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      3. RASHI METHOD: GRAMMAR
      BRIEF EXPLANATION: Rashi explains verses using grammar principles, that is, rules which relate reproducable word form to word meaning. Grammatical rules neatly fall into 3 categories
      • (a) the rules governing conjugation of individual words,Biblical roots,
      • (b) the rules governing collections of words,clauses, sentences
      • (c) miscellaneous grammatical, or form-meaning, rules.
      This examples applies to Rashis Ex27-20b, Ex29-25d
      URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/rule1404.htm
      Brief Summary: A pronominal indirect object indicates purpose and dedication DO SUCH AND SUCH FOR SO AND SO ...indicates INTENT and DEDICATION for so and so.

Today Hebrew grammar is well understood and there are many books on it. Rashi, however, lived before the age of grammar books. A major Rashi method is therefore the teaching of basic grammar.

Many students belittle this aspect of Rashi. They erroneously think that because of modern methods we know more. However Rashi will frequently focus on rare grammatical points not covered in conventional textbooks.

    There are many classical aspects to grammar whether in Hebrew or other languages. They include
  • The rules for conjugating verbs. These rules govern how you differentiate person, plurality, tense, mode, gender, mood, and designation of the objects and indirect objects of the verb. For example how do you conjugate, in any language, I sang, we will sing, we wish to sing, she sang it.
  • Rules of agreement. For example agreement of subject and verb, of noun and adjective; whether agreement in gender or plurality.
  • Rules of Pronoun reference.
  • Rules of word sequence. This is a beautiful topic which is not always covered in classical grammatical textbooks.

Today we deal with the Biblical rules governing indication of pronoun indirect objects. #####

There are many Rashis whose focal point is a pronominal indirect object - as we go through the yearly cycle we will try and gather them all together. Today however we extend this pronominal indirect object rule to general indirect objects of purpose.

Verse Ex27-20b discussing the oil used for the Candellabrah states And you shall command the people of Israel, that they bring you pure olive oil beaten for lighting, for the lamp to burn always. The phrase beaten for lighting contains an indirect object indicating purpose. Rashi comments: You must beat the olives in such a way that the resulting oil can be used for lighting. Here Rashi interprets the indirect object indicating purpose; Rashi requires a capacity for lighting as intrinsic to the oil production process. Further details are given below in rules #4,9.

Another example of the pronominal indirect object rule indicating purpose and dedication, occurs in Ex29-25d which states And thou shalt take them from their hands, and make them smoke on the altar upon the burnt-offering, for a sweet savour before HaShem; it is an offering made by fire for God. Rashi commenting on the phrase for God states:The offering must be dedicated to God's name.

Advanced Rashi: This Rashi comment is continued in rules #1,3,4,9. 


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