The 10 RashiYomi Rules 
Their presence in Rashis on Parshat VaYiShLaCh 
 Vol  2#7 - Adapted from Rashi-is-Simple  
Visit The RashiYomi Website : http://www.RashiYomi.Com/
 (c) RashiYomi Incorporated, Dr Hendel President, Dec-15-2005 
English and Hebrew translations of the Bible come mostly from the www.MECHON-MAMRE.org  translation with changes made by me 

The goal of this Weekly Rashi Digest is to use the weekly Torah portion to expose students at all levels to the ten major methods of commentary used by Rashi. It is hoped that continual weekly exposure to these ten major methods will enable students at all levels to acquire a familiarity and facility with the major exegetical methods.
  
IN THIS WEEKS RASHIS: RIDDLE:How can you be the daughter of both your father and grandfather?

1. RASHI METHOD : OTHER VERSES   
This example applies to Rashis Gn35-05a 
URL Reference : (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gn35-05a.htm 

The other verse  method seeks to confirm the contents of a target verse by cross referencing other verses which either confirm the target text or add details to it. Additionally the other verse  method can shed light on word meaning. 

Verse Gn35-05 states   And they journeyed; and a terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.   וַיִּסָּעוּ; וַיְהִי חִתַּת אֱלֹהִים, עַל-הֶעָרִים אֲשֶׁר סְבִיבוֹתֵיהֶם, וְלֹא רָדְפוּ, אַחֲרֵי בְּנֵי יַעֲקֹב.  Rashi could have explained the meaning of Hebrew root חתת Chet-Tauv-Tauv by citing an almost identical verse which however uses the Hebrew word פחד which means fear or terror. Verse 2C17-10 states   And a terror  from the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.   וַיְהִי פַּחַד יְהוָה, עַל כָּל-מַמְלְכוֹת הָאֲרָצוֹת, אֲשֶׁר, סְבִיבוֹת יְהוּדָה; וְלֹא נִלְחֲמוּ, עִם-יְהוֹשָׁפָט.  

Note: Rashi only explains the meaning of the word Chet Tauv Tauv חתת without citing a supportive verse. However we think it reasonable to attribute this explanation to a straightforward inference from an almost identical verse. Such re-interpretations of Rashi are normal; when done properly they enrich our understanding of Rashi! 

2. RASHI METHOD : WORD MEANINGS / new meanings 
This example applies to Rashis Gn33-14d 
URL reference :(c) http://www.RashiYomi.com/gn33-29c.htm  

The word meaning  method seeks to present dictionary meaning. Rashi uses 10 vehicles to infer word meaning. A major word meaning submethod is the metonomy  method. Metonomy refers to naming an item by something related to it. For example America defeated Iraq really means the American people defeated Iraq. 

Verse Gn33-14 states   Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant; and I will journey on gently, according to the pace of the work that is before me and according to the pace of the children, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.'   יַעֲבָר-נָא אֲדֹנִי, לִפְנֵי עַבְדּוֹ; וַאֲנִי אֶתְנָהֲלָה לְאִטִּי, לְרֶגֶל הַמְּלָאכָה אֲשֶׁר-לְפָנַי וּלְרֶגֶל הַיְלָדִים, עַד אֲשֶׁר-אָבֹא אֶל-אֲדֹנִי, שֵׂעִירָה.  The verse speaks about the work of Jacob. Here, work refers to the flocks and cattle that Jacob works on.  Colloquially this corresponds to the English idiom his business, the flocks. The naming of flocks and cattle as work is an example of metonomy. 

We will return to this verse in rule 7 below, formatting. 

3. RASHI METHOD : GRAMMAR / conjugation 
This example applies to Rashis  Gn32-32a 
URL reference :(c) http://www.RashiYomi.com/ gn32-32a.htm  

The grammar  method seeks to apply and teach Hebrew grammar.  One component of grammar deals with verb conjugation. Hebrew allows insertion of the phrase for you to indicate that an activity (verb) has a personal aspect. 

