#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
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| Rashi is Simple Version 2.0 |
| (C) RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President |
| http://www.RashiYomi.Com |
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VERSE: Nu08-06a
RASHIS COVERED: Nu08-06a Nu16-01b Gn02-15a Gn16-03a Ex14-06b
Lv08-02b Nu11-16c Dt01-15a Nu27-18a Nu27-22a
==================== TO TAKE IN=SMOOTH TALK=MARKET ==============
VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
The Hebrew root Lamed-kaph-Cheth means TO TAKE. As in English,
TO TAKE can mean to be TAKEN IN--that is, it can refer to SMOOTH
TALK. Examples of this usage--TAKE=SMOOTH TALK--occur in Pr07-21
--the prostitute made him deviate thru HER SMOOTH TALK. Similarly
Pr04-02 states that God gave us the Torah, which consist of GOOD
SLICK SAYINGS. In general TO TAKE has 2 primary meanings: It can
mean to PHYSICALLY TAKE--booty, tongs--or it can mean to TAKE
NON-PHYSICALLY--death(the taking of the soul), seduction, market,
to buy. It can similarly refer to non-physical transfers--to join
a group(get taken in) or to appoint(Taken to a new position)
------------------------------------------------------
TODAYS RASHI RULE: WORD MEANINGS
TODAYS RASHI SUBRULE: UNIFIED MEANING
------------------------------------------------------
BRIED DESCRIPTION OF RULE and SUBRULE
-------------------------------------
One of Rashis 6 main goals was to function like a dictionary
and present the meanings of words. Very often a given Hebrew
root can have a dozen or so meanings. Rashis job was to point
to unifying themes. This unifying theme does not contradict
the particular nuances of each meaning and enriches our
understaning of it.
STANDARD EXAMPLE
----------------
A useful way of understanding these Rashis was outlined in
my article PSHAT & DRASH--Tradition, Winter 1980 in which I
suggest finding semantic models or analogies in other
languages.
Consider the word TAKE in ENGLISH. TAKE can mean to
- PHYSICALLY TAKE
- BE SEDUCED/FOOLED (Get TAKEN IN)
- STEAL (Make a TAKE)
Such a rich variety of meanings in English helps us appreciate
a similar rich variety in Hebrew. For indeed Rashi explains
that the Hebrew root Lamed-Kaph-Cheth means TO TAKE, TO MARKET,
TO MAKE SMOOTH TALK, TO BUY, TO DIE, TO GET BOOTY etc. Thus
the English and Hebrew metaphors are the same.
AN IMPORTANT RASHI TECHNIQUE
----------------------------
Before proceeding we present an important principle in Rashi.
Nu16-01 says that
-------------------------------------
KORACH TOOK, WITH DATAN & AVIRAM
-------------------------------------
Rashi presents 2 interpretations
----------------------------------------------------
KORACH appointed HIMSELF ALONG WITH DATAN AND AVIRAM
----------------------------------------------------
or
------------------------------------------------------------
KORACH marketed HIMSELF TO THE CONGRESS AS MOSES REPLACEMENT
------------------------------------------------------------
Notice the Rashi technique that I used
-----------------------------------------------------
I translated Rashi using similar metahpors in English
-----------------------------------------------------
In other words Rashi literally says
--------------------------------------------------
KORACH took himself to one side against the nation
--------------------------------------------------
but I translated this using a similar metaphor in English
------------------------
KORACH appointed himself
------------------------
Similarly Rashi literally says
-----------------------------------------------------
KORACH USED slick talk to invite Congress to join him
-----------------------------------------------------
while I translated this using an English metaphor
---------------------------------------
KORACH marketed HIMSELF TO THE CONGRESS
---------------------------------------
In both cases
- I did NOT translate the verse using the verb TAKE
- I rather translated it using an English word(MARKET,APPOINT)
that can metaphorically be referred to by the English word TAKE
This technique, of finding good semantic analogies in other
languages was the technique I advocated in my Tradition article.
