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#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2008, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#
      7. RASHI METHOD: FORMATTING
      BRIEF EXPLANATION:Inferences from Biblical formatting: --bold,italics, and paragraph structure.
      • Use of repetition to indicate formatting effects: bold,italics,...;
      • use of repeated keywords to indicate a bullet effect;
      • rules governing use and interpretation of climactic sequence;
      • rules governing paragraph development and discourse
      This example applies to Rashis Ex31-13c Ex31-13d
      URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w33n9.htm
      Brief Summary: Sabbath: a) sign to Jews of God's creation; b) sign to Non-Jews of God's special love to Jews.

We have explained in our article Biblical Formatting located on the world wide web at http://www.Rashiyomi.com/biblicalformatting.pdf, that the Biblical Author indicated bullets by using repeating keywords.

That is, if a modern author wanted to get a point across using bullets - a list of similar but contrastive items - then the Biblical Author would use repeating keywords. Today's verse illustrates this principle.

    Verse Ex31-13c,d,14,17 discussing the requirement to observe the Sabbath states Speak you also to the people of Israel, saying,
    • Watch my sabbaths ;
      1. for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations;
      2. in order to know that I am the Lord that does sanctify you.
    • The Jews watched the sabbath; ...
      1. It is a sign between me and the Jews forever;
      2. for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

    Notice the underlined repeating keywords watched, sign. The structure of repeating keywords creates a bulleted structure. The bulleted structure in turn indicates unspecified emphasis. Hence the Rashi comment on the two sets of nested bullets:
  • By comparing the two bullets #2, we infer that there are two purposes for Sabbath observance: a) acknowledging God's creation of the world and b) acknowledging the special relationship God has with the Jews (that He gave them a Sabbath).
  • By comparing the two bullets #1, we infer that the symbolism of the Sabbath is addressed to two different groups: a) It is addressed to the Jews who must acknowledge God's sovereignty over the world and b) it is addressed to the non-Jews who should know God's love for the Jews (that he gave them a special day of rest).

Non-Jews are not explicitly mentioned above. Rather Rashi inferred contrastively that since one bullet #1 mentions the Jews the other set of bullets must be addressed to non-Jews. This in fact is exactly how bullets function - they create a contrastive emphasis which can lead to detailed meaning.


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