The 10 RashiYomi Rules 
Their presence in Rashis on Parshat LechLecha 
 Vol  2#2 - Adapted from Rashi-is-Simple  
Visit The RashiYomi Website : http://www.RashiYomi.Com/
 (c) RashiYomi Incorporated, Dr Hendel President,  10-Nov-2005 
English and Hebrew translations of the Bible come mostly from the www.MECHON-MAMRE.org  translation with changes made by me 

The goal of this Weekly Rashi Digest is to use the weekly Torah portion to expose students at all levels to the ten major methods of commentary used by Rashi. It is hoped that continual weekly exposure to these ten major methods will enable students at all levels to acquire a familiarity and facility with the major exegetical methods.

1. RASHI METHOD : OTHER VERSES   
This example applies to Rashis Gn12-13a 
URL Reference : (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gn12-13a.htm 

The other verse  method seeks to confirm the contents of a target verse by cross referencing other verses which either confirm the target text or add details to it. Additionally the other verse  method can shed light on word meaning. 

Verse Gn12-13 states   Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister; that it may be well with me for thy sake, and that my soul may live because of thee.'   אִמְרִי-נָא, אֲחֹתִי אָתְּ--לְמַעַן יִיטַב-לִי בַעֲבוּרֵךְ, וְחָיְתָה נַפְשִׁי בִּגְלָלֵךְ.  How is Sarah's denial of her marital status with Abraham well for him? Rashi answers by citing an other verse Verse Gn12-16 states   And he dealt well with Abram for her sake; and he had sheep, and oxen, and he-asses, and men-servants, and maid-servants, and she-asses, and camels.   וּלְאַבְרָם הֵיטִיב, בַּעֲבוּרָהּ; וַיְהִי-לוֹ צֹאן-וּבָקָר, וַחֲמֹרִים, וַעֲבָדִים וּשְׁפָחֹת, וַאֲתֹנֹת וּגְמַלִּים.  Hence the Rashi: Sarah's denial of her marital status would be well for Abraham since the Egyptians would give him gifts. 

2. RASHI METHOD : WORD MEANINGS / new meanings 
This example applies to Rashis Gn13-03a 
URL reference :(c) http://www.RashiYomi.com/gn14-02a.htm  

The word meaning  method seeks to present dictionary meaning. Rashi uses 10 vehicles to infer word meaning. A major word meaning submethod is the idioms  method.  An idiom refers to a collection of words whose meaning is different than the sum of the meanings of the component words.. 

Verse Gn13-03 states   And he went on his journeys from the South even to Beth-el, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Beth-el and Ai;   וַיֵּלֶךְ, לְמַסָּעָיו, מִנֶּגֶב, וְעַד-בֵּית-אֵל--עַד-הַמָּקוֹם, אֲשֶׁר-הָיָה שָׁם אָהֳלֹה בַּתְּחִלָּה, בֵּין בֵּית-אֵל, וּבֵין הָעָי.  Note the underlined phrase he went by his journeys. Rashi explains: On his return trip Abraham visited the same hotels he had lodged by when coming. 

After explaining the verse Rashi derives moral lessons: It is good for developing and building relationships if a person revisits former hotels on subsequent or return journeys. 

This idea of following up on former meetings is in fact hinted at in the verse  Gn13-03:04 which states   And he went on his journeys from the South even to Beth-el, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Beth-el and Ai; unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first; and Abram called there on the name of the LORD.   וַיֵּלֶךְ, לְמַסָּעָיו, מִנֶּגֶב, וְעַד-בֵּית-אֵל--עַד-הַמָּקוֹם, אֲשֶׁר-הָיָה שָׁם אָהֳלֹה בַּתְּחִלָּה, בֵּין בֵּית-אֵל, וּבֵין הָעָי.  אֶל-מְקוֹם, הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, אֲשֶׁר-עָשָׂה שָׁם, בָּרִאשֹׁנָה; וַיִּקְרָא שָׁם אַבְרָם, בְּשֵׁם יְהוָה.  Thus we see that Abraham followed up on the people he had met by his first altar where he probably introduced them to monotheism. 

In this example we see Rashi using two methods-- the word meaning method as well as the spreadsheet method. Such use of multiple methods is typical in Rashi. We will revisit this example below when discussing the spreadsheet method. 

3. RASHI METHOD : GRAMMAR / conjugation 
This example applies to Rashis  Gn13-12a 
URL reference :(c) http://www.RashiYomi.com/gn14-02a.htm  

The grammar  method seeks to apply and teach Hebrew grammar.  One component of grammar deals with how words change semantic function: e.g. the activity (verb) to fly can transform and refer to an object (noun) the fly. . 

