The Lesson of Backward Spelling

Reuven, the first-born of Israel: the sons of Reuven: of Ḥanoch the family of the Ḥanochites (haḤanochi); of Pallu the family of the Palluites (haPallu’i).

                                                        Numbers 26:5

Our Sages [Shir haShirim Rabba 4:12] comment that each of the family names is preceded by the letter “hei” and ends with the letter “yod,” the letters of one of God’s names, indicating that the Shechina rests on each of the families. Or haḤayyim (Rabbi Ḥayyim ben Attar, 1696–1743) notes that the name of God is spelled “yod hei,” thus appearing backwards in the family names of the Tribes of Israel.

My father suggested that there is a valuable lesson to be learnt from the backward order of the letters of God’s name. Even in “backward,” abnormal times when God hides His countenance from His people, and the Children of Israel suffer, He still attaches His name to them as the prophet tells us, “In all their affliction, He was afflicted.” [Isaiah 63:9]

Ideally, there is a reciprocal relationship: God, despite hiding His countenance, maintains His love and protection of Israel and the People of Israel remain loyal to God despite their suffering.