The following list shows verses where Rashi applies this principle. z
•	Verse Nu13-02 states   'Send for yourself men, that they may spy out the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel; of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a prince among them.'   שְׁלַח-לְךָ אֲנָשִׁים, וְיָתֻרוּ אֶת-אֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן, אֲשֶׁר-אֲנִי נֹתֵן, לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל:  אִישׁ אֶחָד אִישׁ אֶחָד לְמַטֵּה אֲבֹתָיו, תִּשְׁלָחוּ--כֹּל, נָשִׂיא בָהֶם.  Rashi: Send if  you want to(That is, the command was not absolute but depended on whether Moses was interested in the intelligence from the spies).
•	Verse Nu27-18 states   And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Take for yourself Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is spirit, and lay thy hand upon him;   וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה, קַח-לְךָ אֶת-יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן-נוּן--אִישׁ, אֲשֶׁר-רוּחַ בּוֹ; וְסָמַכְתָּ אֶת-יָדְךָ, עָלָיו. Rashi: Moses personally liked Joshua who was his steward.
•	Verse Ex25-08 states   And let them make for Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.   וְעָשׂוּ לִי, מִקְדָּשׁ; וְשָׁכַנְתִּי, בְּתוֹכָם.  Rashi: Specifically dedicate it to God  
•	Verse Ex25-02 states   'Speak unto the children of Israel, that they take for Me an offering; of every man whose heart maketh him willing ye shall take My offering.   דַּבֵּר אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְיִקְחוּ-לִי תְּרוּמָה:  מֵאֵת כָּל-אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יִדְּבֶנּוּ לִבּוֹ, תִּקְחוּ אֶת-תְּרוּמָתִי.  Rashi: Specifically dedicate it to God  
•	Verse Ex18-27 states   And Moses let his father-in-law depart; and he went for himself into his own land.    וַיְשַׁלַּח מֹשֶׁה, אֶת-חֹתְנוֹ; וַיֵּלֶךְ לוֹ, אֶל-אַרְצוֹ.   Rashi: He went for personal reasons (He founded a society devoted to serving God) 
•	Verse Nu10-01:02 states   And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 'Make thee two trumpets of silver; of beaten work shalt thou make them; and they shall be unto thee for the calling of the congregation, and for causing the camps to set forward.   וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה, אֶל-מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר.  עֲשֵׂה לְךָ, שְׁתֵּי חֲצוֹצְרֹת כֶּסֶף--מִקְשָׁה, תַּעֲשֶׂה אֹתָם; וְהָיוּ לְךָ לְמִקְרָא הָעֵדָה, וּלְמַסַּע אֶת-הַמַּחֲנוֹת.  Rashi: It was a cloudy period; but the sun shone early that day. Jacob had been limping and the added warmth of the sun was beneficial to him since warmth facilitates recovery. 

As the underlined phrase in Rashi's comments indicates the Biblical phrase for him is interpreted to connote a personal aspect. 

4. RASHI METHOD : ALIGNMENT
This example applies to Rashis  Gn32-29b 
URL reference :(c) http://www.RashiYomi.com/gn32-29b.htm 

The alignment  method seeks to extract nuances from the minor differences in the alignment  of two almost identical verses. The contrast of the two almost identical verses points either to a) two cases , b) several nuances , or c) an equality of the verses which leads to an understanding in meaning . 

