Daf 48b (דַּף מ״ח ע״ב)

But behold, the depths were there (וְהָא תְּהוֹמֵי הֲווֹ). Rather, Kudsha Berikh Hu performed a miracle within a miracle (אֶלָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָבֵד נִיסָא גּוֹ נִיסָא), as it is said (כְּמָה דְּאַתְּ אָמֵר): “The depths froze in the heart of the sea” (Exodus 15) (קָפְאוּ תְהוֹמוֹת בְּלֶב יָם). And they went on dry land in the midst of the sea (וַהֲוָה אַזְלִין בְּיַבֶּשְׁתָּא בְּגוֹ יַמָּא), this is what is written (הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב): “And the Children of Yisrael came into the sea on the dry ground” (וַיָּבֹאוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּתוֹךְ הַיָּם בַּיַּבָּשָׁה) (Exodus 14). “And He removed the wheels of their chariots” (וַיָּסַר אֶת אוֹפַן מַרְכְּבוֹתָיו).

Rabbi Shimon opened (רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן פָּתַח): “And I saw the living creatures, and behold one wheel on the earth beside the living creatures” (Ezekiel 1) (וָאֵרֶא הַחַיּוֹת וְהִנֵּה אוֹפַן אֶחָד בָּאָרֶץ אֵצֶל הַחַיּוֹת). This verse has already been established and said (הַאי קְרָא אוּקְמוּהָ וְאִתְּמַר), but come and see (אֲבָל תָּא חֲזֵי): in all things Kudsha Berikh Hu reveals His dominion (קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּכוֹלָּא אִתְחָזֵי שׁוּלְטָנוּתָא דִּילֵיהּ), and His sovereignty which never ceases forever and ever (וְשׁוּלְטָנֵיהּ דִּי לָא תַעְדֵּי לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמִין). And He exercised His sovereignty through the Patriarchs (וְעָבִיד שׁוּלְטָנוּתָא בַּאֲבָהָן). He took Abraham and established the world through him (נָטַל לְאַבְרָהָם וְקִיֵּים בֵּיהּ עָלְמָא), as it is written (דִּכְתִּיב): “These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created” (Bereshit 2) (אֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדוֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ בְּהִבָּרְאָם), and it has been established (וְאוּקְמוּהָ). He took Yitzchak and planted the world through him (נָטִיל יִצְחָק וְשָׁתִיל בֵּיהּ עָלְמָא), for he endures forever (דִּאִיהוּ קַיָּים לְעָלְמִין), this is what is written: “And I will establish My covenant with Yitzchak” (Bereshit 17) (וְאֶת בְּרִיתִי אָקִים אֶת יִצְחָק). He took Ya'akov and placed him before Him (נָטַל יַעֲקֹב וְאוֹתְבֵיהּ קָמֵיהּ), and delighted in him and glorified in him (וְאִשְׁתַּעֲשַׁע בַּהֲדֵיהּ וְאִתְפָּאַר בֵּיהּ), this is what is written: “Yisrael in whom I glory” (Isaiah 49) (יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר בְּךָ אֶתְפָּאָר).

