It’s a question that the mystical tradition of Judaism, particularly the Zohar, has pondered for centuries. And in Tikkunei Zohar 291, we find a fascinating, almost anatomical, interpretation of a verse from the Book of Exodus.
Let's set the scene: The Israelites have just crossed the Red Sea, escaping slavery in Egypt. They arrive at Elim, an oasis described as having "twelve springs of water and seventy date palms" (Exodus 15:27). Simple enough, right? But the Tikkunei Zohar, a later addition and companion to the Zohar, doesn't just take things at face value. It asks: what if these "twelve springs" are more than just…well, springs?
The Tikkunei Zohar equates these twelve springs with twelve joints or sections of the human body. Specifically, six in the arms and six in the legs. Think about it: shoulder, elbow, wrist on each arm; hip, knee, and ankle on each leg. It's a way of seeing the divine blueprint in our very own physical forms.
Where does the text back this up? It turns to the Song of Songs, that famously sensual and symbolic book of the Bible. "His hands are rolls of gold filled with Tarshish," (Song of Songs 5:14) the verse reads. Here's where it gets interesting. The Tikkunei Zohar interprets the word Tarshish (תרשיש) not as the place name we might expect, but as an Aramaic phrase: t’rey shesh (תרי שש), meaning "two sixes." Two sets of six joints, one in each pair of limbs.
And what about the legs? Again, the Song of Songs offers a clue: "His thighs are pillars of marble/shesh (שש)" (Song of Songs 5:15). Here, shesh (שש), meaning "six," reinforces the idea of six joints in the legs, mirroring the six in the arms.
So, what does it all mean? This interpretation isn't just a quirky way of reading scripture. It's a profound statement about the interconnectedness of everything. The same divine presence that provides sustenance in the desert, symbolized by the twelve springs, is also present within us, reflected in the structure of our bodies.
It invites us to see ourselves not just as physical beings, but as microcosms of the divine, each joint and limb a testament to a deeper, hidden reality. Perhaps next time you stretch or move, you’ll remember those twelve springs and the ancient wisdom that connects them to the very essence of who we are. Food for thought, isn't it?