The Secret of the Lord and Abraham's Covenant of Seventy

(Gen. 17:2:) "AND I WILL SET MY COVENANT BETWEEN ME AND YOU." This is what Scripture says (Ps. 25:14): "THE SECRET OF THE LORD IS FOR THOSE WHO FEAR HIM, AND HIS COVENANT IS TO MAKE THEM KNOW IT." And what is the secret of the Holy One, blessed be He? This is circumcision, for the Holy One, blessed be He, revealed the hidden things of circumcision to no one but Abraham, as it is said, "THE SECRET OF THE LORD IS FOR THOSE WHO FEAR HIM." What is "secret" (sod)? The years of a man: samekh is sixty, vav is six, dalet is four — behold, seventy years. The Holy One, blessed be He, said: Behold, I will raise up from you seventy souls, as it is said (Deut. 10:22), "WITH SEVENTY SOULS." And I will raise up from them seventy elders, as it is said (Num. 11:16), "SEVENTY MEN FROM THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL." And I will raise up Moses, who will expound the Torah in seventy languages, as it is said (Deut. 1:6), "THE LORD OUR GOD SPOKE TO US AT HOREB." Therefore it is said, "THE SECRET OF THE LORD IS FOR THOSE WHO FEAR HIM." He said to him: It is enough for the servant to be equal to his Master. A parable of a king who had a beloved friend who was exceedingly rich. The king said: What shall I give to my friend? Silver and gold, menservants and maidservants and cattle he has. Rather, behold, I will gird him with my weapons. So the Holy One, blessed be He, said: What shall I give to you? Silver and gold, menservants and maidservants and cattle I have already given you, as it is said (Gen. 13:2), "AND ABRAM WAS VERY RICH." Rather, what shall I give you? It is enough for you that you be like Me, as it is said, "AND I WILL SET MY COVENANT BETWEEN ME AND YOU; AND ABRAHAM FELL UPON HIS FACE... AS FOR ME, BEHOLD, MY COVENANT IS WITH YOU" (Gen. 17:2-4). This is "THE SECRET OF THE LORD IS FOR THOSE WHO FEAR HIM."