SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
Rashi will very often take a verse whose
meaning is understood and ADD a consequence
to the verse. We call this the SPREADSHEET
method since SPREADSHEETS are very often
used to derive consequences of otherwise
understood data.  The SPREADSHEET method
is also used when Rashi gives COMPUTATIONAL
or GEOMETRIC diagrams to clarify the meaning
of the verse.

EXAMPLE Gn18-24:32
------------------
Gn18-24:32 represents a prophetic introspection
between Abraham and God giving understanding
on why God destroyed Sedom and Amorah--the reason
was because there were almost no righteous people
in the city--that is they were thoroughly evil
without hope of improvement (Because there were
no righteous people there). God and Abraham review
the lack of righteous people in stages as follows
----------------------------------------------------
# OF RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE NEEDED    # CITIES  # Per city
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -     - - - -   - - - - -
50                              5*1       10
45                              5          9*2
40                              4*3       10
30                              3         10
20                              2         10
10                              1         10
----------------------------------------------------

NOTES
-----
*1 Rashi points out based on the explicit verse Gn14-02
that SEDOM and AMORAH were really a metropolis
of 5 cities--SEDOM,AMORAH,ADMAH,TZEVOIM,BELA
However SEDOM (& AMORAH) were the heavily
populated centers while the other 3 were
resort villages. Furthermore, SEDOM was the
town center. So the entire collection was
called SEDOM (Similarly the HAWAIIAN Islands
consist of 8 Islands but we call them HAWAII
based on the main Island)

*2 It was reasonable that if
- 10 people or
- 9  people
were in the city that God would spare them.
But if only
- 8 people
were in the city than God would not spare
them just as God did not spare the world
for the sake of 8 people in Noach's time
(Noach+his 3 sons+their 4 wives=8---but
God only spared Noach's family and not the
whole world)

*3 40 would justify saving 4 cities (10 @ city)
but not sparing the 5th city.

LIST690p summarizes this spreadsheet argument.
LIST690a presents other examples where
Rashi uses the SPREADSHEET method

We have made the argument above that e.g. 50 people
would spare the entire city, 40 would spare 4 cities
etc. This idea that SEDOM represented 5 cities
was proven by a reference to Gn14-02. It can further
be proven by ALIGNMENT.

SUCCINCT SUMMARY
----------------
Rashi frequently makes powerful inferences from the ALIGNMENT,
that is, the word by word comparison, of almost identical verses.
The minor variations between these almost similar verses
suggests nuances and differences or even meaning. We call
this the Rashi rule of ALIGNMENT

-When Rashi identifies two cases from the ALIGNMENT we call
this the Rashi subrule of TWO CASES

-When Rashi infers nuances from the variations between the
almost similar verses (or verse phrases) we call this the
Rashi subrule of NUANCES.

-When Rashi infers MEANING from the ALIGNMENT of almost
identical phrases we call this the Rashi SUBRULE of MEANING.

EXAMPLE 1 Gn18-26
-----------------
In Gn18-26 God states
---------------------------------------
If I find      IN SEDOM
50 people      IN THE CITY
I will forgive THE WHOLE REGION for them
---------------------------------------

As already indicated the proof that SEDOM and
AMORAH were five cities comes from Gn14-02
--------------------------------
- BERAH, KING OF       SEDOM
- BRSHAH, King of      AMORAH
- SHINAV, King of      ADMAH
- SHEMAVER, King of    TZVOIM
- TZOAR, King of       BELA
--------------------------------

Using this we infer NUANCES from Gn18-26
- If I find 50 people in THE CITY, SEDOM
- I will forgive the WHOLE REGION=WHOLE METROPOLIS
In other words 50 people in the main city is
sufficient to forgive all.

Still a 3rd way see this is to infer nuances
from the word WHOLE (WHOLE PLACE) which implies
BOTH the CITY and ITS OUTSKIRTS.

LIST309f summarizes this ALIGNMENT

EXAMPLE Gn20-02a
----------------
Cf The following two verses which discuss Abraham's
arrival in a strange city
--------------------------------------------------------
- Gn12-11:13 Abraham ASKED Sarah to say she was a sister
- Gn20-02a   Abraham SAID Sarah was his sister
--------------------------------------------------------

Rashi comments
--------------------------------------------------
The 1st time: Abraham ASKED Sarah to say she was
his sister since he hoped the ruse would work.

The 2nd time: Sarah knew it would not work (Since she
was taken as a wife of the King) So Abraham forcibly
declared her his sister
--------------------------------------------------

LIST309g summarizes this ALIGNMENT.

Alignment of clauses in  Gn20-02 vs Gn12-11:13(Sarah=Abes sister)

Alignment of clauses in  Gn18-26--Forgive REGION for 10 in CITY

List of People @ city justifying non-destruction

List of Rashis using     Spreadsheets/Algebra

Lighting summary of Rashis with emphasis on Rashi rules*10