ÿþ<HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE> Weekly Rashi Digest - </title> <style type=text/css> .TopHeader {font-size:16pt; font-family:Times Roman,Times Roman New; font-weight:900;} .header {font-size:15pt; font-family:Times Roman,Times Roman New; font-weight:900;} P {font-size:12pt; font-family: Times Roman,Times Roman New; font-weight:400} .ULHead {font-size:15pt; font-family: Times Roman,Times Roman New; font-weight:900} UL {font-size:12pt; font-family: Times Roman,Times Roman New; font-weight:400} OL {font-size:12pt; font-family: Times Roman,Times Roman New; font-weight:400} tt {font-weight: 100; font-size:10pt; font-family: courier; font-style: Normal} pre {font-family:courier,courier-new; font-weight:100; font-size:8pt} </style> </head> <body> <center> <table width=80%><tr><td> </center> <!-- Begin Header --> <Div class=TopHeader> <center> <Div class=TopHeader> <center> <b>The 10 RashiYomi Rules<br></font> <i>Their presence in Rashis on <u>Parshat VaEthChaNaN</u> </i> </font> </br> Volume 14, Number 24 <br> This weeks Weekly Rashi with Hebrew/English source tables<br> Is accessible at <a href=http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rule1424.htm><font color=blue>http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rule1424.htm</font></a> <br> (c) RashiYomi Incorporated, Dr. Hendel, President, July 22 nd, 2010 <br> <b>Visit the Rashi website</b> <a href=http://www.Rashiyomi.com>http://www.Rashiyomi.com</a><br> <font size=1><i> </i> </font> </center> </Div> <P> <tt>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.</tt> <tt>Although I frequently use my own English translations of biblical verses and Rashi comments, the Hebrew and English translations in the source tables are derived from online parshah files at chabad.org who in turn acknowledges the Judaica Press Complete Tanach, copyright by Judaica Press.</tt> </P> </center> <P><Font color=red face=Arial> <center><b> FULL HOUSE THIS WEEK ALL RASHI RULES ILLUSTRATED </b> </center> </font> </p> <!-- END HEADER --> <!-- END HEADER --> <a name=rule1> <!-- Rule #1 --> <P> <table width=95% bordercolor=black bgcolor=#ccffff border=5 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2><tr><td> <Div Class=Header> <UL><Div Class=ULHead> <b><U> 1. RASHI METHOD: </u> <i>REFERENCES</i><br> <tt>BRIEF EXPLANATION: Commentary on a verse is provided thru a <B>cross-reference</b> to another verse. The cross <U>references</u> can either provide <UL><LI>(1a) further <U>details</u>, <LI>(1b) confirm <U>citations</u>, or <LI>(1c) clarify word <U>meaning</u>. </ul> </tt></b> This examples applies to Rashis <b> Dt05-16b </b> <br> <U>URL Reference:</u> (c) <b> <font color=blue>http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w34n6.htm; </font> </b> <br><TT><U>Brief Summary:</u> Ten Commandments: Observe the Sabbath AS GOD COMMANDED YOU. Rashi: Commanded at Marah. Similarly for HONOR FATHER/MOTHER. </tt> </font> </ul> </Div> </Div> </td></tr></table> </p> <P> <center><table width=95% bordercolor=black bgcolor=#ccffff border=5 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2><tr><td> Verse</td><td> Dt05-16a </td></tr><tr><td> Hebrew Verse</td><td> Û¼·Ñ¼µÓ жê иѴÙÚ¸ հжê д޼¶Ú¸ Û¼·Ð²éÁ¶è æ´Õ¼°Ú¸ Ù°¾Ô¹Õ¸¾Ô бܹԶÙÚ¸ Ü°Þ·â·ß ٷвè´ÙÛ»ß Ù¸Þ¶ÙÚ¸ ռܰ޷â·ß Ù´ÙØ·Ñ Ü¸Ú° â·Ü Ô¸Ð²Ó¸Þ¸Ô Ð²éÁ¶è Ù°¾Ô¹Õ¸¾Ô бܹԶÙÚ¸ à¹êµß ܸڰ: </td></tr><tr><td> English Verse</td><td> Honor your father and your mother as the Lord your God commanded you, in order that your days be lengthened, and that it may go well with you on the land that the Lord, your God, is giving you. </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Header Hebrew</td><td> ÛÐéè æÕÚ </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Text Hebrew</td><td> Ðã âÜ ÛÑÕÓ ÐÑ ÕÐÝ àæØÕÕ ÑÞèÔ éàÐÞè (éÞÕê ØÕ ÛÔ) éÝ éÝ ÜÕ ×Õç ÕÞéäØ: </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Header Enlish</td><td> as the Lord your God commanded you </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Text English</td><td> Also regarding the honoring of father and mother they were commanded at Marah, as it is said: (Exod. 15:25), There He gave them a statute and an ordinance. (San. 56b) </td></tr></table></center></p> <P>Verse(s) <B> Dt05-12,Dt05-16b </b> discussing the obligation to observe Sabbath and honor parents states <I> Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, <U>as the Lord your God has commanded you.</u> ... Honor your father and your mother, <U>as the Lord your God has commanded you</u>; that your days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with you, in the land which the Lord your God gives you. </i> Rashi clarifies the underlined words <U> <U>as the Lord your God has commanded you</u> </u> by <B>referencing</b> verse(s) <B> Ex15-25,Ex16-28:30 </b> discussing the laws given in Marah and the Seen Desert, which states <I> And he cried to the Lord; and the Lord showed him a tree, which when he threw into the waters, and made the waters sweet; <U>there he set for them a statute and an ordinance</u>, and there he tested them, ... And the Lord said to Moses, How long refuse you to keep my commandments and my laws? See, because <U>the Lord has given you the sabbath</u>, therefore he gives you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide you every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. So the people rested on the seventh day. </i> Hence the Rashi comment: <tt> As can be seen from <B>Nu33-08:15,</b> Marah and Seen Desert were pre-Sinai stops on the Jewish journeys. It says explicitly that the Jews were given the (a) Sabbath and (b) a Statute and (c) Ordinance. We are not told further details about this Statute and Ordinance. However in the 10 commandments in Deuteronomy the phrase <U>as your God the Lord commanded you</u> is added by the commandments to honor the Sabbath and to honor ones parents. Hence we infer that the <U>statute and ordinance</u> mentioned by Marah probably refers to the obligation to honor ones parents. </tt> </P> <P> <table width=95% bordercolor=black border=3 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2> <tr bgcolor=#cccccc> <td> <B>Text of Target verse Dt05-12,Dt05-16b </b> </td> <td> <B>Text of Reference Verse Ex15-25,Ex16-28:30 </b> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <I> Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, <U>as the Lord your God has commanded you.