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    7. RASHI METHOD: FORMATTING
    BRIEF EXPLANATION:Inferences from Biblical formatting: --bold,italics, and paragraph structure.
    • Use of repetition to indicate formatting effects: bold,italics,...;
    • use of repeated keywords to indicate a bullet effect;
    • rules governing use and interpretation of climactic sequence;
    • rules governing paragraph development and discourse
    This example applies to Rashis Ex19-12c
    URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rule1401.htm
    Brief Summary: Be careful not to a) go up on the mountain b) or touch c) [EVEN] its boundary

The climax principle asserts that a sequence of similar phrases should be interpreted climactically even if the words and grammatical constructs used do not directly suggest this. That is the fact of the sequence justifies reading into the Biblical text a climactic interpretation even if no other textual source justifies it. For this reason we consider the climax method a distinct and separate method.

    Verse Ex19-12c discussing the prepatory abstentions required for receiving the 10 commandments is written in a climactic manner as shown. For convenience we have inserted the Rashi comments clarifying the nature of the climax in brackets
  • Be careful not to go up the mountain [ ]
  • or to touch [ even ]
  • it's borders. [ ]

    Advanced Rashi: Rashi's point can be understood by contrasting it with an alternative derivation:
    • Don't touch its borders but it is ok to touch the body of the mountain
    • Don't touch its borders and certainly don't touch the body of the mountain
    Rashi's point is that the word borders should be understood climactically rather than restrictively, that is, even its borders vs. only its borders. This is an important exegetical point: Too often we see textual words as indicating restriction. It is important to be aware that some words must be interpreted expansively or climactically. 


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