Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 22:13:01 -0500 (EST)
From: Russell Hendel <  rhendel@mcs.drexel.edu>
Subject: Re: "Let us make man" - Who's "Us"?

QUESTION: Who is the "us" in the Biblical statement "Let US make man"

ANSWER: Most people are familiar with the Rashi on this
verse "It says "US" because G-d consulted his whole heavenly court-- this
shows G-d's humbleness".

Actually there are 6 Rashis where the so called ROYAL WE is discussed (Gen
29:27, Gen 20:13, Gen 21:7, Gen 11:7, Gen 1:26, Gen 35:7). This is all
discussed thoroughly on my Rashi website at
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Gn29-27b.htm. As I explain there the rule
governing the ROYAL WE has 3 parts

(a)The ROYAL WE applies to either a single person or G-d who is master
(b) Grammar uses the ROYAL WE because Masters usually consult subordinates
(c) The ROYAL WE is never used in non-master situations even in names of
G-d that do not refer to his being master.

The 5 Rashis contributing to the understanding of this 3 part subrule as
follows-
The ROYAL WE applies to a single person if they are master (Gen 29:27,20:13)
The "ROYAL WE=MASTER" explains Plural when used with G-d (Gen 29:27)
The "ROYAL WE=MASTER" applies to humans as well as G-d (Gen 20-13)
The ROYAL WE as applied to G-d only applies to G-d as Master(Gen 35-27)
The ROYAL WE is used becauses masters usually consult with subordinates
(Gen 11:7,1:26)

Many other facts are discussed at the Rashi website (for example 'Why did
Rashi deviate from this ROYAL WE theory by Sarah'). The Lists on the
website give many other examples where WE=ROYAL WE(eg Gen 29:27, Gen 39:20,
Gen42:30)

Russell Hendel; Phd; ASA; Math; Towson University;
Moderator Rashi Is Simple; http://www.shamash.org/rashi/