Posts so far for parshat Yisro

2013

1. Can Rashi on Chumash interpret a pasuk against halacha? My answer to a question on Mi Yodea.

2. YUTorah for parshas Yisro for 2013.

2012

1. Yisro sources -- further improved and expanded.
   .
2. Darshening a psik, that the three days time period was elongated.  Such is the remez suggested by Birkas Avraham. Thus, "11. The trup symbol of psik alludes to the day that Moshe added at his own initiative."
   .
3. YU Torah on parashat Yisro for 2012.
   .
4. Difficulties due to Tzipporah's being sent away --  What suffering did the tribe of Levi suffer? And how could Moshe, as a Kohen, remarry Tzippora? Rav Chaim Kanievsky asks, and answers. I also try my hand at it.
   .
5. Who's the man? Moshe's the man!  But why not Yisro, who is called HaIsh is Shemos? And why not another prooftext local to sefer Shemot? The Chasam Sofer answers that it really was a function of Moshe's humility (mentioned in the continuation of the prooftext). Plus my own suggestion.
   .
6. A choice in garb -- I saw the following interesting bit of history in Vayakhel Moshe (R' Moshe HaKohen Gordon) on parashas Yisro: "And on a related note -- in 5610 (1850), the decree went out from Russian rulership in Poland to change the traditional Jewish dress, and to shave their beards and peyos. And the police force assembled in Warsaw, and any Jew who passed was grabbed, and his beard and peyos were shaved off..."

2011

1. Yitro sources -- further improved and expanded. For example, many more meforshei Rashi.
   .
2. Why does Rashi omit the word milchemet? The first time, Rashi refers to milchemet Amalek. The second time, just Amalek. Why the difference?
   .
3. Ibn Ezra on the Aseres HaDibros, and differences between the account in Yisro and in Vaeschanan. A lengthy essay, but he develops some very important points in the nature of peshat and his parshanut. For now, part one, two, three, and four.
   .
4. Rashi on Asher Zadu --  And peshat and derash.
   .
5. How was Moshe saved from Pharaoh's sword?   Two different midrashim, rather than Rashi's spin on a midrash. Which is why it is important to know Rashi's sources, as well as not leap to conclusions based on the sources we have.
   .
6. Does Naaseh veNishma imply the former before the latter?  Presenting Ibn Caspi's take on this.
   .
7. Ibn Ezra on seeing at a distance --  He follows Galen's extramission theory of sight.
   .
8. Ibn Ezra and a theory of memory --   Ibn Ezra following Galenic science as to the functioning of the brain.
   .
9. Another Ibn Ezra on brain anatomy --  which seems based on contemporary, Galenic science.
   .
10. Was Korach a Gilgul of Kayin or of Yisro? Also, the earliest Torah code, perhaps known to Rishonim! I'm off the mark about whether one can be a gilgul of two people, apparently. I still like my reading of Tziuni as presenting a Torah code.
    .
11. Changes between the luchos -- the reason for Shabbat --  Perhaps the elaboration on why servants get to rest is related to the changed reason of Exodus over Genesis.

2010

1. Yisro sources -- revamped. More than 100 meforshim on the parsha and haftarah, organized by topic.
   .
2. One is Gershom, and one is Eliezer -- What is bothering Ibn Ezra? I would guess that he is responding to Saadia Gaon, who makes much of the duplication.
   .
3. Did all the nation see the sounds? After considering several, including Saadia Gaon, who maintain that the sound was visual, we cite Ibn Ezra who maintains that it means perception. As peshat, Ibn Ezra appears correct, though there are a number of other compelling suggestions. The Karaites side with Rashi and Saadia Gaon, and the Samaritans emend away the difficulty.
   .
4. The kamatz and the aleph at the end of panay -- In the phrase לֹא-יִהְיֶה לְךָ אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים עַל-פָּנָי, the last vowel is written as both a kamatz and a patach. Grappling with this variation. The true answer is that one is a pausal form, and that it intersects with taam elyon and taam tachton. The Gra also has a drasha based on this.
   .
5. Do variant translations in Onkelos of שִׁלּוּחֶיהָ reflect different sides of a dispute in Mechilta, as to whether Moshe sent Tzipporah away or divorced her? I part ways with a consensus, and consider that Onkelos is merely trying to preserve the ambiguity of the Biblical text.
   .
6. Does Onkelos take a position on whether Moshe divorced or merely sent away? Do variant translations in Onkelos of שִׁלּוּחֶיהָ reflect different sides of a dispute in Mechilta, as to whether Moshe sent Tzipporah away or divorced her? I part ways with a consensus, and consider that Onkelos is merely trying to preserve the ambiguity of the Biblical text.
   .
7. Is 1/10 of the Israelite population as judges plausible?!  Ibn Ezra does not think so, especially since there are these moral requirements. Therefore, he parts ways with the midrash Chazal. And see Ibn Caspi's reaction, and Avi Ezer's reaction.
   .
8. The Samaritans make Yisro bow --  It is a general feature of the Samaritan Torah that they "fix" the text to solve difficulties. This is something to keep in mind if you would think to rely on a Samaritan variant as preferable to the Masoretic text. Three examples from this week's parsha alone. They make Yitro bow to Moshe; they make the nation hear the sounds; and they emend Har Eval to Har Grizim, which they deem holy. There are others. Also, Ibn Ezra argues against Lower Biblical criticism.
   .
9. Length of days -- Does it refer to long life, or long dwelling in the land of Israel?

