MashiachandTheNumberTen
(AUnityMadeOfParts)
ByRabbiDr.HillelbenDavid(GregKillian)
1
I. Introduction
II. In Creation
III. The Ten Dreams
IV. The Red Heifer
V. The Ten Songs
VI. The Harp of Ten Strings
VII. The Ten Commandments
VIII. The Ten Praises
IX. The Ten Nations
X. The Ten Generations
XI. The Ten Stages
XII. The Ten Angelic Levels
XIII. The Ten Tribes
XIV. Ten in the Mishkan
XV. Tishre Ten
XVI. Many Tens
XVII. Avraham was tested 10 times
XVII. The Ten Plagues
XIX. The Ransom Money
XX. Miracles at the Sea of Reeds
XXI. The Ten Kal Vachomer
XXII. The Foundation of All Sums
XXIII. The Descents
XXIV. The World To Come
XXV. Created On the Eve of The Sabbath
XXVI. The Ten Famines
XXVII. The Ten Counts
XXVIII The Tithe
I.Introduction
Aswebeginthisfascinatingstudyofthenumberten,pleasekeepinmindthatChazal(ourSages)havetaughtthateveryoccurrenceofthenumberten,andindeedeveryothernumber,isrelatedtoeveryotheroccurrence,whetherintheTanach[1]orwithinthenaturalworld.Thusagreatdealofinsightcanbegainedbycomparingandanalyzingdifferentsetsoften.
Tenisaunitymadeupofparts.Thenatureofthepartsissubsumedintothenatureoftheunity.Thisexplainshowaminyanoftenmeninthesynagoguebecomesaspiritualentityatprayertime.Anentitycapableasayingkaddishandotherspecialprayersthatcanonlybesaidwhenacongregationofatleasttenmenispresent.
WelearnedinourstudyoftheTemplethatthebodyofMashiachisabodycomposedoftherighteousofIsrael.Thisbodyisaunitycomposedofparts.ThebodyiscomposedofIsraelandtheheadisMashiach.Thisistheultimateexpressionoften:Aunitymadeofparts.Asweexplorevariousaspectofthenumberten,noticethisconstantrefrainthatillustratesaunitymadeofparts.
ThenumbertenisrepresentedbytheHebrewletteryud-י,thesmallestHebrewletterofall.And,whereasallotherHebrewlettersareusuallycompositesofotherletters,forexample,inSofrus,thestyleofwritingusedforaSeferTorah,analephismadeupoftwoyuds(י)andavav(ו),theyudisnotcomposedofotherletters,therefore,italsorepresentssublimesimplicity.
Thenumbertenrepresentsbothpluralityandunity.
TheTalmudsaysthattensymbolizesperfectionandcompleteness.Everynumberuntiltenisviewedasincomplete.HaShem'spresenceresidesamongten,andnoactivityofsanctificationcantakeplacewithlessthanten.[2]Thenumbertensymbolizesacommunity.Thenumbertenisusedtorepresentaspiritualfullset.Thenumbertenisafullintegercount,thatisthesymbolofbeingcomplete.
Thenumbertenisatraditionalsymboloffulfillment,areturntounityafterhavinggonethroughtheexperiencerepresentedbysingle-digitnumbers.
Thenumbertensymbolizestheconceptoftotalityorallinclusiveness.
Thenumbertenrepresentskedushah.
HakhamShayaKarlinsky:CommentingonthewritingsoftheMaharalofPragueonPirkeAvot,saysthefollowing:
Maniscomposedofaphysicalbodycreatedfromtheearth,andasoulthatemanatesfromtheheavens.The"distance"fromtheearthuntiltheheavenisconsideredtobe,embodiedinthenumberten[3].TheselinesoftheMaharalarerootedinKabbalah.Sotherearetendistinctelementsrelatedtoman'screation,fiveofwhicharematerialmattersthatarepartofman'sphysicaldimension,andfiveofwhicharespiritualmattersthatarepartofman'stranscendentdimension.
Therearetenmajorpartsofman'sbodywhichparallelthisdivision:Thetwoeyes,thetwoearsandthetongueareconsideredthemorespiritualpartsofman.Thetwofeet,thetwohandsandthesexualorganarethefivethatareclosertothephysicalsideofman.
Theactivitiesoftheeyes(sight)ears(hearing)andtongue(speech)donotneedanyphysicalcontactwiththematerialinorderforthemtofunction.Sightisaperceptionofthingswhicharedistantfromman,andwithwhichhehasnotangibleinteraction.Hearingisalsoaperceptionofthingswithwhichmandoesnothavedirectcontact,althoughitisnotasabstractassight.(Manneedstobeclosertoanobjecttohearitthantoseeit;soundwavestravelmoreslowly,aremoretangibleandphysicallyaccessible,andmoreeasilymeasurablethanlightwaves/particles.)Speechisalsoanactivityconnectedtothespiritualandintellectualdimensionofman.Thehands,feetandthesexualorganareconnectedtothemorephysicalactivitiesofman,andtheyareconsideredclosertotheearth.
WealsofindintheTenWords(Decalogue)thatfiveofthemareconnectedtotheheavenandfiveareconnectedtotheearth.ThefirstfiveareactivitieswhichrelatetoG-d.[Thisincludes"Honouryourfatherandmother,"whosehonouringisequatedwiththatofG-d,aswearetaughtinKiddushin30b.Whenapersonhonorstheirparents,G-dconsidersitasifHelivedamongthemandalsoreceivedhonor.]Thelastfiveareactivitiesbetweenfellowhumanbeingswhodwellontheearth.Thisencompassestheentirehumanbeingwhosespiritualsideemanatesfromtheheavenandwhosebodyderivesfromtheearth,withthedistancebetweenthesetwolocationsrepresentedbythenumberten.
Thishumanbeing,belongingtoboththeheavenandtheearthisconnectedtofivematerialelementsofhisexistenceandfivespiritualelementsofhisexistence.
Ineachofthematerialelements,asurplusisactuallydestructive,whereanythingwhichdeviatesfromthepropermeasure,isinfactconsideredadeficiency.Butinthenon-materialelementswhichareconnectedtothespiritualdimension,asurplusisavirtue.
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"Thenumber’ten'inScriptureortheOralTorah,isareferencetotheTenHeavenlyEmanationsbymeansofwhichHaShem'sPresencedescendsfromheavenandmakesitselfmanifest.Allofthesephenomenawereaspectsofrevelation.Througheach,manandtheuniversewereelevatedtonewperceptionsofHaShem'sholinessandpresence."[4]
WewillseethattenspecificallyreferstotheWordofHaShem.
Therefore,whenwestudyhowHaShemactsthroughthevariouspermutationsoften,wearelookingateachdetailwithadoubleperspective:TheparticularpointwhicheachactexpressesandtheunifyingelementwhichinterlocksallofHaShem'sactivitiesintooneseamlessentity,asbefitsHaShemWhoisOne.
II.InCreation
Thenumberten(10)isassociatedwithMashiach.Theunityofcreationwasmanifestedwithtenutterances.Withtenutterancesof,“andG-dsaid:Lettherebe…”,Hecreatedtheuniverse[5]:
1 / Bereshit(Genesis)1:1 / InthebeginningG-dcreatedtheheavensandtheearth.2 / Bereshit(Genesis)1:3 / AndG-dsaid,"Lettherebelight,"andtherewaslight.
3 / Bereshit(Genesis)1:6 / AndG-dsaid,"Lettherebeanexpansebetweenthewaterstoseparatewaterfromwater."
4 / Bereshit(Genesis)1:9 / AndG-dsaid,"Letthewaterundertheskybegatheredtooneplace,andletdrygroundappear."Anditwasso.
5 / Bereshit(Genesis)1:11 / ThenG-dsaid,"Letthelandproducevegetation:seed-bearingplantsandtreesonthelandthatbearfruitwithseedinit,accordingtotheirvariouskinds."Anditwasso.
6 / Bereshit(Genesis)1:14-15 / AndG-dsaid,"Lettherebelightsintheexpanseoftheskytoseparatethedayfromthenight,andletthemserveassignstomarkseasonsanddaysandyears,Andletthembelightsintheexpanseoftheskytogivelightontheearth."Anditwasso.
7 / Bereshit(Genesis)1:20 / AndG-dsaid,"Letthewaterteemwithlivingcreatures,andbirdsflyabovetheearthacrosstheexpanseofthesky."
8 / Bereshit(Genesis)1:22 / G-dblessedthemandsaid,"Befruitfulandincreaseinnumberfillthewaterintheseas,andletthebirdsincreaseontheearth."
9 / Bereshit(Genesis)1:24 / AndG-dsaid,"Letthelandproducelivingcreaturesaccordingtheirkinds:livestock,creaturesthatmovealongtheground,andwildanimals,eachaccordingtoitskind."Anditwasso.