HOW TO USE THESE LISTS FOR SCHOOL PROJECTS
------------------------------------------
You can use the LISTS referenced below for
school projects. Here is how. If you are a
teacher then you can present
-- the root invovled--LAMED-KAPH-CHETH=TAKE
-- The meanings suggested by Rashi--WIN OVER, MAKE HIMSELF LEADER
You can then ask the students to perform the
following 4 exercises
-- try and find non-standard meanings of the English word(TAKE)
-- try and find English analogies that have these other meanings
(So e.g. MARKET means to TAKE IN/WIN OVER)
-- use the Konkordance or a CD Rom to find other verses where
these non-standard meanings occur.
-- Try and suggest a punchy nifty interpretation of the verse
that captures Rashis idea (Eg Korach Marketed himself...or
Korach used Smooth talk to attempt to win over support)
Such lists and analogies help make Rashi more palatable and
believable. Rashi will no longer FEEL FORCED since the identical
metaphors exist in English.
Thus the above method is also a way for dealing with forced
Rashis.
TODAYS LISTS
------------
We present 3 lists
-- we present a list of verses/Rashis where TAKE=APPOINT/JOIN
-- We present ALL 10 meanings of TAKE with supporting verses
-- We present a SUMMARY: The 2 main meanings (PHYSICALLY TAKE
and NON-PHYSICALLY TAKE) with their derivative meanings.
STANDARD REFERENCES FOR THIS RULE
---------------------------------
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/word.htm contains Rashis on
the dictionary. This fundamental page is updated from time
to time. Several techniques for meaning are illustrated
on this page. The particular technique used today is called
UNIFIED MEANING. This is indicated by a letter c in
the ClickMe column.
PSHAT AND DERASH: A NEW INTUITIVE SPONTANEOUS APPROACH,
Tradition, Winter 1980. This fundamental article introduced
the idea of translating Rashi using analogies.
Here is the first list: Verses/Rashis where TAKE means
SMOOTH TALK, JOIN or APPOINT.
=================================================================
VERSE MEANING TEXT OF VERSE WITH THIS MEANING
======== =========== ============================================
Pr07-21 SMOOTH TALK She made him change thru her SMOOTH TALK
Pr04-02 SMOOTH TALK For the Torah is GOOD SMOOTH WORDS
-------- ----------- --------------------------------------------
Lv08-02b APPOINT MARKET/APPOINT aaron to priesthood*1
Nu08-06a APPOINT MARKET/APPOINT levites to serve Israel
Nu11-16c APPOINT MARKET/APPOINT scholars to become Sanhedrin
Dt01-15a APPOINT MARKET/APPOINT scholars to be leaders
Nu27-18a APPOINT MARKET/APPOINT Joshua to be new leader
Nu27-22a APPOINT MARKET/APPOINT Joshua to be leader
Gn02-15a APPOINT God MARKETED/APPOINTED man to gan eden
-------- ----------- --------------------------------------------
Nu16-01b JOIN GROUP Korach MARKETED to his side the Congress*10
Gn16-03a JOIN PERSON Sarah MARKETED Hagar to Abraham as wife
Ex14-06b JOIN GROUP Pharoh MARKETED his nation to pursue Israel
NOTES
-----
*1 Note the difference between
---------------------------------
Korach APPOINTED himself
---------------------------------
vs
-----------------------------
Korach MARKETED himself
-----------------------------
MARKET has nuances of BOTH appointment and smooth
talk which are two meanings of the Hebrew root
Lamed-kaph-Cheth. Hence we prefer the translation
MARKET vs APPOINT.
---------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES ------------------------
*10 Many commentaries focus on the grammar of this verse.
KORACH TOOK. The verb TAKE is transitive but in this
verse there is no mention of WHAT IS TAKEN.
Such an approach DOES PROVE that the translation TAKE
is invalid. But, in and of itself, it does not justify
what other meaning to use.
