The gematria value of Moses (משה); appears as a census number in the Bible
The number 345 appears in the Bible as a specific census figure. In Ezra 2:34 and Nehemiah 7:36, the number of descendants from Jericho who returned from the Babylonian exile is given as 345. Beyond this historical usage, the number is best known through gematria, where the Hebrew name Moses (משה) has the numerical value 345 (מ=40, ש=300, ה=5). This connection has given the number a symbolic association with leadership, deliverance, and divine law, particularly within Kabbalistic tradition. That the descendants of Jericho numbered 345 upon their return from Babylon is mentioned in two parallel census lists (Ezra 2:34 and Nehemiah 7:36). Such precise figures serve as historical testimony to the returning family groups. The gematria value of משה (Moses) is 345: מ (mem) = 40, ש (shin) = 300, ה (he) = 5. This is a standard calculation in Hebrew gematria and is uncontroversial as a mathematical fact. In Kabbalistic tradition, the connection between the number 345 and Moses has been attributed deep symbolic meaning. Moses is seen as the archetype of the divine mediator, and the number is linked to themes such as deliverance, the revelation of the Torah, and the connection between the human and the divine. This symbolism is primarily rooted in mystical traditions and is not considered part of mainstream biblical numerology.*