10 / Bereshit(Genesis)1:26-27 / ThenG-dsaid,"Letusmakemaninourimage,inourlikenessandletthemruleoverthefishoftheseaandthebirdsofair,overthelivestock,overalltheearth,andoverallcreaturesthatmovealongtheground."SoG-dcreatedmaninhisownimage,intheimageofG-dhehim;maleandfemalehecreatedthem.
RoshHaShana32aMISHNA.THERESHOULDBERECITEDNOTLESSTHANTENKINGSHIPVERSES,TENREMEMBRANCEVERSES,ANDTENSHOFARVERSES.R.JOHANANB.NURISAID:IFTHEREADERSAYSTHREEFROMEACHSET[6]HEHASFULFILLEDHISOBLIGATION.
GEMARA.Towhatdothesetenkingshipversescorrespond?—R.Levisaid,TothetenpraisesthatDavidutteredinthebookofPsalms.Buttherearealargenumberofpraisesthere?—Itmeans,thoseamongwhichoccurs,Praisehimwiththeblowingoftheshofar.[7]R.Josephsaid:TothetencommandmentsthatwerespokentoMosheonSinai.[8]R.Josephsaid:TothetencommandmentsthatwerespokentoMosheonSinai.[9]R.Johanansaid:Tothetenutterancesbymeansofwhichtheworldwascreated.[10]Whicharethey?Thephrase’andhesaid’occursintheaccountofthecreationonlyninetimes?—Thewords’inthebeginning’arealsoanutterance,asitiswritten,BythewordoftheLordtheheavensweremade.[11]
ThefactthatHaShem(TheSpeaker)createdtheuniversewithtenwords,orsayings,agreeswithJohn’smasorah.Itisintriguingtonotethat,asTheCreator’stool,HeiscalledTheWord:
Yochanan(John)1:1-3InthebeginningwastheWord,andtheWordwaswithG-d,andtheWordwasG-d.HewaswithG-dinthebeginning.Throughhimallthingsweremade;withouthimnothingwasmadethathasbeenmade.
Duringshachariteachmorning,weinvokeoneofHaShem’snamesthatmemorializesHisworkincreation.Weinvokethename:“PraisedBetheOneWhoSpokeandtheWorldCameintoBeing”.ItisinterestingtonotethatthenameHaShemchosetouseincreationisElohim.Thisnamehintsattheideaoftheinfinite(pluralname)withthefinite,creation.
Noticealsothatthetensayingscanbeeasilydividedintotwogroupsoffive.Thefirstfivedonothaveanyanimalsormen,whilethesecondsetoffivehavemenoranimals.IfindthisconcepteasytorememberbecauseIhavetenfingersdividedintotwosetsoffivefingersoneachoftwohands.
MidrashRabbah-Bereshit(Genesis)XVII:11.ANDHaShemGODSAID:ITISNOTGOODTHATTHEMANSHOULDBEALONE(II,8).Welearnt:Bytencommandswastheworldcreated,[12]andthesearethey:InthebeginningG-dcreated(Gen.I,1);Andthespirit(Ruach)ofG-dhovered[13];AndG-dsaid:Lettherebelight;AndG-dsaid:Lettherebeafirmament;AndG-dsaid:Letthewatersbegatheredtogether;AndG-dsaid:Lettheearthputforthgrass;AndG-dsaid:LettherebelightsAndG-dsaid:Letthewatersswarm;AndG-dsaid:Lettheearthbringforth;AndG-dsaid:Letusmakeman.Menachemb.R.Joseexcluded,’AndthespiritofG-dhoveredoverthefaceofthewaters,’andincluded,ANDHaShemGODSAID:ITISNOTGO0DTHATTHEMANSHOULDBEALONE.R.Jacobb.R.Kirshaisaid:Aseparatecommandwasdevotedtothewind.[14]
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Chagigah12aR.Zulrab.TobiahsaidthatRabsaid:bytenthingswastheworldcreated:Bywisdomandbyunderstanding,andbyreason,andbystrength,andbyrebuke,andbymight,byrighteousnessandbyjudgment,bylovingkindnessandbycompassion.Bywisdomandunderstanding,foritiswritten:TheLordbywisdomfoundedtheearth;andbyunderstandingestablishedtheheavens.Byreason,foritiswritten:ByHisreasonthedepthswerebrokenup.Bystrengthandmight,foritiswritten:WhobyHisstrengthsettethfastthemountains,Whoisgirdedaboutwithmight.Byrebuke,foritiswritten:Thepillarsofheavenweretrembling,buttheybecameastonishedatHis,rebuke.Byrighteousnessandjudgment,foritiswritten:RighteousnessandjudgmentarethefoundationofThythrone.Bylovingkindnessandcompassion,foritiswritten:Remember,OLord,ThycompassionsandThymercies;fortheyhavebeenfromofold.
III.TheTenDreams
Therearetendreams(chalom-חולם)inBereshit(Genesis).WhatmakesthisremarkableisthattherearenootherdreamsintheTorah.Thismakesthesedreamsespeciallyimportantbecausethecreationoftheconceptofadreamisfoundwiththefirstoccurrenceoftheword.
Torah / SubjectBereshit20:3ff / AvimelechandSarah.
Bereshit28:12ff / Jacob’sladder.
Bereshit31:10ff / Jacob’sspeckledsheep.
Bereshit31:24ff / LabantoldtoleaveJacobalone.
Bereshit37:5ff / Yosefandthesheaves.
Bereshit37:9ff / Yosefandthesun,moon,andstars.
Bereshit40:9ff / Yosefandthecupbearer.
Bereshit40:16ff / Yosefandthebaker.
Bereshit41:1ff / Paroandthecows.
Bereshit41:5ff / Paroandthesheaves.
IV.TheRedHeifer
Thenumberten(10)isassociatedwithMashiach.TheredHeiferillustratesthisidea:
FromthetimewhentheRedHeifermitzvawasfirstgiventotheJewishpeopleuntilthedestructionoftheSecondTemple,therewerenineRedHeifersburnedaltogether.ThefirstonewasbroughtbyMoshe,anditsasheswereusedduringtheentireexistenceoftheFirstBeitHaMikdashwithalittleremaining,afteritsdestruction.ThesecondwasbroughtbyEzraHaSofer(EzratheScribe);andtheremainingsevenwerebroughtfromEzrauntilthedestructionoftheSecondBeitHaMikdash(Temple).ThetenthwillbebroughtbytheMashiach,whowillcomespeedilyinourdays[15].
Moshepreparedthefirstone,
Ezrapreparedthesecond."TheSagessay,’SevenParotAdumotsinceEzra.Andwhopreparedthem?
SimeontheJust
SimeontheJustpreparedtwo
JohanantheHighPriest
JohanantheHighPriestpreparedtwo
EliehoenaithesonofHokkof(Caiaphas)and
HanameltheEgyptianand
IshmaelbenPiabipreparedoneeach."
Theredheifermitzvaisaneternalstatute,Numbers19:10.
SinceallaspectsofTorahareprecise,itfollowsthatthereisaconceptualrelationshipbetweenthelawsoftheParahAdumahandthecomingofMashiach.ThisiswhytheRambammentionstheawaitingofMashiach’sarrivalinthelawsofParahAdumah,althoughtheMashiachismentionedinYadHaChazakahbeforethelawsoftheParahAdumah.
TheashesoftheParahAdumah,offeringpurificationfromthedefilementofdeath,alludetothetimeofMashiach’scoming,thetimeofredemptionfromexile,whenJewssundertheirbondswithspiritualdeath,fortheythenallcleavetoHaShemandarethusvitallyalive.
MayMashiachcomeandredeemusspeedilyinourdays.InthewordsoftheRambam:“Mayhebespeedilyrevealed,Amen.MayHesowillit.”
Tenalsomeans"forever".
V.TheTenSongs
Thenumberten(10)isassociatedwithMashiach.ThereareninesongsintheTanakh.Mashiachwillsingthetenthsong.
1.AdamcomposedtheSabbathsong:Psalm92
2.Moshecomposedtheseasong:Shemot(Exodus)15:1
3.Israelsangthewellsong:Numbers21:17
4.Moshe,beforehedied,sang:Devarim(Deuteronomy)32:1
5.Yehoshua(Joshua)sangandthesunstopped:Yehoshua(Joshua)10:12
6.DeborahandBaraksang:Shoftim(Judges)5:1
7.Hannahandhersonsang:1Samuel2:1
8.Davidsangforthemiracles:IISamuel22:1
9.Solomonsangthe:SongofSongs
10:Israelsingstheredemptionsong:Isaiah30:29.ThetenthandgreatestsongwillbesungbytheJewishpeoplewhenHaShemredeemsthemfromthepresentexile.
Whilethefirstninesongsarecalledshira,inthefemininegender,thetenthoneistermedShir(masculinegender),asitsays,"OnthatdayshallthisShirbesunginthelandofYehuda".[16]
Aftertheredemptionsthatoccasionedthefirstninesongsnewhardshipsinvariablyfollowed.Eachredemptionisthereforelikenedtotheplightofawomanwhoundergoesthepainsofpregnancy,labor,andbirth,onlytobefollowedbytheselfsamediscomfortofanotherpregnancy.