In the verses presented below we have examples of objects (nouns) becoming activities (verbs). In each case the activity consists of creating the objects. 

Example 1: Note the verb form to tent in Verse Gn13-12 states   Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the Plain, and tented as far as Sodom.   אַבְרָם, יָשַׁב בְּאֶרֶץ-כְּנָעַן; וְלוֹט, יָשַׁב בְּעָרֵי הַכִּכָּר, וַיֶּאֱהַל, עַד-סְדֹם.  Rashi states: He pitched many tents for his flocks and shepards. 

Example 2: Note the verb form to worm in Verse Ex16-20 states   Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it wormed worms, and rotted; and Moses was wroth with them.   וְלֹא-שָׁמְעוּ אֶל-מֹשֶׁה, וַיּוֹתִרוּ אֲנָשִׁים מִמֶּנּוּ עַד-בֹּקֶר, וַיָּרֻם תּוֹלָעִים, וַיִּבְאַשׁ; וַיִּקְצֹף עֲלֵהֶם, מֹשֶׁה.  Rashi states: The manna rotted and had many worms 

Example 3: Note the verb form to border in Verse Ex19-12 states   And thou shalt border the people round about, saying: Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it; whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death;   וְהִגְבַּלְתָּ אֶת-הָעָם סָבִיב לֵאמֹר, הִשָּׁמְרוּ לָכֶם עֲלוֹת בָּהָר וּנְגֹעַ בְּקָצֵהוּ:  כָּל-הַנֹּגֵעַ בָּהָר, מוֹת יוּמָת.  Rashi states: God commanded Moses to create borders around the mountain. 

4. RASHI METHOD : ALIGNMENT
This example applies to Rashis  Gn14-02e 
URL reference :(c) http://www.RashiYomi.com/gn12-06b.htm 

The alignment  method seeks to extract nuances from the minor differences in the alignment  of two almost identical verses. The contrast of the two almost identical verses points either to a) two cases , b) several nuances , or c) an equality of the verses which leads to an understanding in meaning . 

Note the blatant anomaly in the alignment of the following verses Verse Gn14-01:02 states   
And it came to pass in the days of 
•	Amraphel 		king of Shinar, 
•	Arioch 			king of Ellasar, 
•	Chedorlaomer 	king of Elam, and 
•	Tidal 			king of Goiim, that they made war with 
•	Bera 			king of Sodom, and with 
•	Birsha 			king of Gomorrah, 
•	Shinab 		king of Admah, and 
•	Shemeber 		king of Zeboiim, and the 
•	king of Bela--		Zoar.   
•	ַיְהִי, בִּימֵי ואַמְרָפֶל מֶלֶךְ-שִׁנְעָר,
•	 אַרְיוֹךְ, מֶלֶךְ אֶלָּסָר; 
•	כְּדָרְלָעֹמֶר מֶלֶךְ עֵילָם,
•	 וְתִדְעָל מֶלֶךְ גּוֹיִם.
•	  עָשׂוּ מִלְחָמָה, אֶת-בֶּרַע מֶלֶךְ סְדֹם,
•	 וְאֶת-בִּרְשַׁע, מֶלֶךְ עֲמֹרָה;
•	 שִׁנְאָב מֶלֶךְ אַדְמָה,
•	 וְשֶׁמְאֵבֶר מֶלֶךְ צְבֹיִים,
•	 וּמֶלֶךְ בֶּלַע, הִיא-צֹעַר.  
Each bullet has the form Name-of-King, King of, Country of King. However the last underlined bullet, 
king of Bela--	Zoar has the form King of, Country of king, name of King. Rashi does not explain the anomaly but simply points it out: Belah is the name of a country. 

Perhaps Rashi's goal was to preserve the Mesorah and simply note an anomaly that might have led the reader to think it was a misprint. 

We can go beyond Rashi and suggest an explanation: The Hebrew word Belah,בֶּלַע, means to devour. The Hebrew word Tzoar,צֹעַר means young. Perhaps the intent of the Bible in reversing the King-Country order was to alert us to the possible connection between the meaning of the words and world events: Belah,בֶּלַע, was a land which devoured its inhabitants; most of them died young, צֹעַר. 

In any event it should be clear that Rashi made his inferences from the alignment. 

