#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
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| Rashi is Simple Version 2.0 |
| (C) Dr Hendel, Summer 2000 |
| http://www.RashiYomi.Com |
| PERMISSION to reprint WITH this header if NOT for profit |
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VERSE: Lv21-15a
RASHIS COVERED: Ex28-35a Ex30-20a Lv08-35a Lv10-06b Lv16-02b
Lv16-13b Lv21-15a Nu18-32a Nu18-32b
RULE:
=====
The Hebrew letter >VAV< usually means >AND< when
prefixed to a word. However it can also mean
>OR< and in general it can refer to >ANY
BOOLEAN LOGICAL CONNECTIVE<.
We present examples below where >VAV< followed by >NO<
(that is, >AND NOT< ) means >LEST< or
>OTHERWISE<. Another way of perceiving this rule is
that >VAV NOT< should be translated as >IF NOT< (ie
OTHERWISE).
A SIMPLE EXAMPLE
================
Dt18-10 >Please dont let us see Gods Great Fire
Visions anymore, LEST we die<
The verse had literally said >Please dont let us
see Gods Great Fire visions anymore AND we will NOT
die<.
The translation >LEST< we die, is punchier and
captures nuances better.
COMMMENT
========
Before proceeding to a LIST of all examples
We make 6 powerful comments on Rashi methodology.
1) # VERSES, # PRINCIPLES, # RASHIS
===================================
What a beautiful Rashi. There are about 2 dozen verses
in the Bible with the phrase >AND(VAV) he will NOT die<.
In 50% of them---in 9 verses--Rashi translates >VAV NOT<
as >LEST<. The reader (you!) is then invited to
apply this principle to the other verses with >VAV<
This is typical of rashi. He will explain some examples
and let the reader fill in the rest thus showing mastery
of principles.
2) RASHI USES WORKBOOK METHODS
==============================
Rashi uses what pedagogists call, WORKBOOK methods.
Rashi does a few examples thoroughly and then lets
the student derive similar examples themselves.
3) WHERE DID RASHI COMMENT
==========================
Although there are 20 verses where >AND NOT< means
>LEST< or >OTHERWISE< rashi did not comment on all of them
Rashi commented that >AND NOT< means >LEST< in those 9
verses where they are talking about punishment of death
at the hand of heaven. In the other verses >AND< can
mean >OTHERWISE<. (It can also mean >LEST he die< in
the physical (not punishment sense of the word).)
4) RASHI AVOIDED THE OBVIOUS
============================
Rashi for example did not comment that >AND NOT< means
>LEST< in Lv10-09 since he had just commented this
in Lv10-06b, 3 verses earlier. There are other
reasons Rashi avoided explanations but this will
suffice for now.
5) >AND NOT< vs >OTHERWISE<
===========================
One can ask are we really OBLIGATED to translate these
verses as >LEST<. Couldnt we just translate them as >AND NOT<
The answer is simple. Take a verse like Dt18-16 >Please dont
let us see Gods Great Fire Visions LEST we die<
We could translate this as >AND we WONT die<. However the whole
purpose of using >OTHERWISE< or >LESS< is when a contrast
occurs. And that is exactly what happens here. If they do see
Gods Great Fire visions then they will die; by contrast if
they dont see it they wont die. Hence the word >LEST< should
be used.
6)My TRADITION article on PSHAT & DRASH: TRADITION WINTER 1980
==============================================================
In my Tradition article I advocate that the challenge in
intepreting Rashi is not so much finding Rashis Rule, or
Problem but rather the issue is finding a translation with
the right nuances---a translation which spontaneously suggests
the intepretations of Chazal. In this case the translation
>OTHERWISE< or >LEST< precisely captures the nuances of >AND NOT<
By using words with catchy nuances (LEST and OTHERWISE) I have
been able to avoid some of the logical intricacies of some
of the Rashi commentators like Sifsay Chachamim.