Thetenthsong,though,willmarktheendofallexiles;itwillnotbefollowedbyanysufferingorhardship.Thistenthsongisdescribedin:
Revelation5:9-10Andtheysanganewsong:"Youareworthytotakethescrollandtoopenitsseals,becauseyouwereslain,andwithyourbloodyoupurchasedmenforG-dfromeverytribeandlanguageandpeopleandnation.YouhavemadethemtobeakingdomandprieststoserveourG-d,andtheywillreignontheearth."
VI.TheHarpofTenStrings
Itissaidthatthekinar,thesmallharp,willhavetenstringsafterMashiachcomes:
Arachin13bNOMINORCOULDENTERTHECOURTOFTHESANCTUARYetc.Whencedoweknowthat?—R.Johanansaid:BecauseScripturesaid,ThenstoodJeshuawithhissonsandhisbrethren,andKadmielandhissons,thesonsofJudahtogether,tohavetheoversightoftheworkmeninthehouseofG-d.[17]
NORDIDTHEYJOININTHESINGINGWITHTHEHARPANDLYRE,BUTWITHTHEMOUTHALONEetc.Onewouldsaythereforethatharpandlyrearedifferentinstruments.IsthistosaythatourMishnaisnotinaccordwithR.Judah,foritwastaught:R.Judahsaid,TheharpoftheSanctuaryhadsevencords,asitiswritten:InThypresenceisfitness[soba’]ofjoy;[18]readnot,fullness[soba’],butseven[sheba’]!Theharpofthemessianicdayshaseightcords,asitissaid:FortheleaderontheSheminith,[19][i.e.,theeighthstring].Theharpoftheworldtocomehastencords,asitissaid:Withaninstrumentoftenstrings,andwiththepsaltery;withasolemnsoundupontheharp.[20]Furthermore,itissaid:GivethanksuntotheLordwithharp,singpraisesuntoHimwiththepsalteryoftenstrings.SinguntoHimanewsong;playskillfullymidstshoutsofjoy.[21]Youcouldsayalsothat[ourMishnawillbe]inaccordwithR.Judah:Since,intheworldtocome,itwillhavemorecordsanditssoundwillbestronger,likethatofaharp,hecallsit’harp’.
VII.TheTenCommandments
Thenumberten(10)isassociatedwithMashiach.Throughthetenwords(commandments)spokenatSinai,HaShemcompressedHisentireTorahandgaveittoHispeople.
Shemot(Exodus)20:1-17
AndG-dspokeallthesewords,saying:
1.IamHaShemthyG-d,whobroughttheeoutofthelandofEgypt,outofthehouseofbondage.
2.ThoushalthavenoothergodsbeforeMe.Thoushaltnotmakeuntotheeagravenimage,northeformofanythingthatisintheheavenabove,orthatisintheearthbeneath,orthatisinthewaterundertheearth.Thoushaltnotbowdowntothem,norbeinducedtoservethem;forItheLordthyG-damazealousG-d,visitingtheiniquityofthefathersuponthechildren,uponthethirdanduponthefourthgenerationofthemthathateMe;butshowingloving-kindnessuntothethousandthgenerationthatloveMeandkeepMycommandments.
3.ThoushaltnottakethenameofHaShemthyG-dinvain;fortheLordwillnotholdhimguiltlessthattakesHisnameinvain.
4.RemembertheSabbathandkeepitholy.Sixdaysshaltthoulaboranddoallthywork;butontheseventhday,aSabbathuntoHaShemthyG-d,thoushaltnotdoanywork,neitherthou,northyson,northydaughter,northymanservant,northymaidservant,northycattle,northystrangerthatiswithinthygates.ForinsixdaystheLordmadeheavenandearth,theseaandallthatistherein,andHerestedontheseventhday;whereforeHaShemblessedtheSabbathdayandhallowedit.
5.Honorthyfatherandthymother,thatthydaysmaybelonguponthelandwhichHaShemthyG-dgivesthee.
6.Thoushaltnotmurder.
7.Thoushaltnotcommitadultery.
8.Thoushaltnotsteal.
9.Thoushaltnotbearfalsewitnessagainstthyneighbor.
10.Thoushaltnotcovetthyneighbor'shouse,thoushaltnotcovetthyneighbor'swife,norhismanservant,norhismaidservant,norhisox,norhisass,noranythingthatisthyneighbor's.
Together,allofHaShem’speople,theyproclaimed:"Wewilldoandwewilllisten"[22].EachyearontheholidayofShavuot,thishistoriceventisrelivedaswecommitourselvesanewtoobservingtheTorah.
InPesiktaRabbati21.18-19[23]itissaidthatthetencommandmentsshouldbepairedoffwiththetenwords[va-yomer,“and(G-d)said,”occurstentimesinthestoryofcreation]wherebytheworldwascreated.
1.“IHaShemamyourG-d”,ispairedwith,“AndG-dsaid:Lettherebelight”,Bereshit(Genesis)1:3,andoflightScripturesayselsewhere:“TheLordshallbeuntotheeaneverlastinglight”.[24]
2.“YoushallhavenoothergodsbesideMe”,ispairedwith:“AndG-dsaid,“Lettherebeanexpanseinthemidstofthewaters,thatitmayseparatewaterfromwater”-Bereshit(Genesis)1:6.TheHolyOne,blessedbeHe,said,“MakeaseparationbetweenMeandbetweenidolatry,whichintheverse:“TheyhaveforsakenMe,thefountainofLivingwaters,andhewedthemoutcisterns”[25]isimpliedtobestoredandstagnant[waters].”
3.“YoushallnotswearbythenameofHaShemyourG-d”,ispairedwith,“G-dsaid,Letthewater...begatheredintoonearea”-Bereshit(Genesis)1:9.TheHolyOne,blessedbeHe,said,“ThewatersaccordMehonorandrestrainthemselves;andwillyounotaccordMehonorinnotswearingbyMynamefalsely?”
4.“RemembertheSabbathday”,ispairedwith,“AndG-dsaid,lettheearthsproutvegetation”-Bereshit(Genesis)1:11.FortheHolyOne,blessedbeHe,statedthathoweverlittleyoufeastontheSabbathyouwillstillberegardedasonewhohonorsit.Rememberthattheworldwascreatedinthehopethatmanwouldnotsin;andmencanlivewithoutsinningbecausetheycansubsistifnecessaryonlyongrassesandherbsthattheearthputsforth.
5.“Honoryourfather”,ispairedwith,“G-dsaid,Lettherebelightsintheexpanseofthesky”-Bereshit(Genesis)1:14.TheHolyOne,blessedbeHe,said,“Behold,fortheeIcreatedtwolights,thyfatherandthymother.Takecareinthehonorduethem.”
6.“Youshallnotmurder”,ispairedwith,“G-dsaid,Letthewatersbringforthswarms”,-Bereshit(Genesis)1:20.TheHolyOne,blessedbeHe,said,“Benotlikethosefish,thebigonesthatswallowthelittleones,asisintimatedintheverse,“Wherefore...holdestThouThypeace...andmakestmenasthefishesofthesea?”[26]
7.“Youshallnotcommitadultery”,ispairedwith,“G-dsaid,Lettheearthbringfortheverykindoflivingcreature”-Bereshit(Genesis)1:24.TheHolyOne,blessedbeHe,said,“BeholdIcreatedfortheethymate.Eachandeveryoneshouldcleavetohismate,tohisownkind.”
8.“Youshallnotsteal”,ispairedwith,“G-dsaid,SeeIgiveyoueveryseedbearingplant”-Bereshit(Genesis)1:29.TheHolyOne,blessedbeHe,said,“Notoneofyoushallputforthhishandintheftofthepropertyorthemoneyofhisneighbor,youmaytakeonlyownerlessproperty,suchasseed-yieldingherbs.”R.Hiyyataught,Thatwhichisguardedwithinagardenitisforbiddentotake,thetakingwouldberobbery;butthatwhichisnotguardedinagardenmaybetaken,andthetakingisnotrobbery.
9.“Youshallnotbearfalsewitnessagainstyourneighbor,etc.”,ispairedwith,“AndG-dsaid,Letusmakemaninourimage”-Bereshit(Genesis)1:26.TheHolyOne,blessedbeHe,said,“BeholdfortheeIcreatedthyneighborinMylikeness.Andthou,bysuchactsascallforpunishment,wouldstswallowandmakeanendofthyneighbor.Donotthenbearfalsewitnessagainstthyneighbor.”
10.“Youshallnotcovet”,ispairedwith,“G-dsaid,Itisnotgoodformantobealone,Iwillmakeafittinghelperforhim”-Bereshit(Genesis)2:18.TheHolyOne,blessedbeHe,said,“Behold,Icreatedamateforthee.Leteachandeveryoneofyouclingtohismate.Letnotamanofyoucovetthewifeofhisneighbor.”
