ReturnThe 600000 Israelites that left Egypt with Moses when the Pharaoh consented to let them leave following of the ten misfortunes. (Ex 12,37)
According to some Talmudist masters, God created 600000 Jew souls, because each verse of the Torah is susceptible of 600000 interpretations. After the death, these souls transmigrate in other bodies, which are not always bodies of Israelites. Others, like the cabalists, advance another idea according to which the Torah which, in its visible existence, contains only approximately 340000 letters, in a mysterious manner would include nevertheless 600000 letters. Thus, each soul of Israelites has a letter in this mystical Torah on which his soul is linked. Or again, that the first tables on which was engraved the Torah and that were broken, contained justly these 600000 letters. It is only on the following tables that it appeared in its more restricted form, however, thanks to a secret process of combinations of letters, indicates the original number of 600000 letters which form the "Corpus mysticum" of the Torah.
Sixty myriads of souls would be result from the differentiation of Adam and they would have generated according to the order of next mystical numbers: 3, 12, 70, 613, 60 myriads. There and not elsewhere would be the origin of the 613 precepts of the Law.
The number 600000 is used 4 times in the Bible.
ReturnLast modification: December 19, 1998