He offered some truly unique insights.

Philo, in his allegorical style, sees deep meaning behind seemingly simple words and numbers. In this particular passage, he examines the significance of virtues and numbers, specifically in relation to a wise man.

He argues that a wise man embodies the virtues by which the world was created and is governed. This is a fascinating concept! Philo suggests that a wise person is fashioned in the likeness of God through "creative virtue" and also falls under the authority of "the Lord," representing supreme power. In essence, virtue makes a person a citizen of the world, equal in dignity to it, and protected by divine and royal attributes.

But why is Philo so focused on the number ninety-nine? It's because it's "very near the hundred." Seems simple enough, right? But hold on! For Philo, the number one hundred, is not just any number. He believes it’s composed of ten multiplied by itself, what he calls "the holy of holies." He then makes a comparison to the Temple, saying that the first ten is "holy," accessible even to Temple sweepers. But the "ten of tens," the hundred, is something that should be given to the high priest above all else. So, ninety-nine, being so close, carries some of that holiness too.

Now, it gets even more interesting. Philo sees ninety-nine as being composed of fifty and seven times seven. The fiftieth year, the Jubilee year (Yovel in Hebrew), is a time of "remission," of freedom, a concept deeply rooted in Jewish tradition, as we find in Leviticus 25:10. The Zohar, that foundational text of Jewish mysticism, also emphasizes the power and freedom associated with the Jubilee year. Philo sees it as a liberation for all things, living and inanimate.

And then there's the number seven. Seven times seven, or forty-nine, represents, for Philo, the blessings of virtue and wisdom. It points to unwavering constancy. He associates the seventh year (Shmita in Hebrew), as a time of rest and peace for both body and soul. According to Ginzberg's retelling in Legends of the Jews, the concept of the seventh day, the Sabbath, also reflects this idea of rest and contemplation. Philo connects this to the original creation, where nature produced good things without labor.

So what does it all mean? Philo, through his unique lens, finds layers of meaning in numbers and their connection to virtue, wisdom, and divine power. He shows us that numbers aren't just for counting; they can be keys to understanding deeper spiritual truths. As we find in Midrash Rabbah, interpretations like Philo's encouraged readers to seek hidden meanings in every word and number in the Torah.

It makes you wonder, doesn’t it? What other hidden meanings are waiting to be discovered in the ancient texts? And how can understanding these interpretations enrich our own lives today?