order, the remarkable events in connection with the history of the Jews.
Thus, the love of God to Israel, which was greater than to all the seventy other nations mentioned in Ch. i. 2, was obtained by reducing the word [HE:yyn/] to its numerical value, seventy; the two worlds, in verse 3, which the pious are to inherit, were obtained by changing [HE:`lmvt] maidens, into [HE:`vlmvt] worlds, according to the example of the Talmud;[1] the twenty-two letters with which the Law is written, in verse 4, were obtained by reducing the word [HE:bk/] to its numerical value; the Tabernacle, in verse 5, was obtained from the word [HE:yr`vt], and the effected peace by changing the proper name [HE:Slmh] into [HE:Slvm/] peace; the worship of the sun and moon, in verse 6, was obtained from the word [HE:SmS] sun; the ploughing bullock, in verse 10, was obtained by changing [HE:tvrym/] ringlet, and [HE:Hrvzym/] necklace, into [HE:tvr Hrz]; the two tables shining as the best gold, verse 11, were obtained by rendering [HE:tvry zhb] golden Laws, and the seven times seven, or the forty different interpretations of the Law, by reducing the word [HE:zhb] to its numerical value, [HE:z] being seven, and [HE:h] and [HE:b] seven, and then multiplying seven by seven; the binding of Isaac, in verse 13, was obtained by rendering [HE:xrvr hmvr] by [HE:`rvr hmvryh] the binding of Moriah; the sin of the calf, and the atonement of that, in verse 14, were obtained by changing [HE: `yn/] [HE:gdy] En-gedi, into [HE:`vn/ `gl] the sin of the calf, and by substituting [HE:kpr] pardon, for [HE:kvpr] cypress-flower, according to the example of the Talmud.[2] This is the development of Hagadic exegesis, and this the paraphrase appealed to in support of the allegorical interpretation, and in the track of which future allegorists more or less follow.
892-942. From the Chaldee paraphrase to R. Saadias Gaon, a period of about 350 years, thick darkness covers the annals of Jewish literature. With him, however, a new epoch begins to dawn. Saadias was born at Pithom, in Egypt, about the year 892, and died in the year 942. He was "Gaon," or spiritual head of
