Is says in the Torah Moshe gave one last speech to Klal Yisroel in 70 languages before he died, what were the names of the 70 languages, also did Moshe know how to write the writing script of the 70 languages
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3I don't think this is in the Torah. If anything it is a Midrash.– mevaqeshMay 15, 2016 at 21:28
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1You are thinking of Devarim 27 8 with Rashi care of Sota 32a. There are other medrashim that reference seventy languages as well.– user6591May 15, 2016 at 22:20
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270 could reasonably be construed as "a lot".– Double AA ♦May 15, 2016 at 23:02
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1Rashi to 1:5 also, @user6591.– msh210 ♦May 16, 2016 at 7:13
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1Mordechai also knew seventy languages as did Joseph (and pharoah). It seems to have been common in those early times.– newcomerMay 16, 2016 at 11:41
2 Answers
Perhaps this is not to be taken literally, even though there is a tradition of 70 nations and 70 languages. These seventy languages refers to '70 intentions' of torah as the Ateres Hamikra quoting Ha'kethav Ve'hakabbalah explain (see Midrash Bamidbar Rabbah 13:15). Or even secrets of torah since the expression סוד ה׳ ליראיו the word Sod equates to 70 (see Agadas Bereishis 15:1).
There is a concept that there are seventy nations (other than Israel). see for example the 70 bakar on Sukkot - one for every nation - or the reading - tovim dodeikha miYaYiN (YYN = 70, from shir ha shirim, see Targum).
So the idea 70 nations, 70 languages, that the speech was made to be understood and intended to be understood by all the peoples of the world, not just Israel. 70 languages, Mamash? does it matter? This is aggadah.