Chapter Thirty (פֶּרֶק שְׁלוֹשִׁים)

Here will be explained the secret of the 974 generations (בּוֹ יִתְבָּאֵר סוֹד תַּתְקַע״ד דּוֹרוֹת)

And now I will reveal to you one great secret, among the great secrets of the Torah (וְעַתָּה אֲגַלֶּה לְךָ סוֹד גָּדוֹל אֶחָד מִן הַסּוֹדוֹת הַגְּדוֹלוֹת שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה): every place mentioned in the Idra Rabba and the Idra Zuta where “a thousand worlds” are spoken of, and similarly other numbers associated with it (כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנִּזְכָּר בָּאִדְרָא קַדִּישָׁא רַבָּא וּזְעוּתָא אֶלֶף עוֹלָמוֹת וְדוּגְמָתוֹ מִסְפָּרִים בַּיּוֹצֵא בּוֹ), this means that each world is distinct unto itself (וְהוּא כָּל עוֹלָם וְעוֹלָם מִפְּנֵי עַצְמוֹ), and within it are rooted the roots of six hundred thousand souls (נִשְׁרָשִׁים בּוֹ שֹׁרֶשׁ שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא נְשָׁמוֹת), destined to descend below into the World of Beri’ah (שֶׁעֲתִידִים לָרֶדֶת לְמַטָּה בְּעוֹלַם הַבְּרִיאָה), for there is the place of the souls after the sin of Adam haRishon (אֲשֶׁר שָׁם מְקוֹם הַנְּשָׁמוֹת אַחַר שֶׁחָטָא אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן). And every Name divides according to the computation of a thousand worlds (וְכָל שֵׁם מִתְחַלֵּק לְחֶשְׁבּוֹן אֶלֶף עוֹלָמוֹת), for everything that descends downward divides into parts according to its numerical mystery (כִּי כָּל מַה שֶׁיּוֹרֵד לְמַטָּה נֶחְלָק לַחֲלָקִים בְּסוֹד מִסְפָּרוֹ), and from it emerge a thousand generations (וְיוֹצְאִים מִמֶּנּוּ אֶלֶף דּוֹר), and every generation has six hundred thousand souls (וְכָל דּוֹר יֵשׁ לוֹ שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא נְשָׁמוֹת). And since they all emerge from the unification of one Name (וּמֵאַחַר שֶׁיוֹצְאִים מִיִּחוּד שֵׁם אֶחָד), therefore they are joined in the number of the thousand (לָכֵן הֵם חֲבֵרִים בְּמִסְפַּר הָאֶלֶף), and they all proceed from Arich and from the worlds above it (וְכוּלָּם יוֹצְאִים מֵאֲרִיךְ וּמֵהָעוֹלָמוֹת שֶׁלְמַעְלָה מִמֶּנּוּ). And this is what our Sages, of blessed memory, said: “That the Holy One Blessed Be He was building worlds and destroying them” (וְזֶהוּ אָמְרָם ז״ל שֶׁהָיָה הקב״ה בּוֹנֶה עוֹלָמוֹת וּמַחֲרִיבָן), this is the secret of the generations of the righteous who were hidden in the womb of Imma (הוּא סוֹד דּוֹרוֹת הַצַּדִּיקִים שֶׁנִּגְנְזוּ בְּמֵעֵי אִמָּא), and of the wicked who were destroyed and fell into the depths of desolation and the Klipot (וְהָרְשָׁעִים שֶׁנֶּחְרְבוּ וְנָפְלוּ לְעוּמְקֵי הַחוּרְבָּה וְהַקְּלִיפּוֹת).

