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#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2009, 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 Nu11-04c
      URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rule1220.htm
      Brief Summary: GENERAL: They made up desires DETAIL: We want more meat and fish.

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 and consequently the law or narrative statement only applies to the enumerated details but not to other cases. Today's example illustrates this as shown below.

    Verses Nu11-04:05 discussing the complaints of the Jews in the wilderness states
    • General: And the mixed multitude that was among them had instigated a strong craving,....
    • Detail: and said, Who shall give us meat to eat?...We remember the fish, which we ate in Egypt...
    The general clause states that they instigated a strong craving and could mean they overate. The detail clause provides specificity to the general clause and describes how it should be interpreted: They asked for meat even though they had plenty of meat.

Advanced Rashi: Rashi actually states They simply fabricated claims; for example even though they left Egypt with alot of cattle (Ex12-38) and even though when they entered Israel they had alot of cattle (Nu32-01) they fabricated and said who will give us meat.

Rashi appears to be using the contradiction method since the verses stating that the Jews had cattle contradicts their statement who will give us meat? However the preceding verse also says They fabricated desires. The verb for desire is in the Hitpael mode. There is a 4 way controversy on what the hitpael mode is used for. In this email list we have adopted the position that hitpael means interactive. The statement they interactively desired could be interpreted to mean they fabricated desire, that is they interacted with whomever they were talking; even if they had what to eat they claimed they had desires.

On a psychological level we need not interpret this maliciously. We can interpret this in terms of standard paranoia of slaves. The slave may have everything (s)he needs but because of lack of ownership the slave paranoically worries that they may be lacking. Such a paranoic worry leads to fabricating desires that are not there: I need more meat because tomorrow I may not have.

The exploration of the paranoic feelings of the Jews who left Egypt is a well known psychological theme and is used to explain certain tragedies and sins that happened in the desert.


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