</u> ... Honor your father and your mother, <U>as the Lord your God has commanded you</u>; that your days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with you, in the land which the Lord your God gives you. </i> </td> <td> <I> And he cried to the Lord; and the Lord showed him a tree, which when he threw into the waters, and made the waters sweet; <U>there he set for them a statute and an ordinance</u>, and there he tested them, ... And the Lord said to Moses, How long refuse you to keep my commandments and my laws? See, because <U>the Lord has given you the sabbath</u>, therefore he gives you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide you every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. So the people rested on the seventh day. </i> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan=2> <B>Rashi comments:</b> <tt> As can be seen from <B>Nu33-08:15,</b> Marah and Seen Desert were pre-Sinai stops on the Jewish journeys. It says explicitly that the Jews were given the (a) <U>Sabbath</u> and (b) a <U>Statute</u> and (c) <U>Ordinance</u>. We are not told further details about this Statute and Ordinance. However in the 10 commandments in Deuteronomy the phrase <U>as your God the Lord commanded you</u> is added by the commandments to honor the Sabbath and to honor ones parents. Hence we infer that the <U>statute and ordinance</u> mentioned by Marah probably refers to the obligation to honor ones parents. </tt> </td> </tr> </table> </P> <P><B><U>Advanced Rashi:</u></b> Rashi also mentions that the commandment of the Red Heiffer was given in Marah. Unlike the Seen Desert where it is explicitly mentioned that the Sabbath was given, we are only told that <U>a statute and ordinance</u> were given in Marah. We are not told which <U>statute and ordinance.</u> Rashi therefore notes that the phrases <U>as God commanded you</u> or <U>that God commanded Moses</u> are mentioned by the commandments to honor one's parents <B>Dt05-16</b> and to observe the Red Heiffer ceremony <B>Dt19-02.</b> Rashi therefore identifies the <U>Statute and ordinance</u> as referring to honoring ones parents and the red heiffer. </P> <P>True, there are other commandments where it says <U>as God commanded.</u> For example the entire building of the Tabernacle <B>Ex35 - Ex40</b> mentions the phrase <U>as God commanded Moses</u> 18 times. But in this case we have the original verses where God commanded Moses (<B>Ex25 - Ex28</b>). </P> <P>So the proper statement is that there are only three commandments were the phrase <U>observe... as God commanded you</u> is mentioned without a corresponding reference text where God actually commanded. Hence Rashi assumes that these three commandments are the reference of the <U>Statute and ordinance</u> mentioned in <B>Ex15-25</b> which God taught in Marah and Seen desert.</P> <P>There are various manuscripts of Rashi; which commandments are taught has driven alot of speculation. The above analysis is not based on a particular Rashi manuscript but rather based on universal principles that Rashi always used. Hence, based on this analysis, I would assume that those manuscripts which mention Red Heiffer, Honoring Parents, and Sabbath are the correct ones. Notice, here, how we use logic to justify the manuscript rather than using the manuscript to justify identification of the correct text. </P> <P>We will revisit this example below in <B>rule #7, format</b> below. </p> <a name=rule2> <!-- Rule #2 --> <table width=95% bordercolor=black bgcolor=#ccffff border=5 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2><tr><td> <Div Class=Header> <UL><Div Class=ULHead> <Div Class=Header> <UL> <Div Class=ULHead> <b> <U> 2. RASHI METHOD: </u> <i> WORD MEANING</i><br> <tt> BRIEF EXPLANATION: The <b>meaning</b> of words can be explained either by <UL><LI>(2a) translating an <B>idiom, </b> a group of words whose collective meaning transcends the meaning of its individual component words, <LI>(2b) explaining the nuances and commonality of <B>synonyms-homographs</b>, <LI>(2c) describing the usages of <B>connective words</b> like <I>also,because,if-then, when</i>, <LI>(2d) indicating how grammatical <B>conjugation</b> can change word meaning <LI>(2e) changing word meaning using the <B>figures of speech</b> common to all languages such as <I>irony</i> and <I>oxymorons</i>. </ul> </tt></b> This examples applies to Rashis <b> Dt04-38b </b> </b> <br> <U>URL Reference:</u> (c) <b> <font color=blue>http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rule1302.htm </font></b> <TT><U>Brief Summary:</u> The Biblical AS THIS DAY resembles the English IDIOM, IN BROAD DAYLIGHT connoting something universally accepted. </tt> </font> </uL> </Div> </Div> </td></tr></table> </P> <P> <center><table width=95% bordercolor=black bgcolor=#ccffff border=5 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2><tr><td> Verse</td><td> Dt04-38b </td></tr><tr><td> Hebrew Verse</td><td> Ü°ÔÕ¹è´ÙéÁ Ò¼Õ¹Ù´Ý Ò¼°Ó¹Ü´ÙÝ Õ·â²æ»Þ´ÙÝ Þ´Þ¼°Ú¸ ޴伸à¶ÙÚ¸ ܷԲѴÙвڸ ܸê¶ê Ü°Ú¸ жê зè°æ¸Ý à·×²Ü¸Ô Û¼·Ù¼Õ¹Ý Ô·Ö¼¶Ô: </td></tr><tr><td> English Verse</td><td> to drive out from before you nations greater and stronger than you, to bring you and give you their land for an inheritance, as this day. </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Header Hebrew</td><td> ÛÙÕÝ ÔÖÔ </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Text Hebrew</td><td> ÛÐéè ÐêÔ èÕÐÔ ÔÙÕÝ: </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Header Enlish</td><td> as this day </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Text English</td><td> As you see today. </td></tr></table></center></p> <P> An <B>idiom</b> is a <TT>collection of words which means more than the sum of the meanings of each of the phrases' individual words.