However a DICTIONARY APPROACH can be just as revealing
One can simply point out that the Hebrew root L-K-X
can EQUALLY mean to PHYSICALLY TAKE or to MARKET/TALK INTO
Such an approach, though not as forceful as the grammatical
approach has merit since it appeals to known meanings and
usages.
=================================================================
==================== TYPES OF TAKING ============================
Here is a list of verses with the 10
meanings of the word TAKE.
The various types of TAKES---physically, socially(buy)--
are listed.
=================================================================
VERSE TYPE OF TAKE VERSE WITH THIS USAGE OF TAKE
======= ================= =======================================
Gn31-34 PHYSICAL Rachel took the Terafim
Gn05-24 DEATH Chanoch was TAKEN
Ex09-24 TAKING MOTION OSCILLATING Fire *1
Nu31-12 BY FORCE BOOTY
Is06-06 DANGEROUSLY TONGS
Ps22-16 UTENSIL OF TAKE Tongue stuck to UNDERTONGUE
Ne10-32 POSSESSION The nation engaged in COMMERCE*2
Prv4-02 SOCIALLY CONVINCE The prostitute makes a TAKE*3
Jos9-14 SOCIALLY CONVINCE They were TAKEN IN by the stale bread*4
Nu16-01 SOCIALLY CONVINCE Korach MARKETED himself
Dt04-20 JOIN GROUP God TOOK you as a nation
Ju14-12 JOIN GROUP Avshalom TOOK 3 friends
NOTES
-----
*1 The HITPAEL or INTERACTIVE tense of TAKE means OSCILLATING
Recall one of the meanings of TAKE is to BUY. The give
and take motions of markets looks like the to and from
motion of oscillation.
*2 Cf The same usage in 2Sam4-6 and Prv31-16
*3 Cf Gn30-15. Leah complains that Rachel TOOK(=seduced) her
husband with the love flowers.
*4 Radack brings a cute and beautiful controversy on Jos9-14
Recall that Givonites were afraid of the Jewish conquests.
So they disguised themselves; they claimed they came from
far away. The Jews were convinced and made a treaty.
The Bible states that
----------------------------
The Jews TOOK of their bread
----------------------------
- Radack claims that they ate bread as part of the treaty!
- Rav Yonah claims that the Jews were TAKEN IN by the
stale bread and believed the disguise.
Whom do you think is right?
=================================================================
====================== TAKE--SUMMARY ============================
Here is a summary of the MAIN and SUBSIDIARY meanings of
the Hebrew root Lamed-Kaph-Cheth which means to TAKE
Verses for these usages occur in the lists above.
=================================================================
MAIN MEANINGS DERIVATIVE MEANINGS OF THIS MAIN MEANING
============== ==================================================
PHYSICAL TAKE Booty*1 Tongs*2 Tongue*3 Oscillate*4
SPIRITUAL TAKE Death*5
SOCIALLY TAKE Seduce*6 Commerce*7 Join*8 Market*9 Appoint*10
NOTES
-----
*1 BOOTY are items taken BY FORCE
*2 TONGS are items taken FROM A DANGEROUS PLACE (Fire)
*3 Actually the UNDERTONGUE--a UTENSIL used for TAKING
*4 OSCILLATION looks like a TO and FROM motion--that is
it is the MOTION of taking
*5 The taking of the SOUL
*6 The seductress TAKES IN the person (Same metaphor in English)
*7 To BUY is to TAKE into your domain (not exactly the same
as physical transfer)
*8 TO JOIN a group is to get ACCEPTED or TAKEN IN by the group
Again this TAKE denotes TRANSFER but not PHYSICAL MOTION
*9 This includes all verses where Lamed-Kaph-Cheth means
SMOOTH TALK. Again, in English we have the metaphor of
BEING TAKEN IN BY SMOOTH TALK
*10 To APPOINT somebody is to TAKE them from one social
POSITION to another POSITION.
=================================================================
RASHI RULE USED: UNIFIED MEANING
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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 14 Number 6
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 14 Number 6