2009

1. Yisro sources, in an online Mikraos Gedolos, plus many meforshim on the parsha and haftara.
   .
2. Yitro running commentary, pass i, part i -- a different style of parshablogging, giving a running and perhaps integrated commentary. This first post is just on the first pasuk in the parsha.
   Yitro running commentary, pass i, part ii; and part iii
   .
3. A great proof that it was Moshe who bowed to Yisro -- to quote myself:

   I was of the opinion that either Moshe bowed down to and kissed Yisro, or else that there was mutual bowing and kissing. Rashi brings down a Mechilta on that early pasuk in parshat Yisro with proof that it was Moshe, based on a gezera shava of ish-haIsh, here with Ish leRei'eihu, and there with veHaIsh Moshe.
   
   But in this past week's parsha sheet, Torah Lodaas, we have the following great, and entertaining explanation, from the Cheshek Shlomo...

2008

1. The Trup on el-Hamidbar -- with a three way dispute between revii, zakef-gadol, and pashta-zakef. Shadal decides in favor of the revii, and labels the others a result of taut sofer. I analyze what each would mean. And I suggest that these two parsings may accord with the Talmudic dispute of whether Yisro come before or after matan Torah.
   .
2. The Meaning of the Trup and Nikkud On לֹ֥א תַֽעֲשׂ֖וּן אִתִּ֑י אֱלֹ֤הֵי כֶ֨סֶף֙ וֵֽאלֹהֵ֣י זָהָ֔ב לֹ֥א תַֽעֲשׂ֖וּ לָכֶֽם׃ -- Two potential parsings of that pasuk, and how the trup decides. And how Shadal rereads itti as oti, to make the first part of the pasuk about making graven images of God, with the second part as elaboration.
   .
3. Did Yisro remain silent when he fled? Two different readings, one in which he fled rather than speaking, and one in which he protested and then was forced to flee. I prefer the latter, and in fact Yisro has a long speech against Pharaoh's plan in Ginzberg's the legend of the Jews. This year, I noticed that in fact this is taken directly from sefer hayashar. See here.

2007

• How Is Yisro related to Moshe? I suggest that relationship is that Yitro married Moshe's ex-wife, Tzippora.

2006

1. What Parsha Did Yisro Add? It depends on what you mean by "parsha." Leading to an interesting discussion in the comments.
   .
2. Parsha, Meaning Topic -- As an attempt to reinforce the definition above.
   .
3. Class Notes of Sidra vs Parsha -- as a distinction between the portions of Bavel and Eretz Yisrael
   .
4. Sidra vs. Parsha -- The Article

2005

1. Hashem is greater than the other gods! Er... What other gods? -- Two Targumim take up the challenge.

2004

1. Round Trip Tickets -- In which Pesach Mitzrayim occurred at the Bet HaMikdash!
   .
2. Ha'Am as Elders -- and how the zekeinim existed as such before Yitro's suggestion.
   .
3. A Jewish Scholar Class? How these judges appointed at Yisro's urging devoted themselves full-time to learning and judging, rather to any profession.
   .
4. From parshat Bahaalotcha, but appropriate nonetheless: Who was Chovav? Who was Yisro? various opinions and their basis. Was Yisro a father-in law or brother-in-law to Moshe?
   .
5. Also, on the same topic as above, in terms of what Choten might mean (father-in-law /brother in law), see Another interesting cognate from "Hebrew Cognates in Amharic"
   .
6. From Behar/Bechukotai and Shavuot: BeDibbur Echad and a summary of this dvar here.

to be continued...

posts so far for parashat Shemot

2013

1. Shemot sources, 2013 edition.

2. YUTorah on parashat Shemot.

3. Why can't Moshe hit the water? How can we make sense of this ma'amar chazal? I think that just as you can't ask a kasha on a maaseh, you often can't ask a kasha on a midrash.

4. Did הבתים transform into ויבן? At first glance, it looks like Rashi miquoted a pasuk in Melachim. The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains the steps in its transformation, such that Rashi cited the pasuk correctly and scribes corrupted it. But perhaps Rashi never gave this pasuk as prooftext. I have a manuscript to back this idea up. Also, the prooftext is not very persuasive, since the midrash is speaking of the kingly and levite families, while the pasuk is speaking about physical structures, a palace and a Temple.

2012

1. Shemot sources, 2012 edition.

2. Why the dagesh in הַצְּפִינוֹ? And whether Ibn Ezra actually disagrees with the existence of the phenomenon. While our Ibn Ezra explains the phenomenon of the dagesh, Ohr Torah understands him as saying there is no dagesh!

3. Was the new king over Egypt from the zera hamelucha? Considering Ibn Ezra's fit of 'prophecy'. Ibn Ezra argues on midrash and Rashi, and asserts that the 'new' king means that the king was of a new dynasty. Abarbanel and Ibn Caspi question how Ibn Ezra can know this. We consider what the inputs can be to this peshat.

4. Why translate that Pharaoh did not *chakim* Yosef?  I disagree with the idea that Tg Yonasan is channeling Kli Yakar and saying that Pharaoh did not learn from Yosef's history. Rather, חכים simply means 'recognize' in Aramaic.

5. YUTorah on parashat Shemot.

6. Angels raising the Israelite children in Egypt -- In reply to an email from a regular reader: 

Hi,

I have a question about Shemot. My son told me that his Morah told his 1st grade class that when the Egyptians threw the boys into the Nile, melachim took the babies and raised them in a cave and then returned them to their parents.

Have you heard of this before? I can't seem to find any references to it . . . .

7. Thoughts on the Short Vort of Shemos, which is this:



For my thoughts on it, follow the link.

8. Is marrying two sisters intrinsically or extrinsically obnoxious? We consider the perspective of Rashi (intrinsically), Ibn Ezra (based on the land), and Ibn Caspi (who rejects Ibn Ezra and gives a rationalist reason for the prohibition). I suggest that it is extrinsically bad, based on intent and social mores.

