Daf 231b (דַּף רל״א ע״ב)

In the second watch (בְּמִשְׁמַרְתָּא תִּנְיָינָא), these Keruvim lift their wings upward (הַנֵּי כְּרוּבִים אַקְשֵׁי גַּדְפַּיְיהוּ לְעֵילָא), and the sound of their melody is heard (וְאִשְׁתְּמַע קוֹל נִגּוּנָא דִּלְהוֹן), and then begin to chant those angels who stand in the second watch (וּכְדֵין שָׁרָאן לְנַגְּנָא אִינוּן מַלְאָכִין דְּקָיְימִין בְּמִשְׁמַרְתָּא תִּנְיָינָא). And what song do they sing at that time? The melody of the wings of the Keruvim (וּמַאי שִׁירָתָא הֲווּ אָמְרֵי בְּהַאי שַׁעְתָּא, נִגּוּנָא דְּגַדְּפַּיְיהוּ דִּכְרוּבִים): “Those who trust in Hashem are like Mount Tzion, never faltering…” (Psalms 125) (הַבּוֹטְחִים בַּי־יָ כְּהַר צִיּוֹן לֹא יִמּוֹט וְגו׳). And then that is the song of those who stand in this second watch to chant (וּכְדֵין אִיהוּ שֵׁירָתָא לְאִינוּן דְּקָיְימֵי בְּהַאי מִשְׁמָרָה תִּנְיָינָא לְנַגְּנָא).

In the third watch (בְּמִשְׁמָרָה תְּלִיתָאָה), these Keruvim lift their wings and recite song (הַנֵּי כְּרוּבִים אַקְשׁוּ גַּדְפַּיְיהוּ וְאָמְרֵי שִׁירָתָא), and what is it? “Halleluyah! Praise, O servants of Hashem…” (Psalms 113) (וּמַאי הִיא: הַלְלוּיָהּ הַלְלוּ עַבְדֵּי יְיָ וְגו׳), “Blessed be the Name of Hashem…” (יְהִי שֵׁם יְיָ מְבֹרָךְ וְגו׳), “From the rising of the sun…” (מִמִּזְרַח שֶׁמֶשׁ וְגו׳). Then those angels who stand in the third watch, all chant that song (כְּדֵין אִינוּן מַלְאָכִין דְּקָיְימֵי בְּמִשְׁמָרָה תְּלִיתָאָה, כֻּלְּהוּ אָמְרֵי שִׁירָתָא). And all the stars and constellations in the firmament begin to sing (וְכֻּלְּהוּ כּוֹכָבֵי וּמַזָּלֵי דְּבִרְקִיעָא פָּתְחֵי שִׁירָתָא), as it is written: “When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of Elohim shouted for joy” (Job 38) (כְּמָה דִּכְתִיב, בְּרָן יַחַד כּוֹכְבֵי בֹקֶר וַיָּרִיעוּ כָּל בְּנֵי אֱלֹהִים), and it is written: “Praise Him, all you stars of light” (Psalms 148) (וּכְתִיב, הַלְלוּהוּ כָּל כּוֹכְבֵי אוֹר), for these are the stars of Nehora, they sing to the Nehora (דְּהָא אִינוּן כּוֹכְבֵי דִּנְהוֹרָא, מְנַגְּנָן עַל נְהוֹרָא). Some say: that they are appointed over song (נ״א: דְּמְמַנַּן עַל שִׁירָתָא). When dawn comes (כַּד אָתֵי צַפְרָא), then the song is taken up by those after them-Some say: Yisrael (נ״א: יִשְׂרָאֵל) below (וּכְדֵין נָטְלֵי שִׁירָתָא אַבַּתְרַיְיהוּ דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל לְתַתָּא), and the glory of Kudsha Berikh Hu rises (וְסָלְקָא יְקָרֵיהּ דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא), from below and from above (מִתַּתָּא וּמִלְּעֵילָא): Yisrael below by day (יִשְׂרָאֵל לְתַתָּא בִּימָמָא), and the supernal angels above by night (וּמַלְאֲכֵי עִלָּאֵי לְעֵילָא בְּלֵילְיָא), and then the Holy Name is completed in all directions (וּכְדֵין אִשְׁתְּלִים שְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא בְּכָל סִטְרִין).

