[Avodah] first mention in the Torah

[Moshe Y. Gluck]

R' Phil Silverman:
> >"We have a tradition that if we wish to discover a concept's meaning,
> we
> should look at the first time it is mentioned in the Torah."
> 
> > I found the above statement at a fine yeshivah's website. I've heard
> it
> several times, and have seen some interesting examples, but can
> someone tell me the source of the tradition, or of a scholarly treatment
> of the subject?

If it helps, RSRH in Bamidbar 1:3 uses the concept to help define the word
"Tzava."

KT,
MYG