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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 Ex35-03a
    URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w33n10.htm
    OBSERVE SABBATH : NO FIRE :: General:Footnote. Even parts of craftsmanship like fire prohibited

The Rabbi Ishmael style rules govern whether Biblical laws are considered as exclusive or paradigmatic examples. For example the example ox in don't mu13le an ox is interpreted paradigmatically. The law applies to any animal. One cannot mu13le any animal while working. By contrast when you offer animal sacrifices from cattle and penned animals is intepreted exclusively. Only cattle and penned animals may be offered as sacrifices but other animals - like lions and tigers - cannot be offered as sacrifices.

The major Rabbi Ishmael style rules are well known: Theme-development, development-theme, theme-development-theme. These rules and their interpretation are well known. Occasionally rare forms of the Rabbi Ishmael rules occur. These rare forms don't have standard interpretations; their interpretation may be subject to controversy. We examine one such form today.

    Verse Ex35-02:3a discussing the obligation to observe the Sabbath states
    • General: Six days shall craftsmanship be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you a holy day, a sabbath of rest to the Lord
    • General: whoever does craftsmanship in it shall be put to death
    • Detail: You shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day
    As can be seen the verses have a General-General-Detail form. There are in fact no rules on this form. Rashi therefore brings two possible interpretations.

    The traditional style rules are interpreted as indicating either exclusive or paradigmatic examples. The rare forms are interpreted as either exceptions or explanatory footnotes on the rules.
  • Exception approach: Don't work on the Sabbath since work carries a death penalty except in the case of lighting a fire which is a non-capital prohibition.
  • Explanatory footnote approach: Don't do crafstmanship on the Sabbath - even lighting a fire as part of an overall craftsmanship is prohibited (You needn't do the whole act to incur a death penalty).

Advanced Rashi: Rashi does not take sides. He simply prevents the controversy. Because this particular style form is rare it is not possible to justify one interpretation over another through a list. Nevertheless Jewish law takes the explanatory footnote approach: It is e.g. prohibited to die cloth on the Sabbath. A person who lit a caldron in which the die is being mixed would be liable to a death penalty even though he hadn't done the whole act of craftsmanship. 


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