“The descriptions of the melodies were said to Moshe...but the signs of the melodies were set by the Soferim”
-Simha ben Samuel of Vitry, France, disciple of Rashi, in Machzor Vitry quoted in Encyclopedia Judaica Vol.16, p.1417
Rava expounded on the verse, 'And besides that Koheleth was wise, he also taught the people knowledge...' (Kohelet 12:9) He also taught the people knowledge implies that he taught them with notes of accentuation..." (Eruvin 21b)
King Solomon is credited with teaching torah with the notes of accentuation.
Fast Facts on Shalshelet
- Appears just 4 times in Torah
- 2 appearances in Neviim
- 1 appearance in Ketuvim
- Words with a Shalshelet occur only at the beginning of the verse
- שלשלת translates to "chain"
Lot lingered, Eliezer wavered, Josef faltered?
Mois A. Navon
To convey the full potential of this powerful gift, the Lawgiver, upon bestowing the Torah to Moshe and His nation, utilized much more than the mere letters of the text. In its written form the Torah includes among its devices crowns upon the letters from which it is said that “mounds of laws are derived.”3 In addition, it includes as part of an oral tradition the exact vocalization and accentuation of the text.4 All these elements are not simply ancillary, but rather
with the text as a whole form the authoritative basis for the understanding of the content. The Talmud brings various examples, whereby if the vocalization was not transmitted along with the original text a completely deviant interpretation would result.
R. S.R. Hirsch broadens the understanding of the term used for lingering - vayitmahmah - in his explication on the meaning of the word. He notes that the word comes from the root, mahah, from which is derived mah, what, undecided.13 Thus the lingering is expanded to include indecision giving the fuller sense of “tarrying in indecision.”14
Mois- does Shalshelet here indicate lingering because of indecision?
“He kept on delaying, exclaiming, 'what a loss of gold and silver and precious stones!'“ (Rashi also teaches this, from BeR.R. 50:11)
Lot only saved from the city because of God's חמלה, undeserved mercy? Mois
Mois: Lot came to Sodom to seek wealth explicity (Breishit 13:10-11) and shalshelet here also notes the specific event as "the culmination of a primary struggle within the subject."
(לט) אלי לא תלך האשה אֵלִי כְּתִיב, בַּת הָיְתָה לוֹ לָאֱלִיעֶזֶר, וְהָיָה מְחַזַּר לִמְצוֹא עִלָהּ, שֶיֹּאמַר לוֹ אַבְרָהָם לִפְנוֹת אֵלָיו לְהַשּׂיאוֹ בִּתּוֹ, אָמַר לוֹ אַבְרָהָם בְּנִי בָרוּךְ וְאַתָּה אָרוּר וְאֵין אָרוּר מִדַּבֵּק בְּבָרוּךְ:
(39) אלי לא תלך האשה PERADVENTURE THE WOMAN WILL NOT FOLLOW ME —The word אולי perhaps is written without ו so that it may be read אֵלַי unto me. Eliezer had a daughter and he was endeavouring to find some reason why Abraham should say that he must appeal to him (Eliezer) that he should give his daughter in marriage to Isaac. Abraham said to him, “My son is blessed and you are subject to a curse. One who is under a curse cannot unite with one who is blessed” (Genesis Rabbah 59).
"Though some commentators find merit in his formulation [that is, a complex "if she lowers her pitcher for my camels too,'] chazal, in both the Talmud and the Midrash, hashly impugn Eli'ezer of making an improper request, which, if not for divine favor, might have had dire consequences. So severe is the Talmud's opinion of Eliezer's petition that it is brought as an example of divination forbidden by Torah law." Navon.
Chullin 95b: "...the action to be taken was entirely dependent upon the happening of a certain event, and this is prohibited [by Vayikra 19:26]" Rambam, Yad Hilchot Avodat Kochavim 11:4
Here- shalshelet is apprehension and the event is the climax of an essential character struggle.- Navon
(כב) וַיַּקְרֵב֙ אֶת־הָאַ֣יִל הַשֵּׁנִ֔י אֵ֖יל הַמִּלֻּאִ֑ים וַֽיִּסְמְכ֞וּ אַהֲרֹ֧ן וּבָנָ֛יו אֶת־יְדֵיהֶ֖ם עַל־רֹ֥אשׁ הָאָֽיִל׃ (כג) וַיִּשְׁחָ֓ט ׀ וַיִּקַּ֤ח מֹשֶׁה֙ מִדָּמ֔וֹ וַיִּתֵּ֛ן עַל־תְּנ֥וּךְ אֹֽזֶן־אַהֲרֹ֖ן הַיְמָנִ֑ית וְעַל־בֹּ֤הֶן יָדוֹ֙ הַיְמָנִ֔ית וְעַל־בֹּ֥הֶן רַגְל֖וֹ הַיְמָנִֽית׃
R. Pinchas Winston: Is the hesitation it a foreshadowing, that two of the cohanim present (Nadav + Avihu) is only temporary?
Mois A. Navon
To convey the full potential of this powerful gift, the Lawgiver, upon bestowing the Torah to Moshe and His nation, utilized much more than the mere letters of the text. In its written form the Torah includes among its devices crowns upon the letters from which it is said that “mounds of laws are derived.”3 In addition, it includes as part of an oral tradition the exact vocalization and accentuation of the text.4 All these elements are not simply ancillary, but rather together with the text as a whole form the authoritative basis for the understanding of the content. The Talmud brings various examples, whereby if the vocalization was not transmitted along with the original text a completely deviant interpretation would result.
Questions:
Ambivalence? Hesitation? Or caring too much?
R. Pinchas Winston: Is the hesitation it a foreshadowing, that two of the cohanim present (Nadav + Avihu) is only temporary?
Questions:
Ambivalence? Hesitation? Or caring too much?