</tt> Verse <B> Dt04-38b </b> discussing the sin and punishment of the Jews states <I> To drive out from your presence nations greater and mightier than you are, to bring you in, to give you their land for an inheritance, <U>in broad daylight</u> <tt>[literally: as this day]</tt> </i> Rashi explains: <TT> The phrase(s) <U> <U>as this day</u> </u>is an <B>idiom</b> meaning in broad daylight, or, as clear as day. </tt> As can be seen from the underlined words the Rashi comment is compactly and explicitly combined in the Biblical text. </p> <P><B><U>Advanced Rashi:</u></b> Rashi literally says that the <B>idiom</b> means <I>clear as day.</i> However, in light of the English <B>idiom</b> <I>in broad daylight</i> connoting <U>something well known and without opposition,</u> I thought it better to use this English idiom in the Rashi translation. </P> <a name=rule3> <!-- Rule #3 --> <table width=95% bordercolor=black bgcolor=#ccffff border=5 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2> <tr><td> <Div Class=Header> <UL><Div Class=ULHead> <Div Class=Header> <UL> <Div Class=ULHead> <b><U> 3. RASHI METHOD: </u> <i> GRAMMAR</i><br> <tt>BRIEF EXPLANATION: Rashi explains verses using <b>grammar</b> principles, that is, rules which relate reproducable word form to word meaning. <B>Grammatical</b> rules neatly fall into 3 categories <UL><LI>(a) the rules governing <B>conjugation</b> of individual words,Biblical roots, <LI>(b) the rules governing collections of words,<b>clauses, sentences</b> <LI>(c) <b>miscellaneous</b> grammatical, or form-meaning, rules. </ul> </tt></b> This examples applies to Rashis <b> Dt04-35a </b> <br> <U>URL Reference:</u> (c) <b> <font color=blue>http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w34n6.htm</font> </b> <BR><TT> <U>Brief Summary:</u> You have BEEN SHOWN PROPHECIES and personally know God is the true Lord. </tt> </font> </uL> </Div> </Div> </td></tr></table> <P> <center><table width=95% bordercolor=black bgcolor=#ccffff border=5 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2><tr><td> Verse</td><td> Dt04-35a </td></tr><tr><td> Hebrew Verse</td><td> Ð·ê¼¸Ô Ô¸è°Ðµê¸ ܸӷâ·ê Û¼´Ù Ù°¾Ô¹Õ¸¾Ô ÔռРԸб¾Ü¹Ô´ÙÝ ÐµÙß âÕ¹Ó Þ´Ü°Ñ·Ó¼Õ¹: </td></tr><tr><td> English Verse</td><td> You have been shown, in order to know that the Lord He is God; there is none else besides Him. </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Header Hebrew</td><td> ÔèÐê </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Text Hebrew</td><td> ÛêèÒÕÞÕ Ðê×ÖÙêÐ. Ûéàêß ÔçÑÔ Ðê ÔêÕèÔ äê× ÜÔÝ éÑâÔ èçÙâÙÝ. ÕÛéÝ éçèâ Ðê ÔâÜÙÕàÙÝ ÛÚ çèâ Ðê Ôê×êÕàÙÝ. ÕèÐÕ éÔÕÐ Ù×ÙÓÙ, ÜÛÚ àÐÞè ÐêÔ ÔèÐê ÜÓâê: </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Header Enlish</td><td> You have been shown </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Text English</td><td> Heb. Ô¸è°Ðµê¸ As the Targum [Onkelos] renders it: дê°×´ÖµÙê¸Ð, you have been shown. When the Holy One, blessed is He, gave the Torah, He opened for Israel the seven heavens, and just as He tore open the upper regions, so did He tear open the lower regions, and they saw that He is One. Accordingly, it is stated,  You have been shown, in order to know [that the Lord He is God-there is none else besides Him]. </td></tr></table></center></p> <P>Most people know that the Biblical meaning of a word is determined by its underlying three-letter root. The Biblical root can be conjugated in different a) persons, b) tenses, c) pluralities, d) genders, e) constructions and f) modalities. For example <I>I watched</i> has a different conjugation then <I>I will be watched</I> even though both phrases use the same 3 letter Hebrew root.</P> <P>Rashi explains that the Hebrew root <B>Resh-Aleph-Hey</b> can mean both <I>see</I> and <I>prophetically see.</I> However the <B>causative-passive</b> (<B>Hafal</b>) always means that <I>we received (<B>passive</b>) from God (<b>causative</b>) a prophecy.</i> The following verses illustrate this: <B>Dt04-35a</b> <I> <U>You have received prophecy</u>, that you might know that the Lord is God; there is no other beside him ;</i> <B>Ex25-40</b> <I> And see that you make them after their pattern, which was <U>prophetically shown</u> to you in the mount. </i> </P> <a name=rule4> <!-- Rule #4 --> <table width=95% bordercolor=black bgcolor=#ccffff border=5 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2><tr><td> <Div Class=Header> <UL><Div Class=ULHead> <b><U> 4. RASHI METHOD:</u> <i> ALIGNMENT</i><br> <TT>BRIEF EXPLANATION: Aligning two almost identically worded verselets can suggest <UL><LI>(4a) <B>2 cases</b> of the same incident or law <LI>(4b) emphasis on the <b>nuances</b> of a case <LI>(4c) use of <b>broad vs literal</b> usage of words</uL> </tt></b> This examples applies to Rashis <b> Dt04-06b </b> <br> <U>URL Reference:</u> (c) <b> <font color=blue>http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rule1302.htm</font> </b> <BR> <TT> <U>Brief Summary:</u> a) See I have given you commandments to DO b) You shall WATCH and DO RASHI: WATCH=Safeguard with professional standards </tt> </font> </uL> </Div> </Div> </td></tr></table> <P> <center><table width=95% bordercolor=black bgcolor=#ccffff border=5 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2><tr><td> Verse</td><td> Dt04-06b </td></tr><tr><td> Hebrew Verse</td><td> Õ¼éÁ°Þ·è°ê¼¶Ý