xvi. An expression used for the first time is ex plained by the passage in which it occurs onrn nz-1 Inwn3). Thus, e.g., Hannah is the first who in her prayer addresses God as Lord of Hosts ;' whence it is concluded that the superfluous expres sion hosts indicates that she must have argued to this effect— Lord of the universe, thou hast erected two worlds (1118;1)) ; if I belong to the nether world I ought to be fruitful, and if to the upper I ought to live for ever.' Hence the expres sion is designed for this passage (Berachoth, 31 b).
xvii. A circumstance is not fully described in the passage in which it first occurs, but is explained elsewhere critnnt Invna v.1n13 11'1 nnN cvna). Thus it is stated in Gen. ii. 8, where the garden of Eden is first mentioned, that there were in it all manner of fruit ; but it is not to be gathered from this passage that there was anything else in the garden ; whilst from Ezek. xxviii. 13, where this passage is further explained, it is evident that there were also precious stones in Paradise.
xviii. A thing is named in part, but comprises the whole (53 nvpnz nnwv nni).
Thus in Exod. xxii. 3o, it is forbidden to eat flesh torn of beasts in the field ;' and in Lev. xxii. 8, it is said, That which is torn he shall not eat,' here also forbidding that which is torn in the city. The use of the expression field in the first passage is owing to the fact that beasts are far more fre quently torn in it than in the city ; and the Scrip tures mention the common and not the uncommon occurrences. Hence in the expression field, every thing is comprised—city, country, forest, mountain, valley, etc.
xix. The respective predicates of two subjects in the some passages may refer to both alike onnv 111 11nn5 rrn) ram)• Thus, Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart' (Ps. xcvii. r r), does not imply that the former is without gladness and the latter without light, but what is predicated of one also belongs to the other (comp. Taanith, r5 a).
xx. The predicate of a subject may not refer to it at all ,but to the one next to it (inV 1]'N.1 rltz nnN)v j+)y NIM1 1). Thus the remark, This to Judah' (Deut. xxxiii. 7), does not refer to Judah, since it is said further on, And he said, Hear, Lord, the voice of Judah,' but to Simeon, whom Moses hereby blesses after Reuben.
xxi. When a subject is compared with two things, it is to receive the best attributes of both (137 riven ri rinNt nrrn vp)nr, irrnvztv). Thus, The righteous shall flourish
like the palm-tree ; he shall grow up like a cedar in Lebanon' (Ps. xcii. r2)—the comparison is with the best qualities of both (comp. Taanith, 25 a).
xxii. The first clause explains by its parallelism the second, to which it refers nrr 1+53,1)• Thus A gift in secret pacifieth anger,' in the first hemistich signifying the anger of God, shows that ; and a reward in the bosom strong wrath' (Prov. xxi. 14), in the second hemistich refers to the strong wrath of God (comp. Baba Bathra, 9 b).
xxiii. The second clause in parallelism explains the first hemistich, to which it refers (NInv nn man rovin). Thus, The voice of the Lord shaketh the wilderness ; the Lord shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh' (Ps. xxix. 8). Here Kadesh, though comprised in the expression wilderness of the first clause, is used in the second clause to heighten the strength of the first hemistich, by showing that the wilderness must have been shaken exceedingly, since Kadesh, the greatest wilderness, was shaken (comp. Dent. i. r6).
xxiv. A subject included in a general description is excepted fi-ow it to convey a special lesson On t•V 1nW Sy 1nSS, 55zn jt7 NV'1 55:3 Thus, Joshua, the son of Nun, sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, and Jericho' (Josh. ii. I). Here Jericho is super fluous, since it is comprised in the general term land, but it is especially mentioned to indicate that Jericho by itself was equal in power and strength to the whole country. Hence that which is ex cepted teaches something special about itself.
xxv. A subject included in a general description is excepted from it to teach something special about auethe r 55zn in 5533 ronvnni by). Thus the command, Ye shall take no redemption-price for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death' (Num. xxxv. 3r), is entirely super fluous, since it is included in the declaration already made, As fie bath done, so shall it be done to him' (Lev. xxiv. 19). It is, however, mentioned especially to be a guide for other punishments, since it is concluded from it that it is only for mur derers that no redemption-price is to be taken, but that satisfaction may be taken in case of one knocking out his neighbour's tooth or eye (comp. Edhzeboth, 37 b, 38 a).