The purpose of this blog has been to show that there are many connections between the letters of God’s Explicit Name and the world around us. The connection is quite strong and especially evident in the events described in Torah to the Jewish people, and naturally so. However, those same connections can be found literally everywhere. They can even be found in ancient sources that pre-date Torah.
The subject of this post is an ancient text known as the Epic of Gilgamesh1, and specifically where “the Explicit Name of God,” and an allusion to the shnei luchot (two tablets) that would be given to Israel, can found in the flood story that Noah told to Gilgamesh (a story that is actually much older than the Torah itself). This is not to suggest that Gilgamesh knew God’s Name, or even that the “cube of creation” (combined cubic form of the luchot) was generally known at the time, although it was probably known to the kings and those that sought to know God; but rather to demonstrate that the letters of God’s Name are nevertheless hidden behind, and within, every detail of each key event that transpires in this world.
Insofar as the “Epic of Gilgamesh” is concerned, the 216 letters of the Name, in the form of 3 x 72 (the “Triad Havayah of 72”) can even be found in “the measure of the ark” that Noah built. We’ve seen in other posts how the number and nature of those letters define the various units of measurement, so it should come as no surprise, that they also constitute an integral part of the ark’s design. For purpose of explanation, a little background is in order.
It is known from the epic and the history that surrounds it, that Gilgamesh wanted to speak with Noah. A thorough and detailed account of the ark’s construction and of the ensuing flood was then presumably given by Noah to Gilgamesh. There are of course some discrepancies between the Torah and the record passed down by Gilgamesh, however each discrepancy can be reconciled, with the end result being that there is really no discrepancy at all. For example, according to the account, the epic indicates the ark was six stories high while the Torah says it had three decks. The discrepancy is actually very interesting in light of the division of the luchot (cosmic blueprint for creation) that are measured in terms of six handbreadths, but when divided and brought down by Moshe, become three handbreadths along the side of division. Events in the world invariably seem to reflect the mathematic and geometric properties of the luchot, but there is also a more practical explanation, insofar as the ark is concerned, that is really quite simple.
The Torah speaks only of the decks that were habitable, and used by the people and livestock to survive the ordeal. There were in fact three (of what could be called) levels below the three main decks, used for the flotation of the above-water decks, and at least one more that was likely used after the main deck was drained of water after its initial lift-off, and during the long voyage. The account even states that the [scuppers] of this deck were plugged, then later removed, once it got underway. At any rate, the fact that these “measures” (associated with each respective “half” of the ark) mirror the measurements of the luchot in their divided state could easily be a coincidence. However, the measurements go far beyond the number of decks that happen to correspond to the division and measure of the luchot.
According to the epic account, Noah told Gilgamesh that he used 3 times 3,600 units (and we’ll define these units of measure in a moment) of bitumen, which was a natural form of concrete that bubbled up from the ground; and another 3 times 3,600 units of pitch. These two components were used to construct and waterproof the hull that was an average of 50 cubits wide (or according to the Torah simply 50 cubits). In other words, Noah first applied one layer x 3,600 (units) and then after that layer had been applied, he added another layer equivalent to one x 3,600 units, and so forth, until all layers had been completed. The total number of units, once all had been applied, was thus 3 x 3,600, or 10,800 units of bitumen, followed by what would ultimately be 3 x 3,600 or 10,800 units of pitch. The significance of 108 (hundreds) opposite 108 (hundreds) is already known to the reader, and so for the moment, we will focus our attention on the 3,600 units (of measure) spread out over the 50 cubits (width of the ark) which equates to 72 of these units per cubit, times the 3 layers, or applications (3 x 72 = 216 for each of the 50 cubits of width = 10,800).
Was Noah aware of the significance of this design specification? Given the premise provided in the post on Bereshit and Noach, he surely knew and clearly intended for these measurements to be incorporated into the design of the ark (you'll find a link to this post listed under "Significant Posts" as you continue to proceed through the essential constructs).
What this means is that the amount of material, in the number of units per cubit for each of these two components, was 216 units of this unspecified measure, specifically in the "dual" form of 108 units plus 108 units. Whatever the unit of measure was (and we will explore this in a moment) both components together were 2 x 216 of these units of measure, or a perfect reflection of the volumetric measure for both sets of luchot that would in the future be brought down by Moshe (the first set having been shattered). So just as the letters of the Name ultimately “define” the measure of the luchot, they also "define" the measure of Noah’s Ark, and they do so in terms of at least two components (bitumen and pitch).
As we mentioned above, the 10,800 units can be expressed as 108 (hundreds) of units of bitumen, opposite 108 (hundreds) of units of pitch, a rather interesting reflection of the volumetric measure and ratio of the two luchot, with 108 cubic handbreadths for one, opposite 108 cubic handbreadths for the other, and very similar to the 108 (tens) of halaqim or "parts" of each hour, in the measure of the 12 hours in a day, opposite the 108 (tens) of halaqim/parts of each hour, in the measure of the 12 hours for the night (that before the flood were distributed equally, as it was prior to the change in the earth's axial tilt, when it was perpendicular to the orbital plane).
