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#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2007, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#
    6. RASHI METHOD: STYLE
    Rashi examines how rules of style influences inferences between general and detail statements in paragraphs.
    • Example: Every solo example stated by the Bible must be broadly generalized;
    • Theme-Detail: A general principle followed by an example is interpreted restrictively---the general theme statement only applies in the case of the example;
    • Theme-Detail-Theme: A Theme-Detail-Theme unit is interpreted as a paragraph. Consequently the details of the paragraph are generalized so that they are seen as illustrative of the theme.
    This examples applies to Rashis Ex01-20b Ex01-20a
    URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/ex01-20b.htm

    Biblical verses Ex01-20:21 forms a Biblical paragraph with a theme-detail structure:
  • Therefore God dealt well with the midwives; [who enabled] the people to multiply, and became very mighty.
  • And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them socially distinguished.

Rashi paraphrased comments: The two sentences form one paragraph. That is the statement in the first theme sentence God dealt well with the midwives refers to the details mentioned in the second detail sentence God made them socially distinguished.

    Rashi's comment seems rather obvious. His point of emphasis is that the two verses should be read together. Here are the literal verse and Rashi comments:
  • Verse God dealth well with the midwives
  • Rashi: And how did he deal well with them?
  • Verse: God made them houses
  • Rashi: That is, God made them socially distinguished.

Sermonic points: The sermonic inferences from these verses and Rashi are obvious: God rewards good deeds and furthermore the reward God gives to those who do good need not be monetary but may be social. In this case God did not give them money or items of monetary value: Rather God gave them social distinction. It is worthwhile when we seek God's grace to remember that His grace may strongly manifest itself with social graces.


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