Whythetensingled-outstatements?Whatmakesthemsospecial?JewishtraditionholdsthatinsideoforincludedinthesetenstatementsistheentireTorah.Inotherwords,thetenstatementsareactuallytencategoriesintowhicheachofthe613Torahcommandmentsfalls.NameanycommandmentandI'llbetwecanfigureoutwhereitbelongs:Holidays,whichsanctifytimelikeShabbatbelonginthefourthcommandmentaboutobservingShabbat.Dealinghonestlyinbusinessfallsundernotbearingfalsetestimony.Keepingkosheralongwithothercommandmentsthatdon'thaveanapparentlogicalreasonfallundernumberonewhichconstitutesabasicbeliefinHaShemandthecalltoheedHiscommandmentswhetherornottheymakesensetous[27].
Indeed,accordingtoourSages[28],theentireTorah,comprisingboththeWrittenLawandtheOralLaw,wascarvedintothesetablets.
TheTenCommandmentsaredividedintotwotablets.Thefirsttablet,withit’sfivecommands,speaksaboutourrelationshipwithHaShem.Thesecondtablet,withit’sfivecommands,speaksaboutourrelationshipwithourfellowman.Andthetwotabletsareparallel:Thefirstcommandment,"BelieveinHaShem",correspondstothesixthcommandment,"Don'tmurder."
What'stheconnection?
EveryhumanbeingiscreatedintheimageofHaShem.WhenweloveHaShem,weloveHischildren.AndtherecognitionthatHaShemencompasseseverythingteachesusthatinthespiritualdimension,therearenoconventionalboundariesbetweenentities.It'salloneunit.
Whenweappreciatethatweareallonepeople,thenhurtingtheotherguy,payinghimback,isasridiculousashurtingyourself.Ifyou'reslicingacarrotandaccidentallycutyourfinger,doyoutaketheknifeandcutyourotherhandinrevenge?Ofcoursenot.Why?Becauseyourotherhandispartofyou,too.
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Decalogue / Creation / Sefira / Rationale“IHaShemamyourG-d” / “AndG-dsaid:Lettherebelight”-Bereshit(Genesis)1:3 / Keter / “TheLordshallbeuntotheeaneverlastinglight”.[29]
“YoushallhavenoothergodsbesideMe” / “AndG-dsaid,“Lettherebeanexpanseinthemidstofthewaters,thatitmayseparatewaterfromwater”Bereshit(Genesis)1:6 / Chakmah / TheHolyOne,blessedbeHe,said,“MakeaseparationbetweenMeandbetweenidolatry,whichintheverse:“TheyhaveforsakenMe,thefountainofLivingwaters,andhewedthemoutcisterns”[30]isimpliedtobestoredandstagnant[waters].”
“YoushallnotswearbythenameofHaShemyourG-d” / “G-dsaid,Letthewater...begatheredintoonearea”-Bereshit(Genesis)1:9 / Binah / TheHolyOne,blessedbeHe,said,“ThewatersaccordMehonorandrestrainthemselves;andwillyounotaccordMehonorinnotswearingbyMynamefalsely?”
“RemembertheSabbathday” / “AndG-dsaid,lettheearthsproutvegetation”-Bereshit(Genesis)1:11 / Chesed / FortheHolyOne,blessedbeHe,statedthathoweverlittleyoufeastontheSabbathyouwillstillberegardedasonewhohonorsit.Rememberthattheworldwascreatedinthehopethatmanwouldnotsin;andmencanlivewithoutsinningbecausetheycansubsistifnecessaryonlyongrassesandherbsthattheearthputsforth.
“Honoryourfather” / “G-dsaid,Lettherebelightsintheexpanseofthesky”-Bereshit(Genesis)1:14 / Gevurah / TheHolyOne,blessedbeHe,said,“Behold,fortheeIcreatedtwolights,thyfatherandthymother.Takecareinthehonorduethem.”
“Youshallnotmurder” / “G-dsaid,Letthewatersbringforthswarms”,-Bereshit(Genesis)1:20 / Tipheret / TheHolyOne,blessedbeHe,said,“Benotlikethosefish,thebigonesthatswallowthelittleones,asisintimatedintheverse,“Wherefore...holdestThouThypeace...andmakestmenasthefishesofthesea?”[31]
“Youshallnotcommitadultery” / “G-dsaid,Lettheearthbringfortheverykindoflivingcreature”-Bereshit(Genesis)1:24 / Netzach / TheHolyOne,blessedbeHe,said,“BeholdIcreatedfortheethymate.Eachandeveryoneshouldcleavetohismate,tohisownkind.”
“Youshallnotsteal” / “G-dsaid,SeeIgiveyoueveryseedbearingplant”-Bereshit(Genesis)1:29 / Hod / TheHolyOne,blessedbeHe,said,“Notoneofyoushallputforthhishandintheftofthepropertyorthemoneyofhisneighbor,youmaytakeonlyownerlessproperty,suchasseed-yieldingherbs.”R.Hiyyataught,Thatwhichisguardedwithinagardenitisforbiddentotake,thetakingwouldberobbery;butthatwhichisnotguardedinagardenmaybetaken,andthetakingisnotrobbery.
“Youshallnotbearfalsewitnessagainstyourneighbor,etc.” / “AndG-dsaid,Letusmakemaninourimage”-Bereshit(Genesis)1:26 / Yesod / TheHolyOne,blessedbeHe,said,“BeholdfortheeIcreatedthyneighborinMylikeness.Andthou,bysuchactsascallforpunishment,wouldstswallowandmakeanendofthyneighbor.Donotthenbearfalsewitnessagainstthyneighbor.”
“Youshallnotcovet” / “G-dsaid,Itisnotgoodformantobealone,Iwillmakeafittinghelperforhim”-Bereshit(Genesis)2:18 / Malkuth / TheHolyOne,blessedbeHe,said,“Behold,Icreatedamateforthee.Leteachandeveryoneofyouclingtohismate.Letnotamanofyoucovetthewifeofhisneighbor.”
1
***
TheZoharfindsaconnectionbetweenanapparentlyrandomsetofeventsthatoccurredinseriesoftens.Theworldwascreatedwithtendeclarations,theTorahwasgivenwithTenCommandments,andG-dsenttenplaguestoforcetheEgyptianstoreleasetheJewishpeople.AccordingtotheZohar,theseeventsarerelatedinthefollowingway:ThetendeclarationsofcreationweretransformedintotheTenCommandmentsbythetenplagues.
TheMaharalofPragueexplainsthefirstpartoftheconnectioninhisbookGevurotHaShem[32]:
ThewaytoapproachthetenplaguesistolookateachplagueasturningoffoneofG-d'stendeclarationsofcreation.Bytheculminationoftheplaguesallofthemhadbeenshutdownonebyone.ThusHisfirstspeech’lettherebelight'wasshutdownbytheplagueofdarkness;Histenthspeech’letusmakeman'wasshutdownbytheplagueofthefirstborn;Hiscreationofvegetationbytheplagueoflocuststhatconsumedallvegetation;andsoonthroughthemall.
Ramban,onShemot20:13,givesusatremendousinsight:
WithreferencetothewritingontheTabletsofLaw,itwouldappearthatthefirstfivecommandmentswereononeTablet,fortheyareforthegloryoftheCreator,asIhavementioned,andthesecondfivecommandmentswereonanotherTablet.Thustherewerefiveoppositefive,somethingliketheRabbismentionedintheBookofCreation:[33]"Withtenemanations,[34]intangible,asisthenumberoftenfingers,fiveoppositefive,andtheCovenantoftheUnityplaceddirectlyinthemiddle."FromthisitwillbemadecleartoyouwhythereweretwoTablets,foruptoHonoryourfather,itcorrespondstotheWrittenTorah,andfromthereonitcorrespondstotheOralTorah.ItwouldappearthatitisthisthatourRabbis,ofblessedmemory,havealludedtoinsaying[35]thatthetwoTabletscorrespondtoheavenandearth,[36]toagroomandbride,[37]tothetwofriends[ofthegroomandbride],andtothetwoworlds[thisworldandtheWorldtoCome].Alltheseconstituteoneallusion,andthepersonlearnedinthemysticloreoftheCabalawillunderstandthesecret.
VIII.TheTenPraises
Thenumberten(10)isassociatedwithMashiach.WithtenexpressionsofHallel(praise),messiahKingDavidconcludedTehillim(Psalms)whichspeakofredemptionthatwillbewroughtbyMashiach:
Psalm150:1-6
1. PraiseHaShem.PraiseG-dinhissanctuary;
2. praisehiminhismightyheavens.
3. Praisehimforhisactsofpower;
4. praisehimforhissurpassinggreatness.
5. Praisehimwiththesoundingoftheshofar,
6. praisehimwiththeharpandlyre,
7. Praisehimwithtambourineanddancing,
8. praisehimwiththestringsandflute,
9. Praisehimwiththeclashofcymbals,praisehimwithresoundingcymbals.
10. LeteverythingthathasbreathpraiseHaShem.PraiseHaShem.
InPsalm150,noticethatthefirstfivepraisesrelatetothingsofG-d(infinite),whilethesecondsetoffivearerelatedtothethingsofmen(finite).
