Daf 50b (דַּף נ׳ ע״ב)

“And the angel of Elohim traveled, etc.” (Exodus 14) (וַיִּסַּע מַלְאַךְ הָאֱלֹהִים וְגוֹ'). From the Mishnah (מַתְנִיתִין): Before (עַד לָא), some say: it was erased (ס״א: אִשְׁתַּקַּע), the pure atmosphere had not yet been found (אִשְׁתְּכַח אֲוִירָא דַּכְיָא), and there was no illumination (וְלָא נְהִירִין), and the perforated stones were sealed (אֲבָנִין נְקִיבָן הֲווֹ סְתִימָאן). Three winds, comprised within three, were sunken (תְּלַת רוּחִין דִּכְלִילָן בִּתְלַת, הֲווֹ שְׁקִיעָן), and the waters were sealed beneath the orifices (וּמַיִין סְתִימָן תַּחוֹת נוּקְבֵי).

In seventy-two letters, those stones returned to their places (בְּשִׁבְעִין וּתְרֵין אַתְוָון אִתְהַדָּרוּ לְאַתְרַיְיהוּ אִינּוּן אֲבָנִין), some say: those generations (ס״א: דָּרִין). After seventy-two levels (בָּתַר שִׁבְעִין וּתְרֵין דַּרְגִּין), and likewise three times (וְכֵן תְּלַת זִמְנִין), the stones split open and were perforated (אִתְבָּקָעוּ וְאִתְנְקִיבוּ אֲבָנֵי), beneath the bundle that had been engraved (תַּחוֹת צְרוֹרָא דְּהֲוָה חָקִיק), and the levels were gathered (וְאִתְכְּנָפוּ דַּרְגִּין), and formed one assembly (וְאִתְעָבִידוּ כְּנוּפְיָא חֲדָא), some say: they were separated and formed one assembly (ס״א: אִתְפַלַּג וְאִתְעָבִידוּ כְּנוּפְיָא חַד). Afterwards they separated (לְבָתַר אִתְפְּלָגוּ), and became two levels (וְאִתְעָבִידוּ תְּרֵין דַּרְגִּין), one portion of the waters congealed (פַלְגּוּתָא מַיָּא אַגְלִידוּ), and one portion was sunken (וּפַלְגּוּתָא אִשְׁתְּקָעוּ). These ascended (אִלֵּין סְלִיקוּ), and these descended (וְאִלֵּין נַחְתוּ); from here the world began to divide (מֵהָכָא שָׁרָא עָלְמָא לְאִתְפַלְּגָא). Another bundle (צְרוֹרָא אַחֲרָא), some say: one bundle (נ״א: חַדָּא), exists above (אִית לְעֵילָּא), and it is engraved in A"B (וְהוּא גְּלִיפָא בּע״ב), the seal of a mighty signet ring (חֲתִימָן דְּגוּשְׁפַּנְקָא תַּקִּיפָא), and in it are sunken the orbits of the sea (וּבְהוּ שְׁקִיעַן גַּלְגַּלּוֹי דְּיַמָּא). When they are taken (כַּד נַטְלִין), they separate into four directions (אִתְפְּלָגוּ לְאַרְבַּע זַוְיָין): one portion ascends (פַלְגוּ חֲדָא סָלִיק), and one portion descends (וּפַלְגוּ חֲדָא נָחִית), one portion goes to the direction of the north (פַלְגוּ חֲדָא לִסְטַר צָפוֹן), and one portion to the direction of the south (וּפַלְגוּ חֲדָא לִסְטַר דָּרוֹם). When they are united as one (כַּד מִתְחַבְּרָן כַּחֲדָא), flaming coals stand (גוּמְרִין דְּלַהֲטִין קַיְּימִין), in the flame of the sharp sword that turns (בְּלַהַט שִׁנָּנָא דְּחַרְבָּא דְּמִתְהַפְּכָא). One pillar is fixed within the sea (חַד קַיֵּימָא נָעִיץ בְּגוֹ יַמָּא), the third level of the upper government (דַּרְגָּא שְׁלִיחָא דְּאֲפַרְכָּא עִלָּאָה), it ascends within that pillar exceedingly on high (סָלִיק בְּהַהוּא קַיָּימָא לְעֵילָּא לְעֵילָּא), some say: gazing afar (ס״א: אִסְתַּכֵּל) (אִשְׁתֶּכְלָל לְמֵרָחִיק), a band of ships sailing in the sea (קְטוּרָא דְּאַרְבִּין דְּשָׁאטִין בְּיַמָּא). Who sees the orbits ascending and descending (מַאן חָמֵי גַּלְגַּלִּין דְּסַלְּקִין וְנַחְתִּין), and the wind that blows in them (וְרוּחָא דְּנָשִׁיב בְּהוּ), and the fish of the sea drive all these ships (וְנוּנֵי יַמָּא נַגְּדִּין כָּל אִינּוּן אַרְבִּין), to all directions of the world (לְכָל סִטְרֵי עָלְמָא). That level, when it descends from there (הַהוּא דַּרְגָּא, כַּד נָחִית מֵהַהוּא), stands with a thousand on its right (קַיְמֵי אֶלֶף מִימִינֵיהּ), and a thousand on its left (וְאֶלֶף מִשְּׂמָאלֵיהּ), it sits firmly in its place (הֲוָה תָּב וְיָתִיב בְּאַתְרֵיהּ), like a king on his throne (כְּמַלְכָּא בְּכוּרְסְיֵיהּ), that level which, when the sea spreads to the four directions of the world (הַהוּא דַּרְגָּא דְּכַד שָׁאַטֵי יַמָּא לְאַרְבַּע סִטְרֵי עָלְמָא), goes forth with it (עִמֵּיהּ נַפְקַת), in it is the ark (בֵּיהּ תֵּבַת), it sits in the enduring throne of the King (הוּא תָּב בְּקִיּוּמָא דְּמַלְכָּא). Then heralds go forth (כְּדֵין כָּרוֹזִין נָפְקִין), those masters of vision (מַאן מָארֵי דְּעַיְנִין), are elevated exceedingly high (יִזְדַּקְפָאן לוֹן לְעֵילָּא לְעֵילָּא). Their masters of wings (מָארֵיהוֹן דְּגַדְפִּין) shall rise in their stations (יְקוּמוּן בְּקִיּוּמַיְיהוּ). Masters of faces (מָארֵי דְּאַנְפִּין), cover themselves (חַפְיָין לוֹן), until it is taken with its cloak (עַד דְּנָטִיל בְּמַטְלָנוֹי). Then: “And the angel of Elohim traveled…” (Exodus 14) (כְּדֵין וַיִּסַּע מַלְאַךְ הָאֱלֹהִים). (Until here) (עַד כָּאן).