And this stone mentioned (וְהַאי אֶבֶן דְּקָאָמַר), all the supernal angels and Yisrael below (כֻּלְּהוּ מַלְאֲכֵי עִלָּאֵי וְיִשְׂרָאֵל לְתַתָּא), all are strengthened by this stone (כֻּלְּהוּ אִתְקָפוּ בְּהַאי אֶבֶן), and it ascends above to be crowned among the Patriarchs during the day (וְאִיהִי סָלְקָא לְעֵילָא לְאִתְעַטְּרָא גּוֹ אֲבָהָן בִּימָמָא). And at night, Kudsha Berikh Hu comes to delight with the Righteous in the Garden of Eden (וּבְלֵילְיָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אָתֵי לְאִשְׁתַּעְשְׁעָא עִם צַדִּיקִיָּיא בְּגִנְתָּא דְּעֵדֶן). Blessed are those who remain steadfast in their faith (זַכָּאִין אִינוּן כָּל דְּקָיְימֵי בְּקִיּוּמַיְּיהוּ), and engage in Orayta by night (וּמִשְׁתַּדְּלִין בְּאוֹרַיְּיתָא בְּלֵילְיָא), for Kudsha Berikh Hu and all those Righteous in the Garden of Eden (בְּגִין דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וְכָל אִינוּן צַדִּיקִיָּיא דִּבְגִנְתָּא דְּעֵדֶן), they hear the voices of men (שָׁמְעוּ קָלַיְּיהוּ דִּבְנֵי נָשָׁא), those who toil in Orayta (אִינוּן דְּמִשְׁתַּדְּלֵי בְּאוֹרַיְּיתָא), as it is written: “You who dwell in the gardens…” (Song of Songs 8) (כְּמָה דִּכְתִיב, הַיּוֹשֶׁבֶת בַּגַּנִּים וְגו׳).

Come and see, this stone is a precious gem (תָּא חֲזֵי, הַאי אֶבֶן אִיהוּ אֶבֶן טָבָא), and this is the secret of what is written: “And you shall fill it with a setting of stones, four rows of stones…” (Exodus 28) (וְדָא הוּא רָזָא דִּכְתִיב, וּמִלֵּאתָ בוֹ מִלּוּאַת אֶבֶן אַרְבָּעָה טוּרֵי אֶבֶן). And these are the orders-Some say: the completion-of the precious stone (וְאִלֵּין אִינוּן סִדְרִין נ״א: דְּאַשְׁלָמוּתָא דְּאֶבֶן טָבָא), the perfection of a precious gem (אַשְׁלָמוּתָא דְּאֶבֶן יְקָרָה). For there is another-Some say: incomplete-stone, as it is written: “I will remove the heart of stone…” (Ezekiel 36) (בְּגִין דְּאִית נ״א: אַשְׁלָמוּתָא אֶבֶן אַחֲרָא. דִּכְתִיב, וַהֲסִירוֹתִי אֶת לֵב הָאֶבֶן וְגו׳). And it is written: “And I will put My spirit within you” (וּכְתִיב, וְאֶת רוּחִי אֶתֵּן בְּקִרְבְּכֶם). And this is the “tested stone, a precious cornerstone,” as established (וְהַאי אִיהוּ אֶבֶן בֹּחַן פִּנַּת יִקְרַת וְאוּקְמוּהָ) (Isaiah 28). And concerning this secret it is written, “Tablets of stone” (Exodus 31) (וְעַל רָזָא דָּא כְּתִיב, לוּחוֹת הָאֶבֶן), for these tablets were hewn from this place (דְּאִינוּן לוּחוֹת אִתְגְּזָרוּ מֵהָכָא), and because of this they are called by the name of this stone (וְעַל דָּא אִקְרוּן עַל שְׁמֵיהּ דְּהַאי אֶבֶן). And this is the secret of what is written, “From there, the Shepherd, the Stone of Yisrael” (Bereshit 49) (וְהַאי הוּא רָזָא דִּכְתִיב, מִשָּׁם רֹעֶה אֶבֶן יִשְׂרָאֵל). Some say: this is indeed the Stone of Yisrael (נ״א: הַאי וַדַּאי אֶבֶן יִשְׂרָאֵל אַקֵּה), as has been said (כְּמָה דְּאִתְּמָר).

