70 Subordinate Names
Sotah 43a: (Mishnah): He (the Kohen) says 'you are not like them (for HaShem goes with you to fight)....' Question: Why does Kohen promise that HaShem goes with them?! Answer: HaShem's name and all His Kinuyim (other subordinate Names) are in the Aron (that goes with them to war). (His Name refers to the 4-lettter Divine Name that is never uttered (except in the Bais haMikdash))
What are the other subordinate Names?
Rabbenu Gershon (Bava Basra 14b): refers to the 70 Divine Names (embedded in the three verses (Shmos 14:19-21). The Name and the subordinate Names are written on a Klaf and placed inside the Aron.
Sukka 45a: 72-names of HaShem as explained by the Gr”a, includes two general names (אני והו) and the 70 specific names.
Rabbenu Bachya: the seven-two letters of the verse (Devarim 11,25) that promises Jewish victory in war corresponds to the 72 segments of the Divine Name. Accompaniment by these Divine Names allows the Jews to have no fear and be victorious in war.
Maharsha: understands the Gemara is not precise by mentioning 70 Names but means the names that are in the Luchos haBris (which broken pieces were in the Ark that went out to war). The Luchos actually only have the 4-letter Name and the name Elokim.
Keren Ohra: wonders on the Maharsha since the Gemara learns from an extra word in the verse that it refers to the Subordinate Names, how could the Maharsha understand the Gemara as only referring to the Names in the Luchos?
Maharal: explains that the Ark is the covenant between HaShem and the Jews which needs specific emphasis at the time of war. And the subordinate Names are called due to the relationship with the Jewish people as it is written in Daniel (9,19), “That Your name should be proclaimed ... on your people.”
Baal haTurim (Bemidbar 11,16) in explaining the appointment of the 70 Elders, displays a connection to other concepts of 70, such as the names of Yerushalayim, 70 nations, 70 names of the Jews; he also mentions the 70 names Divine Names and lists them.
- אֵ -ל Almighty G-d-Shemos 34,6
- אל-הים Judge-Shmos 21,6
- ה' HaShem, master of all
- אֶׁחָד One-Zechariah 14,9
- אָדוֹן L-ord-Shmos 23,17
- אַדִּיר Mighty-Tehilim 93,4
- אֶׁהְיֶׁה I shall be-Shmos 3,14
- אַמִּיץ Strong-Iyov 9,4
- אֱמֶׁת Truth-Shmos 34,6
- אֶׁרֶׁךְ אַפַיִּם Slow to Anger-Bemidbar 14,18
- אַחֳרוֹן Last-Yeshiyahu 44,6
- אֱמוּנָה Faith-Devarim 32,4
- אֶׁשְכֹל הַכֹפֶׁר Possessor of Everything-Shir 1,14
- בָרוּךְ Blessed-Tehilim 72,29
- בוֹרֵא Creator-Amos 4,13
- גָדוֹל Great-Devarim 10,17
- גֵאֶׁה Proud-Shoms 15,1
- גוֹאֵל Redeemer-Yeshiyahu 47,4
- גִּבוֹר Mighty-Devarim 10,17
- דָגוּל Distinguished-Shir haShirim 5,10
- הַיוֹדֵעַ Knower-Yirmiyahu 29,23
- וָעֵד Witness-Yirmiyahu 29,23
- זוֹכֵר Rememberer-Bereshis 9.15
- חַי Living-Bemidbar 14,21
- חָסִּ יד Pious-Yirmiyahu 3,12
- חַנוּן Gracious-Shoms 34,6
- חוֹקֵר Prober-Yirmiyahu 17,10
- חֳסִּין Powerful-Tehilim 88,9
- חָכָם Wise-Iyov 9,4
- טוֹב Good- Tehilim 145,9
- טְהוֹר עֵינַיִּם Pure Eyes-Habakuk 1,13
- יָשָר Upright-Tehilim 11,7
- יֹשֵב סֵתֶׁר Dwells concealed-Tehilim 91,1
- כָבוֹד Glory-Tehilim 29,2
- מֶׁלֶׁךְ King-Tehilim 145,1
