The 10 RashiYomi Rules 
Their presence in Rashis on Parshat Balak 
Vol  1#20 - Adapted from Rashi-is-Simple 
Visit The RashiYomi Website: http://www.RashiYomi.Com/
(c) RashiYomi Incorporated, Dr Hendel President, Jul-14-2005 
English and Hebrew translations of the Bible come mostly from the www.MECHON-MAMRE.org  translation with changes made by me

The goal of this Weekly Rashi Digest is to use the weekly Torah portion to expose students at all levels to the ten major methods of commentary used by Rashi. It is hoped that continual weekly exposure to these ten major methods will enable students of all levels to acquire a familiarity and facility with the major exegetical methods.

1. RASHI METHOD: OTHER VERSES   
This example applies to Rashis Nu24-07c 
URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/nu24-07c.htm

The other verse method seeks to confirm the contents of a target verse by cross referencing other verses which either confirm the target text or add details to it. Additionally the other verse method can shed light on word meaning. 

Verse Nu24-07 states   Water shall flow from his branches, and his seed shall be in many waters; and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.   יִזַּל-מַיִם מִדָּלְיָו, וְזַרְעוֹ בְּמַיִם רַבִּים; וְיָרֹם מֵאֲגַג מַלְכּוֹ, וְתִנַּשֵּׂא מַלְכֻתוֹ.  The underlined phrase higher than Agag refers to the Jewish defeat of Agag, King of Amalayk, mentioned in the other verse 1S15-33 which states And Samuel said: As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.
 בַּגִּלְגָּל-אֲגָג לִפְנֵי יְהוָה,   וַיְשַׁסֵּף שְׁמוּאֵל אֶת- 

2. RASHI METHOD: WORD MEANINGS / new meanings 
This example applies to Rashis Nu25-03a 
URL reference:(c) http://www.RashiYomi.com/ gn06-04a.htm 

The word meaning method seeks to present dictionary meaning. Rashi uses 10 vehicles to infer word meaning. A major word meaning submethod is the 8-methods-of-naming  method. Items can be named by a) function , e.g. United Nations, b) by form, e.g., The Pentagon, c) by appearance, e.g. the orange dress, d) by distinguishing property, eg overcoat . 

We list 3 methods by which to name idols with accompanying illustrative verses. 
•	By Form: The idols are called carved items as in verse Ex20-03 which states  Thou shalt not make unto thee a carved image, nor any manner of likeness, of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; -תְּמוּנָה וְכָל-תַעֲשֶׂה לְךָ פֶסֶל לֹא Other examples of words named by form are by-cycle, and The Pentagon 
•	By Function/Purpose: The peor idol is called uncover since people would worship it by uncovering and undressing themselves before it, to show themselves one with nature. The following verse refers to this idol. Verse Nu25-03 states   And Israel joined himself unto the Baal of Peor; and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.   וַיִּצָּמֶד יִשְׂרָאֵל, לְבַעַל פְּעוֹר; וַיִּחַר-אַף יְהוָה, בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל.  Examples of  other words named by function are United Nations,  and can-opener 
•	By feeling: Idols can be called disgusts as in the following verse Dt29-16 which states   and ye have seen their detestable things, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were with them--   וַתִּרְאוּ, אֶת-שִׁקּוּצֵיהֶם, וְאֵת, גִּלֻּלֵיהֶם--עֵץ וָאֶבֶן, כֶּסֶף וְזָהָב אֲשֶׁר עִמָּהֶם.  Examples of other words named by feeling are hardship, and inflammation. 

3. RASHI METHOD: GRAMMAR / conjugation
This example applies to Rashis  Nu22-29a 
URL reference:(c) http://www.RashiYomi.com/ dt29-18a.htm 

The grammar method seeks to apply and teach Hebrew grammar.  One component of grammar deals with the 7 grammatical modes and their meaning. Rashi interpreted the hitpael as meaning interactive . The following verse illustrates the hitpael connoting interaction.