And you must know that these worlds that were destroyed are the vessels that were broken (וְצָרִיךְ אַתָּה לָדַעַת כִּי אֵלּוּ הָעוֹלָמוֹת שֶׁנֶּחְרְבוּ הֵם הַכֵּלִים שֶׁנִּשְׁבְּרוּ), that immediately when Chesed reigned there was created within it one world from two times sixty myriads of souls (שֶׁתֵּכֶף שֶׁמָּלַךְ חֶסֶד נִבְרָא בְּתוֹכוֹ עוֹלָם אֶחָד מִשְּׁנֵי פְּעָמִים שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא נְשָׁמוֹת), that is sixty myriads of souls from the side of the chasadim within it (דְּהַיְינוּ שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא נְשָׁמוֹת מִצַּד הַחֲסָדִים שֶׁבּוֹ), and sixty other myriads from the side of the gevurot within it (וְשִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא אֲחֵרִים מִצַּד הַגְּבוּרוֹת שֶׁבּוֹ). However, in truth there were one hundred and fifty generations for each and every Sefirah (אֲמְנָם בֶּאֱמֶת הָיָה ק״ן דּוֹר לְכָל סְפִירָה וְסְפִירָה), except for Malkhut which did not establish so many generations as I will explain (לְבַד מִמַּלְכוּת שֶׁלֹּא הֶעֱמִידָה כָּל כָּךְ דּוֹרוֹת כַּאֲשֶׁר אֲבָאֵר), and each generation was sixty myriads of souls (וְכָל דּוֹר הָיָה ס׳ רִבּוֹא נְשָׁמוֹת). Thus there were from the side of the chasadim one thousand generations as I will explain (נִמְצָא שֶׁהָיוּ מִצַּד הַחֲסָדִים אֶלֶף דּוֹר כַּאֲשֶׁר אֲבָאֵר), and from the side of the gevurot nine hundred and seventy-four generations only (וּמִצַּד הַגְּבוּרוֹת תִּתְקַע״ד דּוֹרוֹת לְבַד), and all this accounting I will explain clearly (וְכָל זֶה הַחֶשְׁבּוֹן אֲבָאֵר בָּאַר הֵיטֵב). However the souls were not corporeal like us (אֲמְנָם הַנְּשָׁמוֹת לֹא הָיוּ גַּשְׁמִיִּים כָּמוֹנוּ), and bodies of sapphire were created for them (וְנִבְרְאוּ לָהֶם גּוּפִים סְפִירִיִּים), that were not as material as ours (שֶׁלֹּא הָיוּ כָּל כָּךְ חוֹמְרִיִּים כְּמוֹ שֶׁלָּנוּ). And those that were from the side of the gevurot, the Holy One Blessed Be He foresaw that they were destined to be utterly wicked (וְאוֹתָן שֶׁהָיוּ מִצַּד הַגְּבוּרוֹת צָפָה בָהֶם הקב״ה שֶׁהָיוּ עֲתִידִים לִהְיוֹת רְשָׁעִים גְּמוּרִים), more than the generation of the flood, the generation of dispersion, and Sodom (יוֹתֵר מִדּוֹר הַמַּבּוּל וְדוֹר הַפַּלָּגָה וּסְדוֹם). And with those twenty-six generations from the creation of the world until the giving of the Torah (וְעִם אוֹתָן הַכ״ו דּוֹרוֹת מִבְּרִיאַת הָעוֹלָם עַד מַתַּן תּוֹרָה), when the thousand generations were completed with those nine hundred and seventy-four as we explained elsewhere (שֶׁבָּהֶן נִשְׁלְמוּ אֶלֶף דּוֹר עִם אוֹתָן הַתִּתְקַע״ד כְּדְפֵירַשְׁנוּ בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר), therefore He said: “These did not benefit Me” (לָכֵן אָמַר דֵּין לָא אָהֲנְיָין לִי), and they are the nine hundred and seventy-four generations that were cut off before their time (וְהֵם תִּתְקַע״ד דּוֹרוֹת שֶׁקוּמְטוּ בְּלֹא עֵת). “A river pours out their foundation” (נהר יוצק יסודם), for “from the fire” of harsh judgment “they went out,” and “the consuming fire will devour them” (כִּי מֵהָאֵשׁ הַדִּין הַקָּשֶׁה יָצְאוּ וְהָאֵשׁ הַקָּשֶׁה תֹּאכְלֵם). And the Holy One Blessed Be