Õ·â²é´Ùê¶Ý Û¼´Ù Ô´ÕР׸۰޷ê°Û¶Ý ռѴÙà·ê°Û¶Ý Ü°âµÙàµÙ Ô¸â·Þ¼´ÙÝ Ð²éÁ¶è Ù´éÁ°Þ°âÕ¼ß Ðµê Û¼¸Ü Է׻缴ÙÝ Ô¸ÐµÜ¼¶Ô հиްèÕ¼ è·ç â·Ý ×¸Û¸Ý Õ°à¸ÑÕ¹ß Ô·Ò¼Õ¹Ù Ô·Ò¼¸ÓÕ¹Ü Ô·Ö¼¶Ô: </td></tr><tr><td> English Verse</td><td> And you shall keep [them] and do [them], for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the eyes of the peoples, who will hear all these statutes and say, Only this great nation is a wise and understanding people. </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Header Hebrew</td><td> ÕâéÙêÝ </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Text Hebrew</td><td> ÛÞéÞâÕ: </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Header Enlish</td><td> and do [them] </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Text English</td><td> [To be interpreted] according to its apparent meaning. </td></tr></table></center></p> <P> The table below presents an <B>aligned</b> extract of verses or verselets in <B> Dt04-06b </B> Both verses/verselets discuss the requirement to observe the commandments. The <B>alignment</b> justifies the Rashi comment that: <tt> The primary effect of the Sinaitic revelation is the commandment to <U>observe.</u> But observance itself requires <U>safeguarding</u> the commandments you <U>observe</u>. One safeguards the commandments by professionally standardizing them; these standards are called fences in Rabbinic law. For example the Bible commanded to recite the Shma in the evening. Rabbinic law standardizes this practice so that it must be recited before midnight (otherwise people would fall asleep and miss the recital of the Shma.). </tt> </P> <p> <table width=95% bordercolor=black border=5 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2> <tr bgcolor=#cccccc> <td> Verse </td> <td> Text of Verse </td> <td> Rashi comment </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <B> Dt04-05 </b> </td> <td> <I> Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, as the Lord my God commanded me, that <U>you should do them</u> in the land where you go to take possession of it. </i> </td> <td rowspan=2 width=50%> <tt> The primary effect of the Sinaitic revelation is the commandment to <U>observe.</u> But observance itself requires <U>safeguarding</u> the commandments you <U>observe</u>. One safeguards the commandments by professionally standardizing them; these standards are called fences in Rabbinic law. For example the Bible commanded to recite the Shma in the evening. Rabbinic law standardizes this practice so that it must be recited before midnight (otherwise people would fall asleep and miss the recital of the Shma.). </tt> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <B> Dt04-06 </b> </td> <td> <i> <U>You should watch/safeguard and do them</u>; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, who, when they shall hear all these statutes, shall say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. </i> </td> </tr> </table> </p> <P><B><U>Advanced Rashi:</u></b> Another approach to this Rashi is the understanding of the <B>meaning</b> of the Hebrew root, <B>Shin Mem Resh.</b> We can show that in the Bible <B>Shin Mem Resh</b> refers to <U>professional obligations</u> and/or to <U>professional standards.</u> If you think about it a little bit, <U>professional standards</u> simply means fences preventing violation.</P> <a name=rule5> <P> <!-- Rule #5 --> <table width=95% bordercolor=black bgcolor=#ccffff border=5 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2><tr><td> <Div Class=Header> <UL><Div Class=ULHead> <Div Class=Header> <UL> <Div Class=ULHead> <b><U> 5. RASHI METHOD: </u> <i> CONTRADICTION</i><br> <tt>BRIEF EXPLANATION:Rashi resolves <B>contradictory</b> verses using 3 methods. <UL><LI>(5a) Resolution using <B>two aspects</b> of the same event <LI>(5b) Resolution using <B>two stages</b> of the same process <LI>(5c) Resolution using <B>broad-literal</b> interpretation. </ul></tt></b> This examples applies to Rashis <b> Dt04-23b </b> <br> <U>URL Reference:</u> (c) <b> <font color=blue>http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w34n6.htm</font> </b> <BR><TT> <U>Brief Summary:</u> Take heed ...lest you make an idol WHICH GOD COMMANDED YOU [not to do] </tt> </font> </uL> </Div> </Div> </td></tr></table> <P> <center><table width=95% bordercolor=black bgcolor=#ccffff border=5 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2><tr><td> Verse</td><td> Dt04-23b </td></tr><tr><td> Hebrew Verse</td><td> Ô´é¼Á¸Þ°èÕ¼ Ü¸Û¶Ý ä¼¶ß ê¼´éÁ°Û¼°×Õ¼ жê Ѽ°è´Ùê Ù°¾Ô¹Õ¸¾Ô бܹԵÙÛ¶Ý Ð²éÁ¶è Û¼¸è·ê â´Þ¼¸Û¶Ý Õ·â²é´Ùê¶Ý Ü¸Û¶Ý ä¼¶á¶Ü ê¼°ÞÕ¼à·ê Û¼¹Ü вéÁ¶è æ´Õ¼°Ú¸ Ù°¾Ô¹Õ¸¾Ô бܹԶÙÚ¸: </td></tr><tr><td> English Verse</td><td> Beware, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which He made with you, and make for yourselves a graven image, the likeness of anything, which the Lord your God has forbidden you. </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Header Hebrew</td><td> Ðéè æÕÚ Ô' </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Text Hebrew</td><td> Ðéè æÕÚ âÜÙÕ éÜÐ ÜâéÕê: </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Header Enlish</td><td> which the Lord& commanded you </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Text English</td><td> Which He commanded you not to make. </td></tr></table></center></p> <P> The table below presents two <B>contradictory</b> verses. Both verses talk about the making of idols. The underlined words highlight the <b>contradiction.</b> One verse says <I> idols which <U>God commanded you</u> </i> while the other verse says <I> <U>don't make</u> idols. </i> Which is it? Are idols permitted or prohibited? Rashi simply resolves this using the <B> broad-literal </b> method: <tt> Idols are prohibited. we translate the phrase <U>less you make idols..which God commanded you</u> as meaning <U>less you make idols which God commanded you <B>about</b>.</u> We further interpret this phrase - <U>As God commanded you</u> - to indicate all the details in the prohibition of making idols such as the prohibition of making idols whether of physical objects (sun, moon) or prophetic objects (like the golden fire calf resembling the ox of Ezekiel's chariot vision). Hence we translate <U>lest you make idols <B>according to all the details</b> which God commanded you.</U> </tt> </P> <p> <table width=95% bordercolor=black border=5 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2> <tr bgcolor=#cccccc> <td> Summary </td> <td> Verse / Source </td> <td> Text of verse / Source </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <TT> Do <U>not</u> make idols </tt> </td> <td> <B> Dt05-08 </b> </td> <td> <I> <UL>Do not make idols or any picture <LI>of that which is in heaven above, or <LI>that which is in the earth beneath, or <LI>that which is in the waters beneath the earth </ul> </i> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <tt> Don't make idols as God commanded you [not to do] </tt> </td> <td> <B> Dt04-23b </b> </td> <td> <I> Take heed to yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you, and you make an idol, any picture <U>which the Lord your God has commanded you.</u> </i> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> Resolution: </td> <td> <B> Broad-literal</b> </td> <td> <TT> Idols are prohibited. we translate the phrase <U>less you make idols..which God commanded you</u> as meaning <U>less you make idols which God commanded you <B>about</b>.</u> We further interpret this phrase - <U>As God commanded you</u> - to indicate all the details in the prohibition of making idols such as the prohibition of making idols whether of physical objects (sun, moon) or prophetic objects (like the golden fire calf resembling the ox of Ezekiel's chariot vision). Hence we translate <U>lest you make idols <B>according to all the details</b> which God commanded you.</U> </tt> </td> </table> </p> <!-- Rule #6 --> <a name=rule6> <!-- Rule #6 --> <table width=95% bordercolor=black bgcolor=#ccffff border=5 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2><tr><td> <Div Class=Header> <Div Class=ULHead> <UL> <b><U> 6. RASHI METHOD: </u> <i> STYLE</i><br> <tt>Rashi examines how rules of <B>style</b> influences inferences between general and detail statements in paragraphs. <UL><LI><B>Example:</b> Every solo example stated by the Bible must be <i>broadly</i> generalized; <LI><B>Theme-Detail:</b> A general principle followed by an example is interpreted <B>restrictively</b>---the general theme statement <I>only</i> applies in the case of the example; <LI><B>Theme-Detail-Theme:</b> A Theme-Detail-Theme unit is interpreted as a <I>paragraph.</i> Consequently the details of the paragraph are generalized so that they are seen as illustrative of the theme. </ul> </tt></i> This examples applies to Rashis <B>Dt04-33c</b> <br> </b><U>URL Reference:</u> (c) <b> <font color=blue>http://www.Rashiyomi.com/dt06-06a.htm </b> </font> <BR> <TT> <U>Brief Summary:</u> Has such a GREAT THING ever happened THAT God revealed himself to an entire nation. </tt> <UL> </div> </div> </td></tr></table> <P> <center><table width=95% bordercolor=black bgcolor=#ccffff border=5 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2><tr><td> Verse</td><td> Dt04-32c </td></tr><tr><td> Hebrew Verse</td><td> Û¼´Ù éÁ°Ð·Ü à¸Ð Ü°Ù¸Þ´ÙÝ è´ÐéÁ¹à´ÙÝ Ð²éÁ¶è Ô¸ÙÕ¼ Ü°ä¸à¶ÙÚ¸ Ü°Þ´ß Ô·Ù¼Õ¹Ý Ð²éÁ¶è Ѽ¸è¸Ð б¾Ü¹Ô´ÙÝ Ð¸Ó¸Ý â·Ü Ըиè¶å ռܰ޴ç°æµÔ Ô·é¼Á¸Þ·Ù´Ý Õ°â·Ó ç°æµÔ Ô·é¼Á¸Þ¸Ù´Ý Ô²à´Ô°Ù¸Ô Û¼·Ó¼¸Ñ¸è Ô·Ò¼¸ÓÕ¹Ü Ô·Ö¼¶Ô ÐÕ¹ Ô²à´éÁ°Þ·â Û¼¸Þ¹ÔÕ¼: </td></tr><tr><td> English Verse</td><td> For ask now regarding the early days that were before you, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and from one end of the heavens to the other end of the heavens, whether there was anything like this great thing, or was the likes of it heard? </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Header Hebrew</td><td> ÔàÔÙÔ ÛÓÑè ÔÒÓÕÜ ÔÖÔ </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Text Hebrew</td><td> ÕÞÔÕ ÔÓÑè ÔÒÓÕÜ, ÔéÞâ âÝ ÕÒÕ': </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Header Enlish</td><td> whether there was anything like this great thing </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Text English</td><td> And what is this great thing? </td></tr></table></center></p> <P> Certain Biblical paragraphs are stated in a <B>Theme-Development</b> form. In other words a <B>broad general</b> idea is stated first followed by the <B>development</b> of this broad general theme in <B>specific details</b>. Today's example illustrates this. </P> <P><UL>Verses <B>Dt04-32:34</b> discussing the greatness of God's deliverance of the Jews from Egypt states <I> For ask now of the days past, which were before thee, since the day that G-d created man upon the earth, and from the one end of heaven unto the other, <UL><LI> <B><U>The Theme: General, Broad idea:</u></b>....<U>whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is</u>, or hath been heard like it? <LI><B><U>Development Details:</u></b> <UL><LI>Did ever a people hear the voice of G-d speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live? <LI>Or hath G-d assayed to go and take Him a nation from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, according to all that HaShem your G-d did for you in Egypt before thine eyes? </ul> </i> </ul> </ul> </p> <P>Rashi's sole purpose of comment is to indicate that <TT>the underlined phrase <U>Has there ever been such a great thing</u> refers to a) the Divine revelation to an entire nation and b) the deliverance of an entire enslaved nation.</tt> </p> <a name=rule7> <!