SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
One of Rashis 10 main goals is the explanation of
meaning the same way a dictionary explains meaning.
We call this the Rashi method of WORD MEANING.
Today we examine two meaning submethods of Rashi.

EXAMPLE: IDIOMS
---------------
Rashi frequently explains not, word meaning, but rather
phrase meaning. That is each particular word in the phrase
may have a known meaning but the collection of words
together form a NEW IDIOMATIC MEANING.
We call this the NEW MEANING or the IDIOM
SUBMETHOD.

EXAMPLE: PLACE FACE
-------------------
Lv17-10 states
---------------------------------------
I, God, will PLACE MY FACE against the
person eating blood and cut him off from
my people
---------------------------------------

Rashi comments
------------------------------------
The phrase PLACE MY FACE is an idiom
meaning DEVOTE ALL MY ATTENTION/FOCUS
------------------------------------

LIST854y below gives further examples of Biblical idioms.

List of Biblical idioms..eg FROM DAYS DAYS=YEARLY
LIST854y continues  LIST854d LIST854y

SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
Rashi sometimes makes inferences from WORD MEANINGS and GRAMMAR
However Rashi can equally make inferences from OVERALL
PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE. Rashi frequently uses REPEATING KEYWORDS
to emphasize a BULLET-LIKE affect which hilights structure.

EXAMPLE Lv16-32b
----------------
The Biblical text is discussing atonement by the High
Priest on the Day of Atonement
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Atonement will be by the priest
-                                THAT     is annointed
-                                THAT     replaced previous priest
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Rashi (paraphrased) comments
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The repeated KEYWORD THAT functions as a bullet:

- EITHER a new High priest that is ANNOINTED
- OR a replacement High Priest that wears High Priest garments

but is not annointed (Rashi explains there was a historical
period when the annointing oil was not present)
-----------------------------------------------------------------

List of clauses in       Lv16-32b--High priest from a)annoint b)cloth

SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
All languages have a variety of methods to indicate EMPHASIS
and SIMILARLITY. Modern typesetting methods use BOLD and ITALICS
to indicate EMPHASIS. Modern typesetting methods use BULLETS to
indicate SIMILARITY.

The Bible did not have BOLD and ITALICS. Rather the Bible used
REPETITION to indicate emphasis. This emphasis could in turn
either indicate BROADENING or RESTRICTION of meaning.

EXAMPLE Lv17-13a
----------------
The Biblical text at Lv17-13a states
---------------------------------------------
If a person HUNTS A HUNT, wild beast or fowl
that is eaten, then spill its blood and cover
it with earth
---------------------------------------------

Rashi comments
-------------------------------------------------
Notice the repeated phrase:
- HUNTS A HUNT
The repetition creates emphasis.
----------------------------------
- The law of covering blood in earth applies
- - whether to a hunted animal
- - or to a domesticated non-hunted animal
----------------------------------

LIST150a below gives other examples where REPETITION
creates broad emphasis.

List of verses with REPEATED words interpreted broadly

SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
An advanced Rashi method is the use of symbolism to explain
Biblical chapters. The general guidelines for symbolic
interpretation are compactly presented in my essay GENESIS
ONE SPEAKS ABOUT THE CREATION OF PROPHECY NOT THE CREATION
OF THE WORLD which may be found at URL
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gen-1.htm We call this the Rashi
method of SYMBOLISM / symbolism.

As pointed out in the above essay, Rav Hirsch emphasized
that one cannot whimsically apply symbolic methods. Rather
the Biblical text must demand or require the use of symbolism.

EXAMPLE Lv17-11a
----------------
The Biblical text at Lv17-11a states
----------------------------------------------------
- Because the soul of all flesh is in its blood
- and I have given it to you on the altar for atonement
- therefore you should not eat blood
----------------------------------------------------

Rashi paraphrased comments
-----------------------------------------------------
- the FUNCTION of blood is to sustain the SOUL
- therefore BLOOD symbolizes the SOUL
- Here we use the rule that FUNCTION determines
SYMBOLIC content
-----------------------------------------------------

LIST975o below indicates other symbols named by function

EXAMPLE Lv14-04c Lv14-04d
-------------------------
The biblical text at lv14-01:04 states
------------------------------------------------------
this is the atonement procedure for the Lepor when
he purifies himself from the leprosy....and he
takes a CEDAR HYSSOP and WOOL DIED IN WORM
------------------------------------------------------

Rashi explains the symbolic meaning of the items
----------------------------------------------------
-CEDAR, a lofty of trees=haugtiness
-HYSSOP, a lowly plant=humility

- WOOL from LAMB, = high animal rank
- WORM = low animal rank

Hence the symbolism is clear: To atone for his
sins of haughtiness the lepor must seek out
a humble existence [Alternatively I would supplement
Rashi by suggesting that to atone for leprosy and
isolation the lepor must renew his committment
to society as a whole--all aspects of society from
the lowly to the highest]
----------------------------------------------------

LIST975p lists similar biblical symbols of plants/animals

List of                  Items whose symbolic meaning is by function

List of                  Plant/animal symbols in bible

Lighting summary of Rashis with emphasis on Rashi rules*10