interpretation of parts of Tanach by close reading, not derivation (Pronounced "par-sha-noot")
5
votes
1answer
110 views
Why was Yaakov punished for not honoring his parents?
Bereshit 37:34 (translation by machon-mamre):
וַיִּקְרַע יַעֲקֹב שִׂמְלֹתָיו, וַיָּשֶׂם שַׂק בְּמָתְנָיו;
וַיִּתְאַבֵּל עַל-בְּנוֹ, יָמִים רַבִּים
And Jacob rent his garments, and put ...
3
votes
1answer
33 views
Why isn't נִצָּבָה redundant?
In Bereshis 37:7 we read:
וְהִנֵּה אֲנַחְנוּ מְאַלְּמִים אֲלֻמִּים בְּתוֹךְ הַשָּׂדֶה וְהִנֵּה קָמָה אֲלֻמָּתִי וְגַם נִצָּבָה - Behold, we were binding sheaves in the midst of the field, and ...
4
votes
0answers
55 views
Why does Rashi say דבתם refers to the children of Leah?
Rashi (Bereshis 37:2 sv את דבתם רעה) says:
כל רעה שהיה רואה באחיו בני לאה היה מגיד לאביו - Any evil he saw in his brothers, the sons of Leah, he would tell his father
However it would seem that ...
3
votes
1answer
51 views
Gen. 32:23 וַיָּקָם בַּלַּיְלָה הוּא = that night?
Vayishlach 32:23 has:
וַיָּקָם בַּלַּיְלָה הוּא וַיִּקַּח אֶת שְׁתֵּי נָשָׁיו וְאֶת שְׁתֵּי שִׁפְחֹתָיו וְאֶת אַחַד עָשָׂר יְלָדָיו וַיַּעֲבֹר אֵת מַעֲבַר יַבֹּק
The Chizkuni translates ...
0
votes
1answer
75 views
Were Shimon and Levi allowed to do what they did?
Shimon and Levi deceive and kill out an entire city, yet Yaakov only curses their hasty anger, not their actions. Were they allowed to do what they did?
3
votes
1answer
48 views
“פְּנִיאֵל” and “פְּנוּאֵל”
Is the פְּנִיאֵל of BeReishis 32:31 the same as the פְּנוּאֵל of 32:32? If so, why the change in term used to refer to it? If not, is there a story behind the two places with such similar names?
2
votes
0answers
75 views
Did Tamar marry a third time, and if so whom?
B'reishit 38:26 says:
וַיַּכֵּר יְהוּדָה וַיֹּאמֶר צָדְקָה מִמֶּנִּי כִּי עַל כֵּן לֹא נְתַתִּיהָ לְשֵׁלָה בְנִי וְלֹא יָסַף עוֹד לְדַעְתָּהּ:
Then Judah recognized [them], and he said, "She ...
6
votes
2answers
100 views
Most children in sefer B'reishit are named by women or God; why does Yehudah name Er?
I noticed in B'reishit 38 that Yehudah names his first son Er, but his wife bat Shua names the other two. Yaakov's wives name all of their children (except that Yaakov changes Ben-oni to Binyanim). ...
2
votes
2answers
118 views
Inconsistency in listing creeping things in Noach's Ark's population
The animal population of Noach's Ark is commanded/listed six times in Parashat Noach:
Genesis 6:19-20 (Initial command)
Genesis 7:2-3 (Reiteration of command)
Genesis 7:8-9 (Entry to the Ark)
...
5
votes
1answer
78 views
Do we care or do we not care about beauty?
Rashi Breishis 23:1 says that when Sarah was 20 she was beautiful as when she was 7. Mishlei 31:30 says שקר החן והבל היפי אשה יראת ה' היא תתהלל. Why is Rashi saying that Sarah was beautiful if it is ...
0
votes
0answers
64 views
The meaning of Ibn Ezra's peirush on Dvarim 1:2 [closed]
What do you think Ibn Ezra meant when he wrote the following in his peirush of Dvarim 1:2:
וכן פירוש: ככל אשר צוה ה' אותו אליהם בעבר הירדן במדבר בערבה ואם תבין סוד (השרים) [צ"ל השנים] עשר, גם ...
4
votes
1answer
77 views
How much contact did Avraham and Yitzchak have after the akeidah?
The akeidah was a traumatic event for both Avraham and Yitzchak. Immediately after they appear to go their separate ways. After Sarah's death Avraham arranges a marriage for his son, which could ...
7
votes
1answer
48 views
(Psalms 69 (14)) How do we understand אלקים ברב חסדך, rather than ה׳ ברב חסדך
I am used to the idea that the name אלקים connotes judgement and ה׳ mercy.
So how is it in Psalms 69 (14) , the Psalmist says “אלקים ברב חסדך”?
4
votes
0answers
60 views
Why does Yakov bless Ephraim and Menashe at the same time?
Why does Yakov bless Ephraim and Menashe at the same time? Why not bless them one after the other?
4
votes
1answer
39 views
Why didn't Eliezer go straight to Avraham's family?
Avraham made Eliezer promise that he would only find a wife for Yitzchak from his family.
