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Thank you so much for your reply!

To what extent do you find it valuable, and where does it go astray?

I find the original study which was published in the peer-reviewed journal Statistical Science in 1994 to be very engaging. Here is the article as it was originally published: StatSci-Equidistant Letter Sequences in the Book of Genesis

And here is the home page to that website which explains the history of the research, the contention and the response.

IMHO, it has gone astray because of the commercialization. People are profoundly interested in being able to predict the future – crystal balls, Jane Dixon, horoscopes, etc. But the point of the ELS is not to predict the future but to reveal the authenticity of the Torah by looking at the past. For instance, ELS queries of specific rabbis leads to their birth date and date of death. ELS queries of important historical events reveal the players, etc.

I read somewhere that the mathematicians were outraged at the commercialization because the Torah expressly speaks against such sooth-saying – that it is against God’s will and thus will not lead to fruition anyway. Nevertheless, the book The Bible Code became a top-seller as did the various related books and software by other authors.

Isaac Newton evidently believed the Scriptures contained a code which unlocks the secrets of the universe. Certainly, the Jewish tradition believed the same. And thanks to modern computer technology they have revealed as much in the ELS of the book of Genesis in 2 dimensions. The researchers (I understand) wish to expand this to the whole Pentateuch and higher dimensions.

And speaking of the Pentateuch and Scriptures – there is another mathematical structure within the Scriptures – including the New Testament – which also speaks to divine authorship. Freeper Seven_0 brought the information to the Standing in Awe thread. Here is an excerpt:

The scripture divides into five pentateuchs, Five in scripture divides into 4+1, so there are four in the old testament and one in the new testament. Each of the pentateuchs further divides into 4+1 as do Paul's two pentateuchs.

Each pentateuch has the same basic structure. I will make a few comparisons for you since time is short. Once you see a few you will find they are endless, you can always find more. In fact it has turned out to be a wonderful mnemonic, as I have organized the scripture in my mind.

Compare Exodus with Acts, each is a number two. in the first you see the natural man leaving Egypt. in the second you see the spiritual man leaving the city, which is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt.

Look at Deuteronomy and Revelation, each a number five. In the first you see the natural man about to recieve the Earthly inheritance, in the second, you see the spiritual man about to recieve the spiritual inheritance.

There is a parallel between "Ezra, Nehemiah, and Ester" and "Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi," all books of the captivity.