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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 Ex11-05c
    URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/ex11-05c.htm
    Brief Summary: All firstborn will die: Firstborn of a) Royalty b) People c) Animals.

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. Today's example illustrates this as shown below.

    Verse Ex11-05c discussing the plague of the firstborn states
    General:
    • and all the first-born in the land of Egypt shall die,
    Detail:
    • from the first-born of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne,
    • even unto the first-born of the maid-servant that is behind the mill;
    • and all the first-born of cattle.

    The Rabbi Ishmael rules require exhausting the meaning of the general clause in the enumerated details. Rashi explains why the three detail categories are explicitly enumerated.
  • The firstborn of royalty was punished since the Royal house enslaved the Jews.
  • The firstborn of the people in the street were punished since they abused their slaves and mistreated them
  • The firstborn of the animals were punished because the Egyptians worshipped animals and God always punishes the gods of a nation before punishing the nation itself. 


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