He planted them in every generation (וְשָׁתְלָם הקב״ה בְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר), that is, He sends some of them into this world in every generation to rectify them (דְּהַיְינוּ שֶׁשׁוֹלֵחַ מֵהֶם בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה בְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר כְּדֵי לְתַקְּנָם), and they are the insolent of face in the generation (וְהֵם עַזֵּי פָנִים שֶׁבַּדּוֹר), for they go in the reincarnation of an animal and have no shame, in the secret of Inanimate, Vegetative, Animal, Speaking, as I will explain (כִּי הֵם הוֹלְכִים בְּגִלְגּוּל בְּהֵמָה וְאֵין לָהֶם בּוּשָׁה בְּסוֹד דְּצַח״ם כְּמוֹ שֶׁאֲבָאֵר). And these worlds of the gevurot were nine hundred and seventy-four generations alone (וְאֵלּוּ הָעוֹלָמוֹת שֶׁל הַגְּבוּרוֹת הָיוּ תִּתְקַע״ד דּוֹרוֹת לְבַד), which arose in thought to be created but were not created together (שֶׁעָלוּ בַּמַּחֲשָׁבָה לְהִבָּרֵאוֹת וְלֹא נִבְרְאוּ יַחַד), because they were all exceedingly evil (יַעַן שֶׁהָיוּ כֻּלָּם רָעִים מְאֹד). However, the sweetest and best among them were the twenty-six generations from Adam until Moshe Rabbenu, peace be upon him (אֲמְנָם הַיּוֹתֵר מְתוּקִים וְטוֹבִים שֶׁבָּהֶם הָיוּ הַכ״ו דּוֹרוֹת מֵאָדָם עַד מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ ע״ה), yet even so, they were all exceedingly evil before Hashem (וְאַף עַל פִּי כֵן הָיוּ כֻּלָּם רָעִים לַה׳ מְאֹד), more than the generation of the flood, and of the dispersion, and of Sodom (יוֹתֵר מִדּוֹר הַמַּבּוּל וְהַפַּלָּגָה וְסְדוֹם). And these are the secret of the verse: “And these are the kings who reigned” (Bereshit 36) (וְאֵלּוּ הֵם סוֹד: וְאֵלֶּה הַמְּלָכִים אֲשֶׁר מָלָכוּ).

And behold, I make known to you how there were nine hundred and seventy-four generations and no more (וְהִנְנִי מוֹדִיעֲךָ אֵיךְ הָיוּ תִּתְקַע״ד דּוֹרוֹת וְלֹא יוֹתֵר). Know that the world of Tohu, which is that of the Nekudot, the light entered it from the Yod–Heh of the Name S"G, as was said (דַּע שֶׁהָעוֹלָם שֶׁל תֹּהוּ שֶׁהוּא שֶׁל נְקוּדוֹת נִכְנַס בּוֹ הָאוֹר מִן י״ה שֶׁל שֵׁם ס״ג כָּאֲמוּר), for this is the influx that was sent toward the shattered vessels (כִּי זֶה הוּא הַשֶּׁפַע שֶׁדָּחָה לַכֵּלִים הַנִּשְׁבָּרִים), because the other letters had already served and completed their service (כִּי כְּבָר הָאוֹתִיּוֹת הָאֲחֵרוֹת שִׁרְתוּ וְעָשׂוּ אֶת הַשֵּׁירוּת שֶׁלָּהֶם). And since these letters came as great chasadim (וּלְהִיוֹת שֶׁאֵלּוּ הָאוֹתִיּוֹת בָּאוּ חֲסָדִים גְּדוֹלִים), in relation to these chasadim the gevurot appeared exceedingly harsh (שֶׁבְּעֵרֶךְ הַחֲסָדִים הָאֵלּוּ הַגְּבוּרוֹת נִרְאִים קָשִׁים עַד מְאֹד), because of the greatness of the chasadim (מֵרוֹב מַעֲלַת הַחֲסָדִים). And although the gevurot are not seen in this place at all-that is, in the place of the Malbush (וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהַגְּבוּרוֹת אֵינָם נִרְאִים בַּמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה כְּלָל דְּהַיְינוּ בְּמָקוֹם הַמַּלְבּוּשׁ), nevertheless, when they descend below, there the gevurot have existence (מִכָּל מָקוֹם כְּשֶׁיוֹרְדִים לְמַטָּה שָׁם