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#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2007, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#
      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 Nu18-19a
      URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/nu18-19a.htm
      Brief Summary: Priests get GIFTS - each verse interpreted GENEROUSLY

    Biblical paragraph Nu18-08:19 is written in a theme-detail-theme style as shown:
  • Theme - Gifts: And HaShem spoke unto Aaron: 'And I, behold, I have given thee the charge of My heave-offerings;...
    • Details: And this is thine: the heave-offering of their gift, ...
    • Details: even all the wave-offerings of the children of Israel; ...
    • Details: All the best of the oil, ...wine,... ....corn, ....
    • Details: The first-ripe fruits of all ...
    • Details: Every thing consecrated in Israel shall be thine.
    • Details: Every thing that openeth the womb, of all flesh ....
    • Details: But the firstling of an ox, or ... And the flesh of them shall be thine, as the wave-breast and as the right thigh, it shall be thine.
  • Theme - Gifts: All the heave-offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto HaShem, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, as a due for ever; ....

To illustrate the use of the Theme-Detail-Theme style let us focus on the last item in the detail list: the firstling. The verse says that the firstlings are given to the priest like the breast and thigh gift.

But there are two sacrifices where priests get the thigh and breast: The Thanksgiving and Peace offering. One of these must be consumed within 24 hours while the other must be consumed within 36 (cf Lv07-11, Lv07-16). (Meat not consumed within that time is forbidden to eat - this is the so-call leftover prohibition.) To which of these two other sacrifices do we compare the eating of the firstborn -is the firstborn which is given like the breast and thigh gift, eatable for 24 or 36 hours?

Rashi following the Sifray answers this using the theme-detail-theme method: The Torah thematically calls these items gifts. Hence the intention is to be liberal and give. Consequently we interpret all details liberally. Thus the firstling is eatable for 36 hours.


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