Studying the Torah: A Guide to In-Depth Interpretation

Rating:
Summary: a very handy little book
Review: Bonchek helps readers through the Torah (by which I mean the Five Books of Moses) by supplying several "keys" to Torah interpretation, and providing examples of each. To give two examples:

One key is language in the opening sentences of a sequence or paragraph. For example, in the first sentence of a paragraph discussing the law of liberation of slaves (Exodus 21:2), the Torah uses the phrase "go out" twice. And in the succeeding verses, the Torah uses the word "go out" several more times - thus indicating its view that slavery (at least for Hebrews) should be a temporary status, because slaves will eventually "go out".

Another key is the contiguity principle - the idea that Biblical language should be interpreted by reference to nearby language. For example, Gen. 3:1 describes a snake (the one who offers fruit to Eve) as "subtle." Well, why is he subtle? Bonchek goes on to say "God had said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden" -- but in fact, God said not to eat of only one tree, the tree of knowledge of good and evil. This exaggeration enables the serpent to manipulate Eve into eating of the tree.

Rating:
Summary: a very handy little book
Review: Bonchek helps readers through the Torah (by which I mean the Five Books of Moses) by supplying several "keys" to Torah interpretation, and providing examples of each. To give two examples:

One key is language in the opening sentences of a sequence or paragraph. For example, in the first sentence of a paragraph discussing the law of liberation of slaves (Exodus 21:2), the Torah uses the phrase "go out" twice. And in the succeeding verses, the Torah uses the word "go out" several more times - thus indicating its view that slavery (at least for Hebrews) should be a temporary status, because slaves will eventually "go out".

Another key is the contiguity principle - the idea that Biblical language should be interpreted by reference to nearby language. For example, Gen. 3:1 describes a snake (the one who offers fruit to Eve) as "subtle." Well, why is he subtle? Bonchek goes on to say "God had said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden" -- but in fact, God said not to eat of only one tree, the tree of knowledge of good and evil. This exaggeration enables the serpent to manipulate Eve into eating of the tree.