גְּבוּרוֹת יֵשׁ לָהֶם), and in relation to the chasadim the gevurot appeared exceedingly severe (וּלְעֵרֶךְ הַחֲסָדִים הַגְּבוּרוֹת נִרְאוּ קָשֶׁה עַד מְאֹוד). And all this is said regarding the Inner and Surrounding Light (וְכָל זֶה נֶאֱמַר בְּאוֹר פְּנִימִי וּמַקִּיף), to exclude the vessel itself which was made in the secret of Returning Light, as we explained above (לְאַפּוּקֵי הַכְּלִי עַצְמוֹ שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה בְּסוֹד אוֹר חוֹזֵר, כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ לְמַעְלָה), which was Gevurah of Gevurot (שֶׁהָיָה גְּבוּרָה גְּבוּרוֹת). And because of the abundance of influx of the chasadim and the gevurot (וּמִפְּנֵי רִבּוּי הַשֶּׁפַע שֶׁל הַחֲסָדִים וְהַגְּבוּרוֹת), there was no stability and standing for those worlds mentioned, that is, the seven Sefirot that were shattered (לֹא הָיָה קִיּוּם וַעֲמִידָה לָעוֹלָמוֹת הַנִּזְכָּרִים, דְּהַיְינוּ ז׳ סְפִירוֹת שֶׁנִּשְׁבְּרוּ). And because all the worlds of the ten Sefirot mentioned were each included from ten (וּמִפְּנֵי שֶׁכָּל הָעוֹלָמוֹת מֵעֶשֶׂר סְפִירוֹת הַנִּזְכָּרִים הָיוּ כְּלוּלִים מֵעֶשֶׂר), and every part of ten is included in Yod–Heh, from which came to them the light or vitality (וְכָל חֵלֶק מֵעֶשֶׂר נִכְלָלִים בְּי״ה שֶׁמֵּהֶם בָּא לָהֶם הָאוֹר אוֹ הַחַיּוּת), and the sum of every tenth part multiplied by fifteen amounts to one hundred and fifty (וְחָשׁוּב כָּל חֵלֶק מֵעֶשֶׂר ט״ו פְּעָמִים הוּא ק״ן), thus there are one hundred and fifty generations (נִמְצָא ק״ן דּוֹר), and every generation consists of sixty myriads of souls from the side of the gevurot (וְכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר הֵם ס׳ רִבּוֹא נְשָׁמוֹת מִצַּד הַגְּבוּרוֹת). Because I have already told you that every Sefirah is quadrupled, since they come from the power of the Name Havayah of four letters (מִפְּנֵי שֶׁכְּבָר אָמַרְתִּי לְךָ שֶׁכָּל סְפִירָה וּסְפִירָה הִיא מְרוּבַּעַת מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵם מִכֹּחַ שֵׁם בֶּן ד׳), and the power of the Name Havayah is Yod–Heh, as mentioned (וְכֹחַ שֵׁם בֶּן ד׳ הוּא י״ה כַּנִּזְכָּר). And the computation of four times fifteen amounts to sixty (וְחָשׁוּב ד׳ פְּעָמִים ט״ו עוֹלֶה ס׳), which are sixty myriads of souls, called one generation (שֶׁהֵם ס׳ רִבּוֹא נְשָׁמוֹת הַנִּקְרָאִים דּוֹר אֶחָד). Thus, in each of the shattered Sefirot there are one hundred and fifty generations from the side of the gevurot (נִמְצָא שֶׁבְּכָל אֶחָד מִן הַסְּפִירוֹת הַנִּשְׁבָּרוֹת יֵשׁ בּוֹ ק״ן דּוֹר מִצַּד הַגְּבוּרוֹת). Hence, in all seven Sefirot mentioned there should have been, by this reckoning, one thousand and fifty generations (נִמְצָא שֶׁבְּכָל ז׳ סְפִירוֹת הַנִּזְכָּר הָיָה רָאוּי שֶׁיִּהְיוּ לָהֶם בַּחֶשְׁבּוֹן זֶה אֶלֶף וַחֲמִשִּׁים דּוֹר). However, since the essence of Malkhut’s being is through the Yod alone, which is Chokhmah (אֶלָּא לִהְיוֹת שֶׁמַּלְכוּת עִקַּר הֲוָיָתָהּ עַל־יְדֵי הַיּוֹד בִּלְבַד שֶׁהִיא חָכְמָה), as the verse says: “Hashem, in Chokhmah, founded the earth” (Proverbs 3) (כִּי אָמַר הַכָּתוּב ה׳ בְּחָכְמָה יָסַד אָרֶץ), for Chokhmah is the Yod, and “founded the earth” is