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    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 Gn31-50b
    URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w33n5.htm
    Brief Summary: GENERAL: Don't afflict my daughters. DETAILS: Don't take extra wives. INTERPRETATION: That is, don't diminish their marital frequency.

Certain Biblical paragraphs are stated in a Theme-Development form. In other words a broad general idea is stated first followed by the development of this broad general theme in specific details. The Theme-Detail form creates a unified paragraph. The Rabbi Ishmael Style rules require exhausting the meaning of the theme sentence in the indicated development sentences. Today's example illustrates this as shown below.

    Biblical verse Gn31-50b, discussing Laban's warning to Jacob not to afflict his daughters, states
    • General Theme: If thou shalt afflict my daughters, and
    • Developmental-Detail: if thou shalt take wives beside my daughters,
    no man being with us; see, G-d is witness betwixt me and thee.'     Rashi comments on the Theme-development form: If thou shalt afflict my daughters by taking wives beside my daughters and thereby diminish their marital frequency. Here Rashi exhausts the meaning of afflict with taking other wives which as a consequence implies diminished frequency. 


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