Daf 16a (דַּף ט״ז ע״א)

Like the Zohar of the firmament (כְּזֹהַר הָרָקִיעַ), that stands upon those wise (הַהוּא דְּקַיְימָא עַל גַּבֵּי אִנּוּן מַשְׂכִּילִים), of whom it is written (Ezekiel 1) (דִּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ): “And the likeness over the heads of the living creature was a firmament, like the color of the terrible ice” (וּדְמוּת עַל רָאשֵׁי הַחַיָּה רָקִיעַ כְּעֵין הַקֶּרַח הַנּוֹרָא).

ZOHAR: of that which shines to the Orayta (זֹהַר דְּהַהוּא נָהִיר לְאוֹרַיְיתָא). A Zohar which shines to those heads of that living creature (זֹהַר דְּנָהִיר לְאִנּוּן רָאשֵׁי דְהַהִיא חַיָּה). And those heads are the wise (וְאִנּוּן רָאשֵׁי אִנּוּן מַשְׂכִּילִים), who shine continually (דְּנָהֲרִין תָּדִיר), and gaze at that firmament (וּמִסְתַּכְּלָן לְהַהוּא רָקִיעַ), at that brightness which goes forth from there (לְהַהוּא נְהִירוּ דְּנָפִיק מִתַּמָּן). And this is the brightness of the Orayta (וְדָא אִיהוּ נְהִירוּ דְאוֹרַיְיתָא), which shines continually and does not cease (דְּנָהִיר תָּדִּיר וְלָא פָּסִיק). Completion from the omissions (section thirty) (הַשְׁלָמָה מֵהַהַשְׁמָטוֹת סִימָן ל׳).

Sefer HaBahir

Rabbi Berekhyah said (אָמַר רִבִּי בְּרָכְיָה): What is that which is written, “And the earth was tohu” (Bereshit 1) (מַאי דִּכְתִיב וְהָאָרֶץ הָיְתָה תֹהוּ)? What does “was” teach (מַאי מַשְׁמַע הָיְתָה)? That it already was (שֶׁכְּבָר הָיְתָה). And what is tohu (וּמָאי תֹהוּ)? A thing that confounds the sons of man (דָבָר הַמַתְּהֵא אֶת בְּנֵי אָדָם). And what is bohu (וּמָאי בֹּהוֹ)? A thing that has substance (דָבָר שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ מַמָּשׁ), as it is written “bohu” — bo hu — in it is He (דִכְתִיב בֹּהוֹ, בּוֹ הוּא). This is in reference to that which is written: “Also this opposite that the Elohim made” (Ecclesiastes 7) (עַל שֵׁם מָאי דִּכְתִיב גַּם אֶת זֶה לְעֻמַּת זֶה עָשָׂה הָאֱלֹהִים). He created bohu and set its place in peace (בָּרָא בֹּהוֹ וְשָׂם מְקוֹמוֹ בְּשָׁלוֹם). He created tohu and set its place in evil (בָּרָא תֹהוּ וְשָׂם מְקוֹמוֹ בְּרָע). Bohu is in peace, as it is written: “He makes peace in His heights” (Job 25) (בֹּהוֹ בְּשָׁלוֹם דִכְתִיב עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו). This teaches that Micha'el, the prince at the right hand of the Holy One, blessed be He (מְלַמֵּד שְׁמִיכָאֵל שַׂר יְמִינוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא), is water and hail (מַיִם וּבָרָד). And Gabriel, the prince at His left, is fire (וְגַבְרִיאֵל שַׂר שְׂמֹאלוֹ אֵשׁ). And the Prince of Peace between them mediates (וְשָׂר שָׁלוֹם בֵּינֵיהֶם מַכְרִיעֲ), and this is what is written: “He makes peace in His heights” (Job 25) (וְהַיְינוּ דִכְתִיב עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו). And from where do we know that bohu is peace (וּמְנַ"ל דְּבֹּהוֹ שָׁלוֹם)? For it is written: “Who makes peace and creates evil” (Isaiah 45) (דִכְתִיב עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם וּבוֹרֵא רָע). How so? Evil from tohu, and peace from bohu (הָא כֵּיצַד רָע מִתֹּהוּ וְשָׁלוֹם מִבֹּהוֹ). He created tohu and set its place in evil (בָּרָא תֹהוּ וְשָׂם מְקוֹמוֹ בַּרָע), as it is said: “Who makes peace and creates evil” (Isaiah 45) (שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם וּבוֹרֵא רָע). He created bohu and set its place in peace (בָּרָא בֹּהוֹ וְשָׂם מְקוֹמוֹ בְּשָׁלוֹם), as it is said: “He makes peace in His heights” (Job 25) (שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו). Thus far (ע״כ).