Malkhut (כִּי הַחָכְמָה הִיא הַיּוֹד יָסַד אָרֶץ שֶׁהִיא הַמַּלְכוּת). If so, it is lacking the Heh of Yod–Heh, which includes ten, that is fifty (אִם כֵּן חָסֵר מִמֶּנָּה ה׳ שֶׁל י״ה כָּלוּל מֵעֶשֶׂר דְּהַיְינוּ נ׳), and there remained for it only one hundred generations (וְלֹא נִשְׁאַר לָהּ כִּי אִם מֵאָה דּוֹר). And in this calculation, there should have been one thousand generations of the wicked from the side of the gevurot (וּבָזֶה הַחֶשְׁבּוֹן הָיָה רָאוּי לִהְיוֹת אֶלֶף דּוֹר שֶׁל רְשָׁעִים מִצַּד הַגְּבוּרוֹת), but since Malkhut, when Yesod gave her the portion fitting for her from the influx (אֶלָּא לְפִי שֶׁמַּלְכוּת כְּשֶׁנָּתַן לָהּ יְסוֹד הֶחָלֶק הָרָאוּי לָהּ מִן הַשֶּׁפַע), she had stability and endurance in the number of twenty-six generations, which is the value of the Name Havayah (הָיָה לָהּ קִיּוּם וַעֲמִידָה כְּמִנְיָן כ״ו דּוֹרוֹת שֶׁעוֹלֶה מִסְפַּר שֵׁם הוי״ה). And precisely that portion which Yesod gave her is itself the Name Havayah (וּמַמָּשׁ אוֹתוֹ הֶחָלֶק שֶׁנָּתַן לָהּ יְסוֹד הוּא מַמָּשׁ שֵׁם הוי״ה). Therefore those twenty-six generations were not included in the count of their companions, the nine hundred and seventy-four generations of the wicked (לָכֵן אוֹתָם הַכ״ו דּוֹרוֹת לֹא נִכְנְסוּ בְּמִנְיַן חֲבֵרֵיהֶם תִּתְקַע״ד דּוֹרוֹת שֶׁל רְשָׁעִים), for they were the sweetest and best among them, from the chasadim within the gevurot (כִּי הֵם הָיוּ הַיּוֹתֵר מְתוּקִים וְטוֹבִים שֶׁבָּהֶם מִצַּד הַחֲסָדִים שֶׁל הַגְּבוּרוֹת), and the Name Havayah sweetened them in the number of twenty-six generations only, in its own numerical value (וְשֵׁם הוי״ה הָיָה מְמַתְּקָם כְּמִנְיָן כ״ו דּוֹרוֹת לְבַד בְּמִסְפָּרוֹ). And they were created in the World of Tikkun, from Adam haRishon until Moshe Rabbenu, peace be upon him, generation after generation, not one of them missing (וְנִבְרְאוּ בָּעוֹלָם הַתִּקּוּן מֵאָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן עַד מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ ע״ה דּוֹר אַחַר דּוֹר אֶחָד מֵהֶם לֹא נֶעְדָּר). But the nine hundred and seventy-four generations were utterly wicked (מַה שֶּׁאֵין כֵּן הַתִּתְקַע״ד דּוֹרוֹת הָיוּ רְשָׁעִים גְּמוּרִים), and if the Holy One Blessed Be He had created in the World of Tikkun an entire generation after generation, they would have destroyed the world, Heaven forbid (וְאִם הָיָה בּוֹרֵא הקב״ה בָּעוֹלָם הַתִּקּוּן דּוֹר שָׁלֵם דּוֹר אַחַר דּוֹר הָיוּ מַחֲרִיבִים הָעוֹלָם חַס וְשָׁלוֹם). Therefore they were created as individuals, each one alone in every generation, one by one (לָכֵן נִבְרְאוּ יְחִידִים כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד לְבַדּוֹ בְּכָל דּוֹר אֶחָד אֶחָד לְבַדּוֹ), and these are the insolent of face in each generation (וְהֵן הֵן עַזֵּי פָנִים שֶׁבַּדּוֹר). And from the sweetest among them, such as the generation of the Flood, and of the Dispersion, and of Sodom (וּמִן הַיּוֹתֵר מְתוּקִים שֶׁבָּהֶם כְּגוֹן דּוֹר הַמַּבּוּל וְהַפַּלָּגָה וְסְדוֹם), they were so exceedingly wicked-how much more so were those nine hundred and seventy-four generations (הָיוּ כָּל כָּךְ רְשָׁעִים כָּל שֶׁכֵּן אוֹתָם הַתִּתְקַע״ד דּוֹרוֹת).