5. RASHI METHOD : CONTRADICTION 
This example applies to Rashis  Gn12-01d 
URL reference :(c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gn14-02a.htm

 The contradiction  method seeks to derive Biblical content by assuming a resolution to contradictory  verses. Rashi had 3 main methods to resolve contradiction : The two contradictory verses could be speaking about a) two stages  of one process, b) two aspects  or attributes of one entity, or c) the contradictory verses could be resolved assuming a broad or literal interpretation  of the words causing the contradiction. 

Note the contradiction in the following two verses: 
•	Verse Gn12-01 states   Now the LORD said unto Abram: 'Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto the land that I will show thee.   וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-אַבְרָם, לֶךְ-לְךָ מֵאַרְצְךָ וּמִמּוֹלַדְתְּךָ וּמִבֵּית אָבִיךָ, אֶל-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר אַרְאֶךָּ.  
•	Verse Gn11-31 states   And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran, his son's son, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.   וַיִּקַּח תֶּרַח אֶת-אַבְרָם בְּנוֹ, וְאֶת-לוֹט בֶּן-הָרָן בֶּן-בְּנוֹ, וְאֵת שָׂרַי כַּלָּתוֹ, אֵשֶׁת אַבְרָם בְּנוֹ; וַיֵּצְאוּ אִתָּם מֵאוּר כַּשְׂדִּים, לָלֶכֶת אַרְצָה כְּנַעַן, וַיָּבֹאוּ עַד-חָרָן, וַיֵּשְׁבוּ שָׁם.  
If Abraham had already left his country with his father how can God now command him to leave? 

Rashi resolves this contradiction through the use of broad-literal interpretation: The first time, God told Abraham to physically leave his country; the second time, God told Abraham to socially leave his country. That is, the second time, God told Abraham to leave his ties to his country and his father's influence. 

6. RASHI METHOD : STYLE
This example applies to Rashis  Gn12-10a 
URL reference :(c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gn12-10a.htm 

The Rabbi Ishmael Style  rules are usually thought of as applying to technical legal matters. However in a broader sense they apply to paragraph styles. The fundamental focus of the Rabbi Ishmael style rules is to precisely delineate the relationship between paragraph themes  and development details : 
•	 Are the details examples  of a general theme , or, do the details  exhaust the paragraph theme? In other words 
•	should the examples  and details be interpreted literally and exclusively or should they be interpreted broadly and generally? 
Still another way of looking at style is that it answers the question: 
 How should the paragraph theme  and details / examples  be integrated? 

Notice the general-detail-general structure in the following verse Verse Gn12-10 states   
And there was a famine in the land; 
					and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; 
for the famine was sore in the land.   
וַיְהִי רָעָב, בָּאָרֶץ;
		 וַיֵּרֶד אַבְרָם מִצְרַיְמָה לָגוּר שָׁם,
 כִּי-כָבֵד הָרָעָב בָּאָרֶץ.  

The opening and closing phrases both discuss the famine. 

The middle phrase mentions that Abraham left Israel and went down to Egypt. 

The paragraph must be perceived as a whole: Abraham left Israel and went down to Egypt because of a severe famine. If it wasn't for the famine Abraham wouldn't have gone down to Egypt. 

In passing we mention that on this verse we find a controversy of Rashi and Ramban: Rashi explains the verse as we have just indicated. Ramban states that Abraham should not have left Israel because of the famine but rather should have had faith in God. 

Notice how the Rashi rule we have used, the general-detail-general rule defends Rashi but not Ramban: The paragraph structure emphasizes that the sole reason for Abraham descending to Egypt was the famine; it was the type of famine that forced you to leave the land. 

Because of our use of 10 Rashi rules we can occasionally provide deeper defenses in controversies between the Biblical commentators. 

7. RASHI METHOD : Formatting
This example applies to Rashis  Gn13-10d 
URL reference :(c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gn13-10d.htm
  
Modern formatting  has a variety of vehicles which the writer uses to either create emphasis  or point to an underlying unity . Three common examples of modern formatting are (a) bold-italic-underline , (b) paragraph indentation including use of line spaces, (c) use of bulleted lists . 

Authors use these formatting  devices as follows: (a) All authors know that bold-italic-underline indicates emphasis . The Bible did not use bold-italic-underline but instead uses repetition  to indicate emphasis . (b) Modern authors use indentation  and line spaces between paragraphs to point to an underlying unity  in a paragraph. The Bible indicates paragraph unity  by using the theme-detail-theme , detail-theme , or theme-detail  styles. (c) Modern authors use bulleted lists  to indicate contrastive emphasis --the bullets  together are seen as spanning a domain of ideas while each individual bullet  is seen as indicating a separate and distinct idea. The bible indicates bulleted lists  by either using repeated keywords or parallel structure . 