2011

1. How did Moshe remove his shoes?  I saw this cute devar Torah the other day in aparsha sheet, about Hashem's instruction to Moshe to remove his sandals, at the burning bush. It is from Rav Chaim Kanievsky.
   .
2. The mercha kfula in parshas Shmini --  How shall we account for it? There is one towards the end of parashat Shemot as well.

December 2010

1. Shemot sources - further improved.
   .
2. The Targum on וְלֹא בְּיָד חֲזָקָה -- What was Rashi's original girsa of the Targum on Shemot 3:19?
   .
3. Why did Pharaoh target Jewish male infants?  Philo and Josephus, with Josephus giving the famous midrash about astrology. What was bothering Josephus?
   .
4. Did Pharaoh command the Egyptians to kill their own children?  So goes a midrash. Does peshat follow? To an extent, I think. Plus, how the Samaritans over-correct and so tip their hand.
   .
5. When did the Bnei Yisrael say חֲדַל מִמֶּנּוּ?  It makes sense, chronologically, that it would fall somewhere in Va'era. I explore some approaches which are open and closed canon to varying degrees.
   .
6. "Rasha! Lama Sakeh Rei'echa?!"  This week, from Junior's school.
   
   Q: When Moshe saw Datan and Aviram fighting, what did he call the man who was about to hit the other man?
   A: Rasha.
   
   My thoughts regarding this -- not exactly, though it seems a common misconception.
   .
7. Moshe killing the Egyptian, and Destiny --  In answer to a 'ponderousparsha point', of just what Moshe expected when looking into the future.
   .
8. Yocheved His Aunt, and the Length of the Servitude --  If Yocheved was literally Amram's aunt, it is difficult to make the servitude 210 years, and even more, 400 years. Relax this and you have more leeway. Rav Saadia Gaon and the Targum Hashiv'im give us this leeway.
   .

January 2010

1. The Gra on the trup of Vayemararu et Chayeihem -- There is a famous commentary by the Gra on the trup of Vayigash Elav Yehuda. Here is one on וימררו את חייהם, from parashat Shemot.
   This is actually part of a series of such posts I am doing right now, considering all of the Vilna Gaon's interpretations of trup, to try to deduce just how serious he intends them, among other things. Here is the "famous" one on Vayigash. And here are his comments on the trup of he`ashir lo yarbeh, on Ki Tisa. And here are his comments on asser taaser, in Reeh. And one of megillat Esther. And there is still more to come.
   .
2. Shemot sources -- links to over a hundred meforshim on the parsha and haftorah, plus links to an online Mikraos Gedolos by perek and aliyah.
   .
3. An exciting yet possibly nonexistent variant in the spelling of amatah -- Gur Aryeh come up with a variant masorah in order to defend the tradition, and so perhaps confuses Minchas Shai. I investigate, and take a tour of Rav Saadia Gaon's translation, Dunash Ibn Labrat's attack, Ibn Ezra's defense as well as commentary, and Mizrachi and Gur Aryeh's suggestion. Then an analysis, as to why I think Gur Aryeh's suggestion is rather unlikely.
   .
4. The repercussions of Moshe's oath -- Regarding a midrash that Moshe promised his first son would be dedicated to idolatry, and a midrash that the Levite priest by pesel Micha was Moshe's descendant. The Baal HaTurim seems to be dan a gezeira shava le'atzmo, something quite likely permitted for aggadah, though not for halacha. I investigate the background to this derasha. Also, what merited censorship in all this? Finally, considering and challenging Rav Chaim Kanievsky's take on this.
   .
5. How could Rashi say that animals don't need midwives?! -- Challenging a midrash, brought by Rashi, that animals don't need midwives. With an obvious, and not so obvious answer. But more deeply, what makes for a silly question, and what makes for a legitimate question, in Rashi studies?
   .
6. Why should Ibn Ezra assert that the word "Am" is not construct? Ibn Ezra has a seemingly strange comment, that in am benei Yisrael it is duplication, rather than construct form. What could compel this? I examine two reactions, and consider a semantic, rather than syntactic cause. Also, the trend across Tanach such that this is a common expression. Then, I consider that it just might be the influence of trup.
   .
7. The chronological problem in the saving of Moshe -- This chronological difficulty struck me (ouch!) when reading through parshat Shemot.
   .
8. What does ויעש להם בתים mean? To determine the peshat in this one phrase requires understanding of so much else in context. Namely, should we understand them as Hebrew midwives, or Egyptian midwives for the Hebrews? When they feared Elohim, was this Hashem or was it the local Egyptian deity? Were they individual midwives, or the heads of widwife guilds? And so on and so forth. This context will allow for different plausible answers to the question of just what vayaas lahem batim means.
   .

2009

1. Ramses vs. Raamses -- one as the land of Goshen, and the other as the treasure-city they built for Pharaoh. Cross-listed from Vaychi.
   .
2. The long-lived donkey -- how old was the donkey Moshe put his family on?
   .
3. Shemot sources -- useful for preparing the sedra: links to an online Mikraos Gedolos and meforshim on the parsha and haftara.
   .
4. 6 in one birth? Discussing Rashi's source, and Shemot Rabba's source for this midrashic claim; how Ibn Ezra partially endorses it based on contemporary science; an explication just what that contemporary science was; how Ibn Ezra and Rashbam cope with the multiple languages of fecundity, and how I would; then, how multiple births shorten term, and how we might read that into midrash and pesukim. And more.
   .
5. Six in one womb simultaneously, or sequentially? Considering a suggestion / theory by Rabbi Medan that when Chazal said 6 in one womb, they meant it sequentially over the woman's entire lifetime -- and this as a part of a response to Shadal about chronology and generations in Egypt. I don't think it fits well with Chazal intent in the midrash, and so we would be sacrificing one maamar Chazal to save another.
   .
6. What are the evil diseases of Egypt? On Ekev, Shadal discusses a malady particular to Egypt of elephantiasis. And while Shadal does not make the connection, Pliny notes that when it affected the kings of Egypt, they treated it by tempering their sitting-baths with human blood. Which then fits well with the famous midrash.
   .
7. Is the three-fold ambiguity of  וְרַב יַעֲבֹד צָעִיר deliberate? Early theories of multi-valence -- really focused on parshat Toledot, but long the way I discuss the ambiguity inherent in Moshe's killing of the Egyptian taskmaster.

