VERSE: Nu22-29b
RASHIS COVERED: Nu22-29b Nu22-34b Nu22-04a Nu22-22b
========================== Nu22-29b =========================
One of Rashis 10 major methods is the CONTRADICTION method.
Rashi had 3 methods to resolve CONTRADICTORY BIBLICAL TEXTS
- the two texts reflect 2 STAGES on 1 process
- the two texts reflect 2 ASPECTS of 1 state
- the two texts use BROAD-LITERAL interpretation
EXAMPLE 1: Nu22-04a MOAB enemies of MIDYAN
-------------------------------------------
Nu22-04a states that
----------------------------------
Moab sent emissaries to Midyan to request help
from what they perceived as a Jewish threat
----------------------------------
But Gn36-35 speaks about the
------------------------
WAR in the field of MOAB
------------------------
Rashi resolves this using the principle of STAGES
1) Initially MOAB and MIDYAN were enemies
2) To combat the Jews they overcame their hatred
EXAMPLE 2: Nu22-22b HARASS to PROTECT
-------------------------------------
Nu22-22 states
-----------------------------------
The Angel went down to HARASS him
because he was going to curse with
Moab to curse the Jews
-----------------------------------
But Nu22-33:34 states
---------------------------------
Bilam stated I didnt know an Angel
opposed me; if it is wrong to curse
the Jews I will not go
---------------------------------
Rashi resolves this also using the
principle of stages
1) Initially the Angel HARASSED him
2) His goal was to HARASS him to
prevent him from going to SIN
So even though he used harassment as
an instrument his goal was MERCY(prevention
of sin)
EXAMPLE 3: Nu22-34a KNOWS GOD (LIAR!)
-------------------------------------
In Nu22-34a Bilam states
-----------------------------------
I didnt know you (Angel) were in
the path (But my donkey did know)
-----------------------------------
But Comically, in Nu24-16 Bilam states
--------------------------------------
The person who knows the thoughts of God
--------------------------------------
Rashi comments on this comic contrast
- He knows the thoughts of God
- But doesnt know what his donkey knows!
In other words Rashi resolves this contradiction
thru interpreting the two texts with different
degrees of literal-broadness
- Nu22-34 Bilam didnt know is interpreted literally
- Nu24-16 Bilam knows God is interpreted as a lie
This resolves the contradiction. A more technical
description of this contradiction is IRONY which
is a common literary technique.
EXAMPLE 4: Nu22-29b HIRED TO KILL BY CURSE!
-------------------------------------------
A similar interpretation by irony resolves
the following two contradictory verses
- In Nu22-05:06 Balak requests Bilam to
kill the JEWS BY CURSE
----------------------------------
Please curse this nation this nation
that I may expel them from my land
----------------------------------
- But in Nu22-29 Bilam states, while
angry at his donkey
-------------------------------------
You (Donkey) sported with me;
if I had a sword I would kill you
-------------------------------------
Rashi comments on the irony
-------------------------------------
- His donkey he can only kill with a sword
- but he is hired to kill the Jewish people
by curse
-------------------------------------
Again the irony is resolved using stages
- we give a literal interpretation to the
statement that (only) if he had a sword
he would kill his donkey
- we give a wishful interpretation to
the desire to kill the Jews by cursing.