Therefore the twenty-six generations were hidden within the womb of Imma, together with the thousand generations of the pure ones, from which were made the angels in the World of Tikkun, as I will explain (וְלָכֵן נִגְנְזוּ בְּמֵעֵי אִמָּא הַכ״ו דּוֹרוֹת עִם הָאֶלֶף דּוֹר שֶׁל טְהוֹרִים שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ מֵהֶם הַמַּלְאָכִים בָּעוֹלָם הַתִּקּוּן כַּאֲשֶׁר אֲבָאֵר). And for this reason, from the generations mentioned, only the nine hundred and seventy-four were destroyed (וְלָזֶה לֹא נֶחְרְבוּ מִן הַדּוֹרוֹת הַנִּזְכָּרִים כִּי אִם הַתִּתְקַע״ד בִּלְבַד), for the twenty-six generations are pure, being from the existence and endurance of Malkhut, from the portion of influx given to her from Yesod (שֶׁהַכ״ו דּוֹרוֹת הֵם טְהוֹרִים לִהְיוֹתָם מִן הַיְקוּם וְהָעֲמִידָה שֶׁל מַלְכוּת מֵחֵלֶק הַשֶּׁפַע הַנִּתָּן לָהּ מִן הַיְסוֹד). And those nine hundred and seventy-four generations mentioned are those of whom it is said, “that did not benefit Him” (וְאֵלּוּ הַתִּתְקַע״ד דּוֹרוֹת הַנִּזְכָּרִים הֵם אוֹתָן דְּלָא אֲהַנְיוֹן לֵיהּ).

It follows that from Malkhut came forth generations of destruction, which fell into the depths of the Klipot (נִמְצָא שֶׁיָּצְאוּ מִמַּלְכוּת דּוֹרוֹת שֶׁל חֲרָבָה שֶׁנָּפְלוּ לְעֻמְקֵי הַקְּלִיפּוֹת), from which the Holy One Blessed Be He raises up each and every day from the Inanimate, Vegetative, Animal, Speaking, as I will explain (שֶׁהקב״ה מַעֲלֶה מֵהֶן בְּכָל יוֹם וָיוֹם מִן דְּצַח״ם כְּמוֹ שֶׁאֲבָאֵר). And [there are] generations of existence and endurance, which were hidden together with those thousand generations of the pure ones and did not fall below like their companions (וְדּוֹרוֹת שֶׁל קִיּוּם וַעֲמִידָה שֶׁנִּגְנְזוּ עִם אוֹתָן אֶלֶף דּוֹרוֹת שֶׁל טְהוֹרִים וְלֹא נָפְלוּ לְמַטָּה כַּחֲבֵרֵיהֶם), for they were sweetened by the Name Havayah mentioned (לִהְיוֹתָם מְמוּתָּקִים מִן שֵׁם הוי״ה הַנִּזְכָּר), and they are the chasadim within the gevurot mentioned (וְהֵם הַחֲסָדִים שֶׁבַּגְּבוּרוֹת הַנִּזְכָּרִים). Therefore they did not enter into “the bindings” with them, even though they were created together (לָכֵן לֹא נִכְנְסוּ בַּקּוֹשְׁרִים עִמָּהֶם אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁנִּבְרְאוּ יַחַד). Another reason why there were twenty-six generations, neither less nor more: answer-know that Yesod is Yosef, as it is said, “and the food shall be for a store for the land” (Bereshit 41) (עוֹד טַעַם אַחֵר לָמָּה הָיוּ כ״ו דּוֹרוֹת לֹא פָּחוֹת וְלֹא יוֹתֵר, תְּשׁוּבָה; דַּע שֶׁיְסוֹד הוּא יוֹסֵף שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בּוֹ וְהָיָה הָאֹכֶל לְפִקָּדוֹן לָאָרֶץ), which is Malkhut (שֶׁהִיא מַלְכוּת), and it is that portion which he gave to her as a deposit (וְהוּא אוֹתוֹ הֶחָלֶק שֶׁנָּתַן לָהּ בְּפִקָּדוֹן), and this portion was in the secret of the upper Heh of Havayah (וְזֶה הֶחָלֶק הָיָה בְּסוֹד ה׳ עִילָּאָה שֶׁל הוי״ה), which he received from Binah herself through the supervision of the window, so that Malkhut should not be broken (שֶׁקִּבֵּל מִבִּינָה עַצְמָהּ בְּהַשְׂגָּחַת הַחַלּוֹן שֶׁלֹּא תִּשָּׁבֵר מַלְכוּת). Therefore, the influx was in the secret of the Heh (לָכֵן הָיְתָה הַשֶּׁפַע בְּסוֹד ה׳), and for this reason Yesod gave to Malkhut one-fifth from a hundred, which is twenty (לָזֶה נָתַן לָהּ יְסוֹד הַחוֹמֶשׁ מִמֵּאָה שֶׁהוּא ך׳). And since when Yesod gave this portion to Malkhut, that Yesod was complete and had not yet been shattered (וּלְהִיוֹת שֶׁכְּשֶׁנָּתַן לָהּ יְסוֹד לַמַּלְכוּת זֶה הֶחָלֶק הָיָה הַיְסוֹד שָׁלֵם שֶׁלֹּא נִשְׁבַּר עֲדַיִן), therefore the Vav Ze’ira, which is Yesod, as stated in the Zohar in many places, was inscribed within Malkhut (לָזֶה הַוָאו זְעִירָא שֶׁהוּא יְסוֹד כָּאָמַר בַּזּוֹהַר בְּכַמָּה מְקוֹמוֹת נִרְשַׁם בַּמַּלְכוּת). And therefore that imprint of the Vav endured for six generations (וְלָזֶה אוֹתוֹ רוֹשֶׁם שֶׁל וָאו קַיָּים ו׳ דּוֹרוֹת), behold that the portion from the endurance itself was twenty-six generations (הֲרֵי שֶׁהֶחָלֶק מֵהַקִּיּוּם עַצְמוֹ הָיְתָה כ״ו דּוֹרוֹת), because Yesod and Malkhut had not yet been broken (כִּי לֹא נִשְׁבְּרוּ עֲדַיִן יְסוֹד וּמַלְכוּת). And therefore they were called the generations of endurance and stability (וְלָכֵן נִקְרְאוּ דּוֹרוֹת שֶׁל קִיּוּם וַעֲמִידָה), and afterwards, when they were destroyed, they also had generations of destruction (וְאַחַר כָּךְ כְּשֶׁנֶּחְרְבוּ הָיוּ לָהֶם גַּם כֵּן דּוֹרוֹת שֶׁל חֲרָבָה). And here, six generations were sufficient for Yesod, for it is the sixth of the shattered Sefirot (וְכָאן מַסְפִּיק ו׳ דּוֹרוֹת לַיְסוֹד כִּי הוּא שִׁשִּׁי לַסְּפִירוֹת הַנִּשְׁבָּרִים). And there is no place here to ask why he did not also establish generations of endurance (וְאֵין כָּאן מָקוֹם לִשְׁאוֹל לָמָּה לֹא הֶעֱמִיד גַּם כֵּן דּוֹרוֹת שֶׁל קִיּוּם), for Yesod established six generations at the moment that it had vitality more than the preceding ones (כִּי הֶעֱמִיד הַיְסוֹד ו׳ דּוֹרוֹת אוֹתוֹ הָרֶגַע שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ חַיּוּת יוֹתֵר מִן הָרִאשׁוֹנִים), for the need of the vitality of Malkhut, which had vitality greater than that of Yesod (לְצוֹרֶךְ חַיּוּת מַלְכוּת שֶׁהָיְתָה לָהּ חַיּוּת יוֹתֵר מִן יְסוֹד), for she established twenty generations, since she was not broken at all (כִּי הֶעֱמִידָה עֶשְׂרִים דּוֹרוֹת מִפְּנֵי שֶׁלֹּא נִשְׁבְּרָה כְּלָל). And the entire being of Yesod had vitality only for the sake of Malkhut (וְכָל עַצְמוֹ שֶׁל יְסוֹד לֹא הָיָה לוֹ חַיּוּת אֶלָּא בַּעֲבוּר