Come and see (וְתָא חֲזֵי), Ya'akov held fast to the Tree of Life (יַעֲקֹב אָחִיד בְּאִילָנָא דְּחַיֵּי), in which there is no death forever (דְּלֵית בֵּיהּ מוֹתָא לְעָלְמִין), for all life is perfected through that Tree (דְּכָל חַיִּין בְּהַהוּא אִילָנָא אִשְׁתַּכְלְלוּ), and it gives life to all who hold fast to it (וְיָהַב חַיִּין לְכָל אִינּוּן דַּאֲחִידָן בֵּיהּ). And because of this, Ya'akov did not die (וּבְגִין כָּךְ יַעֲקֹב לָא מֵית). And when did he die? At the time it is written: “And he gathered his feet into the bed” (Bereshit 49) (וַיֶּאֱסֹף רַגְלָיו אֶל הַמִּטָּה). The bed, as you say: “Behold, the bed of Shlomo” (Song of Songs 3) (הִנֵּה מִטָּתוֹ שֶׁלִּשְׁלֹמֹה), because of that bed it is written: “Her feet go down to death” (Proverbs 5) (רַגְלֶיהָ יוֹרְדוֹת מָוֶת), and because of this it is written: “And he gathered his feet into the bed” (וּבְגִין כָּךְ: וַיֶּאֱסֹף רַגְלָיו אֶל הַמִּטָּה), then “he expired and was gathered to his people” (כְּדֵין: וַיִּגְוַע וַיֵּאָסֶף אֶל עַמָּיו). And Kudsha Berikh Hu made for Ya'akov the completion of the Patriarchs (וְעָבִיד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְיַעֲקֹב שְׁלִימוּ דַּאֲבָהָן), this is what is written: “Ya'akov whom I have chosen” (Isaiah 41) (יַעֲקֹב אֲשֶׁר בְּחַרְתִּיךָ).

Come and see (תָּא חֲזֵי), all the supernal camps (כָּל מַשִׁרְיָין דִּלְעֵילָּא), and all those chariots (וְכָל אִינּוּן רְתִיכִין), are all bound one to another (כֻּלְּהוּ אֲחִידָן אִלֵּין בְּאִלֵּין), level by level (דַּרְגִּין בְּדַרְגִּין), these above and these below (אִלֵּין עִלָּאִין וְאִלֵּין תַּתָּאִין). And the supernal beast is over them (וְחֵיוָותָא קַדִּישָׁא עָלַיְיהוּ), and all the multitudes and camps (וְכֻלְּהוּ אוֹכְלוֹסִין וּמַשִׁרְיָין), they all depend beneath her hand (כֻּלְּהוּ נַטְלִין תְּחוֹת יְדָהָא), by her word they move (עַל מֵימְרָהָא נַטְלִין), and by her word they rest (וְעַל מֵימְרָהָא שָׁרָאן). And this is the beast (וְדָא הוּא חֵיוָתָא), some say: the supernal holy one (ס״א: עִילָּא קַדִּישָׁא), in which all other beasts are bound (דְּכָל שְׁאַר חֵיוָתָא אֲחִידָן בָּהּ), and were unfolded-some say: perfected-within her (וְאִשְׁתַּלְשָׁלוּ, ס״א: וְאִשְׁתַּכְלְלוּ בְּגִינָהּ), how many beasts to beasts-some say: these ascend and these descend (כַּמָּה חֵיוָן לְחֵיוָן, ס״א: אֵלִין סַלְקִין וְאֵלִין נַחְתִּין), and they are unified level by level (וְאִתְאַחֲדָן דַּרְגִּין בְּדַרְגִּין). And all the supernal and lower ones go and float in the sea (וְכֻלְּהוּ עִלָּאִין וְתַתָּאִין אַזְלִין וְשָׁאטִין בְּיַמָּא), this is what is written: “This is the great and wide sea, there are innumerable creeping things…” (Psalms 104) (זֶה הַיָּם גָּדוֹל וּרְחַב יָדַיִם שָׁם רֶמֶשׂ וְאֵין מִסְפָּר וְגו׳). And when the sea raises its waves (וְכַד סָלִיק יַמָּא גַּלְגַּלּוֹי), all the chariots ascend and descend (כֻּלְּהוּ אַרְבִּין סַלְּקִין נַחְתִּין), and rage is found (וְזַעְפָּא אִשְׁתְּכַח), and a strong wind comes upon it in force (וְרוּחָא תַקִּיפָא אַזְלָא עָלֵיהּ בִּתְקִיפוּ).

