Reading the Artscroll Tikkun on the sixth floor of the garage, I found that the names Zerach and Perez have mystical connotations, explained by Rabbi Nechunia ben Hakaneh (Ana B'Koach), head of the 5th century Kaballah school.
Zerach is the Sun which shines (Zarach) and Perez is the Moon which is sometimes breached (Paraz). It would be appropriate for the Sun to come first, and Zerach showed his hand first. But David was destined to come from Perez, so Perez became the firstborn.
There were 30 generation of Jewish kings corresponding to the 30 days of the month. The first was Abraham who was called a prince, David was 14th, almost full Moon, and Shlomo was 15th, the full Moon. The last one was Hizkiyahu, whose sons were killed and who was blinded.
During some time when it was forbidden to declare New Moon, the court still did it. The code phrase was "David Melech Israel Chai VeKayam". The gematria of this phrase is the same as of "Rosh Chodesh".
No comments:
Post a Comment