drop table varchar_2; create table varchar_2 ( key varchar(10), value varchar(20) ); insert overwrite table varchar_2 select * from src; select value, sum(cast(key as int)), count(*) numrows from src group by value order by value asc limit 5; -- should match the query from src select value, sum(cast(key as int)), count(*) numrows from varchar_2 group by value order by value asc limit 5; select value, sum(cast(key as int)), count(*) numrows from src group by value order by value desc limit 5; -- should match the query from src select value, sum(cast(key as int)), count(*) numrows from varchar_2 group by value order by value desc limit 5; drop table varchar_2;