-- Rule #7 --> <table width=95% bordercolor=black bgcolor=#ccffff border=5 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2><tr><td> <Div Class=Header> <UL><Div Class=ULHead> <b><U> 7. RASHI METHOD: </u> <i> FORMATTING</i><br> <TT>BRIEF EXPLANATION:Inferences from Biblical <B>formatting</b>: #NAME? <UL> <LI> Use of <B>repetition</b> to indicate formatting effects: <B>bold,italics,...</b>; <LI> use of <B>repeated keywords</b> to indicate a <B>bullet</b> effect; <LI> rules governing use and interpretation of <B>climactic</b> sequence; <LI> rules governing <b>paragraph</b> development and discourse </ul> This examples applies to Rashis <b>Dt05-16b</b> <br> <U>URL Reference:</u> (c) <b> <font color=blue>http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w34n6.htm</font> </b> <BR><TT><U>Brief Summary:</u> There are two commandments in the 10 commandments which state AS GOD COMMANDED YOU. The CONTEXT therefore suggests both references are to the same source. </tt> </div> </ul> </div> </td></tr></table> <P> <center><table width=95% bordercolor=black bgcolor=#ccffff border=5 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2><tr><td> Verse</td><td> Dt05-16a </td></tr><tr><td> Hebrew Verse</td><td> Û¼·Ñ¼µÓ жê иѴÙÚ¸ հжê д޼¶Ú¸ Û¼·Ð²éÁ¶è æ´Õ¼°Ú¸ Ù°¾Ô¹Õ¸¾Ô бܹԶÙÚ¸ Ü°Þ·â·ß ٷвè´ÙÛ»ß Ù¸Þ¶ÙÚ¸ ռܰ޷â·ß Ù´ÙØ·Ñ Ü¸Ú° â·Ü Ô¸Ð²Ó¸Þ¸Ô Ð²éÁ¶è Ù°¾Ô¹Õ¸¾Ô бܹԶÙÚ¸ à¹êµß ܸڰ: </td></tr><tr><td> English Verse</td><td> Honor your father and your mother as the Lord your God commanded you, in order that your days be lengthened, and that it may go well with you on the land that the Lord, your God, is giving you. </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Header Hebrew</td><td> ÛÐéè æÕÚ </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Text Hebrew</td><td> Ðã âÜ ÛÑÕÓ ÐÑ ÕÐÝ àæØÕÕ ÑÞèÔ éàÐÞè (éÞÕê ØÕ ÛÔ) éÝ éÝ ÜÕ ×Õç ÕÞéäØ: </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Header Enlish</td><td> as the Lord your God commanded you </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Text English</td><td> Also regarding the honoring of father and mother they were commanded at Marah, as it is said: (Exod. 15:25), There He gave them a statute and an ordinance. (San. 56b) </td></tr></table></center></p> <P><Font color=red>This example continues <B>rule #1, reference.</font></p> <P>Both the Biblical and modern author use the <B>paragraph</b> as a vehicle for indicating commonality of theme. Hence if two ideas are in a paragraph they may be assumed to have a similar <B>context,</b> (unless explicitly stated otherwise, for example, if the two ideas are indicated as contrastive.) The reader will no doubt recognize this <B>formatting rule</b> as none other than the most intuitive of the Rabbi Ishmael style rules which orthodox Jews recite every day as part of their daily prayer: the rule of <B>inference from context.</b> Today's example illustrates this. </P> <P><UL>The ten commandments are presented in <B>Ex20</b> and are repeated in Moses' farewell speach in <B>Dt05-06:18.</b> The repetition has an unusual feature: At two commandments we have added a phrase <LI>Observe the Sabbath ....<U>as God your Lord commanded you</U> <LI>Honor your Father and Mother...<U>as God your Lord commanded you.</u> </ul> </P> <P> It is natural to inquire what the underlined phrase <U>as God your Lord commanded you</u> refers to. We have seen above in <B>rule #1, reference</b> that the Sabbath laws were given in the Seen Desert prior to the revelation at Mount Sinai (<B>Ex16-28:30</b>) </P> <P> However we find no place where God commanded people to honor one's parents. But we do find a place, pre-Sinai Marah, where God commanded <U>a statute and ordinance</u> (<B>Ex15-25</b>). </P> <P>Rashi therefore assumes that this <U>statue and ordinance</u> refers to the commandment to honor one's parents which is qualified with the phrase <U>as God your Lord commanded you.</u> </p> <P>The driving force behind Rashi's logic is that <TT>Just as the phrase <U>as God commanded</u> by the Sabbath commandment refers back to the pre-Sinai Seen desert, so too, the phrase <U>as God commanded</u> by the Parent commandment, refers back to the pre-Sinai Marah. The reason we treat these two phrases the same is because they occur in the same <B>context / paragraph.</b> </tt> </P> <P>We can also understand this type of <B>paragraph</b> derivation as an example related to the Talmudic methods of <B>hekesh</B> or <B>semuchin.</b> </P> <a name=rule8> <!-- Rule #8 --> <table width=95% bordercolor=black bgcolor=#ccffff border=5 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2><tr><td> <Div Class=Header> <UL><Div Class=ULHead> <Div Class=Header> <UL> <Div Class=ULHead> <B><U> 8. RASHI METHOD: </u> </i>DATABASES</i> <br> <tt>BRIEF EXPLANATION:Rashi makes inferences from <B>Database</b> queries. The precise definition of <B>database</b> query has been identified in modern times with the 8 operations of Sequential Query Language (SQL).</tt></b><br> This example applies to Rashis <B>Dt05-14a</b> <br> </b><U>URL Reference:</u> (c) <b> <font color=blue>http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rule1302.htm </b> </font> <BR><TT><U>Brief Summary:</u> Remember salvation from Egypt by contradicting Egyptian slavery: Practice a) equality b) ritual purity and c) no anxiety-business practices. </tt> </div> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <P> <center><table width=95% bordercolor=black bgcolor=#ccffff border=5 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2><tr><td> Verse</td><td> Dt05-15a </td></tr><tr><td> Hebrew Verse</td><td> Õ°Ö¸Û·è°ê¼¸ Û¼´Ù â¶Ñ¶Ó Ô¸Ù´Ùê¸ Ñ¼°Ð¶è¶å Þ´æ°è·Ù´Ý Õ·Ù¼¹æ´Ð²Ú¸ Ù°¾Ô¹Õ¸¾Ô бܹԶÙÚ¸ Þ´é¼Á¸Ý Ѽ°Ù¸Ó ײָç¸Ô ռѴְè¹â· à°ØÕ¼Ù¸Ô â·Ü Û¼µß æ´Õ¼°Ú¸ Ù°¾Ô¹Õ¸¾Ô бܹԶÙÚ¸ Ü·â²éÂÕ¹ê жê ÙÕ¹Ý Ô·é¼Á·Ñ¼¸ê: </td></tr><tr><td> English Verse</td><td> And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord your God took you out from there with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm; therefore, the