The Hebrew root Ayin-Lamed-Lamed עַלַּלְ means to tease . In the hitpael this word means to interactively tease, that is to sport with. The word invariably has sexual connotations: two people teasing each other. In fact the Talmudic sages hear sexual connotations between Bilam and his donkey in the following verse Nu22-29 which states   And Balaam said unto the ass: 'Because thou hast sported with me; I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed thee.'   וַיֹּאמֶר בִּלְעָם לָאָתוֹן, כִּי הִתְעַלַּלְתְּ בִּי; לוּ יֶשׁ-חֶרֶב בְּיָדִי, כִּי עַתָּה הֲרַגְתִּיךְ.  

4. RASHI METHOD: ALIGNMENT
This example applies to Rashis  Nu23-17a 
URL reference:(c) http://www.RashiYomi.com/ nu23-17z .htm

The alignment method seeks to extract nuances from the minor differences in the alignment of two almost identical verses. The contrast of the two almost identical verses points either to a) two cases, b) several nuances, or c) an equality of the verses which leads to an understanding in meaning.

Note the subtle aligned difference in the following verses which discuss how Midyanite officials reacted to two attempts by Bilam to curse the Jewish people. 
•	The First Attempt: Verse Nu23-06 states   And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt-offering, he, and all the princes of Moab.   וַיָּשָׁב אֵלָיו, וְהִנֵּה נִצָּב עַל-עֹלָתוֹ--הוּא, וְכָל-שָׂרֵי מוֹאָב.  
•	The Second Attempt: Verse Nu23-17 states   And he came to him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt-offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him: 'What hath the LORD spoken?'   וַיָּבֹא אֵלָיו, וְהִנּוֹ נִצָּב עַל-עֹלָתוֹ, וְשָׂרֵי מוֹאָב, אִתּוֹ; וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ בָּלָק, מַה-דִּבֶּר יְהוָה.  
	
Notice how all officials (eagerly) waited for Bilam's response on the first attempt; by contrast the word all is conspicuously absent on the second attempt. Rashi comments: The idea of killing a nation by a curse was ludicrous to begin with. After the first attempt failed some officials gave up on the project. Hence the word all is absent on the second attempt.

5. RASHI METHOD: CONTRADICTION
This example applies to Rashis  Nu22-34a 
URL reference:(c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/ nu22-34a .htm

The contradiction method seeks to derive Biblical content by assuming a resolution to contradictory verses. Rashi had 3 main methods to resolve contradiction: The two contradictory verses could be speaking about a) two stages of one process, b) two aspects or attributes of one entity, or c) the contradictory verses could be resolved assuming a broad or literal interpretation of the words causing the contradiction.

The following verses show an amusing contradiction. 
•	Verse Nu22-34 states   And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD: 'I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me; now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back.'   וַיֹּאמֶר בִּלְעָם אֶל-מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה, חָטָאתִי--כִּי לֹא יָדַעְתִּי, כִּי אַתָּה נִצָּב לִקְרָאתִי בַּדָּרֶךְ; וְעַתָּה אִם-רַע בְּעֵינֶיךָ, אָשׁוּבָה לִּי.  
•	Verse Nu24-16 states   The saying of him who heareth the words of God, and knoweth the knowledge of the Most High, who seeth the vision of the Almighty, fallen down, yet with opened eyes:   נְאֻם, שֹׁמֵעַ אִמְרֵי-אֵל, וְיֹדֵעַ, דַּעַת עֶלְיוֹן; מַחֲזֵה שַׁדַּי יֶחֱזֶה, נֹפֵל וּגְלוּי עֵינָיִם.  
	
Rashi comments: Bilam couldn't see what his donkey saw and yet he brags that he knew the thoughts of God 

Rashi here is using the literary technique of irony. The contradiction, or more precisely the irony, shows that Bilam's second statement, that he knew the thoughts of God, was a lie! In this case the Bible cites Bilam's alleged prophecy as is but lets the reader infer that he was a charlatan. 

