SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
Some Rashi comments deal with FORMATTING.
Modern authors FORMAT using such techniques as
BULLETS, PARAGRAPHING, BOLD, ITALICS and UNDERLINE.
The Biblical Author achieved these effects but thru
different means.
For example a modern author might hilight distinct
items using BULLETS. The Biblical Author hilights
distinct items using REPEATING KEYWORDS.
We call this the Rashi rule of FORMATTING with the Rashi
subrule of KEYWORDS AS BULLETS
EXAMPLE 1: Dt17-19b
-------------------
The Biblical paragraph Dt17-14:20 discusses
the rights and obligations of Kings. The King
must write a Scroll of Law. Dt17-19 explains
the reasons
--------------------------------------------
to watch
- the words of this Torah [Biblical Commandments]
- and these statutes [Prohibitions of excessive
money/wives for kings]
in order to do them.
--------------------------------------------
In this case each phrase is introduced by the
Hebrew word ETH. This repeating Hebrew Keyword indicates
a recurring bulleted theme.
Because the phrases are BULLETED we are justified
in interpreting each phrase/bullet as distinct (That
is in fact why BULLETS are used).
The two themes are interpreted by the bracketed
phrases above. (Rashi actually only presents
the first bracketed phrase--the meaning indicated
by the second bracketed phrase is clear since it
refers to the contents of the current paragraph)
LIST120d below summarizes this argument
EXAMPLE 2: Dt17-09b Membership on the High Court--Sanhedrin
-------------------------------------
The following verse, Dt17-09
discusses membership of the Sanhedrin
-------------------------------------
And [when you have a legal question] you will come
- TO THE priest-levites
- TO THE JUDGE--------- that will be in those days
[....and they will tell you the law]
-------------------------------------
The REPEATING KEYWORD, TO, indicates a BULLET effect.
There is separate and distinct emphasis on each phrase.
Notice the extra phrase THAT WILL BE IN THOSE DAYS
Rashi comments
------------------------------------------
Each person only has the Judge of his days
So even if the current judge is inferior
to the Judges of previous generations
nevertheless you are still
obligated to follow him
------------------------------------------
LIST120c summarizes this FORMATTED verse.
SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
A powerful but simple Rashi method is the CITATION or CROSS-
REFERENCING of an OTHER VERSE for the purpose of adding
FURTHER DETAILS to a verse we are studying. We call this
the OTHER VERSE method. There are three submethods to the
OTHER VERSE method.
If the verse actually CITES or refers to an OTHER VERSE we
call this the SUBMETHOD of CITATION.
If the OTHER VERSE explains the meaning of
some term in the first verse we call this the SUBMETHOD
of MEANING.
If the first verse does not cite an other verse and if
no meaning is explained then we call this the SUBMETHOD
of FURTHER DETAILS since the 2nd verse either confirms
the first verse or typically adds FURTHER DETAILS to
the first verse
EXAMPLE 2 Continued: Dt26-03a
-----------------------------
We have just established thru ALIGNMENT that the phrase
--------------------------
judge who is in those days
--------------------------
is an IDIOMATIC phrase meaning
-----------------------------------------
judge as he is, independent of competence
(That is, even though there are better
judges today)
-----------------------------------------
Therefore we are now justified using the OTHER VERSE
method to interpret OTHER VERSES with the phrase
-----------------------------
who is in those days
-----------------------------
to indicate INDEPENDENT OF COMPETENCE.
Hence we interpret Dt26-03 which states
---------------------------------------
You will come with your first fruits
to the priest WHO IS IN THOSE DAYS
---------------------------------------
in a similar manner to mean
---------------------------------------
...to the priest then AS HE IS, even
though former priests, were "better"
---------------------------------------
LIST250k summarizes this argument and brings the 4
verses which use the phrase IN THOSE DAYS.
|