It seems to follow then, that as soon as Eliezer would arrive in Aram Naharaim he'd go straight to Avraham's ...
1
vote
2answers
66 views
Why does Eliezer address his prayer to Hashem, [24(12)], “Hashem, the G-d of my master Avrohom”?
Why does Eliezer address his prayer to Hashem, 24(12), “Hashem, the G-d of my master Avrohom” and repeat this formulation in verses 27 and 42. He himself was after all a believer.
In verse 35, he is ...
3
votes
1answer
94 views
the land from which you brought us out = Egypt?
Dvarim 9:28 reads:
פֶּן יֹאמְרוּ הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתָנוּ מִשָּׁם מִבְּלִי יְכֹלֶת
יְהֹוָה לַהֲבִיאָם אֶל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר לָהֶם וּמִשִּׂנְאָתוֹ
אוֹתָם הוֹצִיאָם לַהֲמִתָם ...
4
votes
2answers
83 views
Who was expelled from Avraham's house and married an Egyptian?
Vayera 21:9–21 speaks repeatedly of Hagar's son without once naming him. In no particular order, Rashi (:17), pseudo-Yonasan (:11), the Rav miBartinura (:14), Ramban (:9), Chizkuni (:14), Toldos ...
2
votes
2answers
108 views
What was Moshe Rabbeinus argument against the angels?
Breishis 18:8 says that Avraham served the angels milk and meat together. Rashi in the name of the Medrash says that it only seemed like they were eating. Medrash Shocher Tov Tehilim 8 says that one ...
3
votes
2answers
86 views
Washing feet before coming inside: Avraham vs. Lot
When the angels came to visit Avraham, he asked them (Bereishis 18:4) to "Bathe your feet, and recline under the tree". Rashi explains:
He thought that they were Arabs, who prostrate themselves to ...
6
votes
2answers
68 views
Neither from a thread to a shoe strap [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Why did Avraham take gifts from Pharaoh, but not the King of Sodom?
After Avram saved Lot and the people of Sodom from the 4 kings, the king of Sodom offered him the ...
5
votes
1answer
95 views
How can you see words?
Has anyone else noticed the seeming incongruity in Lekh Lekha, Gen 15:1...that Avram is "seeing" the words? The verse states:
אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, הָיָה דְבַר-יְהוָה אֶל-אַבְרָם, ...
3
votes
2answers
109 views
How was Er considererd to be married to Tamar?
The gemarah (yevamos 34b) indicates that Er slept with Tamar sh'lo k'darka. If this is the case how was Er ever married to Tamar if the injunction of the pasuk וְדָבַק בְּאִשְׁתּוֹ (Bereshis 2:24) is ...
0
votes
0answers
46 views
Why are Psalms 136 verses 17 & 18 apparently out of historical order?
In Psalms 136, verses 17 and 18 refer to kings smitten or slain after Sihon and Og mentioned in verses 19 and 20. Why are the verses apparently out of historical order?
3
votes
1answer
96 views
Why use an active verb with no subject?
In parshat Noach, perek 7, pasuk 23, The opening word "וַיִּמַח" is presented as an active verb, attested to by the presence of the word אֶת (I am summarizing the discussion of rashi and the ...
7
votes
4answers
170 views
Why build migdal bavel in a valley?
If the point of migdal bavel was to reach the heavens, why not build it on a mountain instead of a valley?
וַיְהִי כָל הָאָרֶץ שָׂפָה אֶחָת וּדְבָרִים אֲחָדִים:(ב) וַיְהִי בְּנָסְעָם מִקֶּדֶם ...
7
votes
3answers
153 views
Why can't Moshe hit the water?
As a kid I learned that Moshe wasn't allowed to hit the water because it saved him when he was a child and he had to show hakaras hatov (similar answer for why he couldn't hit the sand that saved him ...
3
votes
2answers
216 views
In Judaism, does God have a body?
In the Bible it says [Gen 3:8]: "And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day". It seems God has carnal body (thus he could walk). In Judaism compared with ...
3
votes
2answers
109 views
Who is “thrusted through” in Zechariah 12:10?
How do Jews generally view/regard this verse?
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they shall look unto Me ...
0
votes
1answer
75 views
The application of “harm” in Shemot (Exodus) 21:22
Shemot (Exodus) 21:22:
And if men strive together, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart, and yet no harm follow, he shall be surely fined, according as the woman's husband shall ...
4
votes
0answers
69 views
Hazi“v La”kh: what's behind the division?
The Talmud (Rosh Hashana 31a) tells us that the Haazinu song (Devarim 32) was sung weekly in the Temple and divided into six segments, given by the mnemonic HaZIV LaKh הזיו לך (where each letter is ...
6
votes
1answer
84 views
What does מִלְמַעְלָה in Gen 7:20 mean?
Genesis 7:20, describing the flood, says:
חֲמֵשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה אַמָּה מִלְמַעְלָה, גָּבְרוּ הַמָּיִם; וַיְכֻסּוּ, הֶהָרִים.
Almost everybody translates the first clause as some approximation of ...
