[Avodah] dvar tora

[Zev Sero]

Michael Makovi wrote:

>  I think that Rashi understanding batim as batei kehuna, is part of the fact
> that Rashi is simply quoting Chazal, which includes both Shifra and Puah =
> Yocheved and Miriam, and batim = batei kehuna. As I said in my reply a
> minute ago, the question isn't how Rashi understood Shifra and Puah, but
> rather how Chazal quoted by Rashi understood Shifra and Puah.

But Rashi doesn't bring midrashim unless he thinks they're necessary
to understand pshat.  There must be something in the text that makes
him choose to quote this maamar chazal.


> As for Malbim, I haven't read him, but I don't understand this
> interpretation. It clearly says that the batim was a reward, no?

It says nothing of the kind.


> Why would God reward Shifra and Puah, whoever they are, by making it
> more difficult to save children in the future?

Not Hashem, Par'oh.  "Because the midwives feared Hashem" and defied
his orders, "he made them houses" so they couldn't do that any more.


-- 
Zev Sero               Something has gone seriously awry with this Court's
zev at sero.name          interpretation of the Constitution.
                       	                          - Clarence Thomas