[Avodah] Billions and Millions

[Micha Berger]

On Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 01:58:37AM +0000, kennethgmiller at juno.com wrote:
: As best as I can parse this, it contains three phrases:
: - alef
: - elef alfay alafim
: - v'reebay r'vavos

: The vav clearly separates the last two words from the rest, and I
: suspect that the kamatz in "alef" serves to separate the first word
: from the others...

This depends as to whether the first word really is "alef" and not "elef".
It could be two clauses.

But in any case, there is only one occurance of the word pe'amim. So I
would parse this...

"We would be insufficient to thank You for one in
    With "alef": 1000 * (1000*1000*1000) * (10,000*10)
    With "elef": (1000*1000*1000*1000) * (10,000*10,000)
times that You have done good..."

: Siddur Otzar Hatefilos mentions some sources (medrashim perhaps?) which
: might be the sources for these phrases...

"The sources" or other usages? IOW, where does the part that dates back
to early tannaim end?

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             Our greatest fear is not that we're inadequate,
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