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      8. RASHI METHOD: DATABASES
      BRIEF EXPLANATION:Rashi makes inferences from Database queries. The precise definition of database query has been identified in modern times with the 8 operations of Sequential Query Language (SQL).
      This example applies to Rashis Lv14-02a
      URL Reference: (c) http://www.Rashiyomi.com/w33n15.htm
      Brief Summary: These are the laws of the lepor: DURING THE DAY is his PURIFICATION.

    We ask the following database query: How is the summarizing phrase these are the laws of such and such used in the Bible. The reader is encouraged to perform the query using a standard Biblical Konnkordance or search engine. This database query yields the list below. The list justifies the following Rashi-Midrashic inference: Lv14-02 is the only verse stating THIS WILL BE THE LAW OF ...: Hence what follows is new material: BY DAY WILL HE BE PURIFIED. The list below presents the results of the database query.

Verse Situtation Verse Text Unusual Point
Lv06-07 Minchah Offering This is the law of the meal offering; the sons of Aaron shall offer it before the Lord, before the altar The subsequent phrase - the sons of Aaron shall offer... - begins discussion of the laws
Lv07-01 Guilt Offering This is the law of the guilt offering; it is most holy. The subsequent phrase - it is most holy - begins a discussion of the laws
Lv07-11 Peace Offering This is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer to the Lord The subsequent phrase - which he shall offer... - continues the opening law phrase
Lv12-07 Birth Offering This is the law for her who has given birth to a male or a female. The subsequent phrase - to a male or female - continues the opening law phrase
Nu05-29 Jealous Husband Offering This is the Law of jealousies, when a wife goes astray with another instead of her husband, and is defiled The subsequent clause - when a wife goes astray continues the opening law phrase
Lv14-02 Lepor Offering This shall be the Torah of the leper; by day is his purification; He shall be brought to the priest This is the only time the Torah uses the phrase shall be: This phrase closes the opening phrase so that subsequent phrases begin discussion of the laws instead of continuing the opening phrase. Hence we do not translate This shall be the laws of the lepor on the day he is purified but instead translate this shall be the laws of the lepor; by day will his purification be.

Here is a brief summary of the Rashi logic: The Torah when using the phrase This is the law of such and such may either continue this introductory phrase, or, immediately begin discussion of the topic. However if the Biblical Author wishes to emphasize that the topic discussion begins immediately afterwards then He uses the bold phrase, shall be: This shall be the law of such and such. For this reason we have interpreted the subsequent phrase in verse Lv14-02 as starting a new discussion: By day will his purification be (That is: You cannot perform the lepor purification ceremony by night.)

Advanced Rashi: The astute reader may notice that sometimes the phrase This is the law of such and such begins a Biblical discussion while at other times it concludes and summarizes a Biblical discussion. A further refined analysis would include this parameter in the discussion. However to make the discussion simple we ignored this interesting attribute. The ambitious reader is invited to expand the above table. The Bible uses the phrase This is the law of such and such 15 times throughout the Torah.


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