Kabbalah Library

285) Every nation has a minister above. When the Creator gives government to one, He lowers the other. And when He gave dominion to that minister of Egypt, He had dominion only because of Israel, as it is written, “Her foes have become the head; her enemies prosper, because the Lord has afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions.”

286) Israel are equal to all the other nations of the world. As the rest of the nations are seventy, Israel are seventy, as it is written, “All the souls of the house of Jacob, that came to Egypt, were seventy.” And the ruler of Israel, it is as though he rules over the entire world.

287) This means that Israel are seventy, as it is written, “And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and became mighty exceedingly and extraordinarily.” Thus, there are seven degrees here, and each degree consists of ten, thus seventy. After that, it is written, “And a new king arose over Egypt,” meaning that because of its dominion over Israel, which are opposite the seventy nations, he was regarded as a new king.

288) Israel were enslaved by all the nations so that the world would rise through them, since they are opposite the whole world. It is written, “In that day shall the Lord be One, and His name one.” And as the Creator is one, Israel are one, as it is written, “One nation in the land.” As the name of the Creator is “One,” and spreads in seventy names, Israel are one and spread into seventy.