Shemos 37:1

וַיַּ֧עַשׂ בְּצַלְאֵ֛ל אֶת־הָאָרֹ֖ן עֲצֵ֣י שִׁטִּ֑ים אַמָּתַ֨יִם וָחֵ֜צִי אׇרְכּ֗וֹ וְאַמָּ֤ה וָחֵ֙צִי֙ רׇחְבּ֔וֹ וְאַמָּ֥ה וָחֵ֖צִי קֹמָתֽוֹ

“And Betzalel made the Ark…”

In the Midrash Tanchuma (Vayakhel, 8), it is taught: Since it was revealed before Hashem that the people would sin at Shittim, let the Shittim wood of the Ark come and provide atonement for that sin.

To understand even a little of how this provides atonement, we must mention the main question posed in the Tanchuma: Why was the Ark made specifically of Shittim wood? It is because the Torah is called the “Tree of Life.” And behold, the word Shittim (שטים) has the same numerical value (359)as Satan (שטן), who is the Evil Inclination.

Therefore, the remedy to overcome the Evil Inclination is found in the Torah, as our Sages of blessed memory said (Kiddushin 30a): “If this repulsive one meets you, the evil inclination to debauchery, drag him to the House of Study.” As it says in the Holy Zohar (Part I, 128b; Midrash HaNe’elam): In the future to come, his name will be “White,” meaning he will be purified and will no longer be “repulsive” as he is today. Instead, he will be used only for the joy of the Torah (Zohar Part 1 138a, Midrash HaNe’elam)and for the purpose of being fruitful and multiplying—to bring forth life, not for the sake of mere desire.

Therefore, the word Wood (עצי), which has a Gematria of 170, plus the words Acacia Wood (עצי שטים), equals 172—which is the number of words in the Ten Commandments. These are the “rectification” for the Shittim (Acacia) which equals Satan, so that he shall have no dominion over the Children of Israel.

May it be His will, Amen.