Studying the Torah: A Guide to in-Depth Interpretation: A Guide to inDepth Interpretation

by Avigdor Bonchek

The traditional Jew has always accepted the study of Torah as central to his or her way of life. But without the ability to effectively analyze and interpret the text, one misses the opportunity to gain a deep and authentic appreciation of the Torah's beauty and profundity. In Studying the A Guide to In-Depth Interpretation , Avigdor Bonchek equips the reader with the proper analytic methods to make reading the Bible both a serious pursuit and a pleasurable pastime. In order for the reader of the Torah text to delve into its veiled, but ultimately visible, layered messages, he or she must first learn the appropriate interpretive techniques. These skills are the same as those used by the classic Jewish Torah commentators (Rashi, Ramban, Ibn Ezra, and others), all of whom were experts in what scholars today refer to as a "close reading" of the text. Among the "Keys to Interpretation" discussed in this book are the significance of word order, opening sentences, repetitions, word associations, psychological dimensions, and similarities and differences between texts. Each key is illustrated by several examples that offer fresh insight into otherwise familiar text, and the author offers his own original and comprehensive in-depth interpretation of two central biblical the story of Joseph and the ten plagues.

202 pages, Paperback

First published July 7, 1977

Reviews

[Johnny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Studying the Torah: A Guide to In-Depth Interpretation sounds like a first or second year textbook for a seminary course. Actually, Bonchek wrote this book for anyone, especially rabbis (he probably didn’t expect Protestant pastors like me to read it), to digest. It is a challenge to find the “plain” interpretation of scriptural texts. Of course, by “plain” reading, he doesn’t mean superficial. His methodology for considering a text requires one to use the Hebrew text and to look for:
Names – considering that ancient names give a clue as to the psychology and actions of a character;
Opening Sentences—using the traditional reading marks rather than chapter divisions, but recognizing that transitions and references/callbacks to earlier events set the theme for the passage;
Context – recognizing that where a passage is placed alongside other passages may offer a clue toward the overall meaning of a passage;
Similarities—different texts recap the same themes in different places (although, some scholars merely call them doublets and explain that they come from different sources, Bonchek rightly observes that even texts from different sources have been edited to be placed where they are) and it is good to compare them for similarities to be certain one’s interpretation is correct;
Differences – different texts recap the same themes in different places and the differences may be enlightening for understanding the importance of each text in context;
Repetition – noticing that certain words or phrases are used an abnormal amount of times in a passage or are repeated within close proximity to each other can help us understand the emphasis of a passage (for example, the six mentions of “with you” combined with the “with him” in Leviticus 25:39ff indicates that in the event a brother Hebrew is working off a debt, the brother is to be treated like family and not like a slave—it’s really vivid once you read it in context and check out the repetition);
Word Order – noticing the first word of a sentence or phrase in Hebrew is the best way to know where the emphasis is—normally, the verb comes first, but if the character or event is more important than the action itself, that character or event might be listed first (“beginning” is mentioned before “God created” in Genesis 1:1), but you must also pay attentions to changes in the internal word order of a verse (in Exodus 14:22, the children of Israel come into the midst of the sea before touching dry land while in Exodus 14:29, they walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea—Bonchek argues that the former indicates an act of faith before experiencing the miracle, while the latter emphasizes the miracle itself);
Psychology – paying attention to what characters say and the in-passage descriptions of their actions is key to understanding the motivation of characters in the Bible (want to see King Saul’s inferiority complex? You’ll need to look at all the times he talks about things being small and insignificant as well as where the ghost of Samuel asks, “Though thou be little in thine own sight, art thou not head of the tribes of Israel?” (I Samuel 15:17); and
Seven Code – noting the times words, phrases, events, and lineages appear in groups of seven is quite significant (though Bonchek doesn’t explain the phenomenon as I do, he recognizes that it is significant for interpretation) for seeing a passage or a flow of events as a totality.
If I were still teaching Biblical Interpretation, I can assure you that Studying the Torah would become a primary text for my classes. The solid methodology advocated by Bonchek would benefit anyone who wanted to drill deep in the Bible without forcing the people into one’s own particular mold. It would be a great corrective “medication” for many who are teaching in the seminary today.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book #4. A splendid addition to biblical text resources I've read/acquired over the years as I've studied the Bible in this country and in the Holy Land and also made the Bible as Literature (and specifically the Old Testament) the emphasis for my English master's degree. I've lost count of how many times I've read both the Old and New Testaments all the way through and have spent many, many hours zoning in on numerous books, chapters, verses, stories, and people found within it during my various studies. I've even tackled translating parts of it (in my Biblical Hebrew classes and also for my master's thesis). And I've studied at the feet of numerous biblical scholars and read the writings of many others I haven't had the privilege of personally knowing.

So, why am I reading yet another book about the Bible (specifically the Torah, the first 5 books of the O.T.)? Aside from my obsession with the Old Testament, I keep reading because there's no end to the learning...learning about it and from it. And I just.can't.get.enough. And it seems that Avigdor Bonchek also cannot. One website describes him as a doctor of clinical psychology with a passion for studying Torah commentaries. Passion indeed. And not just studying the classical Jewish commentaries but using them to inform his own studies and interpretations.

His approach in this book is straight-forward and written in a clear and direct manner as he describes and illuminates his keys for interpretation and deeper understanding of the Torah text: opening sentences, the contiguity principle (deriving interpretive clues from the neighboring text), similarities between different texts, differences between similar texts, repetitions and redundancies, word order, the psychological dimension, the seven code (repetition of identical words or phrases seven times, or multiples thereof, within a given section)...and his final key is to ask good questions (and realize that not every question will have an answer...and that's OK and even good!).

Bonchek's love of and enthusiasm for the Torah and its exploration is evident throughout the book (and contagious)! But if there were somehow any doubt about this, his last sentence of the book makes it clear: "My final word--Open up the Bible, let your mind embrace it, and enjoy." And I would also give this same recommendation about Bonckek's book as well.