Sefer Shoftim Chapter 5 - Restatement

Restatement

In most modern Torah scrolls and Jewish editions of the Bible, there are two types of parashot, an "open portion" (parashah petuhah) and a "closed portion" (parashah setumah). An "open portion" is roughly similar to a modern paragraph: The text of the previous portion ends before the end of the column (leaving a space at the end of the line), and the new "open" portion starts at the beginning of the next line (but with no indentation). A "closed portion", on the other hand, leaves a space in the middle of the line of text, where the previous portion ends before the space, and the next portion starts after it, towards the end of the line of text.

In some manuscripts and in many printed editions, an "open portion" (petuhah) is abbreviated with the Hebrew letter "פ" (peh), and a "closed portion" (setumah) with the Hebrew letter "ס" (samekh), often in place of the visual gap in the line.[8] Rough English equivalents are "P" and "S" respectively.

In masoretic codices and in medieval scrolls, these two spacing techniques allowed for a larger range of options:

An "open portion" always started at the beginning of a new line. This could happen the way described above, but also by leaving a blank line between the two portions, thus allowing the previous portion to sometimes entirely fill its last line of text.

A "closed portion" never began at the beginning of a line. This could happen as in modern scrolls (a space in the middle of a line), but also by the previous portion ending before the end of the line, and the new portion beginning on the next line after an indentation.

Open portions often seem to reflect the beginning of a new topic or a major subdivision within a biblical book, while closed portions seem to reflect smaller units or minor subdivisions.

In my opinion the raish or R represents the beginning of a new line on the scroll. This line represents a Rosh or Head and is meant to convey a pause in the reading or singing such that the reader and listener is reflecting on HaShem.

Mechon Mamre Normal Structure for Chapter 5

verse 1

וַתָּשַׁר דְּבוֹרָה, וּבָרָק בֶּן-אֲבִינֹעַם, {ס} הַהוּבַּיּוֹםא, {ר} לֵאמֹר. {ס}

English Translation

Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying:

Verse 1 Restated

וַתָּשַׁר דְּבוֹרָה, וּבָרָק בֶּן-אֲבִינֹעַם,

Verse 1 = 6 words and 21 letters

Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam

space forthe Light of HaShemהַהוּ בַּיּוֹםא,

2 words and 8 letters

לֵאמֹר. = saying:

1 word and 4 letters

Verse 1 Total = 9 words and 33 letters + 3 spaces for the Light of HaShem

verse 2

בִּפְרֹעַ פְּרָעוֹת בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, {ס} בְּהִתְנַדֵּב {ר} עָם, בָּרְכוּ, יְהוָה. {ס}

English Translation

When men let grow their hair in Israel, when the people offer themselves willingly, bless ye the LORD.

Verse 1 and 2 Restated and combined

Verse 1a

{ר} לֵאמֹר.{ס} בפרע פרעות בישראל{ס}בהתנדב

Verse 2 a

עָם, בָּרְכוּ, יְהוָה. {ר} { o}

English Translation

Verse 1a in English

When men let grow their hair in Israel, offer themselves willingly

Verse 2a in English

His People HaShem

verse 3

שִׁמְעוּ מְלָכִים, הַאֲזִינוּ {ר} רֹזְנִים: {ס} אָנֹכִי, לַיהוָה אָנֹכִי אָשִׁירָה, {ס} אֲזַמֵּר, {ר} לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. {ס}

English Translation

Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, unto the LORD will I sing; I will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Israel.

Verse 3 Restated

Verse 3a

שִׁמְעוּ מְלָכִים, הַאֲזִינוּ

Verse 3b

{ר} רֹזְנִים: {ס} אָנֹכִי, לַיהוָה אָנֹכִי אָשִׁירָה, {ס} אֲזַמֵּר,

Verse 3c

אֲזַמֵּר, {ר} לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. {ס} {o}

Verse 3a in English

Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes;

Verse 3b in English

I, unto the LORD will I sing;

Verse 3c in English

Sing to The God of Israel

verse 4

יְהוָה, בְּצֵאתְךָ {ר} מִשֵּׂעִיר {ס} בְּצַעְדְּךָ מִשְּׂדֵה אֱדוֹם, {ס} אֶרֶץ {ר} רָעָשָׁה, גַּם-שָׁמַיִם נָטָפוּ; {ס} גַּם-עָבִים, נָטְפוּ {ר} מָיִם. {ס}

English Translation

LORD, when Thou didst go forth out of Seir, when Thou didst march out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, the heavens also dropped, yea, the clouds dropped water.

Verse 4 and 5 Restated

Verse 4a

יְהוָה, בְּצֵאתְךָ

Verse 4b

{ר} מִשֵּׂעִיר {ס} בְּצַעְדְּךָ מִשְּׂדֵה אֱדוֹם, {ס} אֶרֶץ

Verse 4c

{ר} רָעָשָׁה, גַּם-שָׁמַיִם נָטָפוּ; {ס} גַּם-עָבִים, נָטְפוּ {raish}

Verse 4d with 5

מָיִם. {ס} הָרִים נָזְלוּ, מִפְּנֵי יְהוָה: {ס} זֶה {raish}

Verse 4a in English

HaShem When you go forth

Verse 4b in English

from Seir, when you did march out of the land of Edom

Verse 4c in English

the earth trembled, the heavens also dropped, yea, the clouds dropped

Verse 4d and 5 in English

water. The mountains quaked at the presence of the LORD, even

verse 5

שְׂרָהָרִים נָזְלוּ, מִפְּנֵי יְהוָה: {ס} זֶה {ר} סִינַי--מִפְּנֵי, יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִאֵל. {ס}

English Translation

The mountains quaked at the presence of the LORD, even on Sinai at the presence of the LORD, the God of Israel.

verse 5 restated

Verse 5a

sh

See above 4d and 5 in Hebrew and English

Verse 5b and 6

סִינַי--מִפְּנֵי, יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִאֵל. {ס} {raish}

Verse 5b in English

on Sinai at the presence of the HaShem, the God of Israel.

verse 6

בִּימֵי שַׁמְגַּר בֶּן- {ר} עֲנָת, {ס} בִּימֵי יָעֵל, חָדְלוּ, אֳרָחוֹת; {ס} וְהֹלְכֵי {ר} נְתִיבוֹת--יֵלְכוּ, אֳרָחוֹת עֲקַלְקַלּוֹת.

English Translation

In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways ceased, and the travellers walked through byways.

English Translation