The Forefathers and the Sacrifices of the Princes

 האבות והקרבנות הנשאים

במדבר 7.21-22 B'Midbar

21.’One young bull, one ram, one sheep in its first year for an Olah-Offering-פַּר אֶחָד בֶּן בָּקָר אַיִל אֶחָד כֶּבֶשׂ אֶחָד בֶּן שְׁנָתוֹ לְעֹלָה(1979=26=8).

Rashi comments here that the one bull corresponds to Abraham as it is written (Beraishit 18.7) “and he took a young calf”; the one ram corresponds to Isaac as it is written (Beraishit 22.13) “and he (Abraham) took the ram and offered it instead of his son (Isaac)”; and the one sheep corresponds to Jacob as it is written (Beraishit 30.40) “Jacob distinguished between the sheep” (B’Midbar Rabbah 13.14).

This comment of Rashi is supported by the following gematriot:

Avraham- One young bull

אברהם-פַּר אֶחָד בֶּן בָּקָר

895+5 words=900=1+8 or 2105=8 (final letters)

Isaac- One ram

יצחק- אַיִל אֶחָד

262=10=1

Jacob- One sheep in its first year

יעקב-כֶּבֶשׂ אֶחָד בֶּן שְׁנָתוֹ

1975+5 words=1980=18

22.’One he-goat for a Sin-Offering- שְׂעִיר עִזִּים אֶחָד לְחַטָּאת(1728-18 counting final Mem as 600).

Rashi comments here that the goat atones for the selling of Joseph as it is written “And they (the brothers) slaughtered a he-goat” (Beraishit 37.31; B’Midbar Rabbah 13.14).

This comment of Rashi is supported by the following gematria:

Joseph-One he-goat

יוסף- שְׂעִיר עִזִּים אֶחָד

876+4 words=880

 

2156 +4 words = 2160=1+8 (final letters)

The number 2160 corresponds to the 216 letters in the Explicit Name of Hashem and the volume of the Two Tablets of the Testimony in Tefachim (6*6*6) and is particularly significant in the above context as Joseph’s tunic was dipped in the blood of a goat by his brothers as “proof” to their father Jacob that he had been killed. By lying to their father they were denying the essence of the 10 Commandments to honor their father.