Lord, your God, commanded you to observe the Sabbath day. </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Header Hebrew</td><td> ÕÖÛèê ÛÙ âÑÓ ÔÙÙê ÕÒÕ' </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Text Hebrew</td><td> âÜ Þàê Ûß äÓÐÚ éêÔÙÔ ÜÕ âÑÓ ÕêéÞÕè ÞæÕêÙÕ: </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Header Enlish</td><td> And you shall remember that you were a slave& </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Text English</td><td> God redeemed you on the condition that you will be His slave and keep His commandments. </td></tr></table></center></p> <P> We ask the following <B>database query</b>: <B><I> Which commandments mention that they should be observed becauase 'you are to remember that God took you out of Egypt'? </i></b> The reader is encouraged to perform the query using a standard Biblical Konnkordance or search engine. This <B>database query</b> yields the list below. The list justifies the following Rashi inference: <tt> Commemoration of the salvation from Egypt is emphasized as a reason for commandment observance in laws requiring a) equality b) ritual purity and c) no anxiety-business practices. </tt> </P> <P>The list below presents the results of the <B>database</b> query. We first present in detail a typical verse. Verse <B>Dt05-14a:15</b> discussing the obligation to treat slaves and orphans nicely states <I> but the seventh day is a sabbath unto HaShem thy G-d, in it thou shalt not do any manner of work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that <U>thy man-servant and thy maid-servant may rest as well as thou.</u> And <U>thou shalt remember that thou was a slave in the land of Egypt</u>, and HaShem thy G-d brought thee out thence by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore HaShem thy G-d commanded thee to keep the sabbath day. </i> As can be seen in this example, the Biblical obligation to let slaves/servants rest on the Sabbath is linked to remembering the Exodus. This linkage between the commandment and the exodus, which does not occur at all commandments, is made explicit here because the essence of Egypt consisted of a class society in which certain people were free and certain people were slaves. Consequently any commandment attacking class distinctions - such as the requirement to equally let owners and slaves rest on the Sabbath - will explicitly mention the Exodus. A full set of further examples if presented in the Table below. <P> <center><Table width=95% bordercolor=black border=5 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2> <tr bgcolor=#cccccc> <td><B>Verses</b> </td><td><B>Verse Content</b> </td><td><B>Contradicts Egyptian practice of...</b> </td></tr> <tr> <td><B>Dt15-15,Dt05-14a Dt16-12, Dt24-18</b> </td><td> Treat slaves, orphans, widows nicely. </td><td> ..slavery. </td></tr> <tr> <td><B>Lv22-33, Lv11-45, Nu15-41, Ex29-46</b> </td><td> Avoid the ritual impurity associated with contact with the dead </td><td> ...disassociating a person and destroying his will by continuous exposure to death. </td></tr> <tr> <td><B>Lv25-38, Lv19-36</b> </td><td> Avoid anxiety producing business practices (imprecise weights, loaning on interest). </td><td> Disassociating a person and destroying his will by continuous exposure to anxiety producing business practices (like imprecise weights). </td></tr> </table> </center> </p> <a name=rule9> <!-- Rule #9 --> <table width=95% bordercolor=black bgcolor=#ccffff border=5 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2><tr><td> <Div class=Header> <UL> <Div Class=ULHead> <Div Class=Header> <UL> <Div Class=ULHead> <b> <U> 9. RASHI METHOD: </u> <i> SPREADSHEETS</i><br> <tt>BRIEF EXPLANATION: The common denominator of the 3 submethods of the <B>Spreadsheet</b> method is that inferences are made from <U>non textual</u> material. The 3 submethods are as follows: <UL><LI><B>Spreadsheet:</b> Rashi makes inferences of a numerical nature that can be summarized in a traditional <B>spreadsheet</b> <LI><B>Geometric:</b> Rashi clarifies a Biblical text using descriptions of geometric diagrams <LI><B>Fill-ins:</b> Rashi supplies either real-world <U>background</u> material or indicates real-world inferences from a verse. The emphasis here is on the real-world, non-textual nature of the material. </ul> </tt> This example applies to Rashis <B>Dt04-47a</b> <br> </b><U>URL Reference:</u> (c) <b> <font color=blue>http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w34n6.htm </b> </font> <BR><TT><U>Brief Summary:</u> We conquered Bashan and Emori on the EAST side of Jordan (The Jordan river goes NORTH-SOUTH partitioning Israel) </tt> </div> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <P>Verse <B>Dt04-47a</b> states <I> And they possessed his land, and the land of Og king of Bashan, two kings of the Amorites, who were on the side of the Jordan <U>eastward</u>; </i> Rashi interprets the underlined phrase, <U>eastward</u> diagramatically, <tt> The Jordan river goes from the <U>North East</u> to the <U>south west.</u> Hence it naturally divides Israel into <U>east</u> and <u>west</u>. The Bashan and Emorite territories were on the <U>east.