Rabbi Ḥiyya opened (רִבִּי חִיָּיא פָּתַח): “She was like the merchant ships, from afar she brings her bread” (Proverbs 31) (הָיְתָה כָּאֳנִיּוֹת סוֹחֵר מִמֶּרְחָק תָּבִיא לַחְמָהּ). “She was like the merchant ships”-this is Knesset Yisrael (הָיְתָה כָּאֳנִיּוֹת סוֹחֵר, דָּא כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל). “From afar she brings her bread,” as you say (Isaiah 30) (כְּמָה דְּאַתְּ אָמֵר: הִנֵּה שֵׁם יְיָ בָּא מִמֶּרְחָק). “She brings her bread,” from the one level that rests upon her (תָּבִיא לַחְמָהּ, בְּחַד דַּרְגָּא דְּשָׁארִי עָלָהּ), and through it are drawn all these rivers and springs that go into the sea (וּבֵיהּ אִתְמְשָׁכוּ כָּל אִלֵּין נְחָלִין וּמַבּוּעִין דְּאַזְלִין בְּיַמָּא), as it is said (Ecclesiastes 1) (כְּמָה דְּאַתְּ אָמֵר: כָּל הַנְּחָלִים הוֹלְכִים אֶל הַיָּם וְגוֹ').