The following verses all refer to the name of people. Notice how most of them refer to the name by which you are called while Gn32-29 refers to the name which people say about you
•	Verse Gn17-05 states   Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for the father of a multitude of nations have I made thee.   וְלֹא-יִקָּרֵא עוֹד אֶת-שִׁמְךָ, אַבְרָם; וְהָיָה שִׁמְךָ אַבְרָהָם, כִּי אַב-הֲמוֹן גּוֹיִם נְתַתִּיךָ.    
•	 Verse Gn35-10 states   And God said unto him: 'Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name'; and He called his name Israel.   וַיֹּאמֶר-לוֹ אֱלֹהִים, שִׁמְךָ יַעֲקֹב:  לֹא-יִקָּרֵא שִׁמְךָ עוֹד יַעֲקֹב, כִּי אִם-יִשְׂרָאֵל יִהְיֶה שְׁמֶךָ, וַיִּקְרָא אֶת-שְׁמוֹ, יִשְׂרָאֵל.  
•	Verse Is04-01 states   And seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying: 'We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel; only let us be called by thy name; take thou away our reproach.'    וְהֶחֱזִיקוּ שֶׁבַע נָשִׁים בְּאִישׁ אֶחָד, בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא לֵאמֹר, לַחְמֵנוּ נֹאכֵל, וְשִׂמְלָתֵנוּ נִלְבָּשׁ:  רַק, יִקָּרֵא שִׁמְךָ עָלֵינוּ--אֱסֹף, חֶרְפָּתֵנוּ.   
•	Verse Gn04-25 states   And Adam knew his wife again; and she bore a son, and called his name Seth: 'for God hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel; for Cain slew him.'   וַיֵּדַע אָדָם עוֹד, אֶת-אִשְׁתּוֹ, וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן, וַתִּקְרָא אֶת-שְׁמוֹ שֵׁת:  כִּי שָׁת-לִי אֱלֹהִים, זֶרַע אַחֵר--תַּחַת הֶבֶל, כִּי הֲרָגוֹ קָיִן.  
•	Verse Gn32-29 states   And he said: 'They shall not anymore say thy name is Jacob, but Israel; for thou hast striven with God and with men, and hast prevailed.'   וַיֹּאמֶר, לֹא יַעֲקֹב יֵאָמֵר עוֹד שִׁמְךָ--כִּי, אִם-יִשְׂרָאֵל:  כִּי-שָׂרִיתָ עִם-אֱלֹהִים וְעִם-אֲנָשִׁים, וַתּוּכָל.  

Notice the blatant difference -- say a name vs. call a name. The list shows that call  a name is the normal way of giving a name. The phrase say a name is anamolous. This anamoly emphasized by the alignment drives Rashi to emphasize the nuances of say vs call. Rashi emphasizes that call can just refer to the name itself while say refers to the underlying thoughts and reasons behind the words. Hence Rashi states People will no longer nickname you the Grabber from the Hebrew root עקב = יעקב Ayin Kuph Beth, which can mean to grab and refer to Jacob; rather people will call you the Fighter from the Hebrew root שרר = ישראל Sin Resh Resh, which can mean to fight and refer to Israel, because you have fought with leaders and men and succeeded.

It is important to emphasize here that this Rashi is not an example of word meaning; the phrase say a name by itself would not justify looking into the reasons for the naming; it is rather the alignment which emphasizes the contrastive nuances of say vs. call and requires us to look at reasons. 

5. RASHI METHOD : CONTRADICTION 
This example applies to Rashis  Gn36-02c 
URL reference :(c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gn36-02c.htm

 The contradiction  method seeks to derive Biblical content by assuming a resolution to contradictory  verses. Rashi had 3 main methods to resolve contradiction : The two contradictory verses could be speaking about a) two stages  of one process, b) two aspects  or attributes of one entity, or c) the contradictory verses could be resolved assuming a broad or literal interpretation  of the words causing the contradiction. 

Verse Gn36-24:25 states   And these are the children of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah--this is Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness, as he fed the asses of Zibeon his father. And these are the children of Anah: Dishon and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah.   וְאֵלֶּה בְנֵי-צִבְעוֹן, וְאַיָּה וַעֲנָה; הוּא עֲנָה, אֲשֶׁר מָצָא אֶת-הַיֵּמִם בַּמִּדְבָּר, בִּרְעֹתוֹ אֶת-הַחֲמֹרִים, לְצִבְעוֹן אָבִיו.  וְאֵלֶּה בְנֵי-עֲנָה, דִּשֹׁן; וְאָהֳלִיבָמָה, בַּת-עֲנָה.  This verse clearly indicates that 
•	Tzivon was the grandfather 
•	Anah was his son 
•	Ahalivamah was his granddaughter thru Anah his son 

