Bar Kappara interpreted the verse regarding the Torah. “Wisdom has built her house” – this is the Torah, as it is written: “For the Lord grants wisdom” (Proverbs 2:6), [and] “The Lord made me at the beginning of His way” (Proverbs 8:22). “Has hewed her seven pillars,” these are the seven books of the Torah. But are they not five?
Bar Kappara renders from the beginning of: “And He spoke” (Numbers 1:1) until: “it was when the Ark traveled” (Numbers 10:35),3That is, from the beginning of Numbers through Numbers 10:34 is considered its own unit, referred to here as a separate book. one; from “it was” (Numbers 10:35) until “when it rested” (Numbers 10:36) another; and [from the following verse] until its end, another.4Thus, he divides the book of Numbers into three separate books.
That is seven.5With Numbers counting as the three books, the five books of the Torah become seven. “She has prepared her meat” – these are the punishments. “Mixed her wine” – these are the a fortiori inferences and the verbal analogies. “Also set [arkha] her table,” these are the valuations [arakhin].
“She has sent her young women; she will call,” this is Israel. “Upon the heights of the city,” as the Holy One blessed be He elevated them and called them godlike. That is what is written: “I had said: You are godlike…” (Psalms 82:6). After all this praise, “whoever is a simpleton let him turn from here” – they forsook the will of the Holy One blessed be He, and said to the calf: “This is your god, Israel” (Exodus 32:4)..
That is why: “He who lacks heart, she speaks to him” – “indeed, as men you will die” (Psalms 82:7).6Because of their sin, although God had originally said “you are godlike” (Psalms 82:6), in fact, “indeed, as men you will die” (Psalms 82:7).