Shem Ban

Shem Ban is one of the four fillings of the Tetragrammaton (Shem Havaya): Av (72), Sag (63), Mah (45), and Ban (52). This name is formed from the Tetragrammaton filled with hei's, like this: Yud-Hei Hei-Hei Vav-Vav Hei-Hei, and it is the lowest among the four combinations of the Tetragrammaton. In the worlds, this name corresponds to the worlds of Briah, Yetzirah, and Asiyah. This name is called Behemah (animal), in relation to the name Mah which is called Adam (human). The source of this name is in the name Sag which is called Behemah Rabbah (great animal).

It is also called the name of Me'arat HaMachpelah (the letters in it are doubled).

Large Letter Before the Small Letter

The reason why in all combinations the large letter comes before the small one (Sag, Mah, Av), while in Ban the small letter (Bet = 2) comes before the large letter (final Nun), is explained by the Tzemach Tzedek: It says in the Midrash Peliah that Rabbi Eliezer asked Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi what is HaShem's name? And he answered: "Rachmana Liba Ba'ei" (The Merciful One desires the heart). And he asked him: Why are all of them in order and one out of order? Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi replied: Because HaShem's seal is Truth. This discussion in the Midrash is obscure and not understood.

The Tzemach Tzedek explained it: Rabbi Eliezer asked what is HaShem's name. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi answered: "Rachmana Liba Ba'ei." These are the initials RLB, and RLB is the gematria of the four names Av (72), Sag (63), Mah (45), and Ban (52). About this, Rabbi Eliezer asked: Why do all have the larger number before the smaller one except for Ban, where the smaller number comes before the larger number? To this he replied: Because HaShem's seal is Truth.

Truth (Emet) in small gematria equals nine. Thus, Av (72) is seven plus two - equals nine. Sag (63) is six plus three - equals nine. Mah (45) is four plus five - equals nine. And in Ban: If we were to write it as Nun-Bet (52), it would be five plus two and would only equal seven. Therefore, when writing Ban, the Nun becomes one of the final letters (MaNTzePaCh): Tav - 400, final Kaf - 500, final Mem - 600, so final Nun is seven hundred, and in small gematria - seven. Then Ban: two plus seven - equals nine.

See Also

• Yichud M"H and B"N (Unification of M"H and B"N)