The Sod of Torah – 12 Springs and 70 Date Palms
- "And they came to Elim, and there were twelve springs of water and seventy date palms". (Beshalach 15:27)
The 12 springs correspond to the 12 tribes, and the 70 to the 70 elders. (Mekhilta)
However, the Holy Book "Bahir" by Rabbi Nehunia ben HaKanah, states that the palms and springs are merely material signs pointing to the hidden spiritual reality that the Israelites grasped at this place.
Accordingly, from Jacob's family, which initially consisted of 70 people, emerged the 12 tribes of Israel, divided into 4 camps positioned in the four directions of the world. (Rabbeinu Bachya, Shemot 15:27)
What does Elim (Elimah) mean?
- "Eli mah" – (what is this to me) or (what is my G-d).
- "There were 12 sources of water there" – first G-d gave them these as springs, and in the end He gave them these as stones.
That is why it is written about the stones set up near the Jordan: "12 stones." (Yehoshua bin Nun 4:9)
What is the reason? At first, the Torah was compared to water in the world. Only later was it placed in an eternal location. Yet water is here today and somewhere else tomorrow. (Nehunia ben HaKanah, "Bahir" 165)
What are the 70 palms?
This teaches us that the Almighty has 70 structures. They derive from 12 simple structures (the 12 simple letters). (Sefer Yetzirah)
How do we know that a date palm is a structure? From the words: "Your stature is like a palm tree." (Song of Songs 7:8)
Moreover, there are 70 types of date palms, and they are not alike, having different flavors. (Bahir 166)
Rabbeinu Bachya explains that they perceived the 12 higher angels who govern the processes of nature – 3 angels in each of the four directions – and they are called "the four camps of the Shechinah."
And the 70 date palms point to the 70 Sarim (higher angels) surrounding the Throne of Glory of the Almighty, each of whom governs one of the 70 nations of the world.
And an important hint for us is that the 70 palms draw strength from the 12 springs, which symbolize the four camps of the Shechinah.
That is, the nations of the world draw their life-giving energy from the 12 tribes of Israel.
(Rabbeinu Bachya, Shemot 15:27; Nehunia ben HaKanah, 165–166)