Pesachim117aTheBookofPsalmswasutteredwithtensynonymsofpraise,viz.:nizzuah[victory],niggun[melody],maskil,[38]mizmor[psalm],Shir[song],ashre[happy],tehillah[praise],tefillah[prayer],hodayah[thanksgiving][and]hallelujah.Thegreatestofallis’hallelujah,’becauseitembracesthe[Divine]Nameandpraisesimultaneously.[39]
IX.TheTenNations
Thenumberten(10)isassociatedwithMashiach.ThefirsttimethatthelandofIsraelispromisedtoAvraham,covenantially,isinBereshit(Genesis)15:17ff.Thispassagetalksaboutthelandoftendifferentpeoples.Thisisthefirst,andonlytime,weseethetennationsenumerated.Fromnowonallpromiseswilltalkaboutfive,six,orsevennations.
Firstlet'slookatthepromiseHaShemgavetoAvraham:
Bereshit(Genesis)15:17-20Whenthesunhadsetanddarknesshadfallen,asmokingfirepotwithablazingtorchappearedandpassedbetweenthepieces.OnthatdayHaShemmadeacovenantwithAbramandsaid,"ToyourdescendantsIgivethisland,fromtheriverofEgypttothegreatriver,theEuphrates--Thelandofthe
Kenites,
Kenizzites,
Kadmonites,
Hittites,
Perizzites,
Rephaites,
Amorites,
Canaanites,
Girgashitesand
Jebusites."
TheRaphaitesarenotfoundinanyofthelistsofpeoplesoftheland,again.Thereasonisfoundin:
Devarim(Deuteronomy)3:10-11Wetookallthetownsontheplateau,andallGilead,andallBashanasfarasSalecahandEdrei,townsofOg'skingdominBashan.(OnlyOgkingofBashanwasleftoftheremnantoftheRephaites.Hisbedwasmadeofironandwasmorethanthirteenfeetlongandsixfeetwide.ItisstillinRabbahoftheAmmonites.)
So,TheRaphaitesareoutofthepicture.
CanaanwasthesonofHamaccordingtoBereshit(Genesis)10:6.Canaanwasthefatherofthe
Hittites,
Jebusites,
Amorites,
Girgashites,
Hivites.
So,weknowtheoriginsofsixofthepeopleswhichYehoshua(Joshua)willfight.WecanalsoseethatfiveofthesepeoplesarerelatedtoCanaanandtheotherfivearenot.
WhoaretheKenites?TheTalmudtellspartofthestory:
Sotah11a-R.Hiyyab.AbbasaidinthenameofR.Simai:Therewerethreeinthatplan,viz.Balaam,JobandJethro.Balaamwhodeviseditwasslain;Jobwhosilentlyacquiescedwasafflictedwithsufferings;Jethro,whofled,meritedthathisdescendantsshouldsitintheChamberofHewnStone,[40]asitissaid:AndthefamiliesofscribeswhichdweltatJabez;theTirathites,theShimeathites,theSucathites.ThesearetheKenitesthatcameofHammath,thefatherofthehouseofRechab;[41]anditiswritten:AndthechildrenoftheKenite,Moshe’sfather-in-lawetc.[42]
IChronicles2:54-55ThedescendantsofSalma:Bethlehem,theNetophathites,AtrothBethJoab,halftheManahathites,theZorites,AndtheclansofscribeswholivedatJabez:theTirathites,ShimeathitesandSucathites.ThesearetheKeniteswhocamefromHammath,thefatherofthehouseofRecab.
TheTalmudalsogivesusadditionalcluesastowhotheKenitesandtheKenizzitesare:
BabaBathra56a-RabJudahsaidinthenameofSamuel:AllthelandwhichG-dshowedMoshe[43]issubjectto[theobligation],oftithe.Whichpartofthelanddoesthisexclude?[44]_ItexcludestheKenite,theKeniziteandtheKadmonite.Ithasbeentaught:R.Meirsaysthat[theseare]theNabateans,theArabiansandtheSalmoeans.[45]R.EliezersaystheyareMountSeir,AmmonandMoab.R.SimeonsaystheyareArdiskis,AsiaandAspamia.[46]
So,theTalmudgivesusacluethattheKenites,Kenizzites,andKadmonitesarenotpartofthelandthatwasshowntoMoshe,butitwaspartofthelandpromisedtoAvraham.
Devarim(Deuteronomy)34:1-4ThenMosheclimbedMountNebofromtheplainsofMoabtothetopofPisgah,acrossfromJericho.ThereHaShemshowedhimthewholeland--fromGileadtoDan,AllofNaphtali,theterritoryofEphraimandManasseh,allthelandofJudahasfarasthewesternsea,TheNegevandthewholeregionfromtheValleyofJericho,theCityofPalms,asfarasZoar.ThenHaShemsaidtohim,"ThisisthelandIpromisedonoathtoAvraham,IsaacandJacobwhenIsaid,’Iwillgiveittoyourdescendants.'Ihaveletyouseeitwithyoureyes,butyouwillnotcrossoverintoit."
Rashigivesussomeinsightintothesethreepeoplesandtheirlands:
[IhavegivenMountSeir]toEsauforaninheritancefromAbraham.IgavetennationstoAbraham,sevenofthemforyou[thesevenofCanaan],andtheKenites,theKenizzites,andtheKadmonites(Gen.16:18-21),whoareAmmon,Moab,andSeir.OneofthemisforEsau,andtheothertwoareforthechildrenofLot(Gen.Rabbah44).Asareward[forLot]forgoingwithhim[Abraham]toEgyptandforkeepingsilentwhenAbrahamsaid,regardinghiswife,“Sheismysister,”Hetreatedhim[Lot]ashis[Abraham’s]son[toinheritpartofthelandpromisedtoAbraham](Gen.Rabbah44).
WheredidtheKenitesdwellinthedaysoftheShoftim(Judges)?
Shoftim(Judges)1:16ThedescendantsofMoshe’sfather-in-law,theKenite,wentupfromtheCityofPalmswiththemenofJudahtoliveamongthepeopleoftheDesertofJudahintheNegevnearArad.
FromtheabovepassagewealsolearnthatMoshe’sfather-in-lawwasaKenite.
WhydidtheKenitessurviveYehoshua(Joshua)'sonslaught?
ISamuel15:5-6SaulwenttothecityofAmalekandsetanambushintheravine.ThenhesaidtotheKenites,"Goaway,leavetheAmalekitessothatIdonotdestroyyoualongwiththem;foryoushowedkindnesstoalltheIsraeliteswhentheycameupoutofEgypt."SotheKenitesmovedawayfromtheAmalekites.
WhatistobecomeoftheKenites?
Numbers24:20-22ThenBalaamsawAmalekandutteredhisoracle:"Amalekwasfirstamongthenations,buthewillcometoruinatlast."ThenhesawtheKenitesandutteredhisoracle:"Yourdwellingplaceissecure,yournestissetinarock;YetyouKeniteswillbedestroyedwhenAsshurtakesyoucaptive."
WhoaretheKenizzites?Well,CalebwasthesonofaKenizzite:
Numbers32:10-12HaShem'sangerwasarousedthatdayandhesworethisoath:’Becausetheyhavenotfollowedmewholeheartedly,notoneofthementwentyyearsoldormorewhocameupoutofEgyptwillseethelandIpromisedonoathtoAvraham,IsaacandJacob--NotoneexceptCalebsonofJephunnehtheKenizziteandYehoshua(Joshua)sonofNun,fortheyfollowedHaShemwholeheartedly.'
Welearnedearlier,intheTalmud,thattheKenizziteswerenotinthelandthatMoshesawfrommountNebo,but,theywerepartofthelandpromisedtoAvraham.
WhoaretheKadmonites?OurGenesispassagewhereAvrahamispromisedthelandoftheKadmonites,istheonlyplaceinTanachwherewefindthisword.TheTalmud,inBabaBathra56a,istheonlyTalmudicreferencetothesepeople.
So,theKenites,Kenizzites,andtheKadmonitesweredwellinginapartofthelandpromisedtoAvrahambutnotseenbyMoshe.TheimplicationisthatthesethreepeopleswerenottobeconquereduntilMessianictimes!NoticethattheyarehiddenlikethethreeuppersefirotandtheBenchofThree.
WhoaretheCanaanites?WhereweretheCanaaniteslocated?
Bereshit(Genesis)10:15-19CanaanwasthefatherofSidonhisfirstborn,andoftheHittites,Jebusites,Amorites,Girgashites,Hivites,Arkites,Sinites,Arvadites,ZemaritesandHamathites.LatertheCanaaniteclansscatteredAndthebordersofCanaanreachedfromSidontowardGerarasfarasGaza,andthentowardSodom,Gomorrah,AdmahandZeboiim,asfarasLasha.
