2

Who knows eighty-four?

Please cite/link your sources, if possible. At some point in the next few days, I will:

  • Upvote all interesting answers.

  • Accept the best answer.

  • Go on to the next number.

2

4 Answers 4

6

84 was Yaakov's age when he got married. (Mazel Tov!)

(Rashi Gen. 29:21)

2
  • 3
    I wonder if Mesopotamian Caterers offered an AARP discount. :)
    – Shalom
    Aug 27, 2010 at 13:30
  • 2
    It probably depends on the Aram Association of Retired People's policies. If it was like the modern American equivalent, then his age would qualify him for membership. However, he was a long way from actually retiring (sheloshim umeya - mi yodeya?).
    – Isaac Moses
    Aug 27, 2010 at 15:30
6

84 years passed from Rivkah's premonition/prophecy that her two sons would die on the same day (Gen. 27:45) until it actually came true, when Eisav was killed while trying to prevent Yaakov's burial in the Cave of Machpelah (Sotah 13a).

[Her statement was made in the aftermath of Yaakov's receiving the blessings from Yitzchak, which occurred when he was 63 years old (Rashi to Gen. 28:9); he lived to be 147 (ibid. 47:28).]

3
  • Nice. Really nice.
    – Shalom
    Aug 27, 2010 at 17:45
  • Was Yaakov buried on the day of his death? Gen. 50:1-7 seems to have a 40-day mourning period in between.
    – Isaac Moses
    Aug 27, 2010 at 17:46
  • No. "shakula" means "losing a child"; it could refer to death or burial. In this case, they were both buried on the same day.
    – Shalom
    Aug 27, 2010 at 17:48
4

The "tikkun" for the sin of wasting seed is to fast 84 fasts.

It is said that one who partakes of the meal at a Pidyon HaBen is considered as if he fasted 84 fasts (presumably because the first two letters of פדיון = eighty-four). The Arizal reportedly said that one who is present in the house where a Pidyon HaBen takes place is considered as having fasted for 84 days.

Legend has it that a talmid of Rav Schach zt"l once missed shiur because he was attending a Pidyon HaBen of a relative. Rav Schach called him to task, and the fellow excused himself by saying that it is so important that it's like fasting 84 fasts. Rav Schach replied that he could accomplish the same by learning Gemara because after all, "daf" (דף) also has the numerical value of 84! (See here, at end.)

3

(chet- mem- vav - lamed) the word chmul which means spared, correlating to the fast of 84 days for the tikun habrit, in order gd spares us from judgement.

2
  • What fast is this?
    – Shalom
    Aug 30, 2010 at 19:32
  • fast for tikkun for wasting seed.---arizal
    – Koachyah
    Aug 30, 2010 at 19:42

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .