Daf 29a (דַּף כ״ט ע״א)

As we have learned (דְּתָנֵינָן), all the days of David (כָּל יוֹמוֹי דְּדָוִד), he labored to prepare the throne (אִשְׁתַּדַּל לְאַתְקְנָא כּוּרְסְיָה), and to illuminate the countenance (וּלְאַנְהָרָא אַנְפָּהָא), in order that it be overshadowed above and continually illumined below (בְּגִין דְּיָגִין עָלֵיהּ וְאִיתְנְהִיר תָּדִיר נְהוֹרָא תַּתָּאָה), by the supernal light (בִּנְהוֹרָא עִלָּאָה), to become all one (לְמֶהוֵי כֹּלָּא חַד). But when Shlomo came (וְכַד אָתָא שְׁלֹמֹה), he found a complete world (אַשְׁכַּח עָלְמָא שְׁלִים), and a moon that was full (וְסִיהֲרָא דְּאִתְמַלְיָא), and he did not need to labor upon it to illuminate it (וְלָא אִצְטְרִיךְ לְאַטְרְחָא עָלָּה לְאַנְהָרָא).

Come and see (תָּא חֲזֵי), when Kudsha Berikh Hu desires to take vengeance from the nations that worship idolatry (בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּבָעֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְמֵיסָב נוּקְמִין מֵעַמִּין עוֹבְדֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה), the left side is aroused (אִתְּעַר שְׂמָאלָא), and the moon is filled from that side of blood (וְאִתְמַלְיָא סִיהֲרָא מֵהַהוּא סִטְרָא דָּמָא). And then, springs and rivers below begin to flow (וּכְדֵין, נַבְעִין מַבּוּעִין וּנְחָלִין דִּלְתַתָּא), all those that come from the left side of blood (כָּל אִינּוּן דְּלִסְטַר שְׂמָאלָא דָּמָא). And for this reason (וְעַל דָּא), their judgment is blood (דִּינָא דִּילְהוֹן דָּמָא).

Come and see (תָּא חֲזֵי): when this blood is aroused upon a people (כַּד הַאי דָּמָא אִתְּעַר עַל עַמָּא), it is the blood they have shed that is awakened against them (הַהוּא דָּמָא דְּקָטוּלִין אִיהוּ דְּיִתְּעַר עָלַיְיהוּ), and another nation rises up against them and kills them (עַמָּא אַחֲרָא וְקָטִיל לוֹן). But now in Egypt (אֲבָל בְּמִצְרַיִם), Kudsha Berikh Hu did not desire to bring another nation upon them to awaken blood upon them (לָא בָּעָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְאַיְיתָאָה עָלַיְיהוּ עַמָּא אַחֲרָא לְאַתְעֲרָא עָלַיְיהוּ דָּמָא), because Yisrael were among them (בְּגִין דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל הֲווֹ בֵּינַיְיהוּ), and they would not be pained on account of dwelling in their land (וְלָא יִצְטַעֲרוּן בְּגִין דְּדַיְירִין בְּאַרְעָא דִּילְהוֹן). Rather, Kudsha Berikh Hu smote them with blood (אֲבָל קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מָחָא לוֹן בְּדָמָא), in their rivers (בְּנַהֲרִין דִּלְהוֹן), so that they could not drink (דְּלָא הֲווֹ יַכְלִין לְמִשְׁתֵּי). And because their dominion ruled over that river (וּבְגִין דְּשׁוּלְטָנוּתָא דִּילְהוֹן, שַׁלְטָא בְּהַהוּא נַהֲרָא), Kudsha Berikh Hu decreed that their dominion be smitten first (פָּקִיד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְשׁוּלְטָנוּתָא דִּילְהוֹן בְּקַדְמִיתָא), because the deity they feared was first (בְּגִין דְּיַלְקֵי דַּחֲלָא דִּילְהוֹן בְּקַדְמִיתָא), for the Nile was one of their feared deities (בְּגִין דְּנִילוּס חַד דַּחֲלָא דִּילְהוֹן הֲוָה), and so too all their other objects of fear bubbled with blood (וְכֵן שְׁאַר דַּחֲלִין דִּילְהוֹן נַבְעִין דָּמָא). This is what is written: “And there shall be blood in all the land of Egypt, and in the wood and in the stones” (Exodus 7) (הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִיב וְהָיָה דָם בְּכָל אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם וּבָעֵצִים וּבָאֲבָנִים).

