Levita : 10 times ‘aravim’

בעשרה לשונות ערבים

Poem by Elia Levita (in fine of his grammar: Bachur). in every verse, which each occurrence of ערבים, the word should have a different (dinstinct) meaning. Biblical Puzzle. Levita claims it can be solved by finding a corresponding bible text. Except for the 11th, which is playing with the numerical value of hebrew words (gematria). This is how it looked in the original edition. (titel: shiri ha-mechaber, he author’s poem)

This is how it looks today (copied from wikisource. NB: E l i h w is enhanced in the first line.

The introductory phrase בעשרה לשונות ערבים נאמר שיר זה / וכן עניתי אל תבזה announces the poem (10 meanings), followed by a prayer (transcribed: “ba’ashra leshonot arvim ne’amer shir ze / vekan aniti el tivza” (in ten meanings the word ‘aravim’ is pronounced in this poem / and so I say: ‘Do not despise’)

בעשרה לשונות ערבים נאמר שיר זה / וכן עניתי אל תבזה

אֲשַׁבֵּחַ לְאֵלִי יָהּ וְאֶקֹּד / לְיוֹצֵר אוֹר וְלַמַּעְרִיב עֲרָבִים
הֱבִינַנִּי עֲשׂוֹת סֵפֶר בְּדִקְדּוּק / דְּבָרָיו צוּף וְכִדְבַשׁ נֶעֱרָבִים
וְכָלַלְתִּי כְּלָלִים בּוֹ קְצָרִים / חֲדָשִׁים גַּם יְשָׁנִים מׇעֳרָבִים
וּבוֹ רַאְיוֹת חֲזָקוֹת כָּאֲרָיוֹת / וְחַדּוּ מִזְּאֵבֵי הָעֲרָבִים
וְכָל סִפְרֵי מְדַקְדְּקִים לְפָנָיו / כְּמוֹ שֵׁתִים אֲשֶׁר אֵין בָּם עֲרָבִים
וְטוֹב מִפָּז וּמִזָּהָב וּמִכָּל / סְחַר רוֹכְלִים וְעוֹרְבֵי מַעֲרָבִים
קְנֵהוּ דּוֹד וּבוֹ תַעְמֹל וְתַעַל / כְּיוֹנֵק עֵץ וְכַשׇּׁרְשֵׁי עֲרָבִים
וְאַף אִם אֵין לְךָ כֶּסֶף מְחִירוֹ / לְקָחֵהוּ אֲבָל תִּתֵּן עֲרָבִים
בְּכֵן נִזְכֶּה לְקַבֵּץ שֶׂה פְּזוּרָה / תְּקַבֵּץ אֵל אֲשֶׁר רוֹכֵב עֲרָבִים
וְהַגּוֹאֵל לְיִשְׂרָאֵל יְגַל אֵל / בְּמַגְדִיאֵל וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל עֲרָבִים
וְהָרוֹצֶה לָדַעַת עֵת פְּרָטוֹ / אֲגֻדָּתוֹ יְחַסֵּר מִן עֲרָבִים

Below I gave it a try (with a little help from chatgpt in looking for correspondences. Not entirely convincing, but helpful.)

Semantic Fields of ע-ר-ב

The root ע-ר-ב encompasses several interrelated meanings:

