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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 Gn28-13a
    URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rule1316.htm
    Brief Summary: GENERAL: I am with you DETAIL: a) Give you land b) Fruitful nation c) Nations blessed through you d) Watch you e) Return you to land GENERAL: I wont desert you until fulfillment

Certain Biblical paragraphs are stated in a Theme-Development-Theme form. In other words a broad general idea is stated first followed by the development of this broad general theme in specific details. The paragraph-like unit is then closed with a repetition of the broad theme. The Theme-Detail-Theme form creates a unified paragraph. The detailed section of this paragraph is therefore seen as an extension of the general theme sentences. Today's example illustrates this as shown immediately below.

    Note the theme-detail-theme structure of the following Biblical paragraph, Gn28-13:16 which states
    • General: And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac;
      • Detail: the land on which you lie, to you will I give it, and to your seed;
      • Detail: And your seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south;
      • Detail: and in you and in your seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
      • Detail: And, behold, I am with you, and will watch you in all places where you go,
      • Detail: and will bring you back to this land;
    • General: for I will not leave you, until I have done that about which I have spoken to you.

Hence the Rashis on the above paragraph: The opening and closing theme are God standing by Jacob and not deserting him. This theme is developed by the five details which in turn are perceived as illustrative not exhaustive. As a consequence of the paragraph structure we connect the theme with its details: I God am standing by you and will not desert you until you return and have Israel, and you fill the land and all nations are blessed in you.

Advanced Rashi: Rashi literally says I God am standing over you to watch you. But I would argue that watching you is only one of the five items promised Jacob. Therefore I enlarged Rashi's comment to include all other four items. God was telling Jacob that he would watch him until all 5 promises were met. 


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