The three dominions continued gradually to develope into that infinite variety of objects which is perceptible in each. This infinite variety, proceeding from the combination of a few, is propounded by means of the great diversity of combinations and permutations of which the whole alphabet is capable. These letters, small in number, being only twenty-two, by their power of combination and transposition, yield an endless number of words and figures, and thus become the types of all the varied phenomena in the creation. [45] “Just as the twenty-two letters yield two hundred and thirty-one types by combining Aleph (‏א‎) with all the letters, and all the letters with Aleph; Beth (‏ב‎), with all the letters, and all the letters with Beth, so all the formations and all that is spoken proceed from one name.” (Chapter ii, Mishna, iv.). The table on the opposite page will shew how the two hundred and thirty-one types are obtained by the combination of the twenty-two letters. The infinite variety in creation is still more strikingly exhibited by permutations, of which the Hebrew alphabet is capable, and through which an infinite variety of types is obtained. Hence the remark [46]—“Two letters form two houses, three letters build six houses, four build twenty-four, five build a hundred and twenty houses, six build seven hundred and twenty houses; and from thenceforward go out and think what the mouth cannot utter and the ear cannot hear.” (Chapter iv, Mishna iv.) The following table will show how the letters, by permutation, will yield an infinite variety. a. Two letters b. Three letters c. Four letters ‏אב‎ 1. ‏אבג‎ 1. ‏דאבג‎ 19. גאבד‎ 13. באגד‎ 7. אבגד‎ 1. ‏בא‎ 2. ‏אגב‎ 2. ‏דאגב‎ 20. גאדב‎ 14. באדג‎ 8. אבדג‎ 2. ‏באג‎ 3. ‏דבאג‎ 21. גבאד‎ 15. בגאד‎ 9. אגבד‎ 3. ‏בגא‎ 4. ‏דבגא‎ 22. גבדא‎ 16. בגדא‎ 10. אגדב‎ 4. ‏גאב‎ 5. ‏דגאב‎ 23. גדאב‎ 17. בדאג‎ 11. אדבג‎ 5. ‏גבא‎ 6. ‏דגבא‎ 24. גדבא‎ 18. בדגא‎ 12. אדגב‎ 6. form two. build six. build twenty-four.