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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 Ex18-19a Ex18-23a
    URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/ex18-19a.htm

    Biblical verses Ex18-19:23 form a Biblical paragraph with a theme-detail-theme structure. The paragraph discusses Jethro's advice to Moses
    • General: Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and G-d be with thee:
    • Detail:
      • be thou for the people before G-d, and bring thou the causes unto G-d.
      • And thou shalt teach them the statutes and the laws,
      • and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.
      • Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear G-d, men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And let them judge the people at all seasons;
      • and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge themselves; so shall they make it easier for thee and bear the burden with thee.
    • General: If thou shalt do this thing, and G-d command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people also shall go to their place in peace.'

    The general-theme-general structure seems to say the following
  • General: God be with you and command you
  • Detail: You will be a prophet for them, teach them, appoint judges, etc.
  • General:God be with you and command you.

Hence the Rashi comment: Jethro besides advising Moses to teach the people and appoint judges also advised Moses to seek God's command and approval in folllowing Jethro's advice.

Here Rashi interprets the Detail clause as exemplifying the General-Theme clause. Hence just as the detail clause was advice Jethro gave Moses so too the General clause was advice Jethro gave Moses--that is, to seek God's approval.

Sermonic points: Jethro teaches an important principal of office politics -- suggestions from outside your component no matter how good should receive supervisor approval before implementation. This way colleagues in the component don't complain about outsider advice. In this case Jethro was telling Moses how to run the Jewish court system. Hence Jethro tells Moses that he must obtain approval from God before implementing Jethro's ideas.


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