And the earth was Tohu va-Vohu etc. (וְהָאָרֶץ הָיְתָה תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ וְגו׳) - was exactly, from before this. (הָיְתָה דַיְיקָא מִקַּדְמַת דְּנָא) Snow within water. (תַּלְגָא גּוֹ מַיָּא) From her came out filth, by the force of that snow within the water. (נַפְקָא מִנָּהּ זוּהֲמָא בְּהַהוּא חֵילָא דְּתַלְגָא בְּמַיָּא) And strong fire struck it, and there was dross. (וְאַקִּישׁ בָּהּ אֵשָׁא תַּקִּיפָא וְהֲוָה בָהּ פְּסוֹלֶת) And it became known, and tohu came into being from the place of filth. (וְאִתְעֲדִיאַת וְאִתְעֲבִידַת תֹּהוּ מֵאֲתַר דְּזוּהֲמָא) A nest of dross. (קִינָא דִּפְסוֹלֶת) Va-Vohu-a clarification that was separated from the dross. (וָבֹהוּ בְּרִירוּ דְּאִתְבְּרִיר מִגּוֹ פְּסוֹלֶת) And in it settled darkness, the secret of strong fire. (וְאִתְיַישַׁב בָּהּ חֹשֶׁךְ רָזָא דְּאֵשָׁא תַּקִּיפָא) And that darkness hovered over that tohu, over that dross, and it was arranged from it. (וְהַהוּא חֹשֶׁךְ דְּחָפֵי עַל גַּבֵּי הַהוּא תֹּהוּ עַל גַּבֵּי הַהוּא פְּסוֹלֶת וְאִתְתַּקָּנַת מִינֵּיהּ) And the spirit of Elohim (וְרוּחַ אֱלֹהִים) the holy spirit that proceeds from the Living Elohim (רוּחַ קוּדְשָׁא דְּנָפִיק מֵאֱלֹהִים חַיָּים) and this hovered over the face of the waters. (וְדָא מְרַחֶפֶת עַל פְּנֵי הַמָּיִם) After that spirit blew, a fine breeze went forth from that dross, like vapor of filth. (בָּתַר דְּהַאי רוּחַ נָשִׁיב אִבְרִיר דְּקִיקוּ חַד מִגּוֹ הַהוּא פְּסוֹלֶת כְּטִיסָא דְּזוּהֲמָא) When it blew and enveloped and refined time and two [opposites], until that filth remained with no filth at all. (כַּד אִבְרִיר וְאַצְנִיף וְאַצְרִיף זִמְנָא וּתְרֵין עַד דְּיִשְׁתָּאַר הַהוּא זוּהֲמָא דְּלֵית בֵּיהּ זוּהֲמָא כְּלָל) When this tohu was refined and purified, from it came forth (כַּד הַאי תֹּהוּ אִבְרִיר וְאַצְרִיף נָפַק מִינֵיהּ) “a great and mighty wind tearing mountains and shattering rocks,” (רוּחַ גְּדוֹלָה וְחָזָק מְפָרֵק הָרִים וּמְשַׁבֵּר סְלָעִים) the one that Eliyahu saw. (הַהוּא דְּחָמָא אֵלִיָּהוּ) It blew within it and refined it, and from it came forth a quake, as it is written: “And after the wind, an earthquake.” (אִבְרִיר בְּהוּ וְאַצְרִיף וְנָפַק מִנֵּיהּ רַעַשׁ דִּכְתִיב וְאַחַר הָרוּחַ רַעַשׁ [שם]) It blew darkness and mingled in its secret fire, as it is written: “And after the earthquake, fire.” (וְאִבְרִיר חֹשֶׁךְ וְאַכְלִיל בְּרָזָא דִּילֵיהּ אֵשׁ דִּכְתִיב וְאַחַר הָרַעַשׁ אֵשׁ) It blew spirit and mingled in its secret “a still small voice.” (אִבְרִיר רוּחַ וְאִתְכְּלִיל בְּרָזָא דִּילֵיהּ קוֹל דְּמָמָה דַקָּה)