And the fish of the sea scatter in every direction (וְנוּנֵי יַמָּא מִתְבַּדְּרִין לְכָל סְטַר), these to the east, and these to the west, these to the north, and these to the south (אִלֵּין לְמִזְרָח וְאִלֵּין לְמַעֲרָב, אִלֵּין לַצָּפוֹן וְאִלֵּין לַדָּרוֹם). And all those among mankind who bear the mark upon them (וְכָל אִינּוּן בְּנֵי עָלְמָא דְּחָמָאן רְשִׁימָא עָלַיְיהוּ), they seize them and swallow them into dust-bound shackles (נַטְלִין לוֹן וּבַלְעִין לוֹן בְּקַפְטִירִי עַפְרָא). And none of the chariots move from their places (וְכָל אַרְבִּין לָא נַטְלִין מֵאַתְרַיְיהוּ), nor ascend and descend, except in that hour when one decree goes forth in the sea (וְלָא סַלְּקִין וְנַחְתִּין בַּר מֵהַהוּא שַׁעֲתָא דְּאָתֵי חַד דַּבְּרָא בְּיַמָּא), and knows how to complete the wind of the sea’s fury (וְיָדַע לְאַשְׁלְמָא רוּחָא דְּזַעְפָּא דְּיַמָּא). Once this arises over the sea (כֵּיוָן דְּסָלִיק דָּא עָלֵיהּ דְּיַמָּא), the fury subsides (שָׁכִיךְ מֵרוּגְזָא), and calm is found (וְנַיְיחָא אִשְׁתְּכַח). Then all the chariots proceed on a straight path (וּכְדֵין כֻּלְּהוּ אַרְבִּין אַזְלִין בְּאֹרַח מֵישָׁר), and they do not veer right or left (וְלָא סָטָאן לִימִינָא וּשְׂמָאלָא). This is what is written: “There the ships go, the Leviathan whom You formed to play therein” (Psalms 104) (שָׁם אֳנִיּוֹת יְהַלֵּכוּן לִוְיָתָן זֶה יָצַרְתָּ לְשַׂחֵק בּוֹ).

This (Zeh) precisely (זֶה דַּיְיקָא). And all the fish of the sea gather to their places (וְכָל נוּנֵי יַמָּא מִתְכַּנְּשִׁין לְאַתְרַיְיהוּ). And all those beasts rejoice over him (וְכָל אִינּוּן חֵיוָון חַדָּאן עָלָהּ), and the beasts of the supernal field rejoice (וְחֵיוָון חַקְלָא עִלָּאָה חַדָּאן), this is what is written: “All the beasts of the field play there” (Job 40) (וְכָל חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה יְשַׂחֲקוּ שָׁם).