Shoftim(Shoftim(Judges))1:27-30ButManassehdidnotdriveoutthepeopleofBethShanorTaanachorDororIbleamorMegiddoandtheirsurroundingsettlements,fortheCanaanitesweredeterminedtoliveinthatland.WhenIsraelbecamestrong,theypressedtheCanaanitesintoforcedlaborbutneverdrovethemoutcompletely.NordidEphraimdriveouttheCanaaniteslivinginGezer,buttheCanaanitescontinuedtolivethereamongthem.NeitherdidZebulundriveouttheCanaaniteslivinginKitronorNahalol,whoremainedamongthem;buttheydidsubjectthemtoforcedlabor.
Shemot(Exodus)3:17
G-dtalkingtoMosheattheburningbush.
Canaanites,
Hittites,
Amorites,
Perizzites,
Hivitesand
Jebusites
Shemot(Exodus)3:8
G-dtalkingtoMosheattheburningbush.
Canaanites,
Hittites,
Amorites,
Perizzites,
Hivitesand
Jebusites
Shemot(Exodus)23:23
IsraelitesatMountSinai.
Amorites,
Hittites,
Perizzites,
Canaanites,
Hivitesand
Jebusites
Shemot(Exodus)13:5
ThegivingofPassover.
Canaanites,
Hittites,
Amorites,
Hivitesand
Jebusites
Shemot(Exodus)34:11
MosheafterseeingthebackofG-d.
Amorites,
Canaanites,
Hittites,
Perizzites,
Hivitesand
Jebusites
Shemot(Exodus)33:2
Sinofthegoldencalf.
Canaanites,
Amorites,
Hittites,
Perizzites,
Hivitesand
Jebusites.
Devarim(Deuteronomy)20:17
Battleinstructions.
Hittites,
Amorites,
Canaanites,
Perizzites,
Hivitesand
Jebusites
Devarim(Deuteronomy)7:1
AtthegivingoftheShema
Hittites,
Girgashites,
Amorites,
Canaanites,
Perizzites,
Hivitesand
Jebusites
Yehoshua(Joshua)12:8
Theconqueredlands.
Hittites,
Amorites,
Canaanites,
Perizzites,
Hivitesand
Jebusites):
Yehoshua(Joshua)3:10
CrossingtheJordanriver.
Canaanites,
Hittites,
Hivites,
Perizzites,
Girgashites,
Amoritesand
Jebusites.
Shoftim(Judges)3:5
TheIsraeliteslivedamongthese:
Canaanites,
Hittites,
Amorites,
Perizzites,
Hivitesand
Jebusites.
Yehoshua(Joshua)24:11
Thosewhofoughtandlost.
Amorites,
Perizzites,
Canaanites,
Hittites,
Girgashites,
Hivitesand
Jebusites,
Nehemiah9:8
LeviticalprayerinNehemiah’sday.
Canaanites,
Hittites,
Amorites,
Perizzites,
Jebusitesand
Girgashites.
AftertheBabyloniancaptivity,theinhabitantsofthelandofIsraelwerestillaliveandcausingtroubleforIsrael:
Ezra9:1-2Afterthesethingshadbeendone,theleaderscametomeandsaid,"ThepeopleofIsrael,includingthepriestsandtheLevites,havenotkeptthemselvesseparatefromtheneighboringpeopleswiththeirdetestablepractices,likethoseofthe
Canaanites,
Hittites,
Perizzites,
Jebusites,
Ammonites,
Moabites,
Egyptiansand
Amorites.
Theyhavetakensomeoftheirdaughtersaswivesforthemselvesandtheirsons,andhavemingledtheholyracewiththepeoplesaroundthem.Andtheleadersandofficialshaveledthewayinthisunfaithfulness."
So,whenallwassaidanddone,thelandpromisedtoAvrahamstillhadit’soriginalinhabitants.TheGirgashitesandHivitesaretheonlyonesmissingfromthislist.InYehoshua(Joshua)chapter9wereadabouttheruseusedbytheHivitesofGibeontoenablethemtosecureatreatywiththeIsraelites.
MidrashRabbah-Bereshit(Genesis)XLIV:23THEKENITE,ANDTHEKENIZZITE,ANDTHEKADMONITE,ANDTHEHITTITE,ANDTHEPERIZZITE,ANDTHEREPHAIM,ANDTHEAMORITE,ANDTHECANAANITE,ANDTHEGIRGASHITE,ANDTHEJEBUSITE(XV,19f.).R.DostaisaidinthenameofR.Samuelb.Nahman:BecausetheHiviteisnotmentionedhere[47]theRephaimaresubstitutedintheirstead.R.HelbosaidinR.Abba'snameinR.Johanan'sname:TheHolyOne,blessedbeHe,didatfirstcontemplategivingIsraelpossessionoftenpeoples,butHegavethemonlyseven,theotherthreebeing,’THEKENITE,ANDTHEKENIZZITE,ANDTHEKADMONITE.Rabbisaid:TheyareArabia,theShalamite,andtheNabatean.R.Simeonb.Yohaisaid:TheyaretheDamascusregion,AsiaMinor,[48]andApamea.[49]R.Liezerb.Jacobsaid:AsiaMinor,Thrace,andCarthage.[50]TheRabbissaid:Edom,Moab,andthechiefofthechildrenofAmmon’arethethreenationsthatwerenotgiventotheminthisworld,asitissaid,ForIwillnotgiveyouoftheirland,etc.(Deut.II,5).ButinthedaysoftheMessiahtheyshallonceagainbelongtoIsrael,[51]inordertofulfillG-d'spromise.Now,however,Hehasgiventhembutseven,asitsays,Sevennationsgreaterandmightierthanthou(ib.VII,1).R.Isaacsaid:Theswinegrazeswithtenofitsyoungwhereasthesheepdoesnotgrazeevenwithone.[52]Thus,allthese,viz.THEKENITE,THEKENIZZITE,etc.[werepromisedtoAvraham'sseed],yetsofar,SaraiAvraham'swifeborehimnochildren(Gen.XVI,1)!
X.TheTenGenerations
AnothertenisfoundinthegenealogyrecordedbyMatthew,inchapterone,andLukeinchapterthree[53]:
1Adam,thesonofG-d.
(G-dtalkedtoAdamandthenwassilentfortengenerations.)
2Seth,thesonofAdam
3Enosh,thesonofSeth
4Kenan,ThesonofEnosh
5Mahalalel,thesonofKenan
6Jared,thesonofMahalalel
7Enoch,thesonofJared
8Methuselah,thesonofEnoch
9Lamech,ThesonofMethuselah
10Noah,thesonofLamech
(G-dtalkedtoNoahandthenwassilentfortengenerations.)
11Shem,thesonofNoah
12Arphaxad,thesonofShem
13Cainan,thesonofArphaxad
14Shelah,ThesonofCainan
15Eber,thesonofShelah
16Peleg,thesonofEber
17Reu,thesonofPeleg
18Serug,thesonofReu
19Nahor,ThesonofSerug
20Terah,thesonofNahor
21...Avraham,thesonofTerah
(HaShemtalkedtoAvraham)
ArecordofthegenealogyofYeshuaHaMashiachthesonofDavid,thesonofAvraham:
21AvrahamwasthefatherofIsaac,
22IsaacthefatherofJacob,
23JacobthefatherofJudahandhisbrothers,
24JudahthefatherofPerezandZerah,whose
motherwasTamar,
25PerezthefatherofHezron,
26HezronthefatherofRam,
27RamthefatherofAmminadab,
28AmminadabthefatherofNahshon,
29NahshonthefatherofSalmon,
30SalmonthefatherofBoaz,whosemother
wasRahab,
31BoazthefatherofObed,whosemother
wasRuth,
32ObedthefatherofJesse,
33AndJessethefatherofKingDavid.
34DavidwasthefatherofSolomon,whose
motherhadbeenUriah'swife,
35SolomonthefatherofRehoboam,
36RehoboamthefatherofAbijah,
37AbijahthefatherofAsa,
38AsathefatherofJehoshaphat,
39JehoshaphatthefatherofJehoram,
40JehoramthefatherofUzziah,
41UzziahthefatherofJotham,
42JothamthefatherofAhaz,
43AhazthefatherofHezekiah,
44HezekiahthefatherofManasseh,
45ManassehthefatherofAmon,
46AmonthefatherofJosiah,
47AndJosiahthefatherofJeconiahandhis
brothersatthetimeoftheexileto
Babylon.AftertheexiletoBabylon:
JeconiahwasthefatherofShealtiel,
49ShealtielthefatherofZerubbabel,
50ZerubbabelthefatherofAbiud,
51AbiudthefatherofEliakim,
52EliakimthefatherofAzor,
53AzorthefatherofZadok,
54ZadokthefatherofAkim,
55AkimthefatherofEliud,
56EliudthefatherofEleazar,
57EleazarthefatherofMatthan,
58MatthanthefatherofJacob,
59AndJacobthefatherof
60Joseph,thehusbandofMary,ofwhomwasborn
61Yeshua,whoiscalledMashiach.
