PARSHA MATH

"Shivim ish" (BeMidbar 11,16) Moshe appointed 70 Elders to share his prophecy and assist him.

MATH IN THE PARSHA QUESTIONS

1) How did Moshe obtain the 70 people from the 12 tribes?

2) 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) Substract 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 Mishkon. 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 additionaal perimeter around the Mishkon 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
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 PARSHA MATH
at a corner and not being across from airspace would not receive prophecy. A better answer
would be greatly appreciated

. NOTES FOR TEACHER OR PARENT

Age group – 12 years and up
Objective of this lesson:
Appreciate math in the Parsha
Introduction to concepts within Judaism of applied Math functions
ANSWER SHEET

1. Moshe first assembled seventy-two candidates for the prophecy, six from each of the
twelve tribes. Two were eliminated through a lottery.

2. seventy amos of wall space, thus necessitating the limitation of having only seventy
prophets

a. placed on three sides

b. 80 (30+10+30+10)

c. 70 (80-10)

Problem
3. Thus, the outer dimensions are 31 by 12 amos. Two sides of 31 plus 12 equals 74 amos,
not 70 amos

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The Yalkut Shimoni #736 gives us the names of the 70 elders who became prophets.

The Baal Haturim says that the seventy prophets correspond to the seventy appellations of Hashem.
He then lists them, but we find only 66. The Pardes Yosef says that the last four are the 4 letter,
12 letter, 42 letter, and 72 letter names of Hashem

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