SUCCINCT SUMMARY
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One of Rashis major goals was the explanation of STYLE. Rules
of STYLE govern whether a verse is interpreted literally or
broadly. Many of the 13 exegetical rules Rabbi Ishmael are
rules of STYLE. We call this the Rashi rule of RABBI ISHMAEL
STYLE.
One of the Rabbi Ishmael Style rules is the rule governing
a GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL form (or a THEME-DETAIL-THEME form)
A simple way to explain this form is that the GENERAL form
gives the PARAGRAPH THEMES. The DETAILS then give the
DEVELOPMENT of the paragraph. The Rabbi Ishmael Style rules
require that the Details be perceived as indicative of the
general theme--as examples of the general theme. To use the
Rabbi Ishmael lingo the details are interpreted BROADLY so
that they fit into the paragraph whole. We call this the
GENERAL-DETAIL-GENERAL Rashi SUBRULE.
EXAMPLE Gn39-03a
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Gn39-02:03 states
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Gn39-02 GENERAL God was with Joseph--gave him SUCCESS
Gn39-03 DETAILS --- Master saw God was with Joseph
Gn39-03 GENERAL God made SUCCESSful his endeavors
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RASHI:
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GOD WAS WITH JOSEPH means that GODS NAME
WAS WITH JOSEPH. He spoke about God often
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We can defend Rashi in two ways:
On a technical level we can point out that when he was
seduced he said, 'I can't sin to God'--it is rare for
people to mention God at a time like that. So this
shows that Joseph mentioned Gods name alot.
On a more intuitive level we point out that Rashi
was using the GENERAL DETAIL GENERAL Rule. The GENERAL
THEME is that Joseph was SUCCESSFUL FROM GOD.
The DETAIL is that GOD WAS WITH JOSEPH.
Rashi, following the Rabbi Ishmael Style Guidelines
interprets this detail broadly; the detail has to
reflect the general principle that Joseph was a successful
man of God...So Rashi says 'Joseph spoke about God' since
successful people who owe their success to God speak
about God frequently.
LIST411e below summarizes this Rashi by depicting
the GENERAL DETAIL GENERAL form.
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