- מֵסְתַתֵר Conceals Himself-Yeshiyahu 45,15
- נוֹרָא Awesome-Devarim 10,17
- נֵשְגָב Exalted-Yeshiyahu 12,4
- נֶׁצַח Eternal-Shmuel 1 15,29
- נֹצֵר חֶׁסֶׁד Preserver of Kindness—Shmos 34,7
- נֹשֵא עָוֹן Forgiver of iniquity- Shmos 34,7
- נֹשֵא פֶׁשַע Forgiver of willful sin- Shmos 34,7
- נֹשֵא חֵטְא Forgiver of error- Shmos 34,7
- נוֹקֵם Avenger-Nachum 1,2
- נוֹטֵר Bearer of Grudge-Nachum 1,2
- סֶׁלָה Everlasting-
- וְיֹשֵב קֶׁדֶׁם סֶׁלָה Enthroned from old-Tehilim 55,20
- סַלָח Pardoner-Tehilim 86,5
- עֶׁלְיוֹן Supreme-Bemidbar 24,16
- עֹפֶׁר Hart-Shir haShirim 2,9
- עִּזוּז Powerful-Tehilim 24,8
- פוֹּדֶׁה Redeemer-Tehilim 34,23
- צוֹר Rock-Devarim 32,4
- צְבִּי Gazelle-Shir ha Shirum 2,9
- צְבָאוֹת Master of Legions-Yeshiyahu 47,4
- צַדִּיק Righteous-
- קָדוֹש Holy-Yeshiyahu 57,15
- קַנָא Zealous-Shmos 20,5
- קָרוֹב Close-Tehilim 145,18
- רַחוּם Compassionate-Shmos 34,6
- רָם Lofty-Yeshiyahu 57,15
- רִּ אשוֹן First-Yeshiyahu 41,4
- רַב חֶׁסֶׁד Abundant in Kindness-Shmos 34,6
- שוֹמֵר Protector-Yeshiyahu 21,11
- שוֹפֵט Judge-Tehilim 7,12
- שִּלְטוֹן Sovereign-Koheles 8,4
- שַר Ruler-Yeshiyahu 9.5
- שכֹןֵ עַד Dwells forever-Yeshiyahu 57,15
- תָמִּים Perfect-Devarim 32,4
- תַקִּיף Strong-Koheles 6,10
Rashi (Sukka 45a) and others reveal a deep secret in the phrase “Ani vaHu” אני והו that possesses mystical significance. There are three consecutive verses in Shmos (14:19-21) in which are encrypted the seventy-two three-letter parts of the Divine Name. Each of these three verses contains exactly 72 letters. The three-parts of the Divine name are formed by taking the consecutive letters from each verse, with the first verse read forward, the second verse backward, and the third verse read forward again.
יט וַיִּסַע מַלְאַךְ הָא -לֹהִּ ים הַהֹלֵךְ לִּפְנֵי מַחֲנֵה יִּשְ רָאֵל וַיֵלֶךְ מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶם וַיִּסַע עַמּוּד הֶעָנָן מִּפְנֵיהֶם וַיַעֲמֹד מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶם: כ וַיָבֹא בֵין ׀ מַחֲנֵה מִּצְרַיִּם וּבֵין מַחֲנֵה יִּשְ רָאֵל וַיְהִּי הֶעָנָן וְהַחשֶךְ וַיָאֶר אֶת־הַלָיְלָה וְלֹא־קָרַב זֶ ה אֶל־זֶה כָל־הַלָיְלָה: כא וַיֵט מֹשֶה אֶת־ יָדוֹ עַל־הַיָם וַיוֹלֶךְ יְ -ה-ו-ָֹה ׀ אֶת־הַיָם בְרוּחַ קָדִּ ים עַזָה כָל־הַלַיְלָה וַיָשֶם אֶת־הַיָם לֶחָרָבָה וַיִּבָקְעוּ הַמָּיִּם:
These verses describe the splitting of the Yam Suf before the Jews. This miracle was performed through the medium of the 72-part Divine Name. The Baal HaTurim notes that the word ובקעהו (in verse 16) can be read as בקע והו (Moshe split the sea with the Divine Name of והו).
First letter of the first verse is "ו"; last letter of the second verse is "ה" (which is the first letter when read backwards). The first letter of the third verse is "ו". This spells והו. (It is noteworthy that the 49th set of letters from each row is also והו ; perhaps this accounts for the two methods to add vowels to these letters - וָהוּ and וָהוֹ)
The 37th letter of the first verse is "א". The 37th letter of the second verse backwards is "נ". The 37th letter of the third verse is "י". (The 72 letters can be divided into two sets of 36, which places the 37th letter as the first letter of the second set.)
