Jacob descends to Egypt

 יעקב יורד מצרימה

Beraishit 46.6-7- בראשית

6.’ And they took their cattle, and their property, which they had acquired in the Land of Canaan, and they came to Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring with him-וַיִּקְחוּ אֶת מִקְנֵיהֶם וְאֶת רְכוּשָׁם אֲשֶׁר רָכְשׁוּ בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן וַיָּבֹאוּ מִצְרָיְמָה יַעֲקֹב וְכָל זַרְעוֹ אִתּוֹ (7177+15 words=7192=19=10=1counting final Zadik, Nun and Mems as 900, 700 and 600).

The verse can be divided so:

·         And they took their cattle, and their property, which they had acquired in the Land of Canaan, and they came to Egypt, Jacob- וַיִּקְחוּ אֶת מִקְנֵיהֶם וְאֶת רְכוּשָׁם אֲשֶׁר רָכְשׁוּ בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן וַיָּבֹאוּ מִצְרָיְמָה יַעֲקֹב (3851=17=8);

·         And all his offspring with him- וְכָל זַרְעוֹ אִתּוֹ (746=17=8).

Rashi clarifies here that what Jacob had acquired in Paddan-Aram (with Lavan) he gave to Esau for his share in the Machpelah Cave. Jacob said that possessions from/of outside the Land of Israel are worthless. Jacob heaped up all his gold and silver that he had “dug for himself”-אשר כריתי לי (1181) (Beraishit 50.5) and told Esau to take it (Tanchuma Yashan, Vayishlach 11).

From here we learn that at the time of the Final Redemption of Israel any property owned by Jews outside the Land of Israel will be rendered worthless.

7.’ His sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and all his offspring he brought with him to Egypt-בָּנָיו וּבְנֵי בָנָיו אִתּוֹ בְּנֹתָיו וּבְנוֹת בָּנָיו וְכָל זַרְעוֹ הֵבִיא אִתּוֹ מִצְרָיְמָה (2760+12 words=2772=18).

The verse can be divided so:

·         His sons, and his sons' sons with him- בָּנָיו וּבְנֵי בָנָיו אִתּוֹ(611=8);

·         His daughters, and his sons' daughters- בְּנֹתָיו וּבְנוֹת בָּנָיו(1000=1);

·         And all his offspring- וְכָל זַרְעוֹ(339+2 words=341=8);

·         He brought with him to Egypt- הֵבִיא אִתּוֹ מִצְרָיְמָה (810=1+8).

There were thus 8 “categories” that descended to Egypt :

1.       Jacob-                                                 יַעֲקֹב  =182
2.       His Sons-                                             בָּנָיו  = 68
3.       Their Wives-                                     נְשֵׁיהֶם = 405
4.       Their Daughters-                                בְּנֹתָיו =468
5.       Sons of sons-                                  בְנֵי בָנָיו =130
6.       Daughters of sons-                        בְנוֹת בָּנָיו =526
7.       Their Flocks-                                  מִקְנֵיהֶם =245
8.       Their Property-                                רְכוּשָׁם =566

2590 + 10 words = 2600 = 8

This is proof that Hashem descended with Jacob to Egypt:

Hashem

 י-ה-ו-ה

26=8

I will descend with you to Egypt

אָנֹכִי אֵרֵד עִמְּךָ מִצְרַיְמָה

801