Parsha discussion

Question:  Why the need for sum totals when the individual numbers are given (e.g. total count of each flag grouping, total number of בני ישראל, total amount received from the בכורים)? Approach: It would seem that the real purpose of the countings, in most cases, is the overall totals - but practically, the individual groups were counted, and then the sub-totals added up to form the overall. This certainly seems to be the case with the overall number of בני ישראל and also of the לויים.

Question:  Why is there a double mention of the recognition of the sins and the Divine mercy? Approach : It would seem that the first mention applies when the people are still in the Land, whereas the second one would be when they are in Exile. And in both cases, we need Divine mercy in order to have lesser punishments than might have otherwise been, and to have the chance to return.

Question:  28:19 and 28:21 - these seem to be saying the same things in different ways. Why? Approach : We could perhaps suggest that the initial promise relates to a qualitative blessing in the food, i.e. regular amounts would be produced under the circumstances, but would more satiating. The second option, after the people query how this could be, would see a quantitive blessing in the amount of food produced.

Question:  23:38 What is the meaning of the reference to שבתות? Are they not included in מועדים, as per the first part of the chapter? Approach: It seems that שבת has only a quasi  מועד status, as we see at the beginning of the chapter, with the second introduction of the מועדים after the treatment of שבת. Perhaps it is split out at the end as there had been no mention of קרבנות earlier in the discussion (which itself requires further thought as to why not)