“To the place where the rivers go”-even though all the rivers are drawn into that level (אֶל מָקוֹם שֶׁהַנְּחָלִים הוֹלְכִים, אַף עַל גַּב דְּכֻלְּהוּ נְחָלִין אִתְמַשְּׁכָן בְּהַהוּא דַּרְגָּא), and that level descends (וְהַהוּא דַּרְגָּא נָחִית), some say: draws them (ס״א: נְגִיד) (לוֹן לְהַהוּא יַמָּא), do not say that it pours them out (לָא תֵּימָא: דְּהָא אָרִיק לוֹן), for no others dwell there, and they are not drawn into it as before (וְהָא לָא שַׁרְיָין בֵּיהּ אֲחֲרָנִין, וְלָא נַגְּדִין בֵּיהּ כְּמִלְקַדְּמִין). He returned and said (אַהְדָּר וְאָמַר): “To the place where the rivers go, there they return” (Ecclesiastes 1:7) (אֶל מָקוֹם שֶׁהַנְּחָלִים הוֹלְכִים שָׁם הֵם שָׁבִים), to the place where that level into which the rivers go one time (אֶל מָקוֹם דְּהַהוּא דַּרְגָּא דְּנַחֲלִין אַזְלִין זִמְנָא חֲדָא), there they return to go (שָׁם הֵם שָׁבִים לָלָכֶת). There they bathe in that supernal place (תַּמָּן אִינּוּן תַּיֵּיבִין מֵהַהוּא אֲתָר עִלָּאָה), and they never cease (וְלָא פַסְקִין לְעָלְמִין), and all are gathered into that place (וּמִתְכַּנְּשֵׁי כֻּלְּהוּ בְּהַהוּא אֲתָר). And why? To go (וְלָמָּה: לָלָכֶת), to reach that place of the sea (לְמֵהַךְ לְהַהוּא אֲתָר דְּיַמָּא), as it is said: What is the name of that level? It is called Tzaddik (כְּמָה דְּאִתְּמַר: מַה שְּׁמֵיהּ דְּהַהוּא דַּרְגָּא – צַדִּיק אִקְרֵי).

Rabbi Yehudah said (רִבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר): It is written (Psalms 104) (כְּתִיב: שָׁם אֳנִיּוֹת יְהַלֵּכוּן לִוְיָתָן זֶה יָצַרְתָּ לְשַׂחֵק בּוֹ). “There the ships go”-in that sea wherein they go and sail (שָׁם אֳנִיּוֹת יְהַלֵּכוּן, בְּהַהוּא יַמָּא דְּאַזְלִין וְשָׁאטִין), until they come to unite with that level (עַד דְּאַתְיָין לְאִתְחַבְּרָא בְּהַהוּא דַּרְגָּא). Then it is written: “Leviathan, this You formed to play with” (כְּדֵין כְּתִיב: לִוְיָתָן זֶה יָצַרְתָּ לְשַׂחֵק בּוֹ).