  1. Mixing / Interweaving / Blending:
    • עֵרֶב (ʿerev): Evening, symbolizing the blending of day and night.
    • עֵרֶב רַב (ʿerev rav): Mixed multitude, referring to a diverse group, as in Exodus 12:38.
    • עֵרֶב (ʿerev): Woof, the crosswise threads in weaving, indicating interlacing.
  2. Pledging / Guaranteeing / Exchange:
    • עָרַב (ʿarav): To pledge or guarantee, as seen in Genesis 43:9.
    • עֵרָבוֹן (ʿeravon): A pledge or surety, indicating a form of security or guarantee.
  3. Evening / Darkness:
    • עֶרֶב (ʿerev): Evening, marking the transition from day to night.
    • עָרַב (ʿarav): To become evening or to grow dark.
  4. Pleasantness / Sweetness:
    • עָרֵב (ʿarev): Pleasant or sweet, often used to describe agreeable sounds or tastes.
  5. Geographical and Ethnic Terms:
    • עֲרָבָה (ʿaravah): A desert plain or wilderness.
    • עֲרָבִי (ʿaravi): An Arab or nomad, relating to the desert regions.
  6. Animals and Nature:
    • עֹרֵב (ʿorev): Raven, a bird often associated with dusk or darkness.
    • עֲרָבָה (ʿaravah): Also refers to a type of tree, such as the poplar.
HebrewEnglish
Distinct Meaning of “ʿAravim”)
Biblical Reference / explanation
אֲשַׁבֵּחַ לְאֵלִי יָהּ וָאֶקֹּד.
לְיוֹצֵר אוֹר וּלְמַעֲרִיב עֲרָבִים
I will praise my God and bow; to the Fashioner of light and the One who brings on eveningsGenesis 1:5 – “And there was evening and there was morning…”
The name of the prayer (‘the bringer of the Evening)
, מַעֲרִיב עֲרָבִים / ma’ariv aravim,
הֲבִינֵנִי עֲשׂוֹת סֵפֶר בִּדְקֻדּוּק.
דְּבָרָיו צוּף וּכְדְבַשׁ נֶעֱרָבִים
Grant me insight to compose a book on grammar; its words flow like nectar and are sweetPsalms 104:34 – “May my meditation be sweet unto Him” (יִעֱרַב)
וְכִלַּלְתִּי כְּלָלִים בּוֹ קְצָרִים.
חֲדָשִׁים גַּם יְשָׁנִים מְעֹרָבִים
I included rules, concise and clear; both new and old are intermingledExodus 12:38 – “And a mixed multitude went up with them” (עֵרֶב רַב)
וּבוֹ רְאִיּוֹת חֲזָקוֹת כַּאֲרָיוֹת.
וְחָרוּ מִזִּאֲבֵי הָעֲרָבִים
And in it are proofs strong as lions, and they burned hotter than ‘evening wolvesHabakkuk 1:8:
“Their horses are swifter than leopards, more fierce than ‘evening wolves”
(זְאֵבֵי עֶרֶב).
וְכָל סִפְרֵי הַמְדַקְדְּקִים לְפָנָיו.
כְּמוֹ שְׁתַּיִם אֲשֶׁר אֵין בָּהֶן עֲרָבִים
And all grammarians’ books before it are like two without guarantorsGenesis 43:9 – “I will be a guarantor for him (אָנֹכִי אֶעֶרְבֶנּוּ)”
וְטוֹב מִפָּז וּמִזָּהָב וּמִכָּל סֵחַר.
רוֹכְלִים וְעֹרְבֵי מִעֲרָבִים
Better than fine gold and trade goods, than merchants and the traders of wares ?? (orebi?)Ezekiel 27:21 – “Arabians and all the chiefs of Kedar were your merchants”
v. 14: הִתְעָרְבוּthey bartered / were involved in trade
קָנֵהוּ דָוִד וּבוֹ תַעֲמֹל וְתַעַל.
כְּיוֹנֵק עֵץ וּבְשָׁרָשִׁים עֲרָבִים
Acquire it, David, toil and ascend — like a tree sprouting from entwined roots ???Ezekiel 17:6 – “And it became a vine… with its branches turned toward him, and its roots were under him” (cf. metaphorical “entwining”)
וְאַף אִם אֵין לְךָ כֶּסֶף מְחִירוֹ.
לְקָחֵהוּ אֲבָל תִּתֵּן עֲרָבִים
Even if you lack the silver price, take it — but you must provide pledgesProverbs 20:16 – “Take his garment who is surety for a stranger”
לְֽקַח־בִּ֭גְדוֹ כִּי־עָ֣רַב זָ֑ר
בְּכֵן נִזְכֶּה לְקַבֵּץ שֵׂה הַפְּזוּרָה.
תִּקָּבֵץ אֶל אֲשֶׁר רֹכֵב עֲרָבִים
Thus may we merit to gather the scattered flock, to be brought to Him who rides the cloudsPsalms 68:5 – “Extol Him who rides upon the clouds” (רֹכֵב בָּעֲרָבוֹת)
וְהַגּוֹאֵל לְיִשְׂרָאֵל יִגְאָל אֵל.
בְּמִגְרִיאֵל וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל עֲרָבִים
And the Redeemer of Israel shall redeem us, in Migriel and Ishmael — ArabsIsaiah 60:7 – “All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered unto you…” (context of Arab tribes) ?
וְהָרוֹצֶה לָדַעַת עֵת פְּרָטוֹ.
הֲלוֹא יִקַּח בְּיָדוֹ מִן עֲרָבִים
Whoever desires to know the date in detail — let him take, by his own hand, from (the numerals of) ‘ʿaravim’Gematria: עֲרָבִים = 322 → 5322 AM = 1561 CE (if subtracting 22 from “בידו”, then 5300 AM = 1539 CE)