2007

1. Who Made "Houses" From Whom? And Why? A rundown of the many different explanations of this ambiguous phrase, and how it connects to the context.
   .
2. The Age of Trup -- from Shadal's Vikuach Al Chochmat haKabbalah, the beginning of a discussion of how old trup is, and how old the orthography of trup is. With implications as to whether a parshan can argue on trup and nikkud. Here, he claims Rashi does so on occasions, and gives examples. But also that Rashi at times brings proof from trup and nikkud. The pasuk from Shemot, of stretching out her hand (see next post on Shemot) is such an example, where Rashi states that the peshat must be maidservant, because of the nikkud on "amata."
   
   Also see Rabbenu Bachya on the same.
   .
3. Why Did The Daughter of Pharaoh Stretch Out Her Hand? If it was so many cubits away? The Lubavitcher Rebbe gives an answer, which I think may well accord with the peshat of the midrash. Plus a comment section.
   .
4. Vayifen Ko vaCho -- Why Did Moshe Look Around? I suggest it is to see if anyone else will intervene. Plus, some comments.

2006

1. The Dangers of Midrashim? A Fisking -- discussing, in part, whether the daughter of Pharaoh's hand really extended several cubits, and what to make of a midrash which says it did.
   .
2. Finally Arriving in Egypt -- How could parshat Shemot say they arrived in Egypt when they already did in sefer Bereishit? This is no question on a peshat level. However, the midrash answers that they began to feel the oppression with the death of Yosef. I show how this midrash shows a sensitivity to theme in the text of the parsha. Finally, I reiterate my explanation of habaim mitzrayma that may well clarify a several difficult chronological/genealogical points.

2005

• Vav HaChibbur vs. Vav HaHippuch And How It Applies To וְאֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת
• Hirhurim had a question about the statement that that sefer Shemot is unique in that it leads off with a vav, showing several other seforim that do the same. The answer is grammatical - va does not (need) mean "and," but most often just transforms what would otherwise be an imperfect into the perfect (past tense). I go through each instance, demonstrating this.

Dec 2004

1. Who Was Chovav? Who Was Yitro? And Who Was Moshe's Father-in-law? In this post on parshat Behaalotecha, I consider these questions. It is not at all clear that these were all alternate names for the same person. See various resolutions.
   .
2. Vayakam Melech Chadash Al Mitzrayim -- Besides the standard "and a new king arose over Egypt," there are at least three other parses and translations, depending on whether vayakam is transitive or intransitive, whether it means "arose" or "enacted," whether chadash modifies king or arose. It could mean that Pharaoh decreed new decrees on Egypt which did not recognize Yosef. This is the dispute between Rav and Shmuel, cited by Rashi. It could be that the (same) king rose anew over Egypt (the view of the Rabanan). It could mean that a new counsel (melech) was established over Egypt, which fits well with the pasuk as fits in with some midrash as well.
   .
3. Who were Shifra and Puah? A relatively unknown identification alternative to Miriam as the second midwife.
   .
4. Pharaoh the Leper -- In association with the post above about Vayakam Melech Chadash, I point out one midrashic motivation for saying that Pharaoh did not die -- in that the pasuk says a new king arose but does not state that he died.. Another pasuk that states that the Pharaoh died is interpreted as not that he died but was struck with leprosy. Parallels to two other kings struck with leprosy, Uzziya and Pharaoh, where the former is also an instance in which leprosy = death. Also a suggestion that וַיָּמָת מֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם is parsed as if the word was metzora'im, lepers, such that "the king died the death of lepers."

Jan 2004

1. Moshe/Kayin parallels, and the midrashic vs. pshat narrative -- Two murders, but the one perpetrated by Moshe is good. And in both instances, the matter becomes known. Both murderers must go into exile, and the ground plays a role in concealing the deed. Parallel focus on potential descendants of the murdered. Plus a non-contradiction between two midrashim about the Egyptian's descendants, or lack thereof.
   
   Finally, a distinction between the theme and mood of the narrative within the peshat and within the drash retelling.
   .
2. Multivalence -- With the famous example of who echav is that Moshe goes out to -- the Egyptians or the Israelites?
   .
3. Shifra & Puah == Yocheved & Miriam? Shifra actually appears on a list of Egyptian slave names from the 18th century. Are these midwives Egyptians who cater to Israelites, or are they Israelites themselves. Plus why the midrash equates them with Shifra and Puah. Plus a possible textual derivation I propose, doubling to mem to make miyaldei haIvrim, about Moshe, become mimeyaldei haIvrim. See inside. And a precedent for such doubling.
   .
4. A Bunch of Chayos! And how to translate it -- animals, midwives, intelligent...
   .
5. The derivation of Moshe's name -- The one given in the pasuk, and the one offered by some Biblical scholars. And my analysis of the overall picture, such that the one offered by some Biblical scholars is not really compelling (IMHO).
   .
6. Moshe's Name -- cross-listed from Vayikra, 2005. An expansion on the above.

to be continued...

posts so far for parashat Behaalotecha

2012

1. Behaaloscha sources -- even further expanded.

2. YUTorah on the parasha.

3. Why the pasek after the word tamei? Midrashically, as well as from a system of trup.

4. Did Avraham call anyone 'My Master' besides Hashem? According to Meshech Chochma, he did not, and so was of the select few to be called an eved Hashem. But it is not so simple, according to Rav Yechezkel Abramsky's son. According to one opinion, Adonay at the start of Vayera is chol. Then, I weigh in with what I think is an even stronger counter-example, עַל-עַבְדְּכֶם.