Come and see (תָּא חֲזֵי), just as there is above, so there is below (כְּגַוְונָא דִּלְעֵילָּא אִית לְתַתָּא). And just as there is below, so there is in the sea (כְּגַוְונָא דִּלְתַתָּא אִית בְּיַמָּא). And just as there is above, so there is above in the supernal sea (כְּגַוְונָא דִּלְעֵילָּא אִית לְעֵילָּא בְּיַמָּא עִלָּאָה). And just as there is above, so there is below (כְּגַוְונָא דִּלְעֵילָּא אִית לְתַתָּא). And just as there is below, so there is in the lower sea (כְּגַוְונָא דִּלְתַתָּא אִית בְּיַמָּא תַּתָּאָה). The body of that sea (גּוּפָא דְּהַהוּא יַמָּא), as we have aroused among the friends (הָא אִתְעַרְנָא לְחַבְרָנָא), its length and breadth, head and arms and hairs of the body (אוֹרְכָא וּפוּתְיָא, רֵישָׁא וּדְרֹעִין וְשַׂעֲרֵי גוּפָא), all as needed (כֹּלָּא כְּמָה דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ), and all is called in its name (וְכֹלָּא בִּשְׁמֵיהּ). And similarly below, in the lower sea (וּכְגַוְונָא דָּא לְתַתָּא לְיַמָּא דִּלְתַתָּא), so too the head of the sea, and the arms of the sea, and the body of the sea (הָכִי נָמֵי רֵישָׁא דְּיַמָּא, וּדְרוֹעִין דְּיַמָּא, וְגוּפָא דְּיַמָּא). It is written (Bereshit 49) “Zevulun shall dwell by the seashore” (כְּתִיב: זְבוּלוּן לְחוֹף יַמִּים יִשְׁכּוֹן). But the sea was one that surrounded it (וְהָא יַמָּא חַד הֲוָה בְּעַדְבֵיהּ). What then is “by the seashores” (אֶלָּא מַאי לְחוֹף יַמִּים)? Surely, the friends have established this in a supernal mystery (וַדַּאי אוּקְמוּהָ חַבְרַיָּיא בְּרָזָא עִלָּאָה). “And his border shall be unto Tzidon” (וְיַרְכָתוֹ עַל צִידוֹן), as you say: “those who issue from the loins of Ya'akov” (Exodus 1) (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר: יוֹצְאֵי יֶרֶךְ יַעֲקֹב). Zevulun was the right thigh of the body (זְבוּלוּן שׁוֹקָא דִּימִינָא דְּגוּפָא הֲוָה), and the Sea of Kinneret was surrounded by it (וְיַם כִּנֶּרֶת הֲוָה בְּעַדְבֵיהּ), and from there the chilazon for tekhelet was found (וּמֵהָכָא אִשְׁתְּכַח חִלָּזוֹן לִתְכֶלְתָּא).

Come and see (תָּא חֲזֵי), how many chariots upon chariots were found (כַּמָּה רְתִיכִין עַל רְתִיכִין אִשְׁתְּכָחוּ), And the wheels of the chariot run in haste (וְגַלְגַּלּוֹי דִּרְתִיכָא רָהֲטִין בִּבְהִילוּ), and those supporters of chariot are not delayed in bearing upon them (וְלָא מִתְעַכְּבֵי אִינּוּן סַמְכֵי רְתִיכָא לְנַטְלָא עֲלֵיהוֹן). And so with all of them (וְכֵן כֻּלְּהוּ). Some say: and here they moved heavily, in haste (נ״א: וְהַכָּא שָׁנְגוּ בִּכְבֵדוּת בִּבְהִילוּ).

Come and see (תָּא חֲזֵי), the chariot appointed over the Egyptians (רְתִיכָא דִּי מְמָנָא עַל מִצְרָאֵי), if you should say, it has been established (אִי תֵימָא: אוּקְמוּהָ), a complete chariot was not found (רְתִיכָא שְׁלֵימָתָא לָא אִשְׁתְּכַח), for it is written: “And He removed the wheels of their chariots” (Exodus 14) (דְּהָא כְּתִיב: וַיָּסַר אֶת אוֹפַן מַרְכְּבוֹתָיו). How many chariots were there (כַּמָּה רְתִיכִין הֲווֹ), that depended on a single supporting wheel (דַּהֲווֹ נַטְלִין עַל חַד סָמִיךְ גַּלְגַּלָּא), that were commanded upon them (דְּאִתְפָּקְדוּ עֲלַיְיהוּ).

Once that sovereignty was removed from him (כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְעֲבָר הַאי מִשּׁוּלְטָנוּתָא דִּילֵיהּ), all the chariots were removed from their dominion (כֻּלְּהוּ רְתִיכִין אִתְעֲבָרוּ מִשּׁוּלְטָנִיהוֹן), and they did not bear (וְלָא נַטְלוּ). Then all below were removed from sovereignty (כְּדֵין כֻּלְּהוּ לְתַתָּא אִתְעֲבָרוּ מִשּׁוּלְטָנוּתָא), as it is written: “Against Egypt and against Pharaoh and against those who trust in him” (Jeremiah 46) (דִּכְתִּיב: עַל מִצְרַיִם וְעַל פַּרְעֹה וְעַל הַבּוֹטְחִים בוֹ).