EXAMPLES
========
--------------------------------------------------------
In the following verses >AND NOT< is better translated
as >LEST<. Footnotes provide more details
--------------------------------------------------------
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE-->AND NOT< is translated as >LEST<
======== =================================================
Ex28-35a Wear the bell-robe---let it ring--- >LEST< he die*1
Ex30-20a On coming to the Temple they will wash-- >LEST< they die
Lv08-35a Sit & Watch by the Temple tent 7 days --- >LEST< you die
Lv10-06b Dont let your hair grow >LEST< you die *2
Lv16-02b Dont come to the inner temple >LEST< you die *3
Lv16-13b He'll place the Incense on the fire .... >LEST< he die *3
Lv21-15a He shouldnt marry widows...>LEST< he defile the children
Nu18-32a Give 10%of your tithe to the Priest >LEST< you be in sin
Nu18-32b Dont desecrate the temple gifts >LEST< you die
NOTES
=====
*1 This verse occurs at the end of several paragraph dealing with
the priestly garments. This particular paragraph deals with
the sky blue bell-robe. The verse says >Aaron shall wear the
bell robe so that he will be heard when he enters to serve
God as OTHERWISE he will die<
Rashi then generalizes this verse to refer to all the other
priestly garments. >If Aaron wasnt wearing any of them
he would incur a death penalty at the hands of heaven<
*2 Aaron had just lost his two sons on a national holiday.
He was told not to let his hair grow from which we infer
that mourners may not take haircuts (the Exception was
made for Aaron--in contrast to mourners he was not allowed
to let his hair grow-- because of the national holiday--his
mourning should not intefer with the nations holiday).
*3 We discussed these two verses in more detail last week in
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h9n8.htm. The gist of what we
said is that verse 2 should be translated with >KI< meaning
>RATHER<
>Aaron should not come at any time to the temple LEST he die;
RATHER I (God) will be seen when there is a cloud <
Verse 13 then complements verse 2 as follows
>And he shall put the Ketoreth on the fire before God and
the cloud OF KETORETH will cover the Kaporeth as OTHERWISE
he will die<
So the two verses say one and the same thing:
* There is a death penalty for wantonly entering the temple
* EXCEPT on Yom Kippur; Aaron can enter the inner temple
if he brings the Ketoreth cloud with him
One further point made by Rashi focuses on the repeated
verse: >WITH A CLOUD OF KETORETH I WILL APPEAR<. This
concept is repeated in verse 2 and verse 13. In accordance
with the principle used throughout Leviticus that repeated
verses indicate essentiality Rashi states
>In order to escape a death penalty at the hands of heaven
Aaron must not only bring in the Ketoreth cloud but must
make the ketoreth cloud with ALL its procedures. If ANY
of the procedures were missing he would incure the death
penalty<
--------------------------------------------------------
In the following verses >AND NOT< is better translated
as >LEST< In these verses Rashi did not comment but
rather let the reader (you!) use WORKBOOK methods
The reader is invited to check the Biblical paragraphs
out for futher details
--------------------------------------------------------
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE-->AND NOT< is translated as >LEST<
======= =================================================
Dt18-16 We dont want to see Gods big Fire visions >LEST< we die
Nu35-12 Accidental murderers will receive asylum >LEST< they die
Nu17-25 Place the symbol so they wont complain>LEST< they die
Nu18-03 They may not enter the temple >LEST< they die
Lv10-09 Dont drink wine when you enter the temple >LEST< you die
Lv15-31 Warn the Jews about their ritual impurity >LEST< they die
--------------------------------------------------------
In the following verses >AND NOT< is better translated
as >OTHERWISE< In these verses Rashi did not comment but
rather let the reader (you!) use WORKBOOK methods
The reader is invited to check the Biblical paragraphs
out for futher details
--------------------------------------------------------
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE-->AND NOT< is translated as >OTHERWISE<
======= ======================================================
Gn42-02 Get food from Egypt ... >OTHERWISE< we will die
Gn42-20 Bring your brother with you...>OTHERWISE< you will die
Gn43-08 Send Binyamin with me; >OTHERWISE< we will die
Gn47-19 Give us grain to plant; >OTHERWISE< we will die
Nu04-19 Let them do this;IF yes theyll live;OTHERWISE theyll die
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
================
To Aaron Bitman from my Shomrey Emunah Rashi class for
asking for clear examples of verses where >VAV< means
something other than >AND<. In the above verses it means
>LEST< or >OTHERWISE<
RASHI RULE USED: SPECIAL WORDS
---------------------------------------------------
WARNING: The following additional references may be too wordy
However they frequently contain additional information & lists
The hyperlinks only work on the main website
Volume 9 Number 9
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2000 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
Volume 9 Number 9