Who knows two hundred thirty-seven?
Please cite/link your sources, if possible. At some point at least twenty-four hours from now, I will:
Upvote all interesting answers.
Accept the best answer.
Go on to the next number.
asked May 11, 2011 at 1:15
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2 Answers
According to Rashi, 237 years elapsed between two times when there was a prominent leader of the Jewish People (or a major segment thereof) descended from Yissachar.
The details:
One of the shofetim (whose career is described in Judg. 10:1-2) was Tola, of the tribe of Yissachar, who served for twenty-three years. Rashi's explanation of the "300 years" mentioned ibid. 11:26 puts Tola's judgeship in the years 238-261 since the entry into Eretz Yisrael, or 2726-2749 since Creation. (Other commentaries reconstruct the chronology differently.)
The third king of the Ten Tribes, Baasha, was also from the tribe of Yissachar (I Kings 15:27). He began to reign in the year 2986 since Creation. (Seder Hadoros)
2986 - 2749 = 237.
In gematria (is that allowed for these questions?), 237 equals:
אלה הם מועדי יהוה (These are the festivals of the Lord)
From Vayikra, leading up to the commandments of Shavuot and Omer (apropo for today...)
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Hey @AviD, fancy meeting you here, too! :) +1 for a very cool answer! May 11, 2011 at 21:10
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1Actually, though, there's no such verse. Lev. 23:2 says אלה הם מועדי (without Hashem's name), and vv. 4 and 37 say 'אלה מועדי ה (without הם).– AlexMay 11, 2011 at 21:24
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Gematria is certainly allowed. Up in these high numbers, it's sometimes the best we can do!– Isaac Moses ♦May 12, 2011 at 1:26
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@Alex is correct, that verse is close, but not quite. Still, I'll leave it for entertainment value...– AviDMay 12, 2011 at 5:13