13 Methods for inferring meaning:#11 of 32
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# 10 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE #
# June 5th, 2001 #
# Rashis 776-779 Of 7800 (10.0%) #
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MAZEL TOV MAZEL TOV
WE REACHED THE 10% MARK
9 MORE YEARS TO COMPLETION OF ALL RASHIS
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GOALS:
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I decided its time for a longer unit.
This unit will focus on a major Rashi task--explaining
the MEANINGS OF WORDS.
Explaining the MEANINGS of WORDS is more than looking
something up in a dictionary. There are METHODS to
explaining WORDS.
Thus in this module we will explore HOW Rashi determines
the meanings of words -- that is, we will explore WHAT
RASHIS METHODS ARE
TODAYS UNIT
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In todays unit,like yesterdays unit the MEANING of the word was
ALREADY KNOWN. However Rashis task is to show which NUANCES
apply to this meaning.
REFERENCE:
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This module comes from the following references in the
Rashi-is-Simple series.
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/ex03-05a.htm
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h4n21.htm
#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2001, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#
BACKGROUND
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This is one of those beautiful rare examples where we see the
superiority of Rashi over other Rishonim. For RADACK, in his
book ROOTS, says that the Hebrew root N-Sha-L Means
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REMOVAL or DESTRUCTION
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By contrast, Rashi is more specific:
Rashi states that N-Sha-L means
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SLIPPING off or FALLING off
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In other words you use the word NSHAL when
* 2 things are already attached
* but they then get detached
* & one object falls
Note the contrast between Rashi & Radack. Indeed,
the difference between REMOVAL vs SLIPPING OFF is that
one is more active than the other.
Upon examining the verses we see Rashis genious --
as indeed the nuance of SLIPPING OFF is seen as fitting
verses better than the translation REMOVAL (and certainly
fits better than the translation DESTRUCTION)
The following examples comes from Rashi
THE VERSES
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EXAMPLE ## VERSE TEXT OF VERSE NOTE
======= === ======== ================================== ====
EXAMPLE 26: Dt28-40a olives SLIPPING off a tree *1
EXAMPLE 27: Dt19-05b an ax-head SLIPPING off an ax
EXAMPLE 28: Ex03-05a a SLIPPER SLIPPING off a foot *2
EXAMPLE 29: Dt07-01 the nations will SLIP away from you *3 *4
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*1 This is the PRIMARY Rashi. Rashi explicitly says that
NASHAL does not mean to REMOVE or DESTROY (a la Radack)
but rather refers to fruit NATURALLY FALLING OFF A TREE
As such we might explain this verb using our theory
that NUN as a root letter (at the beginning of a word)
indicates similarity (See the first and 4th unit in this
module). Thus NaShAL refers to a FRUIT SLIPPING OFF
A TREE just as SHOLEH refers to a PLAcENTA (SLYAH)
slipping/falling off a women.
*2 Note the pun (SLIPper SLIPPING off).
This episode is famous for illustrating the principle that
Moses was not eager to see Gods face.
I would add to this nuance the translation that Moses was
not commanded to REMOVE THE SHOE FROM THE FOOT but rather
Moses was commanded to SLIP THE FOOT FROM THE SHOE.
In other words Moses was literally commanded to step back
*3 Radack would translate this verse as YOU WILL DESTROY THE
NATIONS. But a la Rashi I would prefer the translation
THESE NATIONS WILL SLIP AWAY FROM BEFORE YOU (a slightly
different nuance). A supportive verse for this nuance
is found in Joshua2-9,11
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and the inhabitants will MELT away before you
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Thus
* The Givonim surrendered steathily
* The Gershuni fled to Africa
Also see the explicit Ex23-29:30 YOU WILL NOT CONQUER
THE LAND SUDDENLY BUT RATHER GRADUALLY BIT BY BIT
*4 I conclude by bringing in 2King16-06
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RTzin harrased them from Aylath
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by which we denote not A DESTROYING OF A CITY but rather
a HARASSMENT OF THE CITY till the Jews left (much as
has happened in certain neighborhoods in North America)
Note that NASHAL does not means TO SLIP OFF here; it
seems to means to SHAKE UP TILL IT FALLS OFF. This
appears to be a more agressive translation of NASHAL
But 2K16-06 is the only verse where NASHAL is in the
PIEL. Thus in conclusion
* NASHAL in Kal means to SLIP OFF (e.g. fruit slipping off)
* NASHAL in Piel means SHAKE UP TILL IT SLIPS OFF
In both cases the NUANCE of SLIPPING OFF are less agressive
than words like REMOVAL or DESTRUCTION
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