Rabbi Ḥizkiyah opened and said: “And the stones shall be upon the names of the children of Yisrael, twelve” (Exodus 28) (פָּתַח רִבִּי חִזְקִיָּה וְאָמַר, וְהָאֲבָנִים תִּהְיֶיןָ עַל שְׁמוֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה), these are the supernal precious stones (אִלֵּין אַבְנֵי יְקָרִין עִלָּאִין), which are called “stones of the place” (דְּאִתְקָרוּן אַבְנֵי הַמָּקוֹם), as it is said, “And he took from the stones of the place” (Bereshit 28) (כְּמָה דְּאַתְּ אָמֵר, וַיִּקַּח מֵאַבְנֵי הַמָּקוֹם), and this has already been established (וְהָא אוּקְמוּהָ). And it is written, “And the stones were upon the names of the children of Yisrael” (Exodus 39) (וְהָאֲבָנִים עַל שְׁמוֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל), just as there are twelve stones below for the twelve tribes (כְּמָה דְּאִית י״ב אֲבָנִים י״ב שְׁבָטִים לְתַתָּא), so too above there are twelve tribes (הָכִי נָמֵי לְעֵילָא תְּרֵיסַר שִׁבְטִין), and these are twelve precious stones (וְאִינוּן תְּרֵיסַר אֲבָנִין יַקִּירִין). And it is written, “There the tribes went up, the tribes of YAH…” (Psalms 122) (וּכְתִיב, שָׁם עָלוּ שְׁבָטִים שִׁבְטֵי יָהּ), this is the secret (דָּא רָזָא), “a testimony for Yisrael” (עֵדוּת לְיִשְׂרָאֵל), this is Yisrael, the supernal secret (דָּא יִשְׂרָאֵל, רָזָא דִּלְעֵילָא), and all of them give thanks to the Name of Hashem (וְכֻּלְּהוּ לְהוֹדוֹת לְשֵׁם יְיָ). And about this it is written: “And the stones shall be upon the names of the children of Yisrael” (וְעַל דָּא, וְהָאֲבָנִים תִּהְיֶיןָ עַל שְׁמוֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל).

And just as there are twelve hours by day (וּכְמָה דְּאִית י״ב שָׁעֵי בִּימָמָא), so there are twelve hours by night (הָכִי אִית י״ב שָׁעֵי בְּלֵילְיָא): by day above (בְּיוֹמָא לְעֵילָא), and by night below (בְּלֵילְיָא לְתַתָּא) all this corresponding one to the other (כֹּלָּא דָּא לָקוּבֵל דָּא). And these twelve hours of the night are divided into three watches (הַנֵּי י״ב שָׁעֵי דִּבְלֵילְיָא מִתְפַלְּגֵי לִתְּלַת פְּלָגָאן), and many appointed officers stand beneath them (וְכַמָּה מְמַנֵּי תְּרִיסִין קָיְימֵי תְּחוֹתַיְּיהוּ), rank upon rank (דַּרְגִּין עַל דַּרְגִּין), all of them are appointed by night (כֻּלְּהוּ מְמַנָּן בְּלֵילְיָא), and they take up the offering at the first (וְנָטְלֵי טַרְפָּא בְּקַדְמַיְתָא). And then, when the night divides (וּכְדֵין כַּד אִתְפְּלִיג לֵילְיָא), two orders stand on this side (קָיְימִין תְּרֵין סִדְרִין מִסִּטְרָא דָּא), and two orders on the other side (Some say: and this (נ״א: וְדָא) (וּתְרֵין סִדְּרִין מִסִּטְרָא אָחֳרָא) and a supernal spirit goes forth between them (Some say: blows (נ״א: נָשִׁיב) (וְרוּחָא עִלָּאָה נָפַק בֵּינַיְיהוּ), and then all the trees in the Garden of Eden open in song (וּכְדֵין כָּל אִינוּן אִילָּנִין דִּבְגִנְתָּא דְּעֵדֶן, כֻּלְּהוּ פָּתְחֵי שִׁירָתָא), and Kudsha Berikh Hu enters the Garden of Eden (וּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָאל בְּגִנְתָּא דְּעֵדֶן). This is what is written: “Then shall the trees of the forest sing before Hashem, for He comes to judge the earth” (I Chronicles 16) (הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִיב, אָז יְרַנְּנוּ עֲצֵי הַיַּעַר מִלִּפְנֵי יְיָ כִּי בָא לִשְׁפֹּט אֶת הָאָרֶץ), as it is written: “And with righteousness shall he judge the poor” (Isaiah 11) (כְּמָה דִּכְתִיב, וְשָׁפַט בְּצֶדֶק דַּלִּים), because judgment entered among them, and the Garden of Eden was filled from it (Some say: from Him (נ״א: מִנֵּיהּ) (בְּגִין דְּמִשְׁפָּט עָאל בֵּינַיְיהוּ וְאִתְמַלְיָיא מִנָּהּ גַּן עֵדֶן).

And the northern wind was awakened in the world (וְרוּחָא דְּצָפוֹן אִתְעַר בְּעָלְמָא), and joy was found, and that wind blew upon those spices (וְחֶדְוָה אִשְׁתַּכַּח וְנָשִׁיב הַהוּא רוּחָא בְּאִינוּן בּוּסְמִין), and their aromas ascended upward (וְסָלְקִין רֵיחִין לְעֵילָא), and the Righteous are crowned with their crowns-Some say: and they are aroused (נ״א: וּמִתְעָרִין) (וּמִתְעַטְּרִין צַדִּיקִיָּיא בְּעִטְרַיְּיהוּ), and they delight in the radiance of the shining mirror (וּמִתְהַנָּן מִגּוֹ זִיוָא דְּאַסְפַּקְלַרְיָאָה דְּנָהֲרָא).