Rabbi Ḥiyya rose one night to engage in Orayta (רִבִּי חִיָּיא קַם לֵילְיָא חַד לְמִלְעֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא), and with him was Rabbi Yosei Zuta, who was a disciple (וַהֲוָה עִמֵּיהּ רִבִּי יוֹסֵי זוּטָא, דְּהֲוָה רַבְיָא). Rabbi Ḥiyya opened and said (פָּתַח רִבִּי חִיָּיא וְאָמַר), “Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a good heart, for already Elohim has accepted your deeds” (Ecclesiastes 9) (לֵךְ אֱכוֹל בְּשִׂמְחָה לַחְמֶךָ וּשְׁתֵה בְלֶב טוֹב יֵינֶךָ כִּי כְבָר רָצָה הָאֱלֹהִים אֶת מַעֲשֶׂיךָ). What did Shlomo see that he said this verse? (מַאי קָא חָמָא שְׁלֹמֹה דְּאָמַר הַאי קְרָא).

Rather, all of Shlomo’s words were with Chokhmah (אֶלָּא שְׁלֹמֹה כָּל מִלּוֹי בְּחָכְמָה הֲווֹ), and what he said “Go, eat your bread with joy”-means (וְהַאי דְּאָמַר לֵךְ אֱכוֹל בְּשִׂמְחָה לַחְמֶךָ): at the time when a man goes in the way of Kudsha Berikh Hu (בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּבַר נָשׁ אָזִיל בְּאוֹרְחוֹי דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא), Kudsha Berikh Hu draws near to him (קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מְקָרֵב לֵיהּ לְגַבֵּיהּ), and grants him peace and serenity (וְיָהִיב לֵיהּ שַׁלְוָה וְנַיְיחָא).

Then the bread and wine that he eats and drinks (כְּדֵין נַהֲמָא וְחַמְרָא דְּאָכִיל וְשָתֵי), are with joy of heart (בְּחֶדְוָה דְּלִבָּא), because Kudsha Berikh Hu is pleased with his deeds (בְּגִין דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִתְרְעֵי בְּעוֹבָדוֹי). That student said to him (אֲמַר לֵיהּ הַהוּא רַבְיָא): If so, you said all of Shlomo’s words were with wisdom-where is the wisdom here? (אִי הָכִי, הָא אָמַרְתְּ דְּכָל מִלּוֹי דְּשְׁלֹמֹה בֶּחָכְמְתָא הֲווֹ, אָן הוּא חָכְמְתָא הָכָא). He said to him (אֲמַר לֵיהּ): My son, cook your cooking and you will understand this verse (בְּרִי תְּבַשֵּׁל בִּשּׁוּלָךְ, וְתֶחֱמֵי הַאי קְרָא). He said to him: Before I cooked, I already understood (אֲמַר לֵיהּ: עַד לָא בָּשִׁילְנָא יָדַעְנָא). He said to him: From where? (אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מְנָא לָן). He said to him (אֲמַר לֵיהּ), I heard a certain voice from Abba (קָלָא חַד שְׁמַעְנָא מֵאַבָּא), who said regarding this verse (דְּהֲוָה אָמַר בְּהַאי קְרָא), that Shlomo was instructing a man (דְּשְׁלֹמֹה קָא אַזְהַר לֵיהּ לְבַּר נָשׁ), to crown Knesset Yisrael with joy (לְאַעְטְּרָא לָהּ לִכְנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּשִׂמְחָה), who is the side of the right (דְּאִיהִי סִטְרָא דִּימִינָא), and she is bread (וְאִיהִי נָהֲמָא), to be crowned with gladness (דְּיִתְעֲטָּר בְּחֶדְוָה).

And afterward, she is crowned with wine (וּלְבָתַר, יִתְעֲטָּר בְּחַמְרָא), which is the left side (דְּאִיהוּ שְׂמָאלָא), because only then is found in the faith of all a complete joy (בְּגִין דְּתִשְׁתְּכַח בִּמְהֵימָנוּתָא דְּכֹלָּא, חֶדְוָותָא שְׁלֵימָתָא), in the right and in the left (בִּימִינָא וּשְׂמָאלָא), and when she is between them (וְכַד תֶּהוֵי בֵּין תַּרְוַויְיהוּ), then all blessings flow into the world (כְּדֵין כָּל בִּרְכָּאן שָׁרָאן בְּעָלְמָא). And all of this is when Kudsha Berikh Hu is pleased with the deeds of human beings (וְכָל דָּא, כַּד אִתְרְעֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּעוֹבָדֵיהוֹן דִּבְנֵי נָשָׁא). This is what is written: “for already Elohim has accepted your deeds” (Ecclesiastes 9) (הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב כִּי כְבָר רָצָה הָאֱלֹהִים אֶת מַעֲשֶׂיךָ).

