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VERSE: Ex18-19a

RASHIS COVERED: Ex18-19a Ex18-23a

========================== Ex18-19a ============================

SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
One of Rashis 5 main goals is to indicate paragraph
structure. The modern author can indicate paragraph
structure thru either
- indentation or
- white space: blank lines surrounding the paragraph.

One method by which the Bible indicates paragraph
structure is to use a THEME-DETAIL-THEME style--that is
- a THEME sentence is stated,
- followed by some DETAILS of that theme and concluding
- with a repetition of the THEME sentence.
Thus the opening and closing THEME sentence form
brackets indicating a paragraph unit.

Recall that in modern writing, the details of
a paragraph develop the theme sentence of the paragraph.
Since the THEME-DETAIL-THEME structure
indicates a biblical paragraph, therefore the
DETAILs are seen as the DEVELOPMENT of the paragraph

We call this Rashi method the THEME-DETAIL-THEME
or GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL submethod of the
RABBI ISHMAEL STYLE method. The name RABBI ISHMAEL
STYLE method reflects the fact that the
THEME-DETAIL-THEME structure is mentioned
among the 13 exegetical rules of Rabbi Ishmael.

EXAMPLE Ex18-19:23
------------------
Ex18-19:23 contains the advice that Jethro
gave Moses. Notice the THEME-DETAIL-THEME structure
--------------------------------------------
I will give you advice
-----------------------
MAY GOD BE WITH YOU
                     a) You obtain laws from God
                     Bring laws to the nation
                     Teach them the laws
                     b) Select WORTHY people from nation
                     Appoint them heads of 10,100,1000
                     c) They will judge SMALL cases
                     And you judge BIG cases
IF YOU DO THIS
AND GOD COMMANDS
-----------------------
Then the workload will be doable and
the people will be in peace
---------------------------------------------

The THEME-DETAIL-THEME structure
motivates the Rashi comment
--------------------------------
Part of Jethro's advice was
that Moses should ask God
to approve his advice. In other
words Jethro's advice was subject
to God's approval
--------------------------------

LIST460w below summarizes this argument.
==============================================================
ITEM                     DETAIL
======================== =====================================
RASHI RULE CLASS:        STYLE
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS      GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #25
SEE BELOW                LIST460w
List of clauses in       Ex18-19:23-Ask God to approve advice
==============================================================

======================= LIST460w =======================
List of clauses in  Ex18-19:23-Ask God to approve advice
========================================================
THEME*1              DETAILS
==================== ===================================
I-ll give you advice '
-------------------  '
MAY GOD BE WITH YOU  '
'                    a) You obtain laws from God
'                    Bring laws to the nation
'                    Teach them the laws
'                    '
'                    b) Select WORTHY people from nation
'                    Appoint them heads of 10,100,1000
'                    '
'                    c) They will judge SMALL cases
'                    And you judge BIG cases
IF YOU DO THIS
AND GOD COMMANDS
-----------------
Then the workload
will be doable and
the people will
come in peace
to their place

NOTES
-----
*1 The OPENING and CLOSING THEME sections speak about
   GOD BEING WITH YOU. Rashi interprets this as follows:
   --------------------------------------
   Part of my advice is you should seek
   approval from God about my advice
   --------------------------------------
========================================================
---------------------------------------------------
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Volume 28 Number 24


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