LIST530a gives examples of CONTRADICTIONS resolved thru 2 stages
LIST520a gives examples of CONTRADICTIONS resolved thru BROAD
LITERAL
==================================================================
ITEM DETAIL
======================== =========================================
RASHI RULE CLASS: CONTRADICTION
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS TWO-STAGES
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #15
SEE BELOW LIST530a
Verse pairs illustrating 2 stages to a process
---------------------- ---------------------------------
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS BROAD-LITERAL
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #17
SEE BELOW LIST520a
A list of verse pairs with BROAD-LITERAL usage
=============================================================
=================== LIST520a ================================
A list of verse pairs with BROAD-LITERAL usage
=============================================================
VERSE-1 VERSE-2 HOW THE TWO TEXTS ARE COMBINED
======== ======= ============================================
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
=============================================================
======================== LIST530a ===================================
Verse pairs illustrating 2 stages to a process
=====================================================================
VERSE-1 VERSE-2 HOW THE TWO TEXTS ARE COMBINED
======= ======== ====================================================
Gn36-35 Nu22-04a 1st)Midyan-Moab enemies; 2nd) Unite against Jews
Nu22-34 Nu22-22b Stage 1) Angel HARASSES (Desired Stage 2)Avoid Sin
Dt02-24 Dt02-26 In war: 1st) Request peace 2nd) Declare war*5
Lv02-14 Lv02-14 1st)Budded Full-grain barley;2)Roasted;3)Grounded
Ex07-03 Ex08-28 1st 5 plagues Pharoh didnt listen;then God hardened
Ex11-01 Ex11-09 ONE more of 10 plagues;2 MIRACLES on Red sea*3
Ex11-04 Ex10-29 FIRST: Moses announces 10 plagues;2nd:No see Phrh*4
Gn50-10 Gn50-10 GRANARY was THORNED;but Joe saved them:HonorJacob*14
Gn37-36 Gn39-01 Joe sold 4 times:Arabs to Midian to Arab to Egypt*13
Nu05-08 Nu05-08d Tithes/Terumah to GOD; GOD gives them to PRIEST
Ex14-27 Ex14-30a Egypt drowns IN sea; then thrown ON sea-shore
Ex15-01 Ex15-04 Egyptians THROWN UP;THEN SHOT down to sea
Ex16-13 Nu11-09 1st Dew bed; then MANNA; THEN dew blanket
Nu08-24 Nu04-03 Levites LEARN Temple at 25;THEN serve at 30
Nu16-32 Nu26-11a Korach sons 1st punished; then repented*1
Nu26-54 Nu26-55a Children inherit units;Parents give equally*10
Lv21-10 Lv16-32c Priesthood succession: Lineage 1st;Merit 2nd*2
NOTES
-----
*1 Nu16-32 and Nu16-33 together imply that KORACH AND ALL FOLLOWING
HIM DIED ALIVE BY FIRE AND EARTHQUAKE This contradicts Nu26-11
that the sons of Korach did not die
Note that Psalms 45-49 were written by the SONS OF KORACH
showing that they repented
*2 In other words if one of the high priests sons is
qualified for the position he is chosen. If not
a non-descendant (who is qualified) is taken.
Lv16-32c presents this SON-MERIT rule for priests
Dt17-20c generalizes this SON-MERIT rule for Kings.
This interpretation of the text is further
clarified by the ALIGNMENT method.*11
Some further technicalities are noted in note *12
*3 Rashi Ex11-09a
*4 Rashi Ex11-04a Ex10-29
*5 Dt20-10 explicitly requires a request for peace
The resolution of this contradiction is brought in the
Rashi at Nu21-22a
--------------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES ------------------------
*10 Here is a simple numerical example
Assume 3 people in Egypt
- Bob
- Dan and David Brothers
Assume
- Bob has 1 child
- Dan has 1 child
- David has 2 children
So GENERATION1(GEN1) has 3 units (Bob,Dan David)
And GEN2 has 4 units (1+1+2)
We now have 3 stages
STAGE 1
-------
Each GEN2 person gets same number of units (Say 2 units)
So Bobs child --2 units
-- Dans child --2 units
-- Davids-------4 units to 2 children
STAGE 2
-------
Now the units are coalesced at the family (GEN1) level
- Bob has 2 units(Since he has one child with 2 units)
- Dan-David has 6 units (Dans child 2 units and Davids 4)
STAGE 3
-------
- Bob gives his 2 units back to his child
- Dan-David give there 6 units equally to children so
-- Dans child receives 3 units
-- Davids 2 children receive 1.5 units each (Total of 3)
Here is a time map
--------------------------------------------------------------
EGYPT(GEN1) CHILDREN STAGE1 STAGE2 STAGE3
-------------- ---------- ----------- ------------ ------------
Bob 1 child 2/8 2/8 2/8 @child
Dan-brother 1 child 2/8 6/8 brothers 3/8 @child
David-brother 2 child 4/8 6/8 Brothers 3/8 @2 child
---------------------------------------------------------------
Although this may seem complicated it fulfills the 2 verses
- The actual exodus people from Egypt inherit
- The descendants determine inheritance
*11 We align Lv21-10 Lv16-32 as follows
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The priest --------------- ...annointed ...trained replace father
The priest who is advanced ...annointed ...trained --------------
*a *b *c *d *b
-----------------------------------------------------------------
As the double #b clearly shows there are two criteria
- priest is advanced (bigger than his brothers)
- priest replaces father
These conflicting criteria are resolved using
the RabbiIshmael method of 2 STAGES
- if the son is qualified pick him
- if not pick a qualified non-descendant
*12 Interestingly heridatary appointment is mentioned by
- Slaves (Lv25-41)
- Kings (Dt17-20)
- Priests (Dt18-05)
- Levites (1C23-13)
The Bible EXPLICITLY advances a LINEAGE-MERIT duality
for priests (As shown above by the alignment presented
in footnote #11).
