Tuesday, July 30, 2019

parshanut torah comment - Why does Rashi say "I don't know"?


The Posuk says (Genesis 28:5):



וַיִּשְׁלַח יִצְחָק אֶת יַעֲקֹב וַיֵּלֶךְ פַּדֶּנָה אֲרָם אֶל לָבָן בֶּן בְּתוּאֵל הָאֲרַמִּי אֲחִי רִבְקָה אֵם יַעֲקֹב וְעֵשָׂו




To which Rashi comments on the fact that the Posuk says that Rivkah was both the Mother of Yackov and Eisav:



אם יעקב ועשו: איני יודע מה מלמדנו



Why does the Torah say it, and if he does not know the reason why does Rashi mention it at all?



Answer





  • The Maskil LeDavid on the verse brings a fascinating explanation.


    He says Rashi is explaining what Yitzchok was telling Yaakov. Yitzchok told Yaakov, I'm sending you to Lavan, but be careful, since I don't know what kind of man he is (i.e. Tzaddik or Rasha). Normally we can tell the nature of an uncle by looking at the majority of his nephews, but I have two sons, one righteous and one wicked, so there is no majority, and therefore it could go either way.



    This then, is how to read Rashi: Rivka is the Mother of Yaakov and Eisav, and therefore I don't know what Lavan's nature is. This is what the Passuk is coming to teach us.




  • The Siftei Chachamim writes that Rashi was aware of the many interpretations by various commentaries, but he wasn't sure which one was correct according to the simple meaning of the verse.




  • The Lubavitcher Rebbe, based on his thesis that Rashi is only coming to explain the simple meaning of the verse (and only quotes Midrashim that can be used to explain the simple meaning), says (Likutei Sichot volume 5, pg 1 footnote 2) that when Rashi says, "I don't know", it isn't because he is not aware of any of the answers given, but rather is not aware of any answer that explains the simple meaning of the verse.


    This also explains why there are some instances where Rashi gives an explanation in his commentary on the Talmud, but says I don't know in his commentary on the Torah.


    [See there for a list of locations where Rashi says "I don't know" or something similar, including places where Rashi says "I don't know" and then proceeds to give a reason.]





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