Thisnextsectionisanexcerptfrom"TheArtscrollTanachSeries:Bereishis",volume1(a),MesorahPublications,page207.TranslationandcommentarybyRabbiMeirZlotowitz.
“OfthesameorderwerethetengenerationsfromAdamtoNoahandthetenfromNoahtoAvraham.Thenumbertenwasnotcoincidental;HaShemhadaplanofdevelopmentwhichwastoproceedanddevelopuntilitreacheditsspiritualculminationintengenerations.ThemasterplanofcreationwasTorahanditwastoenablemantoperfecthimselfthroughthestudyofTorahandtheperformanceofitscommandsthatheavenandearthwerecreated.ThedivineintentionwasthatHaShem'sPresenceberevealedbehindtheobscurityofearth'shiddennessthroughAdam,andthatman'sperceptionofitgrowandintensifystagebystage,emanationbyemanation,untilthetenthgenerationwhenitwastoreachitsclimax.Then,theTorahwouldbegivenandallmankindwouldachieveHaShem'sfinalpurposeandbecome,akingdomofpriestsandaholynation[54].”
“TheZoharwritesthatthisgoalisalludedtointhewordsinceheisbutflesh,[55]whichhasthenumericalvalueofMoshe.Hadmanbeenworthy,theequivalentofMoshewouldhaveappearedtoreceivetheTorah.Butmankindwasnotworthy;insteadofattainingperfection,manmovedinadownwardspiralofidolatry,degeneration,andcorruptionuntilthefloodblottedhimout.”
“TheprocesswastobeginagainfromrighteousNoahwhosignaledanewandbetterbeginningbybringingofferingsofthanksgivinganddedicationtoHaShemafterthedeluge.OnceagainHaShemsetinmotionthechainofdevelopmentthatwastoculminateinman'sperfectionandthegivingoftheTorah.Again,mandidnotrisetothechallenge.Thetengenerationssinnedincreasingly,angeringHaShemmoreandmore,evenattemptingtochallengeHismasteryoftheearthanddobattlewithHimbyerectingtheirTowerofBabel[56].Butthischainoftenhadadifferentendingthantheearlierone.Haditendedintotalfailure,thennoonecanknowwhatsortofmisfortunemighthavebeenvisiteduponman.InsteaditendedwithAvraham.Byhisowngreatness,agreatnessheprovedbyelevatinghimselfthroughasuccessionoftentests,heachievedinhispersonwhatalltengenerationshadfailedtodo."TheZoharstatesthatAvrahamwasagilgulofAdamHaRishon.Avraham,therefore,istocompletethemissionofAdamHaRishon.WithMashiachproclaimedasthelastAdam[57],theconnectionoftenwithMashiachisstrengthened.”
1.NimrodthrewAvrahamintoafurnace
Thefirstseriesofgenerationswaswipedoutwithoutamemory;thesecondseriesattainedinAvrahamwhatitwasdestinedtoaccomplish.Bynotbeingequaltoitsmission,therestofmankindlostitsbirthrightofholiness:beforethen,allofmankindwasmeanttosharethegiftofTorahandbethechariotbearingHaShem'sPresence.Allofmankindborewithinitselfthesparksofholinessthatshouldhavegrownintoafireofspirituality.Buttheyweren'tnurturedandwouldhavebecomeextinguishedhadnotAvrahamrisentosuchheightsthathecouldbecometheabodeofalltheworld'sholiness.TheunwelcomeholysparkslefttheirunwillinghostsandlodgedinAvraham.TheyallantagonizedHaShem,untilAvrahamcameandearnedthemeritofthemall.
AvrahamperformedthecommandmentsoftheTorahbeforetheyweregiven,'eventheRabbinicinjunctionsofthefuture(Yoma28b).’HistwokidneysbecameliketwoteachersteachinghimTorahandwisdom'(Midrash),becausehereachedsohighalevelthathisownwordsandthoughtsbecameTorah;heunitedhimselfwiththemindofHaShemuntilhisownthoughtsandwisdombecameidenticalwithHaShem's.Thus,inmorethanasymbolicsense,theDivinePlanwasfulfilledandTorahwas’given'-nottotheflawedgenerationofBabel-itwasdispersed;notbygivingtheTabletsandtheTorahinitspresentform-thatwasleftforMosheandthechildrenofIsrael.ButtheTorahwasgivenandnurturedinAvrahamwho,inarealsense,begananewhistoryoftheworld."[58]
So,iften(10)representsMashiachandsix(6)representsmanastheconnectionbetweenthisworldandtheupperworld,thententimessixwouldrepresentMashiachbenYosefortheManMashiach!TheseventhMashiachshouldbeMashiachbenDavid.Noticethateachofthemen,everytengenerations,inboldisa“type”oftheMashiach.
AnotherinterestingpointisthatYeshuaisacombinationofthefinite(thesonofman),andtheinfinite(TheSonofG-d).
In The Book Of Ruth[59]
Inallofthethingswehavetoldyou,youshouldunderstandcertainmattersthatwehavenotstatedopenly.Youshouldjoineverythingtogether,anduseyourownwisdomtounderstandtheproperwaytoconductthemaritalunion,behavingevenmoremodestlythanallofthemodestqualitiesthatcharacterizeyourotherdoings,suchaseating,drinking,andspeakingwithpeople.Thisisbecauseyourmodestyandyourthoughtsduringthemaritalactarewhatdeterminethequalityandspiritualmake-upofyourdropsofsemen.
Thisisthesecretoftheverse,"ThesearethegenerationsYitzhak,sonofAvraham...."(Genesis,25:19).AftertheHolyOne,BlessedBeHe,toldhimthathiswifeSarahwouldgivebirthtoason,atthetimeoftheirunion,Avrahamconcentratedhismind,andallofhisnoblequalities,onasupremelytranscendentalintention.Attachinghisthoughtstothemostexaltedspiritualworlds,heinfusedhismindwiththeintentionofhavingasonwhowouldbeworthyofG-d'spromise.Thisisthesecretof,"AvrahamgavebirthtoYitzhak,"meaningheconcentratedonhavingasonwhowouldbeacompletetzaddiklikehimself....
Thisishowallothersaintlymenconductthemselves,forinperformingthemaritalactforthesakeofthemitzvah,attachingtheirthoughtsatthetimeoftheuniontothemostexaltedspiritualworlds,theybringforthchildrenpossessingthekernelsofholiness,purity,andsaintlybehavior.
Andthisiswhyitiswritten,"ThesearethegenerationsofPeretz:PeretzgavebirthtoChetzron,andChetzronbegotRam,andRambegotAmminadav,andAmminadovbegotNachshon,andNachshonbegotSalma,andSalmabegotBoaz,andBoazbegotOved,andOvedbegotYishay,andYishaybegotDavid (Ruth,4:18).For,inbeingacompletetzaddik,Peretzhadtheintentionofgivingbirthtoatzaddiklikehimself.Thisisthesecretof"PeretzgavebirthtoChatzron,"continuingonuntil"YishaybegotDavid,"atzaddikgivingbirthtoatzaddik.
MidrashRabbah-GenesisXXXIX:10Similarly,theHolyOne,blessedbeHe,saidtoAbraham:‘WhatneedhadItotracethedescentofShem,Arpachshad,Shelah,Eber,Peleg,Reu,Serug,Nahor,andTerah?Wasitnotonthyaccount?‘1Thusitiswritten,Andfoundesthisheart [Abraham's]faithfulbeforeThee (Neh.IX,8).2InlikemannerGodsaidtoDavid:'WhatneedhadItotracethedescentofPerez,Hezron,Ram,Aminadab,Nachshon,Shalmon,Boaz,Obed,andJesse?Wasitnotonthyaccount?'Henceitiswritten,IhavefoundDavidMyservant;withMyholyoilhaveIanointedhim(Ps.LXXXIX,21).
ThiscomestotellusthatitwasnotaccidentalthatG-dchosehisservant,David,toruleaskingoverIsrael,forhewasthepinnacleofachainoftengenerationsofcompletetzaddikim,onemoreexaltedthanthenext.Thisresemblesthetensefirotinthesecretoftheirelevation,oneupontheother,joinedinthesecretoften,theHebrewletteryud,whichencompassesallthenumbersprecedingit,forfromPeretztoDavid,therearetenascendingstagesoftzaddikbentzaddik.
Andnow,meditateonthesecretofthesematters.IfyoupracticethemlikeIhavesetforth,IpromiseyouthatyouwillgivebirthtoarighteoustzaddikwhowillsanctifytheNameofHaShem.