We generalize this to Kings (Rashi Dt17-20c).
We do not apply this to slaves since merit is not involved
We also do not generalize this to Levites since
the Bible explicitly states that they replace the
first-born and hence merit is no longer relevant
(A qualified 1st born could NOT function as a
Levite because the Bible states explicitly that
they were replaced (See eg Nu03-40:43)
*13 There are 4 texts involved as follows
----------------------------------------
Gn37-27 states idea of sale to ARabs
Gn37-28 states Midianites passed but Joe sold to Arabas
Gn37-36 states Midianites sold Joe to Potifar
Gn39-01 states Arabs sold Joe to Potifar
-----------------------------------------
Rashi (Gn37-28a Gn38-28b) resolves these contradictions by
assuming 4 stages of sale:
- Brothers to Arabs (Gn37-27)
- Arabs to Midianites (Hinted at in Gn37-28)
- Midianites to ARabs (resolving Gn37-36, Gn39-01)
- Arabs to Egypt (Gn39-01)
*14 Gn50-10a. Rashi cites an Agaddah from the Talmud. We explain this
Talmudic agaddah here. However we preface our explanation with
the explanation given above
- Recall that Joseph saved the world from famine
- Granaries dried up and GREW THORNS except for Josephs
- Joseph gave food to these people and saved their lives
- One granary that dried up was called the THORNED GRANARY
- The people gave respect to Jacob since it was his belief
- in Josephs dreams which gave Joseph his greatness
The Talmudic Agaddah states
-----------------------------------------------------------
All the kings came and took off their crowns and hung them
on Josephs coffin
-----------------------------------------------------------
We interpret this to mean
---------------------------------------
The kings TOOK OFF THEIR HATS TO JOSEPH
---------------------------------------
This is a familiar English idiom.
The Agaddah states
----------------------------------------------------------
The Arabs and canaanites came to wage war with Josephs
brothers but could not because of Jacobs merit
----------------------------------------------------------
We need not interpret this literally. Very often Agaddah
uses the technique of EXAGGERATION. Recall that
--------------------------------------------------------
Jacobs two sons destroyed an entire Canaanite city;
Also recall that their attempt to murder Joseph led to
selling him to Arabs who brought him to Egypt
There were natural ill feelings.
However when the Arabs and Canaanites saw the greatness
of Jacob---that because he believed in the dream of the
bratty immature Joseph, who was a teenage tattletale and
hung out with rif-rafs, and then had a severe prison term
-- because Jacob believed in the dream, Joseph, despite
his past, grew to greatness and saved the world--
-- When the Arabs and Canaanites saw the greatness of
Jacobian prophecy, they TOOK OFF THEIR HATS TO HIM..since
they realized there was something higher in life..something
that could redeem them from their own low life to a
higher life
----------------------------------------------------------
In summary the Agaddah uses exaggeration -- WANTED TO DECLARE
WAR -- to indicate ill feelings. The Agaddah used metaphor--
TOOK OFF THEIR HATS--to indicate respect. All this is based
on the fact that Jacobs belief in Josephs dreams made him
what he became.
======================================================================
Volume 26 Number 15