Chapter Twenty-One (פֶּרֶק עֶשְׂרִים וְאֶחָד)

Until now we have spoken of the Upper Heikhal haZechut [Palace of Merit] (עַד עַתָּה דִּבַּרְנוּ מִן הֵיכָל זְכוּת הָעֶלְיוֹן), and now we shall speak of the Lower Heikhal haZechut [Palace of Merit] (וְעַתָּה נְדַבֵּר מִן הֵיכָל זְכוּת הַתַּחְתּוֹן), in which there are thirty-two angels called Somekhin [Supporters] (שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ ל״ב מַלְאָכִים הַנִּקְרָאִים סוֹמְכִין), and they stand at the four directions of the world (וְהֵם עוֹמְדִים לְאַרְבַּע רוּחוֹת הָעוֹלָם), and all of them are called “Yetedot haMishkan [Pegs of the Tabernacle]” (וְכֻלָּם נִקְרָאִים יְתֵדוֹת הַמִּשְׁכָּן), because they do not move nor change their watch forever (שֶׁאֵינָם זָזִים וּמִתְחַלְּפִים מִשְׁמַרְתָּם לְעוֹלָם). And five hundred thousand stand beneath them (וְת״ק אֲלָפִים עוֹמְדִים תַּחְתֵּיהֶם), and they minister unto these thirty-two appointees (וְהֵם מְשָׁרְתִים אֶל אֵלּוּ הַל״ב מְמֻנִּים), and they are appointed over judgment and justice in the thirty-two Elohim [Divine Names of Judgment] of Ma’aseh Bereshit [the Act of Creation] (וְהֵם מְמֻנִּים עַל דִּין וּמִשְׁפָּט בְּל״ב אֱלֹהִי״ם דְּמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית), to judge the world (לָדוּן אֶת הָעוֹלָם). And the five hundred thousand are from the side of Netzach, which is a branch of Chesed [Kindness] (וְת״ק אֶלֶף הֵם מִצַּד נֵצַח שֶׁהוּא עֲנַף הַחֶסֶד), for the five Chasadim [Kindnesses] are included from ten (כִּי ה׳ חֲסָדִים כְּלוּלִים מִי׳), and ten from ten (וְי׳ מִי׳), behold they are five hundred (הֲרֵי ת״ק), and because they do not act except through the Heikhal Hod [Palace of Splendor] (וּמִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵינָם פּוֹעֲלִים אֶלָּא עַל יְדֵי הֵיכָל הוֹד), which is the Heikhal haNogah [Palace of Radiance] that we mentioned (שֶׁהוּא הֵיכָל נֹגַה שֶׁאָמַרְנוּ), in which there are five Gevurot included from ten (שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ ה׳ גְּבוּרוֹת כְּלוּלִים מִי׳), and ten from ten (וְי׳ מִי׳), they are five hundred (הֵם ת״ק), together they total one thousand (כְּלָלָם אֶלֶף), therefore there are in this Heikhal [Palace] five hundred thousand (לָכֵן יֵשׁ בְּהֵיכָל זֶה ת״ק אֶלֶף). And because they are from the side of Chesed [Kindness] they are called Kedishin [Holy Ones] (וּמִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵם מִצַּד הַחֶסֶד נִקְרָאִין קַדִּישִׁין), and it is said (שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר): “The matter is by the decree of the Watchers, and the sentence by the word of the Holy Ones” (בִּגְזֵרַת עִירִין פִּתְגָמָא וּמַאֲמַר קַדִּישִׁין שְׁאֵלְתָא) (Daniel 4:14). For Ir [Watcher] (כִּי עִיר) has the numerical value of 280 (הוּא גִימַטְרִיָא פ״ר), and 280 (וּפ״ר) are the letters MNTZPKH [Final Letters] (הֵם מַנְצְפָ״ךְ), which are in the Heikhal haNogah [Palace of Radiance] (שֶׁהוּא בְּהֵיכָל הַנֹּגַה), it is the Heikhal Hod [Palace of Splendor] (הוּא הֵיכָל הוֹד), which is judgment (שֶׁהוּא דִּין). Which is one half of the Sanhedrin, who are judgment (שֶׁהוּא חֶצְיָהּ שֶׁל הַסַּנְהֶדְרִין