************************************************************************* *From the Out Basket The Pentateuch Code. This will be the last installment on symbolism of the Hebrew Alphabet for a bit. The following "code" attributes meaning to the Letters of the Hebrew Alphabet through correspondence to the story of Moses in the Old Testament. As was the case with the "Genesis Code" last month, the structure of the Hebrew alphabet is used for correspondence, not the traditional sequence of letters. The three Mother letters are used to represent primal things. The seven double letters are used to describe a period in the life of Moses which roughly corresponds to birth through Magister Templi. The twelve simple letters are taken to describe the work of the Master. The five finals describe the "One who came after". This strikes a parallel to Crowley's tradition, perhaps a bit more A.'.A.'. than O.T.O. THE PENTATEUCH CODE. (Developed from the Magical Diary of Frater EMT, 6/17/75 e.v.) Copyright (c) by Bill Heidrick, 1988 This way of interpreting the Letters of the Hebrew Alphabet is drawn from the Pentateuch or first five books of the Torah/Bible. It is contrasted with the "Genesis Code", which expresses abstract concepts of more than it stems from the Book of Genesis. The same structure of Hebrew letters is used in both the Genesis and Pentateuch codes. The story of the birth and life of Moses forms the basis of this code. As we pass through the events of the Pentateuch, individual Hebrew letters are matched to the significan events. From this, a generalization leads us to meanings of the Letters themselves in terms of a human story. The story is made complete by applying the "final" letters in a sort of "Joshua" code to the epilogue of the Pentateuch. We begin with the story and the letters: Aleph ---- Moses and Israel. Mem ------ The Lands of Egypt and Canaan. Shin ----- The gods of Egypt and of the Jews. Bet ------ Moses upon the river. Gemel ---- Moses reaches manhood. Dalet ---- Moses is confused by the events of his life in Egypt & as an Exile. Koph ----- Moses is a noble of Egypt, a wanderer, a shepherd and a husband. Peh ------ Moses sees the burning bush and receives the command to lead Israel. Resh ----- Moses acquires Aaron's aid and sets out for his people in Egypt. Taw ------ Moses returns to Egypt and speaks to his people. Heh ------ Israel hears Moses. Vau ------ Moses is recognized as the leader of Israel by Pharaoh. Zain ----- The Plagues, Passover, the beginning of the Wandering. Chet ----- The people of Israel go forth. Tet ------ The destruction of Pharaoh's armies and the Camp built. Yod ------ The Reception of the Ten on Mt. Sinai, the Ark and Tabernacle. Lamed ---- The Laws given to the People. Nun ------ The Death of the Sinful Generation. Samekh ---- The testing of faith in the Hardships of the Wilderness. Ayin ----- Conquest of the old tribes. Tzaddi ---- Moses blesses the people. He is shown the Promised Land. Qof ------ Moses dies without entering the Promised Land. Koph-final ------ Joshua receives the Command of Israel. Mem-final ------- The Promised Land is taken. Nun-final ------- Israel is established within the Land. Peh-final ------- Joshua dies. Tzaddi-final ---- The people of Israel endure. Joshua is buried and the bones of Joseph rest in the Land of Jacob. Now, let's take those events and generalize them a bit --- not too much, just enough so that they may apply to any human story of similar wholeness and complexity: For comparison, the Genesis code is given in short aphorisms. Letters: Genesis Code: Pentateuch Code: Aleph ---- Pure Being -------- A thing exists in itself (Entity). Mem ---- Pure Substance ---- The form and material aspect of a thing (Body). Shin ---- Pure Will --------- The spiritual essence of a thing (Spirit). Bet ---- Directed Flow ----- An Entity pursues its purpose. Gemel ---- Mystery ----------- Separate physical existence. Dalet ---- Many Images ------- Experience without order. Koph ---- Cycles ------------ Pursuit of order through trying of different roles. Peh ---- Revelation -------- Discovery of the direction of Life. Resh ---- Meaning Attaches -- Destiny is accepted and intelligently pursued. to Things Taw ---- All Created ------- The harmony of life sings through the acts and Things & Events experiences of life. Heh ---- Order ------------- Life becomes organized along the lines of destiny. Vau ---- Union ------------- Action follows plan. Zain ---- Separation -------- That which opposes life is destroyed or avoided. Chet ---- Containment ------- The pattern of life establishes itself for all to see. Tet ---- Natural Power ----- The pattern of life manifests through its own power. Yod ---- Creation ---------- The philosophy and rules of life become conscious. Lamed ---- Balance ----------- The limits of life and activity become established consciously. Nun ---- Transformation ---- The pattern of life is passed on to another by teaching or parenthood. Samekh ---- Tempering --------- The pattern endures the test of time. Ayin ---- Perception of ----- Flaws to the success of life are discovered and Limitation dealt with. Tzaddi ---- Meditation -------- The pattern and its promise are praised. Qof ---- Evolution --------- The pattern is released to permit its growth into a greater. Letters: Genesis Code: Joshua Code: Koph-final ---- Development of ---- Life pattern passes on to another form, the Created another destiny. Mem-final ---- Matter ------------ The second destiny provides the final fruits of the first. Nun-final ---- Rational Thoughts - The second destiny establishes itself securely and naturally. Peh-final ---- Physical Life ----- The last direct link to older ways of being and doing vanishes. Tzaddi-final ---- Living ------------ Life establishes itself through further generations. Here's a test of both codes to see how they fit some traditional words of power in the Qabalah. In this application, a word spelled with Hebrew letters is expanded into a loose phrase or statement by matching the letters to their meanings in these "codes". This is very like a Tarot reading in that no exact word-for-word substitution of the codes for the letters is attempted. It is the meaning of each letter that is used. We must always begin with the defined meaning of the word. After that the Genesis Code offers a spiritual or abstract interpretation when the meanings of the letters are joined and expanded into a sentence. Finally, the Pentateuch code is used in the same way to generate a more anthrocentric interpretation. The Joshua code for the final letters is an option in some cases. This can also be used in divination on the name of a person or on a word obtained in meditation. In studying these examples, remember that Hebrew reads from right to left, in the direction opposite to English. Aleph-Dalet-Memfinal ---- Man ------------- Gen: Being passes through images into matter. ------------- Pent: A self-existing one endures chaotic experiences to establish a body. ------------- P&J: A self-existing one endures chaotic experiences to perfect earlier work. Chet-Vau-Heh ---- Life ------------ Gen: Containing power unites to processes of order. ------------ Pent: The pattern of life becomes evident as action follows the path of destiny. Mem-Shin-Heh ---- Moses ----------- Gen: Substance and Will (Dalet) submit to order. ----------- Pent: Body and spirit become organized according to destiny. (Also, the name "Moses" translates "Saved from water" as a Hebrew proper name.) Aleph-Lamed ------ God ------------ Gen: Existence is balanced. ------------ Pent: An individual dwells within the proper limits of life and activity. Aleph-Heh-Yod-Heh ---- Eheieh --------- Gen: Being is ordered in the creation of order. --------- Pent: An individual life becomes organized according to destiny. The philosophy and rule of life become consciously organized according to destiny. Yod-Heh-Vau-Heh ---- Jehovah,Yahweh - Gen: Creation of order unites to future order. - Pent: The philosophy and rule of life become consciously organized according to destiny. Action follows the plan of life to further establish the lines of destiny. --- TSG