Tohu-a place that has no color and no form, and is not included in the secret of form. (תֹּהוּ אֲתַר דְּלֵית בֵּיהּ גּוֹון וְלֹא דִּיוֹקְנָא וְלָא אִתְכְּלִיל בְּרָזָא דְּדִּיוֹקְנָא) Now it has form, but when one looks at it-it has no form at all. (הַשְׁתָּא אִיהוּ בְּדִּיוּקְנָא כַּד מִסְתַּכְּלָן בֵּיהּ לֵית לֵיהּ דִּיוֹקְנָא כְּלָל) Everything has a garment to be clothed in within it. (לְכֹלָּא אִית לְבוּשָׁא לְאִתְלַבְּשָׁא בַּר הַאי)

Bohu-this one has shape and form. (בֹּהוּ לְהַאי אִית לֵיהּ צִיּוּרָא וְדִּיוֹקְנָא) Stones embedded within the engraving of Tohu emerge within the engraving where they are embedded there (אַבְנִין מְשַׁקְּעִין גּוֹ גְּלִיפָא דְּתֹּהוּ נַפְקֵי גּוֹ גְּלִיפָא דִּמְשַׁקְּעָן תַּמָּן) And from there draw down benefit to the world, in the form of a garment. (וּמִתַּמָּן מַשְׁכֵּי תּוֹעַלְתָּא לְעָלְמָא בְּצִיּוּרָא דִּלְבוּשָׁא) They draw benefit from above to below and rise from below to above. (מַשְׁכֵּי תּוֹעַלְתָּא מֵעֵילָא לְתַתָּא וְסָלְקָא מִתַּתָּא לְעֵילָא) And for that reason, “they are hollow and perforated,” (וְעַל דָּא נְקוּבִין וּמְפוּלָמִין) these are suspended in the atmosphere. (הַנֵּי תַּלְיָין בַּאֲוִירָא) Sometimes suspended in air rising from there upward. (לְזִמְנִין תַּלְיָין בַּאֲוִירָא דְּסָלְקֵי מִתַּמָּן לְעֵילָא) Sometimes they are concealed on a cloudy day, and draw water from the depths to balance the tohu from there. (לְזִמְנִין מִטַּמְרִין בְּיוֹמָא דְּעִיבָּא וּמְפִיקֵי מַיִן מִגּוֹ תְּהוֹמָא לְאִתְזְנָא תֹּהוּ מִתַּמָּן) For then, joy and madness spread (דְּהָא כְּדֵין חֶדְוָה וּשְׁטוּתָא) that is, when tohu spreads through the world. (דְּקָא אִתְפַּשַׁט תֹּהוּ בְּעָלְמָא)