1
vote
1answer
69 views
The mishkan and the fencepost problem
Rashi (Shemos 26:6,26) counts out the number of poles for the chazer on each side in parshas Terumah. He seems to ignore what is called the Fencepost Problem. The same problem exists for the 20 amah ...
1
vote
4answers
179 views
Why G-d had to confuse people's languages in the land of Shinar?
Why G-d had to confuse people's languages in the land of Shinar and scatter them across the Earth with diverse languages? What moral does Genesis 11:5–8 coveny to mankind execept the fact that "in ...
1
vote
2answers
52 views
Rashi on Bereishis 37:12: Only their sheep, or also their father's?
I'm having some trouble understanding the Rashi in Bereishis 37:12. Rashi says (as I understand it) that we cut out the word es because they only went to to feed their own sheep. If so, then why does ...
4
votes
2answers
125 views
Why does David say that he only sinned against G-d?
In Psalm 51:6 David says that
"Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in Thy sight" (JPS)
I wondered why does he think that he sinned only against the Lord? I think he ...
-1
votes
4answers
131 views
Return *his* dress?
After the command to return a lost ox, we find: "You should do likewise for his dress (לשמלתו)."
However, two pesukim later, we see וְלֹא-יִלְבַּשׁ גֶּבֶר שִׂמְלַת אִשָּׁה (and a man shouldn't wear ...
5
votes
1answer
111 views
If the Canaanites occupied the land in Moses’ day, why would Moses write that they were in the land then?
What does the Torah imply when it notes 'the Cannannites were then in the land' (Gen. 12:6)? It seems to suggest they were in the land then (when the tale took place) but not now (when the book was ...
0
votes
1answer
70 views
What does God's answer to Yona the prophet (4:11) really mean?
Sefer Yona 4:11 reads:
וַאֲנִי לֹא אָחוּס עַל נִינְוֵה הָעִיר הַגְּדוֹלָה אֲשֶׁר יֶשׁ בָּהּ הַרְבֵּה מִשְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה רִבּוֹ אָדָם אֲשֶׁר לֹא יָדַע בֵּין יְמִינוֹ לִשְׂמֹאלוֹ וּבְהֵמָה רַבָּה
...
2
votes
1answer
46 views
Why not give tzeddakah before shmittah?
Devarim 15:7 cautions us not to withhold help to others because of the approach of the shmittah year. However, the help we would expect to give would be charity and thus would not be repaid. If ...
2
votes
0answers
45 views
Who were the pre-Lekh Likha righteous men?
BS"D
In Hilkhoth Avodhah Zarah RaMBaM lists the central figures in the transmission of ethical monotheism, and I was wondering if there were any other figures in our mesora not mentioned. Since the ...
4
votes
2answers
100 views
Why did Noach plant a vineyard?
The first mention the torah makes of wine and vineyards is in Gen 9:20-21, when Noach plants a vineyard and then gets drunk on wine after the flood. What prompted him to plant a vineyard as, ...
0
votes
0answers
140 views
What is the meaning of the story of Noah's nakedness? [closed]
What is the meaning of the Biblical story of Noah becoming intoxicated with wine and then being discovered naked by his son Ham (Genesis 9 from verse 18 on)? Since the stories in the Torah are as ...
3
votes
0answers
72 views
Referencing Iron before the Iron Age [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Why does the Torah mention iron when the Torah was given in the Bronze age?
A guest brought up this question at the shabbos table, and no one had an answer.
In D'Varim ...
2
votes
1answer
52 views
Who is the Nasi in Ezekiel?
BS"D
I was rereading Yehhezqei'l and was curious about the context of something towards the end.
In pereq 46 from 1-18 it talks about a Nasi (prince), for example :
"And the prince, when they go ...
11
votes
2answers
126 views
David called “hamelech”, “hamelech David”, and “David”
My son noticed in Ⅱ Sh'muel chapters 5–6 that, although David is generally called "David", there are times he's called "hamelech" (="the king") or "hamelech David" (="the king David"). (I'm ...
6
votes
1answer
103 views
Universal theory of Biblical eye-raising
Do any of the commentaries or Midrashim offer a universal interpretation (perhaps of the form "any time you see this, it means that") of Biblical idiom of "raising eyes"?
Below are some examples that ...
8
votes
1answer
92 views
How did Yaakov hear about Dinah?
Genesis 34 tells about Shechem's rape of Dinah and the events that follow. 34:5 says that Yaakov heard ( שָׁמַע) about this (and didn't act immediately).
He didn't hear it from Dinah because she ...
2
votes
0answers
32 views
Singular and plural language in Deut. 4:25
Why does the Pasuk (Deut. 4:25) switch between singular and plural when building up to the consequences of what "you will [do]"?
"When you (sing.) will have children and grandchildren, and you (pl.) ...
3
votes
1answer
74 views
ReEh in singular (Deut. 11:26)
The Ba'al HaTurim to Deut. 11:26 cites Bab. Megillah 31b in saying that all the blessings and curses in "Mishneh Torah" (usually this means Sefer Devarim - Deuteronomy) are written in singular, and ...