Rabbi Ḥiyya came and kissed him (אָתָא ר׳ חִיָּיא וּנְשָׁקֵיהּ), and said: By your life, my son (אָמַר, חַיֶּיךָ בְּרִי), for this word I remained silent because of you (הַאי מִלָּה שָׁבַקְנָא בְּגִינָךְ), and now I know (וְהַשְׁתָּא יָדַעְנָא), that Kudsha Berikh Hu wishes to crown you with Orayta (דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בָּעֵי לְאַעְטְּרָא לָךְ בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא). Then Rabbi Ḥiyya opened and said (תּוּ פָּתַח ר׳ חִיָּיא וְאָמַר), “Say to Aharon: take your staff and stretch your hand over the waters of Egypt” (Exodus 7) (אֱמוֹר אֶל אַהֲרֹן קַח מַטְּךָ וּנְטֵה יָדְךָ עַל מֵימֵי מִצְרַיִם). Why Aharon and not Moshe? (מַאי טַעְמָא אַהֲרֹן וְלֹא מֹשֶׁה). Rather, Kudsha Berikh Hu said (אֶלָּא, אָמַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא): Aharon is water established in its place (אַהֲרֹן מַיִין קַיְימִין בְּדוּכְתֵּיהּ), and the left desires to strike water from there (וּשְׂמָאלָא בָּעֵי לְנַגְדָּא מַיִין מִתַּמָּן). Aharon, who comes from that side, shall be aroused through it (אַהֲרֹן דְּאָתֵי מֵהַהוּא סִטְרָא יִתְּעַר לֵיהּ), and when the left grasps them (וְכַד שְׂמָאלָא נָקִיט לוֹן), they shall be turned into blood (אִינּוּן יִתְהַדְּרוּן דָּמָא).

Come and see: the lowest of all levels was struck first (תָּא חֲזֵי תַּתָּאָה דְּכָל דַּרְגִּין מָחָא בְּקַדְמִיתָא). Rabbi Shimon said: from below Kudsha Berikh Hu began (אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן מִתַּתָּאָה שָׁרָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא). And His hand struck with each and every finger (וְיַדָא דִּילֵיהּ, מָחָא בְּכָל אֶצְבְּעָא וְאֶצְבְּעָא). And when He reached the highest level of all levels (וְכַד מָטָא לְדַרְגָּא עִלָּאָה דְּכָל דַּרְגִּין), He performed that which was His own (עָבֵד אִיהוּ דִּילֵיהּ), and passed through the land of Egypt (וְעָבַר בְּאַרְעָא דְּמִצְרַיִם), and killed all (וְקָטַל כֹּלָּא). And for this reason (וּבְגִינֵי כַּךְ), He slew all firstborn in the land of Egypt (קָטַל כָּל בּוּכְרִין בְּאַרְעָא דְּמִצְרַיִם), because that is the highest level and the firstborn of all (בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ דַּרְגָּא עִלָּאָה וּבוּכְרָא דְּכֹלָּא). And come and see: Pharaoh ruled over the waters (וְתָא חֲזֵי, פַּרְעֹה הֲוָה שׁוּלְטָנֵיהּ בְּמַיָּא).p5-55

And come and see: Pharaoh was a firstborn and his dominion was in the waters (וְתָא חֲזֵי, פַּרְעֹה הֲוָה בּוּכְרָא וְשׁוּלְטָנֵיהּ בְּמַיָּא), as it is written: “The great serpent that crouches in the midst of its rivers” (Ezekiel 29) (דִּכְתִּיב: הַתַּנִּים הַגָּדוֹל הָרוֹבֵץ בְּתוֹךְ יְאוֹרָיו). Therefore, his river was turned into blood first (בְּגִין כָּךְ אִתְהַפַּךְ נַהֲרֵיהּ בְּדָמָא בְּקַדְמִיתָא). Afterward, frogs-those that leap with shrill voices (לְבָתַר צְפַרְדְּעִים דִּמְשַׁמְּטֵי לוֹן בְּקָלִין טְסִירִין), croaking within their intestines (מְקַרְקְרִין בְּגוֹ מֵעַיְיהוּ), some say: croaking within the river (נ״א: מְקַרְקְרִין בְּגוֹ יְאוֹרָא), and they would go out from the river (וְנַפְקֵי מִגּוֹ יְאוֹרָא), ascend onto the dry land (וְסַלְקֵי בְּיַבֶּשְׁתָּא), and emit voices in every direction (וְרָאמִין קָלִין בְּכָל סִטְרִין), until they collapsed like corpses within the houses (עַד דְּאִינּוּן נַפְלִין כְּמֵתִין בְּגוֹ בֵּיתָא).