Darkness is a black fire, intense in hue. (חֹשֶׁךְ הוּא אֵשָׁא אוּכְמָא תַּקִּיף בְּגוֹון) Red fire is intense in appearance. (אֵשָׁא סוּמְקָא תַּקִּיף בְּחֵיזוּ) Green fire is intense in form. (אֵשָׁא יְרוּקָא תַּקִּיף בְּצִיּוּר) White fire is the hue that includes all. (אֵשָׁא חִיוָורָא גּוֹון דְּכָלִיל כֹּלָּא) Darkness is intense among all the fires, and it is that which strengthened Tohu. (חֹשֶׁךְ תַּקִּיף בְּכָל אֵשִׁין וְדָא אַתְקִיף לְתוֹהוּ) Darkness is fire, but it is not [manifest] fire-obscurity outwardly, when it strengthens Tohu. (חֹשֶׁךְ הוּא אֵשָׁא וְלָאו אִיהוּ אֵשָׁא, חֲשׁוֹכָא בַּר כַּד אַתְקִיף לְתוֹהוּ) And this is the mystery of what is written: “And his eyes were dim from seeing, and he called Esav…” (וְרָזָא דָא: וַתִּכְהֶינָה עֵינָיו מֵרְאוֹת וַיִּקְרָא אֶת עֵשָׂו) Darkness is the face of evil that explains face to evil, and then it is called “darkness” that dwells upon it to overpower it. (חֹשֶׁךְ פְּנֵי רָע דְּאַסְבַּר אַנְפִּין לְרַע, וּכְדֵין אִקְרֵי חֹשֶׁךְ דְּשָׁרֵי עֲלֵיהּ לְאִתַּקְפָּא לֵיהּ) And this is the secret: “And darkness upon the face of the deep.” (וְרָזָא דָא: וְחֹשֶׁךְ עַל פְּנֵי תְהוֹם)

Ruach is the voice that rests upon Bohu and strengthens it, leading it in all that is needed. (רוּחַ הוּא קוֹל דְּשָׁארֵי עַל בֹּהוּ וְאַתְקִיף לֵיהּ וְאַנְהִיג לֵיהּ בְּכָל מַה דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ) And this is the mystery of “The voice of Hashem upon the waters.” (וְרָזָא דָא: קוֹל יְיָ עַל הַמָּיִם) So too: “And the spirit of Elohim hovered over the face of the waters.” (וְכֵן: וְרוּחַ אֱלֹהִים מְרַחֶפֶת עַל פְּנֵי הַמָּיִם) Stones are sunken in the depths, from which waters emerge. (אַבְנִין מְשַׁקְּעָן גּוֹ תְּהוֹמֵי דְּנַפְקֵי מַיָּא מִנְהוֹן) And for this reason they are called “the face of the waters.” (וְעַל דָּא אִקְרוּן פְּנֵי הַמָּיִם) The ruach governs and strengthens those “faces,” the faces of the deep. (רוּחַ אַנְהִיג וְאַתְקִיף לְאִנּוּן פָּנִים, פְּנֵי תְהוֹם) This one as is required for it, and that one as is required for it. (דָּא כְּמָה דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ לֵיהּ, וְדָא כְּמָה דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ לֵיהּ)

Tohu, upon it dwells the Name Shaddai (תֹּהוּ עֲלֵיהּ שָׁרְיָא שֵׁם שַׁדַּי) Bohu, upon it dwells the Name Tzeva’ot (בֹּהוּ עֲלֵיהּ שָׁרְיָא שֵׁם צְבָאוֹת) Darkness, upon it dwells the Name Elohim (חֹשֶׁךְ עֲלֵיהּ שָׁרְיָא שֵׁם אֱלֹהִים) Spirit, upon it dwells the Name Hashem (רוּחַ עֲלֵיהּ שָׁרְיָא שֵׁם יְיָ). “A great and mighty wind breaking mountains”-but “Hashem was not in the wind,” etc.-this Name was not in it. (רוּחַ גְּדוֹלָה מְפָרֵק הָרִים - לֹא בָּרוּחַ יְיָ וְגו׳ - שְׁמָא דָא לָא הֲוֵי בֵּיהּ) For Shaddai ruled over it in the mystery of Tohu. (דְּהָא שַׁדַּי שָׁלְטָא עֲלֵיהּ בְּרָזָא דְּתוֹהוּ)