#######################################################
#       12 YEAR Ayelet DAILY-RASHI-YOMI CYCLE         #
#                    Apr 28, 2009                     #
#                    YEAR 10 of 12                     #
#                                                     #
#           VISIT THE RASHI YOMI ARCHIVES             #
#           -----------------------------             #
#         HOME   http://www.RashiYomi.Com             #
# WEEKLY RASHI   http://www.RashiYomi.Com/rule.htm    #
#  DAILY RASHI   http://www.RashiYomi.Com/calendar.htm#
#                                                     #
#  Reprinted with permission from WEEKLY RASHI,       #
#  (c) 1999-2009, RashiYomi Inc., Dr Hendel President #
#   Permission to reprint with this header PROVIDED   #
#          it is not printed for profit               #
#                                                     #
#######################################################
#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc. 2009, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#
    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 Ex06-26a Ex06-27a Ex06-27b Ex06-14a
    URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w35n3.htm
    Brief Summary: GENERAL: God asked Moses/Aaron to free Jews DETAIL: Even though Moses/Aaron came from cursed tribes GENERAL: God asked them; they were righteous/blessed

Certain Biblical paragraphs are stated in a Theme-Development-Theme form. In other words a broad general idea is stated first followed by the development of this broad general theme in specific details. The paragraph-like unit is then closed with a repetition of the broad theme. The Theme-Detail-Theme form creates a unified paragraph. The detailed section of this paragraph is therefore seen as an extension of the general theme sentences. Today's example illustrates this as shown immediately below.

    Verse Ex06-10:28 discussing the selection of Moses and Aaron to free the Jewish people from Egypt states
  • General: God spoke to Moses and Aaron...commanded them to take the Jews out of Egypt
  • Detail: These are the (sub)tribes: Reuven is the eldest... ..Levi had ...Kehath....Kehath has ...Amram...Amram married... who gave birth to Moses and Aaron.....
  • General:They are the same Moses and Aaron that God commanded to take take the Jews out of Egypt...they were the people speaking to Pharoh...they were them, Moses and Aaron

Rashi sees the detail clause the genealogies of Moses and Aaron as describing attributes of the general clause, Moses and Aaron were picked to free the Jews. Rashi states: The 3 tribes listed in the genealogies - Reuben, Shimon, and Levi - were the three tribes cursed by Jacob. In fact Shimon and Levi took the law into their own hands (e.g. the destruction of a city where their sister was raped) and were the instigators in selling Joseph to Egypt. They sold Joseph because they did not believe his dreams had prophetic content. Therefore the Bible emphasizes The Moses and Aaron that God asked to save the Jews were descendants of Levy who denied prophecy and caused the whole Egyptian exile!

    Advanced Rashi: Three additional points can be made
  • The above passage is one of the clearest examples of the Rabbi Ishmael Theme-Development-Theme method. Note the underlines in the above cited passage: They are the same Moses and Aaron .... In other words the Bible goes out of its way to emphasize the point of the Theme-development-Theme.
  • I would strengthen Rashi's point by emphasizing that Moses and Aaron were taking the Jews out of Egypt. But the essence of Egypt was an emphasis on class structure. Many of the Biblical prohibitions of slavery refer back to Egypt. The Bible in effect says You were slaves in the Class society of Egypt...so you know what it feels like... don't treat others like class people --- judge people by their merits. It is therefore important when God redeemed the Jews for him to use someone with poor lineage --- Moses/Aaron were chosen despite their descent from someone, Levi, who denied prophecy and helped cause the whole Egyptian exile. By selecting Moses and emhasizing These are the same Moses and Aaron the Bible emphasizes that God wants people judged by merit not by who they descended from. At the critical moment of redemption God did not redeem the Jewish people by the descendants of Joseph who believed in prophecy or by the Judaeans to whom Monarchy was assigned, rather God selected the best person independent of their ancestors. By so doing God was already negating the class philosophy of Egypt.
  • In explaining Rashi I have combined the comments of four Rashis: Ex06-26a Ex06-27a Ex06-27b Ex06-14a. Some of these Rashi just note the emphasis in the text these are the same Moses and Aaron while other Rashi note that the three tribes listed were cursed. By combining the Rashis together the comment becomes holistic. This technique of combining Rashis can be very useful


#*#*#*# (C) RashiYomi Inc., 2009, Dr. Hendel, President #*#*#*#*#