Brian Tice's Blog: Halakhically and Hashqafically Historical - Posts Tagged "rashi-commentary"

Rabbi Shlomo Itzhaki, aka Rashi, is known for his literal approach to Scripture exegesis. His commentary on the Torah is included in nearly every medieval and post-medieval chumash, usually written in a specialized script which has come to share his name. Rashi's Commentary format addresses specific glaring questions in the Torah's text:

1. Clarifications: when words, ideas or events are hard to understand, Rashi explains them.
2. Contradictions: when verses seem to contradict each other, Rashi aligns them.
3. Superfluities: when words or ideas seem redundant or repeated, Rashi distinguishes them.
4. Juxtapositions: when seemingly unrelated themes are next to each other, Rashi relates them.
5. Deviations: when the Torah's grammar rules seem to be broken, Rashi rights them.
6. Disparities: when the words change from the norm, Rashi explores the reason(s).