Seven Rules of Hillel

The Seven Rules of Hillel are a set of interpretive principles attributed to the Jewish sage Hillel, who lived from the 1st century BCE to the 1st century CE. These rules, also known as middot, provided a framework for understanding and interpreting Jewish scripture. While Hillel is not credited with originating these rules, he was a significant practitioner and proponent of a systematic approach to biblical interpretation.12

The Seven Rules of Hillel include:
* Inference from less important to more important and vice versa.
* Inference by analogy.
* Grouping related passages under an interpretative principle.
* Similar grouping where the principle applies to two passages.
* Inference from particular to general and vice versa.
* Exposition by means of a similar passage.
* Inference from the context.2

These principles were foundational for later, more elaborate rules and influenced the development of rabbinic exegesis, moving away from overly literal interpretations. Hillel's approach emphasized a liberal and humanitarian interpretation of Jewish law, contrasting with the stricter views of the Shammaites.123