2011

1. Behaloshcha sources -- further expanded. For example, many more meforshei Rashi.
   .
2. Impure to the bone, part ii --  Continuing a topic from last year on parshat Naso, about whether לטמי means bone or impure, and whether דאינשא should be present. This touches on pesukim in Belaalotecha as well.
   .
3. YU Torah on parashat Behaalotecha.
   .
4. The psik in נֹסְעִים | אֲנַחְנוּ, and whether gierim had to hoof it -   Birkas Avraham darshens another pesik.
   .
5. Does the gershayim double the lamed, of gematria 30?  A derasha on a gershayim in Behaaloscha, that the doubling of the stroke implies twice, and that it is on a lamed makes for double 30. I disagree with the need, or inclination, todarshen it, and try to explain why a gershayim instead of a geresh. But to each his own. I just discuss this for the sake of completeness.
   .
6. Two places named Chatzeros --  Rav Chaim Kanievsky considers whether there were two places named Chatzeros, such that the one at the start of Devarim, in Ever Hayarden, is not the same as the one in themasaot, which is the one mentioned in Behaaloscha, where Miriam was punished with leprosy. I consider his words, and use it as a jumping off point. Plus, the Sifrei darshens a Samaritan text!

2010

1. Behaaloscha sources -- revamped, with more than 100 meforshim on the parasha and haftara.
   a
2. When you cause to ascend the lamps -- What is bothering Rashi? He explains בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ in a particular way, but is inconsistent elsewhere in explaining לְהַעֲלֹת נֵר תָּמִיד. Meanwhile the derasha is not initially on Behaalotecha. I consider Gur Aryeh, and then differ, and explain my own take on the matter.a
   .
3. Ibn Caspi and the magic trumpets -- Does Ibn Caspi have an expansive definition of the term dibra Torah kilshon benei Adam which includes falsehood in line with common  misperception? I consider one possible example.a
   .
4. Take the Levites -- should 'take' have more than null value? According to Rashi and according to Ibn Ezra, why does "take the Levites" mean anything? Can't it be a sort of preparatory verb for the purification found later in the pasuk? An answer, I think.
   .
5. Why the warlike language when the aron traveled? Is the description of what Moshe said when the ark went out and returned really about simple travel in the wilderness? Isn't the warlike topic somewhat tangential? I suggest an answer regarding these moved pesukim.
   .
6. How the Zohar spells matzos -- How shall we spell מצות here in Behaaloscha? The Zohar seems to indicate that it ischaser, which goes against all known sefarim as well as the masores. But I rescue the Zohar's statement.

2009

1. Adi"r Bamarom -- an explanation of a masoretic note on parshat Behaalotecha.
   .
2. Behaalotecha sources -- links by aliyah and perek to an online Mikraos Gedolos, and links to many meforshim on the parshah and haftarah.
   .
3. Oo as Oh: a reanalysis of Ibn Ezra on ובדרך, discussed last year. I present a translation of Mechokekei Yehuda, and end up agreeing that Ibn Ezra is likely reading the Rambam into the pasuk, and thus it is that he missed Pesach Rishon beshogeg, and now incurs karet if he dismisses Pesach Sheni..
4. Who was the Kushite woman, and how did she turn black? Relating Ibn Ezra to contemporary science.
   .
5. Eldad and Medad's prophecy -- translated, and how it relates to the context.
   .
6. The dot on the heh of rechokah, and how it might relate to the gender ambiguity of the word derech.
   .
7. Should shatu have the stress on the first or the last syllable? And see the comment section for clarification.
   .
8. Did the hand of the LORD or the spirit of God rest on Elisha? A discussion of competing nuschaot in a pasuk in Melachim, and whether we should even consider emending in favor of one.

2008

1. Rabbenu Bachya's position on nikkud and the ambiguity inherent within pesukim -- I cite him in full, and explain why I think Shadal in his Vikuach is mischaracterizing his position. Based on a pasuk in Behaalotecha, וְאִם-כָּכָה אַתְּ-עֹשֶׂה לִּי, where the word את is a kinnui for the Attribute of Judgment
   a
2. "And is not on a journey" as "Or is not on a journey" -- where when Ibn Ezra says או בדרך he is making either a phonological or a logical point. Shadal faces off against Avi Ezer, and then we have a Karaite supercommentary and finally my own suggestion. It is a difficult Ibn Ezra, all in all. Perhaps I should check out other supercommentaries of Ibn Ezra this year.
   .
3. "Their prophecy did not cease" -- Was the prophetic gift to Eldad and Medad just temporary, or permanent? I would suggest a third possibility. It means that they were not gathered.
   .
4. Pesach Sheni, if a convert converts -- should he bring the korban pesach offering immediately, even not in its proper time? I suggest it means that converting in between Pesach Rishon and Sheni, he still brings Pesach Sheni, and this depending on whether the second chag severed from the first. But see inside for details.
   .
5. "Miracle Grow" -- Did the shemen hamishcha have the effect of making people miraculously grow taller, or is that ridiculous. What is the true intent of the midrash that says that this was a special mark of distinction.

