Thread by @JoshuaCypess

1/ I had three mini-classes on #Beshalach over Shabbat (I'm not trapped in the house with my kids... they're trapped with me, heh) and before it's too far in the rear-view mirror, I'll try to get the ideas down here.

2/ First is on the word "chamushim" in Ex. 13:8. Generally it's defined as "armed" (and there's a famous Midrash that I won't bother to deal with) and this article by the phun philologist Mitchell First discusses the major possibilities
jewishlink.news/features/41900…

3/ He prefers a definition that makes the word a cognate from Arabic specifically meaning an army in five parts. The sources for this are the BDB, Cassuto, Daat Mikra, and E. Klein. Please see inside for details. It's suggested that this was an 'ancient army form.'

4/ In contemplating this, I realized that there's a better proof for an army marching in five sections than a supposed uncited outside historical source: the Bible itself. Because the Camp of Israel was arrayed in five parts!
tanach.org/bamidbar/bamid…

5/ The camp of Israel in the desert had 4 divisions of 3 tribes each, with the Tabernacle in the center, itself ringed by 4 groups (the 3 families of Levi & the Cohanim).

I believe this actually p'shat. There's many implications of this fact which BE"H I can explore later.

6/ I will add the next 2 discussions soon, either to the end of this thread or I will write them separately and link them below. One is on Parshat HaMan and the other on cybernetics on Shabbat.

@threadreaderapp please unroll.

@threader_app please compile.

7/ The second class, about midrash & halakha & manna & cybernetics on Shabbat is here

https://twitter.com/JoshuaCypess/status/1357102646717464583?s=20