VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
Rashis main goals are clarification of MEANING and GRAMMAR
But secondary goals of Rashi include broad database
queries showing underlying patterns.

One such database query is on the camp positions of the
12 tribes. The 12 tribes camped in N,S,E,W. This
brought certain tribes close together. By analyzing
common characteristics of those tribes that are close
together we find that, as a famous adage says, good
neihborhoods influence to good while bad neighborhoods
influence to bad

Here are some of Rashis findings
- Judah Yissachar Zevulun and the Levites (Moses) campled
on the EAST side. We find that
-- these tribes all had significant increases in children
-- these tribes were all distinguished in scholarship

- Kehath (Korach) and Reuven camped on the south side
Hence they influenced each other in the Korach rebellion

- Reuven-Gad-Shimon were the only tribes that had decreases
in the census

We compare the tribes by their geographic position in the encampment
Nu01 and Nu26 gives two different censii. From these censii we see
that the
- SOUTHERN camp ALL WENT DOWN (And were all known for sin/rebellion)
- EASTER camp ALL WENT UP (And were all known for their learning)

The Levites also had 4 positions. This gives further insights--
for example the Kehathites were on the South and helped fuel
the Korach rebellion*1

VERY BRIEF DESCRIPTION
----------------------
Although many Rashis focus on meaning and grammar
another contribution of Rashi was to focus on
database comparisons of verses.

The command to COUNT and the ACT OF COUNTING occurs
about a dozen times in the Bible. However in only
one instance do we find the phrase COUNT ACCORDING TO GOD

Rashi notes that this one instance is also the only time
that young infants (1 month old) were counted.

Hence Rashi concludes that Moses counted the infants
prohetically for reasons of modesty(He didnt go into
their tents or ask their mothers how many children
they had).

We list verses which RECORD counting. In only
one of them do we find the phrase COUNT ACCORDING
TO GOD. Since this one case involves infants Rashi
hypothesizes that Moses counted the infants
prohetically (for reasons of modesty)

VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
Nu04 tells us about the service of the Kehathites.
But a loose examination of the chapter Nu04 seems
to show contradictions. For we are told about

- PACKING up the temple items
- CARRYING the temple items
- A prohibition against TOUCHING the temple items

How can they PACK them without CARRYING THEM.

Rashi explains that this apparent contradiction is
easily resolved as soon as we carefully look at the
subjects of the sentences

-- The PRIESTS pack the TEMPLE ITEMS
-- THEN the KEHATHITES carry the packed items
-- Since the PRIESTS pack them the KEHATHITES dont
touch the temple items (which would incur a
death penalty)

Thus we use the RabbiIshmael method of contradiction
which resolves with several cases

A list of verse pairs which cotnradict each other
The contradictions are resolved by viewing
the 2 verses as two aspects of the same item.

VERY BRIEF SUMMARY
------------------
Rashi frequently teaches MEANING and GRAMMAR. However
he also uses other techniques. One such technique
is the supplement of verse meaning using CROSS REFERENCES
That is Rashi cites OTHER VERSES which give further
insights to the verse on hand.

Nu03-11:13 provides a good example.  We are told that
God took the Levites in place of the firstborn. But
we arent told why?

Rather we are told why God took the firstborn (Because
God smote the firstborn of Egypt and spared his own
firstborn). But why did God replace them with the
Levites.

Therefore Rashi taking information from OTHER VERSES
shows us that the Levites were selected over the
FirstBorn since during the sin of the GOlden calf the
firstborn sinned but the levites did not sin. Therefore
did God chose them.

Our humble job on this email list is to collect and
compactly display those verses supporting this

The following five verses/chapters deal with
- The Levites not sinning during the idolatrous Golden calf episode
- The Levites therefore replacing the 1stborn as serving God
- Originally the 1stborn offered sacrifices and were priests
- This is because the 1stborn Jews were spared plague of 1stborn

The chapters/verses below deal with a context of the Golden
calf or Levites