מַלְכוּת), and so that there would not be bodies for the demons and their kind, which are the souls of the wicked, except through repentance (וּשֶׁלֹּא יִהְיוּ גּוּפִים לַשֵּׁדִים וּלְדוֹמֵיהֶם שֶׁהֵם נִשְׁמוֹת רְשָׁעִים כִּי אִם בִּתְשׁוּבָה), therefore the Zohar calls them “naked souls,” for they have no bodies from the return of the holy body, which is from the secret of Malkhut (לָכֵן קָרָא לָהֶם הַזֹּהַר נִשְׁמָתִין עַרְטִילָאִין שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם גּוּפִים מֵהֶדֶר הַגּוּף הַקָּדוֹשׁ שֶׁהוּא מִסּוֹד מַלְכוּת). And because Adam haRishon, peace be upon him, through his sin lost the garments of the upper Garden of Eden (וּלְהִיוֹת שֶׁאָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן ע״ה בַּחֲטָאוֹ אָבַד הַלְּבוּשִׁים שֶׁל גַּן עֵדֶן הָעֶלְיוֹן), it is said: “And they knew that they were naked” (Bereshit 3) (נֶאֱמַר וַיֵּדְעוּ כִּי עֵירֻמִּם הֵם). And let us return to our matter (וְנָחֲזוֹר לְעִנְיָנֵינוּ): it hints at this, that Yesod gave to Malkhut one-fifth from a hundred, as the verse says: “And you shall give a fifth to Pharaoh” (Bereshit 47) (יִרְמֹז לַדָּבָר שֶׁיְסוֹד נָתַן לַמַּלְכוּת הַחוֹמֶשׁ מִמֵּאָה הוּא מַה שֶׁאוֹמֵר הַכָּתוּב וּנְתַתֶּם חֲמִישִׁית לְפַרְעֹה).

The explanation: Pharaoh is Malkhut, which is called Peri’ah, that is, the revelation of the crown (פֵּרוּשׁ כִּי פַּרְעֹה הִיא מַלְכוּת שֶׁנִּקְרֵאת פְּרִיעָה הַיְנוּ גִּלּוּי הָעֲטָרָה). And he gave her one-fifth from a hundred, alluding to the Heh of Yesod, which received the influx from the upper Heh of Binah and gave that fifth to Malkhut, as stated (וְנָתַן לָהּ הַחֲמִישִׁית מִמֵּאָה רוֹמֵז אֶל ה׳ שֶׁל יְסוֹד שֶׁקִּבְּלָה הַשֶּׁפַע מֵה׳ עִילָּאָה בִּינָה וְנָתַן הַחֲמִישִׁית לַמַּלְכוּת כָּאֲמוּר). Therefore the generations of endurance and stability were twenty-six generations and no more (לָכֵן הַדּוֹרוֹת שֶׁל קִיּוּם וַעֲמִידָה הָיוּ כ״ו דּוֹרוֹת וְלֹא יוֹתֵר). And just as there are here one thousand generations from the side of the gevurot (וּכְמוֹ שֶׁיֵּשׁ כָּאן אֶלֶף דּוֹר מִצַּד הַגְּבוּרוֹת), so too the Holy One Blessed Be He brought forth opposite them one thousand generations of the pure ones (כֵּן הוֹצִיא הקב״ה כְּנֶגְדָּן אֶלֶף דּוֹר שֶׁל טְהוֹרִים), from which were made ten ranks of angels in the World of Tikkun (שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ מֵהֶם י׳ כִּתּוֹת שֶׁל מַלְאָכִים בָּעוֹלָם הַתִּקּוּן), and they are from the side of the chasadim within the ten Sefirot (וְהֵם מִצַּד הַחֲסָדִים שֶׁבַּעֲשֶׂרֶת הַסְּפִירוֹת), and at their head are the seven who behold the face of the King (וּבְרֹאשָׁם הֵם ז׳ רוֹאֵי פְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ), whose sign is Argaman (שֶׁסִּימָנָם אַרְגְּמָ״ן).