 |
| Aron and Moses telling Pharaoh that the Lord of Israel said "Send out my people." |
On the evening of the 15th of the Hebrew month of Nisan (ט"ו בְּנִיסָן), Jews around the world celebrate Passover (פֶּסַח). This holiday commemorates the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt after long years of slavery, as described in the biblical book of Exodus.
There is so much happening with this holiday, and it would take a book to tell the whole story. The Passover is celebrated in very particular order.
Haggadah means "telling"Seder means "order"
In this post I am not attempting to tell the Passover story or explain the holiday celebration. All I want to do is examine the word "Passover." To do so, I am going to explore a few particular details and see what inspiration comes to me.
I want to start by going back to the moment this journey kicks off in the Book of Exodus.
Exodus 5:1-2 -- 1 And afterwards, Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, "So said the Lord God of Israel, 'Send out My people, and let them sacrifice to Me in the desert.' "
2 And Pharaoh said, "Who is the Lord that I should heed His voice to let Israel out? I do not know the Lord, neither will I let Israel out."
In the beginning of Exodus 5, "Lord God of Israel" spoke through Aron and Moses's mouth, telling Pharaoh to "Send out my people."
Pharaoh asks a two part question, "Who is the Lord that I should heed His voice to let Israel out?
Dive into the Word
The Hebrew word for "Passover" is Pesach. The Hebrew word פֶּסַח Pesach has three letters The Hebrew letters give us strong clues to the answers of both Pharoah's questions. Pharaoh is certainly going to find out "Who is the Lord" AND why he should "Heed His Voice!"
פֶּ - Pe 80 (mouth)
(פ) is the 17th letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The letter pe is associated with mouth (peh). Pe represents the body part that is connected to speech, since the word פֶּה (peh) means mouth.
Coming out of Moses's mouth is God's command to Pharaoh.
סַ - Samech 60 (support or to uphold)
Samech is the 15th Hebrew letter. Its circular form is symbolic of the endless cycle of life. The letter Samech is a symbol of support and protection.
God is going to support and protect His people.
ח - Chet 8 (wall or protect)
Chet is the 8th Hebrew letter. The ancient pictograph is a picture of a tent wall. The meanings of this letter are "outside," as the function of the wall is to protect the occupants.
His people are certainly going out!
8, chet, has significant meaning. The first born is dedicated to God on the 8th day in Exodus 22.29 where the Torah says, "On the eight day So shall you do with your cattle and with your sheep: seven days it shall be with its mother, on the eighth day you may give it to Me."
In Hebrew, the word for "wisdom" is חָכְמָה (chokmah) begins with the letter Chet!
In these three letters we have a symbolic image of: Something spoken which carries protection and support to go out to seek God and sacrifice.
I certainly see how the letters in the word Pesach relate to the message of the holiday of Passover.
Deeper Dive
Now I am going to use the gematria value of the word פֶּסַח Pesach to see if they point in a direction which offers an additional or deeper insight. Here is the calculation for the Hebrew word פֶּסַח Pesach:
פֶּ - 80
ס- 60
ח - 8
80+60+8=148
The 148 gematria value of the word פֶּסַח Pesach points me to Psalm 148. The last five chapters in the book of Psalms (146–150) are considered a great “Hallelujah Chorus” -- “Hallel” book—the “book of Israel.' Each of these Psalms begins with the Hebrew word אהַֽלְלוּיָ֡הּ Hallelujah.
146 147 148 149 150. Right in the center of Hallel is Psalm 148.
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights above.
2 Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
3 Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars.
4 Praise him, you highest heavens
and you waters above the skies.
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for at his command they were created,
6 and he established them for ever and ever—
he issued a decree that will never pass away.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
8 lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding,
9 you mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals and all cattle,
small creatures and flying birds,
11 kings of the earth and all nations,
you princes and all rulers on earth,
12 young men and women,
old men and children.
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,
the praise of all his faithful servants,
of Israel, the people close to his heart.
Praise the Lord.
In Hebrew, "Hallelujah" (הללויה) is pronounced "hale-lu-yah." Praise God. Here is the gematria calculation of Hallelujah" (הללויה):
ל - 30
ל - 30
ו - 6
י - 10
ה - 5
= 86
