Parsha Math: 70 Elders; The Three Weeks
"Shivim ish" (BeMidbar 11,16) Moshe appointed 70 Elders to share his prophecy and assist him.
MATH IN THE PARSHA QUESTIONS
- How did Moshe obtain the 70 people from the 12 tribes?
- Why indeed did Hashem not allow for seventy-two prophets, thus simplifying the procedure?
Beginning of the Answer: The Moshav Z'keinim answers that we find that Moshe placed the prophets around the Ohel Moed, "Va'yaa'meid osom svivos ho'ohel (11:24)." Thus, the 70 Elders surrounded the Ohel Moed, specifically placed there so that they would receive the overflow of the prophecy given to Moshe at the Ohel Moed. - a) How were the Elders placed?
Clue: The Ohel Moed building was 30 amos long and 10 amos wide.
b) What was the total number of amos for the perimeter?
Clue: The front of the "Ohel Mo'eid," which was open, was designated only for Moshe.
c) Subtract the amos of the “front”, thus leaving a total of how many amos?
Clue: A person takes up an amoh by an amoh floor space (Gemara Sukah 7b).
Problem: The above is based on the open area within the Mishkan. However, the wall beams were 1 (one) amoh thick.
3. What is the perimeter amos of the outer dimensions of the Ohel Moed?
This calculation is difficult to comprehend. The dimensions given by the Moshav Z'keinim are those of the open area within the walls. This difficulty is further aggravated by the fact that there was an additional perimeter around the Mishkan by virtue of the thickness of the roof coverings which hung down the outer sides of the walls, adding more length, although perhaps not sufficient space to add a full amoh. Perhaps the "heavenly downpour" of prophecy only came via the conduit of airspace inside the Mishkon, which was only 70 amos of wall distance. Anyone standing where two walls meet at a corner and not being across from airspace would not receive prophecy. A better answer would be greatly appreciated.
Three Weeks
Chaz”al said the three weeks are alluded by the prophet Yirmiyahu to an almond tree. Rashi explains that an almond tree matures 21 days after planting, just as the days between the 17th of Tamuz that the city was surrounded and the 9th of Av when the Holy Temple was burnt.
Concepts of an almond tree:
- 21-days growth of the almond tree corresponds to the brief period of 3 weeks
- Changes from bitter to sweet;
- מטה indicates quickness in the change
Three matters in the Parsha share these following concepts:
נדרים מלחמת מדין בני גד ובני ראובן
לקוטי שיחות חלק לג
- 21 is the number of spots on a standard cubical die (1+2+3+4+5+6)
- 7 (days of the week) times 3 = 21
Answer the following questions:
- ________ 21st letter in the aleph beis
- ________ 21st letter from the end of the aleph beis
- ________ Two letters from above that spell out an abbreviation of a famous subject in the Gemara
- ________ Three consecutive integers that sum to 21
- ________ Three Hebrew letters with the values of the above three numbers
- ________ Hebrew word made of those three letters