The animals were then taken on board, “two by two” (which is an unusual linguistic way of denoting a “pair” since two by two is technically two pair). It was actually two of each, male and female. However, the redundant language is a further allusion to the shnei luchot (two tablets) that would be followed by another shnei luchot (two tablets). In the primal language of man which is a pictographic language transcending the limitation of letters (a picture being worth a thousand words) we see quite literally, a reflection of the cosmic blueprint or luchot with a volumetric measure of 216 cubic handbreadths (twice) and the Signature of the Architect emanating from the light of its 216 letters (brought down twice) but here we see it in an ancient source other than the Torah, where the measure of the ark’s components are also given in terms of 216 units (twice).
As for the identity of the exact unit of measure specified by Noah, in his explanation to Gilgamesh, keep in mind that there are 72 lugim (logs) in an ephah and 6 eggs (beytza) in a log. This would suggest that “the unit” of measure mentioned by Noah, is actually the ephah, because the amount of material used in each application, would then be 777,600 lugim. Divide this amount by the number of units Noah actually used (3,600) and it too equates to the number of letters in God's Name (216). At the same time, if the unit of measure was the ephah, it would also mean that the number of eggs used for each application of pitch or bitumen would be 4,665,600. Divide this amount by 216, and you get 21,600. Or, to put it another way, the number of eggs would be 216 x 216 (which is 216 squared) times 100 (which is 10 squared). This is rather interesting in-and-of itself, as it appears that the Signature of the Architect was an integral component in the construction of the ark.
It should be noted that each individual application of bitumen would equate to these numbers, and each individual application of pitch would also equate to these numbers, however there was a total of 6 applications, divided between these two components (each being half the equation) where each half consisted of 3 applications. This is exactly like the "the cube of creation" when it is measured by the letters of the Explicit Name. Each dimension is 6 handbreadths, but when it was divided into two halves (and brought down by Moshe) the division resulted in a dimension of 3 handbreadths. These are the exact same ratios that define the luchot. All of this would suggest that Noah was keenly aware of "the cube" of creation, as well as it's mathematic and geometric properties (or what we refer to as combined cubic form of the luchot that would later be divided and "brought down" by Moshe) and that the ark's design was a mathematic mirror image of that cube. It would also suggest that Noah knew God's Name as demonstrated in the post on Bereishit and Noach since in each case, the resulting amount, whether it be expressed in terms of the ephah, lugim or eggs, is not only a multiple of 216, but a special unique multiple that is contextually significant, all of which, and in each case, are reflections of the letters of the Creator's Name at some level.
Insofar as the 50 cubits of the ark's width is concerned (it being the number of multiples in the two components above) it is perhaps equally intriguing to note, that the luchot (tablets) in their combined cubic state, are mathematically and geometrically characterized by two forms of 5 internal mathematic constructs with 10 aspects (that would eventually manifest in the form of 10 commandments). The numbers, sets of numbers and ratios are once again an identical match for the various characteristics of the luchot, that are in turn, a perfect reflection of the nature and number of letters in the Name.
One last shadow worth mentioning is that which pertains to the passage of time. We mentioned above the 108 ten-parts of the 12 hour day, opposite the 108 ten-parts of the 12 hours of the night, there being 108 x 10 x 12 "parts" in each half of the earth's rotation, with both halves equating to 216 x 10 x 12 (and at this point you should be thinking of the 12 letter abbreviation for the Explicit Name and its counterpart, as well as the many allusions to this "Name" that are mentioned throughout this blog). If you are familiar with the Epic of Gilgamesh, you may have noted that it says, “On the fifth day I (Noah) laid out her exterior. It was a field in area, its walls were each 10 times 12 cubits in height.” Since there were 216 units of pitch/bitumen per cubit (as previously described) the total number of “units” spread out over the area of these "walls" was 10 x 12 cubits, times 216 units per cubit of width (50) or 25,920 "units." This is identical to the division of "time" in terms of halqim or parts in a 24 hour day (25,920 halqim). So in addition to the connection these units and their total amount have to the 216 letters of God’s Name, we also see, that in each case, the total measure equates to the total number of years in the precession of the equinoxes that dictates “time” on the celestial clock (25,920 years).
Assuming this account is viable, and not the invention of Gilgamesh (which is highly unlikely due to the mathematic 'witness') these amounts reflect the very same numbers, sets of numbers and ratios pertaining to the letters of the Name that we see throughout the Torah. It is doubtful that Gilgamesh recognized or understood their significance, let alone their connection to the Name. However, at the same time it appears they were passed on verbatim without substantive change, and that the account is indeed accurate. We’ll let the reader ponder the implications.
In the meantime, it bears repeating that the Sages of Israel preserved the knowledge of this Name and the proper way to pronounce it and also specifically when, and under what circumstances it was permissible to pronounce (lest it be used in vain or improperly, with corresponding consequences). This history has been long 'forgotten' by the nations, along with the fact that this unique knowledge was entrusted to Israel alone.
This completes our explanation on the measure of Noah's Ark, and its connection to God's Name. The next (and last) essential construct pertains to: The Pre-Flood "Kings" and the 216 Letters
_____________
Footnote 1 - Some believe that Gilgamesh was actually Nimrod.
No comments:
Post a Comment