2007

1. Parsha Punning Puzzle: What feature of Behaalotecha Am I? an easy one, but I was just getting started, IIRC
   a
2. An Important Grammatical Form -- cross-posted from Ki Tavo. וַתְּדַבֵּר מִרְיָם וְאַהֲרֹן בְּמֹשֶׁה in Bahaaloscha shows that a singular verb can apply to multiple individuals (Miryam and Aharon) and even to people of the opposite gender (Aharon). It all follows the identity of the first person mentioned.

2006

1. Rashbam's Midrashic Literalism? that Moshe married the queen of Kush.
   a
2. Why the Repetition of Isha Kushit Lakach? within the open-canon approach, it is saying, "Oh yeah, we didn't mention this earlier, but he married a Kushite woman." And what those following a closed-canon approach do.
   a
3. Why Was Miriam, and Not Aharon, Punished? Perhaps only Miriam spoke. a grammatical analysis.
   a
4. Roundup -- What other blogs are saying about the parsha
   a
5. Why Couldn't the Manna Taste Like X? 
1. And what does it mean to say that nursing mothers could not have it? I argue that it does not mean that everyone is restricted because of nursing mothers. And discuss ADDeRabbi's post on the subject.
2. Then, in Manna Redux, I reexamine the issue after having seen Rashi in the gemara, which sheds light on Rashi in Chumash. And add a bit to the above discussion.

2005

1. Parsing Moshe's Prayer
• based on trup. I argue that na in kel na refa na la means different things. Thus, God, please heal now, her. Also, a keri and ketiv at play here, to parallel Aharon's earlier speech.
2. Who Is The Naar?
• considering Yehoshua and Gershom as candidates.
3. "Na" Only Connotes Please
• What does this phrase mean? Does it mean it can only mean this and not something else, or does it mean that in certain instances for midrashic purpose, we can read the meaning of "please" into it? I argue for the latter, and that others hold this as well. Indeed, no one ever says achila only means eating, because this is obvious. There must be some alternative, or else there is no purpose to the statement.

2004

1. Chovav As A Witness, or Guide?
• Moshe asked Chovav to stay to be their eyes. Is this as a witness or a guide? I suggest the latter. Also, was he successful?
2. Who Was Chovav? Who Was Yisro? And Who Was Moshe's Father-In-Law?
• Perhaps they are the same person, and perhaps not. I lot hinges on the definition of chotein moshe.
3. Related to the Above: Another Interesting Cognate from "Hebrew Cognates In Amharic"
• in that in Amharic, the same Semitic word means both father-in-law and brother-in-law.
4. No More, No End, Not Gathered
• Three possible meanings of וְלֹא יָסָפוּ as regards Eldad and Medad.
5. BeKetuvim (Eldad and Medad)
• The midrashic derivation of the contents of Eldad and Medad's prophecies. And how either Eldad and Medad, or their prophecies, were recorded in the "ketuvim."
6. Would You Go Back To Slavery In Egypt For This?
• Illustrations of the foodstuffs that the Israelites looked back fondly to.
7. The Manna, On the Other Hand
• useful to compare to the above.
8. cross-listed from parshat Chukas: For What Sin Was Moshe Punished?
• perhaps he was actually commanded to strike the rock, and his sin was in his initial reaction to the people's complaint.

to be continued...

posts so far for parashat Shemot

2013

1. Shemot sources, 2013 edition.

2. YUTorah on parashat Shemot.

3. Why can't Moshe hit the water? How can we make sense of this ma'amar chazal? I think that just as you can't ask a kasha on a maaseh, you often can't ask a kasha on a midrash.

4. Did הבתים transform into ויבן? At first glance, it looks like Rashi miquoted a pasuk in Melachim. The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains the steps in its transformation, such that Rashi cited the pasuk correctly and scribes corrupted it. But perhaps Rashi never gave this pasuk as prooftext. I have a manuscript to back this idea up. Also, the prooftext is not very persuasive, since the midrash is speaking of the kingly and levite families, while the pasuk is speaking about physical structures, a palace and a Temple.

2012

1. Shemot sources, 2012 edition.

2. Why the dagesh in הַצְּפִינוֹ? And whether Ibn Ezra actually disagrees with the existence of the phenomenon. While our Ibn Ezra explains the phenomenon of the dagesh, Ohr Torah understands him as saying there is no dagesh!

3. Was the new king over Egypt from the zera hamelucha? Considering Ibn Ezra's fit of 'prophecy'. Ibn Ezra argues on midrash and Rashi, and asserts that the 'new' king means that the king was of a new dynasty. Abarbanel and Ibn Caspi question how Ibn Ezra can know this. We consider what the inputs can be to this peshat.

4. Why translate that Pharaoh did not *chakim* Yosef?  I disagree with the idea that Tg Yonasan is channeling Kli Yakar and saying that Pharaoh did not learn from Yosef's history. Rather, חכים simply means 'recognize' in Aramaic.

5. YUTorah on parashat Shemot.

6. Angels raising the Israelite children in Egypt -- In reply to an email from a regular reader: 

Hi,

I have a question about Shemot. My son told me that his Morah told his 1st grade class that when the Egyptians threw the boys into the Nile, melachim took the babies and raised them in a cave and then returned them to their parents.

Have you heard of this before? I can't seem to find any references to it . . . .

7. Thoughts on the Short Vort of Shemos, which is this:



For my thoughts on it, follow the link.

8. Is marrying two sisters intrinsically or extrinsically obnoxious? We consider the perspective of Rashi (intrinsically), Ibn Ezra (based on the land), and Ibn Caspi (who rejects Ibn Ezra and gives a rationalist reason for the prohibition). I suggest that it is extrinsically bad, based on intent and social mores.