7. RASHI METHOD: Formatting
This example applies to Rashis  Nu23-21b Nu23-21c Nu23-21d Nu23-21e 
URL reference:(c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/ nu23-21a .htm
 
Modern formatting has a variety of vehicles which the writer uses to either create emphasis or point to an underlying unity. Three common examples of modern formatting are (a) bold-italic-underline, (b) paragraph indentation including use of line spaces, (c) use of bulleted lists. 

Authors use these formatting devices as follows: (a) All authors know that bold-italic-underline indicates emphasis. The Bible did not use bold-italic-underline but instead uses repetition to indicate emphasis. (b) Modern authors use indentation and line spaces between paragraphs to point to an underlying unity in a paragraph. The Bible indicates paragraph unity by using the theme-detail-theme, detail-theme, or theme-detail styles. (c) Modern authors use bulleted lists to indicate contrastive emphasis--the bullets together are seen as spanning a domain of ideas while each individual bullet is seen as indicating a separate and distinct idea. The bible indicates bulleted lists by either using repeated keywords or parallel structure. 

The reader will recognize the theme-detail-theme, detail-theme and theme-detail methods as three of the 13 exegetical methods of Rabbi Ishmael. What we have added is the explanation that the Rabbi Ishmael rules focus on biblical examples: Are these biblical examples understood as exhaustive of the whole law or are they understood as examples to be generalized? Similarly the reader will recognize that we have called the bullet method is the Rabbi Ishmael rule of context. What we have added to the Rabbi Ishmael exposition is the idea that parallel structure and repeated keywords are two methods of making inferences from context

The following verse contains a poetic passage. Verse Nu23-21 states  
•	 He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, 
•	neither hath He seen toil in Israel; 
•	the LORD his God is with Israel, 
•	and the Trumpet blasts for the King is in Israel.  

•	 לֹא-הִבִּיט אָוֶן בְּיַעֲקֹב,
•	וְלֹא-רָאָה עָמָל בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל;
•	 יְהוָה אֱלֹהָיו עִמּוֹ,
•	 וּתְרוּעַת מֶלֶךְ בּוֹ.  

This poetic passage is best understood through formatting techniques as the bulleted structure above shows. First, notice that all four bulleted phrases echo, with different nuances, the same theme: the LORD his God is with Israel

The bulleted formatting suggests an evolving structure. This evolving structure is the driving force behind Rashi's interpretation of the passage. 
•	He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob means the LORD his God is with Israel even in sin 
•	neither hath He seen toil in Israel  means the LORD his God is with Israel even in premeditated sin with toil 
•	the LORD his God is with Israel means the LORD his God is with Israel
•	and the Trumpet blasts for the King is in Israel means the LORD his God is festively with Israel, with trumpets and fanfair . 

The last phrase gives us a glimpse into proper Rashi interpretation: Rashi states: This phrase has a connotation of friendship. Since the root for friendship, רוּעַ, is the same as the root for trumpet blasts, רוּעַ, one might erroneously think that Rashi is re-interpreting the words trumpet blast to mean friendship. However the proper way to read Rashi is to interpret trumpet blasts,תְרוּעַת מֶלֶךְ, as meaning what it always means, trumpet blasts. Rashi then points out that trumpet blasts,תְרוּעַת מֶלֶךְ, connote festivity and friendship. This point explains the placement of this phrase at the end of the list of bullets, since festive friendship is the highest degree of friendship we can have with God. 

8. RASHI METHOD: DATABASES
This example applies to Rashis  Nu22-09a 
URL reference:(c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/ gn03-09a .htm

The database method seeks to discover biblical ideas using the methods of modern database theory and sequential query language (SQL). The Talmudic sages and Rashi were totally familiar and frequently used all aspects of modern database theory. 

