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 Dt11-12b URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w34n7.htm Brief Summary: a) DETAIL: Reward / punishment governs Israeli rainfall b) GENERAL: Good / bad of Israel subject to God's decree.

Certain Biblical paragraphs are stated in a detail-Theme form. In other words a detailed specific law is stated first followed by a thematic restatement of a broad general nature. Today's example illustrates this as shown below.

Verse Dt11-10:12 discussing the providence of God over the land of Israel states
• Detail:
  • For the land, which you enter to possess, is not as the land of Egypt, from where you came out, where you sowed your seed, and watered it with your foot, as a garden of vegetables;
  • But the land, which you are going over to possess, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinks water from the rain of the skies;
• General: A land which the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.

The underlined phrases tell the story. Israel is not a foot watered land but rather a rain dependent land. In other words God controls the economic prosperity of the land by controlling the rain flow. This is a special case of a more general statement of Divine providence that God oversees Israel continually. The well-being (or non well being) of the land is governed by God's continuous decrees.

Rashi's exact lanaguage is as follows: God's eyes are always on Israel to see what it needs and to decree providence-decrees on Israsel; sometimes for good and sometimes for bad. As can be seen, the detail example - the control of rain - is a paradigmatic example of how God control's the prosperity of Israel

We think this Rashi particularly illustrative of the use of the detail-general style.