2011

1. How did Moshe remove his shoes?  I saw this cute devar Torah the other day in aparsha sheet, about Hashem's instruction to Moshe to remove his sandals, at the burning bush. It is from Rav Chaim Kanievsky.
   .
2. The mercha kfula in parshas Shmini --  How shall we account for it? There is one towards the end of parashat Shemot as well.

December 2010

1. Shemot sources - further improved.
   .
2. The Targum on וְלֹא בְּיָד חֲזָקָה -- What was Rashi's original girsa of the Targum on Shemot 3:19?
   .
3. Why did Pharaoh target Jewish male infants?  Philo and Josephus, with Josephus giving the famous midrash about astrology. What was bothering Josephus?
   .
4. Did Pharaoh command the Egyptians to kill their own children?  So goes a midrash. Does peshat follow? To an extent, I think. Plus, how the Samaritans over-correct and so tip their hand.
   .
5. When did the Bnei Yisrael say חֲדַל מִמֶּנּוּ?  It makes sense, chronologically, that it would fall somewhere in Va'era. I explore some approaches which are open and closed canon to varying degrees.
   .
6. "Rasha! Lama Sakeh Rei'echa?!"  This week, from Junior's school.
   
   Q: When Moshe saw Datan and Aviram fighting, what did he call the man who was about to hit the other man?
   A: Rasha.
   
   My thoughts regarding this -- not exactly, though it seems a common misconception.
   .
7. Moshe killing the Egyptian, and Destiny --  In answer to a 'ponderousparsha point', of just what Moshe expected when looking into the future.
   .
8. Yocheved His Aunt, and the Length of the Servitude --  If Yocheved was literally Amram's aunt, it is difficult to make the servitude 210 years, and even more, 400 years. Relax this and you have more leeway. Rav Saadia Gaon and the Targum Hashiv'im give us this leeway.
   .

January 2010

1. The Gra on the trup of Vayemararu et Chayeihem -- There is a famous commentary by the Gra on the trup of Vayigash Elav Yehuda. Here is one on וימררו את חייהם, from parashat Shemot.
   This is actually part of a series of such posts I am doing right now, considering all of the Vilna Gaon's interpretations of trup, to try to deduce just how serious he intends them, among other things. Here is the "famous" one on Vayigash. And here are his comments on the trup of he`ashir lo yarbeh, on Ki Tisa. And here are his comments on asser taaser, in Reeh. And one of megillat Esther. And there is still more to come.
   .
2. Shemot sources -- links to over a hundred meforshim on the parsha and haftorah, plus links to an online Mikraos Gedolos by perek and aliyah.
   .
3. An exciting yet possibly nonexistent variant in the spelling of amatah -- Gur Aryeh come up with a variant masorah in order to defend the tradition, and so perhaps confuses Minchas Shai. I investigate, and take a tour of Rav Saadia Gaon's translation, Dunash Ibn Labrat's attack, Ibn Ezra's defense as well as commentary, and Mizrachi and Gur Aryeh's suggestion. Then an analysis, as to why I think Gur Aryeh's suggestion is rather unlikely.
   .
4. The repercussions of Moshe's oath -- Regarding a midrash that Moshe promised his first son would be dedicated to idolatry, and a midrash that the Levite priest by pesel Micha was Moshe's descendant. The Baal HaTurim seems to be dan a gezeira shava le'atzmo, something quite likely permitted for aggadah, though not for halacha. I investigate the background to this derasha. Also, what merited censorship in all this? Finally, considering and challenging Rav Chaim Kanievsky's take on this.
   .
5. How could Rashi say that animals don't need midwives?! -- Challenging a midrash, brought by Rashi, that animals don't need midwives. With an obvious, and not so obvious answer. But more deeply, what makes for a silly question, and what makes for a legitimate question, in Rashi studies?
   .
6. Why should Ibn Ezra assert that the word "Am" is not construct? Ibn Ezra has a seemingly strange comment, that in am benei Yisrael it is duplication, rather than construct form. What could compel this? I examine two reactions, and consider a semantic, rather than syntactic cause. Also, the trend across Tanach such that this is a common expression. Then, I consider that it just might be the influence of trup.
   .
7. The chronological problem in the saving of Moshe -- This chronological difficulty struck me (ouch!) when reading through parshat Shemot.
   .
8. What does ויעש להם בתים mean? To determine the peshat in this one phrase requires understanding of so much else in context. Namely, should we understand them as Hebrew midwives, or Egyptian midwives for the Hebrews? When they feared Elohim, was this Hashem or was it the local Egyptian deity? Were they individual midwives, or the heads of widwife guilds? And so on and so forth. This context will allow for different plausible answers to the question of just what vayaas lahem batim means.
   .

2009

1. Ramses vs. Raamses -- one as the land of Goshen, and the other as the treasure-city they built for Pharaoh. Cross-listed from Vaychi.
   .
2. The long-lived donkey -- how old was the donkey Moshe put his family on?
   .
3. Shemot sources -- useful for preparing the sedra: links to an online Mikraos Gedolos and meforshim on the parsha and haftara.
   .
4. 6 in one birth? Discussing Rashi's source, and Shemot Rabba's source for this midrashic claim; how Ibn Ezra partially endorses it based on contemporary science; an explication just what that contemporary science was; how Ibn Ezra and Rashbam cope with the multiple languages of fecundity, and how I would; then, how multiple births shorten term, and how we might read that into midrash and pesukim. And more.
   .
5. Six in one womb simultaneously, or sequentially? Considering a suggestion / theory by Rabbi Medan that when Chazal said 6 in one womb, they meant it sequentially over the woman's entire lifetime -- and this as a part of a response to Shadal about chronology and generations in Egypt. I don't think it fits well with Chazal intent in the midrash, and so we would be sacrificing one maamar Chazal to save another.
   .
6. What are the evil diseases of Egypt? On Ekev, Shadal discusses a malady particular to Egypt of elephantiasis. And while Shadal does not make the connection, Pliny notes that when it affected the kings of Egypt, they treated it by tempering their sitting-baths with human blood. Which then fits well with the famous midrash.
   .
7. Is the three-fold ambiguity of  וְרַב יַעֲבֹד צָעִיר deliberate? Early theories of multi-valence -- really focused on parshat Toledot, but long the way I discuss the ambiguity inherent in Moshe's killing of the Egyptian taskmaster.

