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Ani vaHu

שמות יד: יט וַיִּסַּע מַלְאַךְ הָאֱלֹהִים הַהֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵי מַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֵּלֶךְ מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶם וַיִּסַּע עַמּוּד הֶעָנָן מִפְּנֵיהֶם וַיַּעֲמֹד מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶם: כ וַיָּבֹא בֵּין ׀ מַחֲנֵה מִצְרַיִם וּבֵין מַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיְהִי הֶעָנָן וְהַחֹשֶׁךְ וַיָּאֶר אֶת־הַלָּיְלָה וְלֹא־קָרַב זֶה אֶל־זֶה כָּל־הַלָּיְלָה: כא וַיֵּט מֹשֶׁה אֶת־יָדוֹ עַל־הַיָּם וַיּוֹלֶךְ יְהֹוָה ׀ אֶת־הַיָּם בְּרוּחַ קָדִים עַזָּה כָּל־הַלַּיְלָה וַיָּשֶׂם אֶת־הַיָּם לֶחָרָבָה וַיִּבָּקְעוּ הַמָּיִם:

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).

The phrase “Ani vaHu” אני והו possesses mystical significance. These three consecutive verses 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.

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 is also והו; perhaps this accounts for the two methods to add vowels וּהָו and וֹהָו)

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 establishes the 37th letter the first letter of the second set.)

Guided by a Trustful Shepherd

שמות טו, יג: נָחִיתָ בְחַסְדְּךָ עַם־זוּ גָּאָלְתָּ

The Baal HaTurim comments that the word נחית (guiding) occurs here and in Tehillim (77,21), "You guided Your people like a flock." A shepherd grazes a flock according to the pasture appropriate to it (first he would bring the young kids would graze on the soft new growth; then the mature goats would be brought out to eat the stalks; and finally he brought out the elderly animals to nibble at the stubble and roots.) Also, HaShem had the holy clouds lead the Jews, each according to his pace: the adult taking long strides and the youth according to his smaller stride.

The holy clouds which accompanied the Jews in the desert were seven in number: four on their four sides, one above them, one beneath their feet and one in front of them to guide them. These clouds would lower the heights and raise the depths (so the road would be level); they would also sweep away snakes and scorpions and anything else in the way.

When the clouds leveled the road for the Jews, it was done at different degrees for each individual. For the infirm the road was made smoother; for the robust it left some elevations and depressions. This explains how all the Jews were able to cover the same distance, keeping pace with one another throughout their journey.

22 Letters of the Aleph Bais

שמות טז, טז: זֶה הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהֹוָה לִקְטוּ מִמֶּנּוּ אִישׁ לְפִי אָכְלוֹ עֹמֶר לַגֻּלְגֹּלֶת מִסְפַּר נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם אִישׁ לַאֲשֶׁר בְּאָהֳלוֹ תִּקָּחוּ

The Baal HaTurim comments that this verse contains all 22 letters of the Aleph Bais, indicating that every person who observes Torah, HaShem provides one’s livelihood without difficulty as He provides the Mahn.

There are twenty-six verses in Tanach that have all 22 letters (only two in Torah: this one and Devarim 4,34). However, only one verse in Zephaniah (3,8) has all 22 letters and all 5 final-form letters.

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