This is contradicted by the following verse Gn36-02 which states   Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite,   עֵשָׂו לָקַח אֶת-נָשָׁיו, מִבְּנוֹת כְּנָעַן:  אֶת-עָדָה, בַּת-אֵילוֹן הַחִתִּי, וְאֶת-אָהֳלִיבָמָה בַּת-עֲנָה, בַּת-צִבְעוֹן הַחִוִּי.  The verse states that 
•	Ahalivamah was the daughter of Anah, and also 
•	the daughter of Tzivon, Anah's father, or Ahalivamah's grandfather. 

We see the contradiction: How can Ahalivamah be the daughter of both Anah her father and Tzivon her grandfather? 

Rashi resolves the contradiction using the principle of stages. 
•	1st) Anah got married
•	2nd) Anah's father, Tzivon, had an affair with his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Anah. 
•	3rd) So when Ahalivamah was born they didn't know who the real father was: Anah or Ahalivamah. 
•	4th) Hence the Biblical verse Ahalivamah the daugther of Anah and the daughter of Tzivon. 

7. RASHI METHOD : Formatting
This example applies to Rashis  Gn33-14d Gn33-14e 
URL reference :(c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gn32-29c.htm
  
Modern formatting  has a variety of vehicles which the writer uses to either create emphasis  or point to an underlying unity . Three common examples of modern formatting are (a) bold-italic-underline , (b) paragraph indentation including use of line spaces, (c) use of bulleted lists . 

Authors use these formatting  devices as follows: (a) All authors know that bold-italic-underline indicates emphasis . The Bible did not use bold-italic-underline but instead uses repetition  to indicate emphasis . (b) Modern authors use indentation  and line spaces between paragraphs to point to an underlying unity  in a paragraph. The Bible indicates paragraph unity  by using the theme-detail-theme , detail-theme , or theme-detail  styles. (c) Modern authors use bulleted lists  to indicate contrastive emphasis --the bullets  together are seen as spanning a domain of ideas while each individual bullet  is seen as indicating a separate and distinct idea. The bible indicates bulleted lists  by either using repeated keywords or parallel structure . 

The reader will recognize the theme-detail-theme , detail-theme  and theme-detail  methods as three of the 13 exegetical methods of Rabbi Ishmael. What we have added is the explanation that the Rabbi Ishmael rules focus on biblical examples : Are these biblical examples understood as exhaustive of the whole law or are they understood as examples to be generalized? Similarly the reader will recognize that we have called the bullet  method is the Rabbi Ishmael rule of context . What we have added to the Rabbi Ishmael exposition is the idea that parallel structure  and repeated keywords are two methods of making inferences from context 

Verse Gn33-13:14 states   And he said unto him: 'My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and that the flocks and herds giving suck are a care to me; and if they overdrive them one day, all the flocks will die. Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant; and I will journey on gently, 
•	according to the pace of the cattle that are before me and 
•	according to the pace of the children, 
until I come unto my lord unto Seir.'   וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו, אֲדֹנִי יֹדֵעַ כִּי-הַיְלָדִים רַכִּים, וְהַצֹּאן וְהַבָּקָר, עָלוֹת עָלָי; וּדְפָקוּם יוֹם אֶחָד, וָמֵתוּ כָּל-הַצֹּאן.  יַעֲבָר-נָא אֲדֹנִי, לִפְנֵי עַבְדּוֹ; וַאֲנִי אֶתְנָהֲלָה לְאִטִּי,
•	 לְרֶגֶל הַמְּלָאכָה אֲשֶׁר-לְפָנַי
•	 וּלְרֶגֶל הַיְלָדִים,
 עַד אֲשֶׁר-אָבֹא אֶל-אֲדֹנִי, שֵׂעִירָה.  The repeating keyword pace functions as a bullet. The verse emphasizes two concerns of Jacob corresponding to the two bullets: 
•	Jacob had to travel gently because of concern on the pace of his flock 
•	Jacob had to travel gently because of concern on the pace of his children. 

