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VERSE: Nu03-10b

RASHIS COVERED: Nu03-10b Nu03-08a Nu18-23a

========================= Nu03-10b =================================

VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
One of Rashis 6 methods in explaining Biblical exegesis
is to use the ALIGNMENT method. In the ALIGNMENT method
we align almost identical verses, word for word. The
minor differences in these verses illumines nuances

EXAMPLE
--------
We contrast several verses which eg state that
- ISRAELITES DO NOT COME NEAR TEMPLE BUT
- LEVITES GUARD
or
- LEVITES GUARD TEMPLE BUT DO NOT COME NEAR ALTAR BUT
- PRIESTS DO ALTAR WORK

Such contrasts delineate the responsibilities of Israelites
Levites and Priests.
===================================================================
ITEM                     DETAIL
======================== ==========================================
RASHI RULE CLASS:        ALIGNMENT
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS      BROAD
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #10
SEE BELOW                LIST314a
Alignment of verses with contrasts of Levite-Priest temple rights
====================================================================


========================= LIST314a =================================

We show contrasting verses which demonstrate that a principle
function of the Levites was to HONOR GUARD the temple and
warn the Jews against coming near it (A lay Israelite
could not come near the Temple)
====================================================================
VERSE    Jew or Levites            vs Levites Priests        VERSE
=======  ========================= ========================= =======
Nu18-08  Levites Watch temple      `                         `
Nu18-08  Levites not near utensils `                         `
Nu18-08  Levites not near Altar*1  Priests Do altar matters  Nu18-08
`        `                         Priests do Holy of Holies Nu18-08
-------  ------------------------- ------------------------- -------
Nu18-22  Jews not get near temple  Levites will serve*2      Nu18-23
Nu18-22  Jews not die              `                         `
Nu18-23  They bear sin*10          `                         `

NOTES
-----
*1 Hence Rashi on Lv03-10b---Priests are responsible for altar
   matters like sprinkling of blood, offering organs etc

*2 The alignment suggests that the LEVITES SERVE by GUARDING
   temple against unwanted intrusion by non-priest and non-levite
   Jews(That is the word SERVE aligns with GETTING NEAR TEMPLE)

   Both Rashi (Nu03-08a) and Rambam point out that the
   Levites did not just guard temple against unwanted invasion
   -- they also performed an honor guard
-------------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES -------------------

*10 Rashi states
    ----------------------------------------------
    AND THEY WILL BEAR THEIR SIN---that is, the
    Levites will bear sin if non-Levite Jews enter
    ----------------------------------------------

    Thus Rashi seems to identify the phrase THEY with
    the LEVITES who will bear sin

    But the simple meaning of the text is that it refers
    to the JEWS not the levites.

    Indeed all PLURAL references are to the Jews while
    singular references are to the Levites. In fact
    the verse says

    ------------------------------------------
    The JewS should not come near temple
    for THEY would then die
    But each Levite HE Should serve in temple
    (for otherwise) THEY will die
    ------------------------------------------

    In other words this phrase seems to refer to
    the death of Jews who transgress and come near
    TEmple.

    I would therefore suggest that Rashi indeed
    took the verse this way
    - If the Levites watch then the Jews will bear sin
    The contrapositive of this is that
    - If the Levites do not watch & warn Jews then
      the Levites will bear sin

    So Rashi was indeed accepting the simple grammatical
    meaning of the text and simply showing the other
    side of the implication
=====================================================================
---------------------------------------------------
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Volume 17 Number 24


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