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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 Ex01-20b Ex01-20a
    URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/ex01-20b.htm
    Brief Summary: God dealt well with the midwives BY making them socially distinguished.

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. The style rule requires that we interpret the general theme with special focus on the attributes of the illustrative detail selected. Today's example illustrates this as shown below.

    Biblical verses Ex01-20:21 forms a Biblical paragraph with a theme-detail structure:
  • Therefore God dealt well with the midwives; [who, by not following Pharoh's order to kill babies, enabled] the people to multiply, and became very mighty.
  • And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God,[as shown by their enabling the Jews to multiply] that he made them socially distinguished.

Rashi paraphrased comments: The two sentences form one paragraph. That is the statement in the first theme sentence God dealt well with the midwives refers to the details mentioned in the second detail sentence God made them socially distinguished.

    Rashi's comment is that the two verses should be read together. Here are the literal verse and Rashi comments:
  • Verse God dealth well with the midwives
  • Rashi: And how did he deal well with them?
  • Verse: God made them houses
  • Rashi: That is, God made them socially distinguished. 


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