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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 Gn07-22b
    URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w33n5.htm
    Brief Summary: Only the life ON THE LAND was destroyed - fish were not destroyed.

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. Today's example illustrates this as shown below.

    Verses Gn07-22b discussing the life destroyed by the flood states
  • General Theme: all in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life,
  • Details: whatsoever was in the dry land, died.

Rashi comments on the Theme-Detail form which creates the illusion of an entire paragraph. Of all living things only those on land died. The fish (Water based) did not die.

Sermonic Points: The fact that the animals and people died but the fish did not die reinforces the underlying reason that the flood was decreed because of sexual misbehavior. Since most fish reproduce by ovoparity - the mother lays undeveloped eggs which are usually fertilised outside the mother's body - it follows that the usual concepts of sexual misbehavior do not apply to fish. 


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