Rabbi Yitzḥak said (רִבִּי יִצְחָק אָמַר), exceedingly high above (לְעֵילָּא לְעֵילָּא יַתִּיר), there is another Zivug (אִית זִוּוּגָא אַחֲרָא), which rests in love (דְּשָׁאַרִי בַּחֲבִיבוּתָא), and it is never separated (וְלָא מִתְפְּרַשׁ לְעָלְמִין). Rabbi Yehudah said (אָמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה), who is worthy of that Zivug? (מַאן זָכֵי לְהַהוּא זִוּוּגָא). He said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ), one who has a portion in the World to Come (מַאן דְּאִית לֵיהּ חוּלָקָא בְּעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי). Precisely in the World to Come (בְּעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי דַּיְקָא). He said to him (אָמַר לֵיהּ), behold we learn it from here (וְהָא מֵהָכָא אוֹלִיפְנָא), for it is written (Psalms 104) (כְּתִיב: לִוְיָתָן זֶה יָצַרְתָּ לְשַׂחֵק בּוֹ), it implies that it says “this” (מַשְׁמַע דְּקָאָמַר זֶה), and “this” and “this”-these are known (וְזֶה וְזֹאת יְדִיעָן אִינּוּן). Rabbi Abba said (אָמַר רִבִּי אַבָּא), both of you have spoken well (תַּרְוַיְיכוּ שַׁפִּיר קָאָמְרִיתּוּ), and that which Rabbi Yehudah said is precisely accurate (וְהָא דְּרִבִּי יְהוּדָה שַׁפִּיר דַּיְקָא), and all is prepared by Kudsha Berikh Hu to delight in them with the Righteous (וְכֹלָּא זַמִּין קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְאִתְעַנְּגָא בְּהוּ לְצַדִּיקַיָּיא), this is what is written (Isaiah 58) “Then you shall delight in Hashem” (הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִיב: אָז תִּתְעַנַּג עַל יְיָ').

Rabbi Abba said (אָמַר רִבִּי אַבָּא): How many thousands, how many myriads of praising holy ones (כַּמָּה אַלְפִּין, כַּמָּה רִבְּבָן דְּמַשִּׁירְיָין קַדִּישִׁין), does Kudsha Berikh Hu have (אִית לֵיהּ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא) masters of exalted faces (מָארֵי דְּאַנְפִּין עִלָּאִין), masters of vision (מָארֵי דְּעַיְינִין), masters of adornments (מָארֵי דְּזַיְּינִין), masters of elevation (מָארֵי דִּילָלָה), masters of entrance (מָארֵי דִּיבָּבָא), masters of mercy (מָארֵי דְּרַחֲמֵי), masters of judgment (מָארֵי דְּדִינָא), and above them all, He appointed the Matronita to serve in the palace before Him (וְעֵילָּא מִנַּיְיהוּ אַפְקַד לְמַטְרוֹנִיתָא לְשַׁמְּשָׁא בְּהֵיכְלָא קָמֵיהּ). Corresponding to these (לָקוֳבֵיל אִלֵּין), the Matronita possesses adorned bands (אִית לָהּ לְמַטְרוֹנִיתָא, מַשִּׁירְיָן מְזַיָּינִין). In sixty (בְּשִׁתִּין), some say: in the year (ס״א: בְּשַׁתָּא), faces, there are found armed banners (אַנְפִּין מִשְׁתַּכְּחוּ מַשְׁרְיָין מְזוּיָּנִין). And all of them are girded with swords (וְכוּלְּהוּ חֲגִירָן חַרְבָּא), stationed in rotation (קַיֵּימָאן בְּסַחֲרָנָהָא), how many go out, how many come in (כַּמָּה נָפְקִין, כַּמָּה עַיְילִין). With six wings they fly through the whole world (בְּשִׁית גַּדְפִּין טָאסִין כָּל עָלְמָא). Before each and every one (קַמֵּי כָּל חַד וְחַד), flaming coals of fire burn (גּוּמָרִין דְּנוּר דָּלִיק). Their garments blaze with fire (לְבוּשׁוֹי, מִתְלַהֲטָא אֶשָּׁא). Within them (בְּגַבּוֹי), the sharpness of the sword blazes throughout the whole world (שִׁנָּנָא דְּחַרְבָּא מִתְלַהֲטָא בְּכָל עָלְמָא), to guard before her (לְנַטְרָא קָמָהּ). This is what is written (הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִיב): “And the flame of the revolving sword, to guard the way of the Tree of Life” (וְאֵת לַהַט הַחֶרֶב הַמִּתְהַפֶּכֶת לִשְׁמוֹר אֶת דֶּרֶךְ עֵץ הַחַיִּים) (Bereshit 3:24).