Today we ask the query: Where does God using conversation openers in speaking to people?  The query returns the 3 results listed below. In these three verses God uses conversation openers in addressing a person who has sinned. The purpose of the conversation opener is to avoid frightening the person and encouraging him to repent. 

•	Adam had sinned (eaten of forbidden fruit). God doesn't accuse him. Rather, God uses a conversation opener, where are you? Verse Gn03-09 states   And the LORD God called unto the man, and said unto him: 'Where art thou?'   וַיִּקְרָא יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים, אֶל-הָאָדָם; וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ, אַיֶּכָּה.  
•	Kayin committed murder. Rather than confronting Kayin God uses a conversation opener, where is your brother? Verse Gn04-09 states   And the LORD said unto Cain: 'Where is Abel thy brother?' And he said: 'I know not; am I my brother's keeper?'   וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-קַיִן, אֵי הֶבֶל אָחִיךָ; וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא יָדַעְתִּי, הֲשֹׁמֵר אָחִי אָנֹכִי.  
•	Bilam wanted to curse and destroy the Jewish people. Rather than accusing him God uses a conversation opener, who are these people who visited you? Verse Nu22-09 states   And God came unto Balaam, and said: 'What men are these with thee?'   וַיָּבֹא אֱלֹהִים, אֶל-בִּלְעָם; וַיֹּאמֶר, מִי הָאֲנָשִׁים הָאֵלֶּה עִמָּךְ.  
In all these cases God uses a conversation opener to calm the person down and encourage him to repent. 

10. RASHI METHOD: SYMBOLISM
This example applies to Rashis  Nu22-26a
URL reference:(c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/ nu22-26a .htm

The symbolism method seeks to extract meaningful inferences from the symbolism of the biblical text.  The concept of symbolic interpretation is very involved. A good, compact, clear reference explaining when symbolism can be used and how to apply it may be found in my article Genesis 1 speaks about the creation of prophecy not the world which you can find at http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gen-1.htm. Today we explore the symbolism in Nu22-26a which describes the symbolism of the 3 confrontations between Angel & Bilam and between God & Israel on the 3 festivals..

•	Nu22-22:23 And God's anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of the LORD placed himself in the way for an adversary against him.--Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.--And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field; and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.
•	Nu22-24:25 Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow way between the vineyards, a fence being on this side, and a fence on that side.And the ass saw the angel of the LORD, and she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall; and he smote her again.
•	Nu22-26:27 And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a cramped place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.And the ass saw the angel of the LORD, and she lay down under Balaam; and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with his staff.

Rashi interprets these as 3 methods of confrontation. Each confrontation attempts to prevent the person from going on a path, but the confrontation is done in a different manner. Thus as the underlined passages show 
•	We have a confrontation leading to going to fields.
•	We have a confrontation using a narrow path with just enough room.
•	We have a confrontation used a cramped path

These 3 confrontation methods remind Rashi of 3 similar confrontation methods used in the 3 Jewish festivals 

Passover  The Jews leave Egypt and go into the wild wilderness 
Pentecost The Jews leave free activity and accept the Torah which gives them a fixed, narrow path with just enough room.
Succoth The Jews live in cramped booths.

As the underlined words show there is a parallel between the 3 methods of confrontation 

The parallelism of the same 3 methods of confrontation by God against the Jews and Bilam symbolically suggests
the following: People don't always accept God's first warning. The Jews observe 3 festivals to symbolize that if they don't accept Gods first warning they eventually accept His warning. By contrast Bilam was warned three times against going and didn't accept any of the warnings. It was only the direct threat of death that made him change. Clearly then Bilam is not on the same level as the Jews. He therefore does not have the right to curse them.

Conclusion

This week's parshah contains no examples of the style, and  spreadsheets method. This concludes this weeks edition. Visit the RashiYomi website at http://www.Rashiyomi.com/ for further details and examples.