashi was not PUNNING but rather
emphasizing one extreme case of the
simple meaning of the text.
========================================================
=================== LIST520a ================================
A list of verse pairs with BROAD-LITERAL usage
=============================================================
VERSE-1 VERSE-2 HOW THE TWO TEXTS ARE COMBINED
======== ======= ============================================
Lv02-03 Lv02-02 FROM TIME of offering PRIESTS eat LEFTOVERS
Gn47-19a Gn41-30 God THREATENED 7 famine years;brought only 2
Gn12-01 Gn11-31 Leave PHYSICALLY, SOCIALLY-Fathers influence
Dt28-30b Jo24-31 After I(Moses) & MY STUDENTS DIE you-ll sin
Dt28-30a Lv19-24 HOLY in 4th-no eat;DESCECRATE=can eat in 5th
Nu22-34a Nu24-16 Claimed to know God but donkey knew more*4
Nu22-29b Nu22-05 Asked to curse Jews but cant kill donkey*3
Lv07-19c Dt12-27 All PURE PEOPLE whom the owner DESIGNATESeat
Lv06-22a Lv06-19 All MALE PRIESTS who COULD OFFER may eat*2
Ex21-06 Lv25-10 Slave works FOREVER = Till 50th Jubilee year
Ex11-08a Ex12-30 Your SERVANTS=ROYAL PRESENCE shall expel me
Ex12-19a Ex13-07 Prohibits bread in your HOUSE/BORDERS=DOMAIN
Dt15-17 Lv25-10 Slaves work FOREVER=A LONG TIME=TILL JUBILEE
Lv07-09 Lv07-10 The PRIEST=DIVSION OF PRIEST,gets sacrifice
Lv04-03 Lv04-03 A Young ADULT Bullock = BEGINNING ADULTHOOD
Lv10-02 Lv10-05 Died from FIRE=SPIRITUAL FIRE*1
NOTES
-----
*1 Hence the fire did not burn their clothes
The idea that the FIRES mentioned in Dt05
or Ex20 was the FIRE OF PROPHECY vs REAL
FIRE is supported by many verses and
themes (Dt05-21). There are other Biblical
supports for this idea but this will suffice
for now.*10
*2 Also echoed in Rashi Lv07-07b (OFFERING PRIEST
means PRIESTS WHO COULD OFFER)
*3 Thus the request to kill the Jews is seen as a WISH
(BROAD interpretation)not as something real
*4 That Bilam didnt know what his donkey knew is
interpreted literally. That he claimed to know
Gods thoughts is considered a LIE(Broad, non-
literal interpretation).
----------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES --------------
*10 It does not detract from the greatness of the
miracle of revelation that the FIRE means FIRE
OF PROPHECY.
For Judaism does not view Gods greatness in His
ability to make a mountain smoke with Fire.
Rather Judaism views Gods greatness in His
ability to make people burn with Spiritual Prophecy
=============================================================
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Volume 29 Number 10
#*#*#*# (C) 2000-2006, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#
Volume 29 Number 10