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    9. RASHI METHOD: SPREADSHEETS
    BRIEF EXPLANATION: The common denominator of the 3 submethods of the Spreadsheet method is that inferences are made from non textual material. The 3 submethods are as follows:
    • Spreadsheet: Rashi makes inferences of a numerical nature that can be summarized in a traditional spreadsheet
    • Geometric: Rashi clarifies a Biblical text using descriptions of geometric diagrams
    • Fill-ins: Rashi supplies either real-world background material or indicates real-world inferences from a verse. The emphasis here is on the real-world, non-textual nature of the material.
    This example applies to Rashis Nu12-14a
    URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w33n22.htm
    Brief Summary: If her father embarassed her she would not show face for 7 days. How much more so if I God embarass her.

Verse Nu12-14a discussing God's punishment of Miriam by leprosy states And the Lord said to Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? Let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again. Rashi comments: We could equally argue that If her father embarassed her she would be embarassed 7 days; hence if God embarasses her she should be shut out from the camp 14 days. But we suffice with the analogy hence, when God embarasses her she should be shut out from the camp 7 days. In other words, the driving force of the verse's logic is analogy- father:7 days:: God:7 days. The Bible does not however use a fortiori arguments to intensify (14 vs 7).

In this case Rashi is commenting on the logical inference in the verse. Hence we classify this as a logical non-verse method similar to the numerical spreadsheet methods and the diagramatic geometric methods.

We should also point out that very often the validity and content of Biblical exegetical methods are derived from verses. Here the method of application of the a-fortiori argument is derived from a Biblical verse. Thus these rules were not oral traditions from Sinai but rather actual derivations from the Biblical text (and consequently have Sinaitic force and authority.) 


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