2007

1. Who Made "Houses" From Whom? And Why? A rundown of the many different explanations of this ambiguous phrase, and how it connects to the context.
   .
2. The Age of Trup -- from Shadal's Vikuach Al Chochmat haKabbalah, the beginning of a discussion of how old trup is, and how old the orthography of trup is. With implications as to whether a parshan can argue on trup and nikkud. Here, he claims Rashi does so on occasions, and gives examples. But also that Rashi at times brings proof from trup and nikkud. The pasuk from Shemot, of stretching out her hand (see next post on Shemot) is such an example, where Rashi states that the peshat must be maidservant, because of the nikkud on "amata."
   
   Also see Rabbenu Bachya on the same.
   .
3. Why Did The Daughter of Pharaoh Stretch Out Her Hand? If it was so many cubits away? The Lubavitcher Rebbe gives an answer, which I think may well accord with the peshat of the midrash. Plus a comment section.
   .
4. Vayifen Ko vaCho -- Why Did Moshe Look Around? I suggest it is to see if anyone else will intervene. Plus, some comments.

2006

1. The Dangers of Midrashim? A Fisking -- discussing, in part, whether the daughter of Pharaoh's hand really extended several cubits, and what to make of a midrash which says it did.
   .
2. Finally Arriving in Egypt -- How could parshat Shemot say they arrived in Egypt when they already did in sefer Bereishit? This is no question on a peshat level. However, the midrash answers that they began to feel the oppression with the death of Yosef. I show how this midrash shows a sensitivity to theme in the text of the parsha. Finally, I reiterate my explanation of habaim mitzrayma that may well clarify a several difficult chronological/genealogical points.

2005

• Vav HaChibbur vs. Vav HaHippuch And How It Applies To וְאֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת
• Hirhurim had a question about the statement that that sefer Shemot is unique in that it leads off with a vav, showing several other seforim that do the same. The answer is grammatical - va does not (need) mean "and," but most often just transforms what would otherwise be an imperfect into the perfect (past tense). I go through each instance, demonstrating this.

Dec 2004

1. Who Was Chovav? Who Was Yitro? And Who Was Moshe's Father-in-law? In this post on parshat Behaalotecha, I consider these questions. It is not at all clear that these were all alternate names for the same person. See various resolutions.
   .
2. Vayakam Melech Chadash Al Mitzrayim -- Besides the standard "and a new king arose over Egypt," there are at least three other parses and translations, depending on whether vayakam is transitive or intransitive, whether it means "arose" or "enacted," whether chadash modifies king or arose. It could mean that Pharaoh decreed new decrees on Egypt which did not recognize Yosef. This is the dispute between Rav and Shmuel, cited by Rashi. It could be that the (same) king rose anew over Egypt (the view of the Rabanan). It could mean that a new counsel (melech) was established over Egypt, which fits well with the pasuk as fits in with some midrash as well.
   .
3. Who were Shifra and Puah? A relatively unknown identification alternative to Miriam as the second midwife.
   .
4. Pharaoh the Leper -- In association with the post above about Vayakam Melech Chadash, I point out one midrashic motivation for saying that Pharaoh did not die -- in that the pasuk says a new king arose but does not state that he died.. Another pasuk that states that the Pharaoh died is interpreted as not that he died but was struck with leprosy. Parallels to two other kings struck with leprosy, Uzziya and Pharaoh, where the former is also an instance in which leprosy = death. Also a suggestion that וַיָּמָת מֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם is parsed as if the word was metzora'im, lepers, such that "the king died the death of lepers."

Jan 2004

1. Moshe/Kayin parallels, and the midrashic vs. pshat narrative -- Two murders, but the one perpetrated by Moshe is good. And in both instances, the matter becomes known. Both murderers must go into exile, and the ground plays a role in concealing the deed. Parallel focus on potential descendants of the murdered. Plus a non-contradiction between two midrashim about the Egyptian's descendants, or lack thereof.
   
   Finally, a distinction between the theme and mood of the narrative within the peshat and within the drash retelling.
   .
2. Multivalence -- With the famous example of who echav is that Moshe goes out to -- the Egyptians or the Israelites?
   .
3. Shifra & Puah == Yocheved & Miriam? Shifra actually appears on a list of Egyptian slave names from the 18th century. Are these midwives Egyptians who cater to Israelites, or are they Israelites themselves. Plus why the midrash equates them with Shifra and Puah. Plus a possible textual derivation I propose, doubling to mem to make miyaldei haIvrim, about Moshe, become mimeyaldei haIvrim. See inside. And a precedent for such doubling.
   .
4. A Bunch of Chayos! And how to translate it -- animals, midwives, intelligent...
   .
5. The derivation of Moshe's name -- The one given in the pasuk, and the one offered by some Biblical scholars. And my analysis of the overall picture, such that the one offered by some Biblical scholars is not really compelling (IMHO).
   .
6. Moshe's Name -- cross-listed from Vayikra, 2005. An expansion on the above.

to be continued...