The reader will recognize the theme-detail-theme , detail-theme  and theme-detail  methods as three of the 13 exegetical methods of Rabbi Ishmael. What we have added is the explanation that the Rabbi Ishmael rules focus on biblical examples : Are these biblical examples understood as exhaustive of the whole law or are they understood as examples to be generalized? Similarly the reader will recognize that we have called the bullet  method is the Rabbi Ishmael rule of context . What we have added to the Rabbi Ishmael exposition is the idea that parallel structure  and repeated keywords are two methods of making inferences from context 

Verse Gn13-10 states   And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, 
•	like the garden of the LORD, 
•	like the land of Egypt, 
as thou goest unto Zoar.   וַיִּשָּׂא-לוֹט אֶת-עֵינָיו, וַיַּרְא אֶת-כָּל-כִּכַּר הַיַּרְדֵּן, כִּי כֻלָּהּ, מַשְׁקֶה--לִפְנֵי שַׁחֵת יְהוָה, אֶת-סְדֹם וְאֶת-עֲמֹרָה,
•	 כְּגַן-יְהוָה
•	 כְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם,
 בֹּאֲכָה צֹעַר.  Notice the repeated underline word, like. According to our formatting principle the repeated word like creates a bullet effect as shown above. 

We interpret this bulleted passage the same way we would interpret bullets among any author: we perceive the simple meaning of the text as requiring a separate emphasis for each bullet (That in fact is the reason authors bullets). 

So we seek from other verses attributes for which Egypt and the Garden of Eden were known for. 

This is not hard to find: The following verses shows that Paradise was known for its trees Verse Gn02-08:10 states   And the LORD God planted a garden eastward, in Eden; and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became four heads.   וַיִּטַּע יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים, גַּן-בְּעֵדֶן--מִקֶּדֶם; וַיָּשֶׂם שָׁם, אֶת-הָאָדָם אֲשֶׁר יָצָר.  וַיַּצְמַח יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים, מִן-הָאֲדָמָה, כָּל-עֵץ נֶחְמָד לְמַרְאֶה, וְטוֹב לְמַאֲכָל--וְעֵץ הַחַיִּים, בְּתוֹךְ הַגָּן, וְעֵץ, הַדַּעַת טוֹב וָרָע.  וְנָהָר יֹצֵא מֵעֵדֶן, לְהַשְׁקוֹת אֶת-הַגָּן; וּמִשָּׁם, יִפָּרֵד, וְהָיָה, לְאַרְבָּעָה רָאשִׁים.  

The following verses show that Egypt was known for its plant crop: Verse Ex09-22:25 states   And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Stretch forth thy hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.' And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven; and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down unto the earth; and the LORD caused to hail upon the land of Egypt. So there was hail, and fire flashing up amidst the hail, very grievous, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and broke every tree of the field.   וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה, נְטֵה אֶת-יָדְךָ עַל-הַשָּׁמַיִם, וִיהִי בָרָד, בְּכָל-אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם:  עַל-הָאָדָם וְעַל-הַבְּהֵמָה, וְעַל כָּל-עֵשֶׂב הַשָּׂדֶה--בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם.  וַיֵּט מֹשֶׁה אֶת-מַטֵּהוּ, עַל-הַשָּׁמַיִם, וַיהוָה נָתַן קֹלֹת וּבָרָד, וַתִּהֲלַךְ אֵשׁ אָרְצָה; וַיַּמְטֵר יְהוָה בָּרָד, עַל-אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם.  וַיְהִי בָרָד--וְאֵשׁ, מִתְלַקַּחַת בְּתוֹךְ הַבָּרָד:  כָּבֵד מְאֹד--אֲשֶׁר לֹא-הָיָה כָמֹהוּ בְּכָל-אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, מֵאָז הָיְתָה לְגוֹי.  וַיַּךְ הַבָּרָד בְּכָל-אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, אֵת כָּל-אֲשֶׁר בַּשָּׂדֶה, מֵאָדָם, וְעַד-בְּהֵמָה; וְאֵת כָּל-עֵשֶׂב הַשָּׂדֶה הִכָּה הַבָּרָד, וְאֶת-כָּל-עֵץ הַשָּׂדֶה שִׁבֵּר.  Verse Ex09-31:32 states   And the flax and the barley were smitten; for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was in bloom. But the wheat and the spelt were not smitten; for they ripen late.--   וְהַפִּשְׁתָּה וְהַשְּׂעֹרָה, נֻכָּתָה:  כִּי הַשְּׂעֹרָה אָבִיב, וְהַפִּשְׁתָּה גִּבְעֹל.  וְהַחִטָּה וְהַכֻּסֶּמֶת, לֹא נֻכּוּ:  כִּי אֲפִילֹת, הֵנָּה.  