</u> </tt> Rashi's diagramtic statement is illustrated in the diagram below. </p> <P> <center><table width=95% bordercolor=black bgcolor=#ccffff border=5 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2><tr><td> Verse</td><td> Dt04-47a </td></tr><tr><td> Hebrew Verse</td><td> Õ·Ù¼´Ùè°éÁÕ¼ жê зè°æÕ¹ հжê жè¶å âÕ¹Ò Þ¶Ü¶Ú° ԷѼ¸éÁ¸ß éÁ°àµÙ ޷ܰ۵٠Ըб޹è´Ù вéÁ¶è Ѽ°âµÑ¶è Ô·Ù¼·è°Ó¼µß Þ´Ö°è·× éÁ¸Þ¶éÁ: </td></tr><tr><td> English Verse</td><td> And they possessed his land and the land of Og, king of the Bashan, the two kings of the Amorites, who were on the side of the Jordan, towards the sunrise, </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Header Hebrew</td><td> Ðéè ÑâÑè ÔÙèÓß </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Text Hebrew</td><td> éÔÕÐ ÑÞÖè× éÔâÑè ÔéàÙ ÔÙÔ ÑÞâèÑ: </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Header Enlish</td><td> who were on the side of the Jordan </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Text English</td><td> which is in the east, because the other side was in the west. [That means on the side opposite the western side.] </td></tr></table></center></p> <P> <pre> ' Mount Chermon ' Syria, <B>North</b> ' / ' / Bashan, Emori ' / ' <b>West</b> Jordan River / <B>East</b> ' / ' / TransJordan ' / ' Dead Sea ' <B>South</b> </pre> </p> <a name=rule10> <table width=95% bordercolor=black bgcolor=#ccffff border=5 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2><tr><td> <Div Class=Header> <UL><Div Class=ULHead> <Div Class=Header> <UL> <Div Class=ULHead> <b><U> 10. RASHI METHOD: </u> <i> SYMBOLISM</i><br> <tt>BRIEF EXPLANATION: Rashi provides <B>symbolic</b> interpretations of words, verses, and chapters. Rashi can <B>symbolically</b> interpret either <ul><LI> (10a) entire Biblical <B>chapters</b> such as the <I>gifts of the princes</i>, <B>Nu-07</b> <LI>(10b) individual <B>items,</b> verses and words </ul> The rules governing <a href=http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gen-1.htm>symbolism</a> and symbolic interpretation are presented in detail on my website. </tt></b><br> This examples applies to Rashis <B>Dt01-44</b> <br> </b><U>URL Reference:</u> (c) <font color=blue>http://www.Rashiyomi.com/dt01-44a.htm</font> </b> <BR><TT><U>Brief Summary:</u> The LION kills through POWER; the BEE kills thru VENOM without using power and then dies. </tt> </div> </ul> </div> </td></tr></table> <P><font color=red>This example is re-brought from last week. Rashi emphasizes more than the swiftness of a bee-kill. Rashi emphasizes that the bee dies as result of such a kill. This has obvious relevance to modern-day terrorists. So I thought it proper to redo the entire Rashi.</font></P> <P> <center><table width=95% bordercolor=black bgcolor=#ccffff border=5 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2><tr><td> Verse</td><td> Dt01-44a </td></tr><tr><td> Hebrew Verse</td><td> Õ·Ù¼µæµÐ Ըб޹è´Ù Ô·Ù¼¹éÁµÑ Ѽ¸Ô¸è Ô·ÔռРܴç°è·Ðê°Û¶Ý Õ·Ù¼´è°Ó¼°äÕ¼ жê°Û¶Ý Û¼·Ð²éÁ¶è ê¼·â²é¶Ùà¸Ô Ô·Ó¼°Ñ¹è´ÙÝ Õ·Ù¼·Û¼°êÕ¼ жê°Û¶Ý Ѽ°éµâ´Ùè â·Ó ׸è°Þ¸Ô: </td></tr><tr><td> English Verse</td><td> And the Amorites, dwelling in that mountain, came out towards you and pursued you as bees do, and beat you down in Seir, as far as Hormah. </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Header Hebrew</td><td> ÛÐéè êâéÙàÔ ÔÓÑÕèÙÝ </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Text Hebrew</td><td> ÞÔ ÔÓÑÕèÔ ÔÖÐê ÛéÔÙÐ ÞÛÔ Ðê ÔÐÓÝ ÞÙÓ ÞêÔ, Ðã ÔÝ ÛéÔÙÕ àÕÒâÙÝ ÑÛÝ ÞÙÓ ÞêÙÝ: </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Header Enlish</td><td> As bees do </td></tr><tr><td> Rashi Text English</td><td> Just as a bee dies instantly after stinging a person, they too [the Amorites], upon touching you, died immediately. </td></tr></table></center></p> <p><UL>Military activity is often vigorously described using animal metaphors. Here we use the <b>symbolism</b> principle that items can <b>symbolize</b> their <b>function.</b> Examples are plentiful <LI><B>Nu24-09</b> states <I> He couched, he lay down as a <U>lion</u>, and as a great <U>lion</u>. Who shall stir him up? Blessed is he who blesses you, and cursed is he who curses you. </i> <LI><B>Jr05-06</b> states <I> Therefore a <u>lion</u> from the forest shall slay them, and a <u>wolf</u> of the deserts shall destroy them, a <U>leopard</u> shall watch over their cities; every one who goes out there shall be torn in pieces; because their transgressions are many, and their apostasies are great. </i> <LI><B>Jr46-12</b> states <I> Her sound is like that of a <u>serpent</u> on the move; for they shall march with force, and come against her with axes, like wood cutters. </i> <LI><B>Dt01-44a</b> states <I> And the Amorites, who lived in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, as <U>bees</u> do, and destroyed you in Seir, even unto Hormah. </i> </ul> </P> <P><UL>The interpreter's task is to identify the unique military characteristics of each animal. Rashi commenting on the last verse <B>Dt01-44a</b> states <tt> The military characteristics of the bee are <LI>(a) the swiftness of conquest without exertion of power. That is a <U>bee</u> kills thru an instantaneous sting with venom, not by the type of power and interactive fight shown by a lion <LI> (b) the fact that the bee dies in the process of attacking its victim and <li>(c) the sweet honey which the bee produces. </tt> </uL> </P> <P><UL>The reader will immediately notice a direct description of modern day terrorists since <LI> a) they kill instantly thru devastating explosives <LI> b) they die during the attack <LI> c) Terrorists are known for their skill in public relations, propoganda, and their general ability to make people who watch news believe that they are the victims rather than the aggressors. </ul> </P> <P>Rashi of course does not mention all three characteristics, only the fact that the aggressors martyr themselves during the attack. But as we have shown numerous times in this email group a proper reading of Rashi requires bringing in similar arguments. More facts about bee attacks could be brought in, for example, Syrian bees (unlike American bees) produce little honey and a rather vicious sting.</P> <CENTER><Div Class=Header> <b>Conclusion</b> </Div></center> <P>This week's parshah ac contains examples of a all Rashi methods. Visit the RashiYomi website at <a href=http://www.Rashiyomi.com target=_blank > http://www.Rashiyomi.com</a> for further details and examples.</P> </td></tr></table> </BODY> </html>