XI.TheTenStages
RoshHaShana31aR.Judahb.IdisaidinthenameofR.Johanan:TheDivinePresence[sotospeak]leftIsraelbytenstages[60]—thisweknowfromreferencesinScripture—andtheSanhedrincorrespondinglywanderedtotenplacesofbanishment[61]—thisweknowfromtradition.’TheDivinePresenceleftIsraelbytenstages—thisweknowfromreferencesinScripture’:
[itwent]fromtheArk-covertotheCherub[62]and
fromtheCherubtothethreshold[oftheHolyofHolies],and
fromthethresholdtothecourt,and
fromthecourttothealtar,[63]and
fromthealtartotheroof[oftheTemple],and
fromtherooftothewall,and
fromthewalltothetown,and
fromthetowntothemountain,and
fromthemountaintothewilderness,and
fromthewildernessitascendedandabodeinitsownplace,[64]asitsays,Iwillgoandreturntomyplace.[65]‘FromtheArk-covertotheCherub[66]andfromtheCherubtothethreshold’,asitiswritten,AndtherewillImeetwiththee...fromabovetheark-cover,[67]anditiswritten,AndthegloryoftheLordwasgoneupfromthecherubwhereuponitwastothethresholdofthehouse.[68]‘Andfromthethresholdtothecourt’,asitiswritten,Andthehousewasfilledwiththecloud,andthecourtwasfullofthebrightnessoftheLord'sglory,[69]‘Fromthecourttothealtar’,asitiswritten,IsawtheLordstandingonthealtar.[70]‘Andfromthealtartotheroof’,asitiswritten,Itisbettertodwellit,acornerofthehousetop[thaninahouseincommonwithacontentiouswoman].[71]‘Fromtherooftothewall’,asitiswritten,Behold,theLordstoodbyawallmadebyaplumbline.[72]‘Fromthewalltothetown’,asitiswritten,ThevoiceoftheLordcriethuntothecity.[73]‘Andfromthecitytothemountain’,asitiswritten,AndthegloryoftheLordwentupfromthemidstofthecityandstooduponthemountainwhichisontheeastsideofthecity.[74]‘Andfromthemountaintothewildernessasitiswritten,Itisbettertodwellinadesertland[thanwithacontentiouswoman].[75]‘Andfromthewildernessitwentandabodeinitsownplace’,asitiswritten,Ishallgoandreturntomyplaceuntiltheyacknowledgetheirguilt.[76]
XII.TheTenAngelicLevels
Maimonides[77]enumeratesthetenspeciesofangels:
1.TheholyHayot,whoareaboveallothers;
2.theOfanim,thewheelangels;
3.theer'elim,thegreat,exaltedones;
4.thechashmalim,''thefierybeingswhichcommunicate''(Ez.1:27);
5.theseraphim,theburningones,thereptilians;
6.themalachim,themessengers;
7.theElohim,theShoftim(Judges)ofthelowerrealms;
8.thebeneielohim,theworkersfortheelohimangels;
9.thekeruvim,thechildlikeangels;
10.theishim,thehumanlikeangelswhoappeartomankindashumanbeings.
MaimonidesandtheotherHakhamimandKabbalistsarequiteclearthatthereisadirectconnectionbetweenangelsandtheplanets.MaimonideswritesinhisLawsoftheFoundationsofTorah(3:9)that’'Allstarsandplanetspossessasoul,knowledge,andintellect.Theyarealive...Theknowledgeoftheplanetsis[however]lessthantheknowledgeoftheangels.''ThefamousBiblecommentator,Nachmanides,revealsevenmorethanthis.HestatesinhiscommentarytoDevarim18:9-12,thattherearecertainstarsthatareguidedbyarchangels,andthatthesearchangelsarethesoulsofthoseplanets.TheyarecalledthePrincesoftheTeli(Dragon).
ThisSageissayingsomethingherethatisquiteprofound:theplanetsarethebodiesoftheangels.Therefore,therelationshipofanangeltoaplanetislikethatofahumanbodytothesoulwithinit.Bothareone.Wethusseethatthereissomeaspectofphysicalmanifestationsfortheangels.ThisrelationshipofthearchangeltotheplanetsisacceptedbynumerousotherRabbinicSagesandKabbalists.ManyofthesearementionedinthepiyutreadatshacharitonSheminiAtzeret.
XIII.TheTenTribes
ThetentribeswhichbecamelostduringtheAssyrianexilewillbeidentifiedbyMashiach.
XIV.TenintheMishkan
OnthedaythattheMishkanwasinaugurated,theeighthday,tencrownsweregiventoitaccordingtoSederOlam7:
1.ItwasaSunday,whichwasthedayonwhichcreationoccurred.Itwasthedayofcreation!ThismakessensegiventhattheMishkanwasareplicationofcreation,amicrocosmofHaShem'smasterpiece.TheentireMishkanwasbuilttoparallelthephysicalworld.
2.Theprincesbegantobringtheirgiftsonthisday.Hence,somehaveatraditiontoreadthispartoftheTorah(Bamidbar7:1)eachday,oneprinceperday,fromRoshChodeshNisanonward.Additional,thissamesectionisreadduringChanukahwhenthealtarwasre-dedicated.
3.Thisbeganthepriestlyservice,which,untilthenhadbeenperformedbythefirstbornofthenation.Originally,thepriesthoodwastherightofallfirstborn,arightthatwasforfeitedatMt.SinaiwhentheydidnotstepforwardtohelpMoshepurgethecampofthosewhoparticipatedintheepisodeofthegoldencalf.Therefore,thepriesthoodwasofficiallyturnedovertotheseedofAharon.
4.Communalservicesbeganthatday(continual-offering,mussaf-offering,etc.).
5.TheHeavenlyfiretoignitethealtarcamedownthatday:
Vayikra(Leviticus)9:24Then,afirecameoutfrombeforeHaShemandconsumedtheburnt-offeringandthefatonthealtar,whilethepeoplewatched...
6.Thesacrificescouldnolongerbeeatenanywhere,butonlyintheirprescribedlocations.
7.Privatealtarsbecameforbidden,sincenowsacrificescouldbebroughttotheopeningoftheTentofAppointment.Untilthispoint,itwaspermissibletobuildanaltarandsacrificetoHaShemjustaboutanywhereonewanted.However,oncetheMishkanwasoperative,thatwasnolongerso.
8.ItwasthefirsttimesinceTorahwasgiventhatRoshChodeshNisan,theNewYearofthemonths,camearound.InEgypt,Moshereceivedthemitzvatostartcountingthemonthsandtheyears[78],andthisRoshChodeshNisanwasthecompletionofthefirstcycle.
9.TheShechinahbegantodwellamongtheJewishpeople,asitsays:
Shemot(Exodus)25:8LetthemmakeMeasanctuary,soIcandwellamongthem...
10.BirchatKohanim,thePriestlyBlessing,began.OutsideofIsrael,thisisonlyrecitedonholidays;insideIsrael,itisrecitedduringshacharit daily[79].
Shabbath87bR.Assi[80]ofHozna'ah[81]saidtoR.Ashi,Comeandhear:Anditcametopassinthefirstmonthofthesecondyear,onthefirstdayofthemonth,thatthetabernaclewasrearedup;[82][andwithreferencetothis]aTannataught:Thatdaytooktencrowns.[83]ItwasthefirstoftheCreation,[84]thefirstfortheprinces,[85]thefirstforthepriesthood,[86]thefirstfor[public]sacrifice,thefirstforthefalloffire[fromHeaven],[87]thefirstfortheeatingofsacredfood,[88]thefirstforthedwellingoftheShechinahinIsrael,thefirstforthe[priestly]blessingofIsrael,[89]thefirstfortheinterdictofthehighplaces,[90][and]thefirstofmonths.Now,sincethefirstofNisanofthatyearwasonaSunday,thatofthepreviousyearmusthavebeenonaWednesday.Foritwastaught:Otherssay,Betweenone’Azereth[91]andanother,andbetweenoneNewYear[‘sday]andanother,therecanbeadifferenceofonlyfourdays,[92]andinaleapyear,five[days].[93]HencethefirstofIyarmusthavefallenontheeveoftheSabbath[Friday],andthefirstofSivanontheSabbath,whichisadifficultyaccordingtobothR.JoseandtheRabbis?
MidrashRabbah-GenesisIII:9R.Samuelb.Ammisaid:Fromthebeginningoftheworld'screationtheHolyOne,blessedbeHe,longedtoenterintopartnershipwiththemortals.Forwhatwillyou:ifitisamatteroftimereckoning,itshouldsayeitherone,two,three,orfirst,second,third,butsurelynot,one,second,third!WhendidtheHolyOne,blessedbeHe,repaythem?AttheerectionoftheTabernacle,asitsays,Andhethatpresentedhisofferingthefirstday(Num.VII,12),meaning,thefirstoftheworld'screation,forG-dsaid,’ItisasthoughonthatdayIcreatedMyworld.’Thatdaytooktencrowns:itwasthefirstofthecreation,firstinrespectofkings,theprinces,thepriesthood,andtheShechinah,(asitsays,AndletthemmakeMeasanctuary,thatImaydwellamongthem(Ex.XXV,8));itwasfirstinrespectofblessing,sacrificialservice,theprohibitionofhighplaces,killingatthenorth[sideoftheAltar],andthedescendingoffire,asitissaid,AndtherecameforthfirefrombeforetheLord(Lev.IX,24).