The Verse:
They fell on their faces and said, "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, if one man sins, shall You be angry with the whole congregation?" (Bamidbar 16:22)
The Rashi:
O G-d, G-d of the spirits -- {Hashem who} knows the thoughts {of every person}, Your attributes are not like those of human beings. If part of his country transgresses (“spoiled”) against a king of flesh and blood, the king will not know who is the sinner. Therefore, when the king becomes angry, he punishes everyone. But as for You, all thoughts are revealed before You, and You know who is the sinner.
If one man -- [If one man] is the sinner, shall You be angry with the whole congregation? The Holy One, blessed be He, said, “You have spoken well. I know and will make known who sinned and who did not sin.”
The Questions:
- What does the parable of the king add?
- Why does Rashi not explain this idea in his commentary on the story of Sedom?
- Why the change in the language? Rashi first writes (that part of the country was) “spoiled” and then he writes (who is the) “sinner”!