Again: Rashi did not derive this emphasis from 
•	extra words, or 
•	a requirement of emphasis 
•	but rather, Rashi chose to emphasize because of the repeating keyword, like which indicates a bulleting, which in turn requires separate and distinct emphasis for each bulleted item. 

8. RASHI METHOD : DATABASES
This example applies to Rashis  Gn12-02e Gn12-02b 
URL reference :(c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gn12-02e.htm 

The database  method seeks to discover biblical ideas using the methods of modern database theory and sequential query language (SQL). The Talmudic sages and Rashi were totally familiar and frequently used all aspects of modern database theory. 

Today we ask the query: Review prophecies showing that they frequently develop over time and require several stages. ? The query returns the 3 results listed below. 

In the following verses a prophecy is not stated absolutely but rather develops over time taking several stages. . 

Example 1: Verse Gn12-02 states   And I will make of thee 
•	a great nation, and 
•	I will bless thee, and 
•	make thy name great; 
•	and be thou a blessing.   
•	וְאֶעֶשְׂךָ, לְגוֹי גָּדוֹל,
•	 וַאֲבָרֶכְךָ,
•	 וַאֲגַדְּלָה שְׁמֶךָ;
•	 וֶהְיֵה, בְּרָכָה.  

Example 2: Verse Gn22-02 states   And He said: 
•	'Take now thy son, 
•	thine precious son, 
•	whom thou lovest, 
•	Isaac, 
and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.'  
 וַיֹּאמֶר קַח-נָא
•	 אֶת-בִּנְךָ
•	 אֶת-יְחִידְךָ
•	 אֲשֶׁר-אָהַבְתָּ,
•	 אֶת-יִצְחָק,
 וְלֶךְ-לְךָ, אֶל-אֶרֶץ הַמֹּרִיָּה; וְהַעֲלֵהוּ שָׁם, לְעֹלָה, עַל אַחַד הֶהָרִים, אֲשֶׁר אֹמַר אֵלֶיךָ.  

Example 3: The ten plagues 

The following Rashi, on Gn22-02 illustrates the concept of development: Take your son; but which one? your precious son; but they are both precious? the one you love; but I love both?

In the above Rashi the underlined phrases indicate the text of Gn22-02 cited above; while the bold text indicates the development of acceptance by Abraham---it shows the emotional path of acceptance of the prophecy. Rashi shows this by indicating possible ambiguity at each stage. 

9. RASHI METHOD : SPREADSHEETS
This example applies to Rashis  Gn13-03a 
URL reference :(c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/gn14-02a.htm 

 We say that Rashi uses the spreadsheet  method if he either (a) uses spreadsheets and algebra or (b) geometric illustrations or (c) any other type of illustration even if it doesn't involve algebra and geometry, to explain a verse. We also use the term spreadsheet method  if Rashi (d) gives consequences and inferences from a verse whose meaning and structure is clear and is consistent with other biblical verses. In summary, any clarification of a verse that is in addition to its meaning is called spreadsheets.

The other verse  method seeks to confirm the contents of a target verse by cross referencing other verses which either confirm the target text or add details to it. Additionally the other verse  method can shed light on word meaning. 

Verse Gn12-13 states   Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister; that it may be well with me for thy sake, and that my soul may live because of thee.'   אִמְרִי-נָא, אֲחֹתִי אָתְּ--לְמַעַן יִיטַב-לִי בַעֲבוּרֵךְ, וְחָיְתָה נַפְשִׁי בִּגְלָלֵךְ.  How is Sarah's denial of her marital status with Abraham well for him? Rashi answers by citing an other verse Verse Gn12-16 states   And he dealt well with Abram for her sake; and he had sheep, and oxen, and he-asses, and men-servants, and maid-servants, and she-asses, and camels.   וּלְאַבְרָם הֵיטִיב, בַּעֲבוּרָהּ; וַיְהִי-לוֹ צֹאן-וּבָקָר, וַחֲמֹרִים, וַעֲבָדִים וּשְׁפָחֹת, וַאֲתֹנֹת וּגְמַלִּים.  Hence the Rashi: Sarah's denial of her marital status would be well for Abraham since the Egyptians would give him gifts. 

Conclusion

This week's parshah contains no examples of the Symbolism method. This concludes this weeks edition. Visit the RashiYomi website at http://www.Rashiyomi.com/ for further details and examples.