1) The Gemara says מנצפ"ך צופים אמרום, the prophets instituted the final forms of the letters מנצפ"ך (ם, ן, ץ, ף, ך). Why it is referred to as מנצפ"ך, as this is not in the order of the Alef-Beis? The correct order is כמנפ"ץ, as a פ precedes a צ and a כ is the first of all these?
2) On the words צופים אמרום Rashi comments נביאי הדורות, prophets of the generations. Why didn’t Rashi simply say נביאים?
The Gra tells us that these letters weren’t instituted at one time rather it was done one at a time throughout the years by different prophets. First was ם, then the ן, followed by ץ and ף, and finally the ך. This is what Rashi is telling us with the words נביאי הדורות—in different generations, a different prophet instituted each letter. This explains why it is in the order מנצפ"ך and not the order of the Alef-Beis since this was the order they were instituted.