Note: In rule 2 above, meaning we have explained that the Biblical word work could refer to Jacob's business, his flock.   

9. RASHI METHOD : SPREADSHEETS
This example applies to Rashis  Gn35-11b Gn35-11c Gn35-11d Gn35-11e 
URL reference :(c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gn35-11b.htm 

We say that Rashi uses the spreadsheet  method on any clarification of a verse that is in addition to its meaning.  

Rashi will very often take a verse whose meaning is already understood and add a consequence to the verse. This consequence does not illumine a comparison with any other verse but simply illustrates further something understood. We call this the spreadsheet method since spreadsheets are very often used to derive consequences of otherwise understood data.  The spreadsheet method is also used when either a) Rashi gives an algebraic or computational explanation of a difficult verse or b) Rashi presents geometric diagrams to clarify the meaning of the verse. Any of these three methods: a) actual spreadsheets b) geometric diagrams or c) additional consequences of a verse are called the spreadsheet method. 

Verse Gn35-11 states   And God said unto him: 'I am God Almighty. 
•	Be fruitful and multiply; 
•	a nation and 
•	a company of nations shall be of thee, and 
•	kings shall come out of thy loins;

•	וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ אֱלֹהִים אֲנִי אֵל שַׁדַּי, פְּרֵה וּרְבֵה-
•	-גּוֹי
•	 וּקְהַל גּוֹיִם,
 יִהְיֶה מִמֶּךָּ;
•	 וּמְלָכִים, מֵחֲלָצֶיךָ יֵצֵאוּ.  
Note: The meaning of this verse is completely understood. God is blessing Jacob that he will become a fruitful nation with distinguished leaders. 

However Rashi adds to this clear meaning by applying it not only to the Jewish people but also to the person Jacob himself. 

We now review each of the 4 bulleted verse phrases shown above. We show how these phrases could apply to the Jewish people as a whole or equally apply to the person Jacob. 

Phrase 1: 
•	Text of verse: be fruitful 
•	Applicability to Jewish nation:  For example, the Jewish population increased to 600,000 in Egypt.
•	Applicability to the person Jacob himself: For example, Jacob gave birth to Benjamin after this prophecy 

Phrase 2: 
•	Text of verse: a nation will come from you 
•	Applicability to Jewish nation:  For example the Jewish nation that entered Israel under Joshua. 
•	Applicability to the person Jacob himself: For example, the tribe of Benjamin who was born after this prophecy. Here Rashi slightly stretches the meaning of nation to refer to tribe. 

Phrase 3: 
•	Text of verse: A company of nations will come from you 
•	Applicability to Jewish nation:  For example, the two Jewish kingdoms of Judah and Samaria. The point here is that even when the Jews fought both sides emerged as mighty kingdoms. 
•	Applicability to the person Jacob himself: For example, the two tribes of Menasheh and Ephraim. The designation of Menasheh and Ephraim as tribes happens after this prophecy. 

Phrase 4: 
•	Text of verse: kings shall come from your loins 
•	Applicability to Jewish nation:  For example, the Judaean Kings (David, Solomon) and Joseph in Egypt. 
•	Applicability to the person Jacob himself: For example, the Benjamite kings such as Saul. Benjamin was born after this prophecy. 

It is important to emphasize that all Rashi is doing is showing the applicability of the general verse to Jacob himself. Rashi does not dispute the verse's straightforward meaning: Jacob-Israel will be a prolific nation with many distinguished leaders and many distinguished kingdoms.  Rashi ingeniously shows that besides the verse applying to the nation Israel it also applies to the person Jacob who would have more children and more tribes and more kings. In delivering this interpretation Rashi slightly stretches the meaning of nation to refer to tribes. This can be justified but the driving force of Rashi is not the meaning of words but rather the spreadsheet method which seeks to give further examples to already understood texts. 

Conclusion

This week's parshah contains no examples of the Style, Database, Symbolism method. This concludes this weeks edition. Visit the RashiYomi website at http://www.Rashiyomi.com/ for further details and examples.