שֶׁהֵם דִּין), and the second half of the Heikhal haZechut [Palace of Merit] are called Kedishin [Holy Ones] from the side of Chesed (וְחֶצְיָהּ הַשֵּׁנִית שֶׁל הֵיכָל זְכוּת הֵם נִקְרָאִים קַדִּישִׁין מִצַּד הַחֶסֶד), for 280 and 130 equal Kadosh [Holy] (כִּי פ״ר וְק״ל עוֹלִים קָדוֹשׁ), as we have said (כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַרְנוּ), that no Heikhal [Palace] acts without its counterpart (שֶׁאֵין פּוֹעֵל הֵיכָל בְּלֹא חֲבֵרוֹ). And there are four angels who are more important than all of them (וְיֵשׁ אַרְבָּעָה מַלְאָכִים שֶׁהֵם יוֹתֵר חֲשׁוּבִים מִכֻּלָּם), and their names are Chasdiah’el, Kesiriah, Kerumiah, and Dehariel (וּשְׁמָם חַסְדִּיהָא״ל קְסִירִיָ״ה קְרוֹמִיָ״ה דְּהַרִיאֵ״ל), and through these it is granted to make judgment known in the world (וְעַל יְדֵי אֵלּוּ נִתָּן לְהוֹדִיעַ דִּין בְּעָלְמָא), and concerning these it is written (וְעַל אֵלּוּ כְּתִיב): “and the sentence by the word of the Holy Ones” (וּמַאֲמַר קַדִּישִׁין שְׁאֵלְתָא) (Daniel 4:14). And all those below them who are appointed to execute judgment in the world (וְכָל אוֹתָם שֶׁלְּמַטָּה מֵהֶם הַמְמֻנִּים לַעֲשׂוֹת דִּין בָּעוֹלָם), ask those four angels (שׁוֹאֲלִים אוֹתָם הַד׳ מַלְאָכִים), how the ruling has gone forth concerning a certain person (הֵיאַךְ יָצָא הַפְּסָק עַל אֵיזֶה אָדָם), and concerning a certain city or province or one nation (וְאֵיזֶה עִיר אוֹ מְדִינָה אוֹ עַל עַם אֶחָד), and they act according to the supernal decree (וְהֵם עוֹשִׂים כְּפִי הַגְּזֵרָה הָעֶלְיוֹנָה). And there are beneath them thirty-two other appointees (וְיֵשׁ תַּחְתֵּיהֶם ל״ב מְמֻנִּים אֲחֵרִים), they are appointed to protect all those who engage constantly in Torah (הֵם מְמֻנִּים לְהָגֵן עַל כָּל אוֹתָם הָעוֹסְקִים בַּתּוֹרָה תָּמִיד), and do not cease from engaging in Torah day and night (וְאֵינָם מְבַטְּלִים מִלַּעֲסוֹק בַּתּוֹרָה יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה). And there are other appointees beneath them (וְיֵשׁ מְמֻנִּים אֲחֵרִים תַּחְתֵּיהֶם), over all those who engage in Torah (עַל כָּל אוֹתָם הָעוֹסְקִים בַּתּוֹרָה), namely those who establish fixed times for Torah study (דְּהַיְינוּ אוֹתָם הַקּוֹבְעִים עִתִּים לַתּוֹרָה), and do not meditate in Torah day and night (וְאֵינָם הוֹגִים בַּתּוֹרָה יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה). And they are also appointed over those who have understanding to engage in Torah but do not wish to engage in it (וְהֵם גַּם כֵּן מְמֻנִּים עַל אוֹתָם שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהֶם הֲבָנָה לַעֲסוֹק בַּתּוֹרָה וְאֵינָם רוֹצִים לַעֲסוֹק בָּהּ), all these are appointed to punish them, may the Merciful One save us (כָּל אֵלּוּ הֵם מְמֻנִּים לְהַעֲנִישׁ אוֹתָם רַחֲמָנָא לִיצְלַן), and concerning this it is said (וְעַל זֶה נֶאֱמַר): “It is a Tree of Life to those who hold fast to it, and those who support it are fortunate” (עֵץ חַיִּים הִיא לַמַּחֲזִיקִים בָּהּ וְתֹמְכֶיהָ מְאֻשָּׁר) (Proverbs 3:18), “and all her paths are peace” (וְכָל נְתִיבוֹתֶיהָ שָׁלוֹם) (Proverbs 3:17). Blessed is Hashem forever, Amen and Amen (יִתְבָּרַךְ י״י לְעוֹלָם אָמֵן וְאָמֵן).