Daf 51a (דַּף נ״א ע״א)

Who is “the way to the Tree of Life”? (מַאן דֶּרֶךְ עֵץ הַחַיִּים). This is the great Matronita (דָּא הִיא מַטְרוֹנִיתָא רַבְּתָא), for she is the path (דְּהִיא אָרְחָא), to that mighty and powerful supernal Tree (לְהַהוּא אִילָנָא רַבְרְבָא תַּקִּיף), the Tree of Life (אִילָנָא דְּחַיֵּי), As it is written (דִּכְתִיב): Behold, the bed of Shlomo (הִנֵּה מִטָּתוֹ שֶׁלִּשְׁלֹמֹה), sixty mighty men surround it (שִׁשִּׁים גִּבּוֹרִים סָבִיב לָהּ), from the mighty ones of Israel (מִגִּבּוֹרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל) (Song of Songs 3). Yisrael Above (יִשְׂרָאֵל דִּלְעֵילָּא) all of them are armed with swords (כֻּלָּם אֲחוּזֵי חֶרֶב). When the Matronita travels (כַּד נַטְלָא מַטְרוֹנִיתָא), all travel with her (כֻּלְּהוּ נַטְלִין בַּהֲדָהּ), as it is written: “And the angel of Elohim traveled…” (Exodus 14) (הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִיב: וַיִּסַּע מַלְאַךְ הָאֱלֹהִים). And is he called “angel of Elohim”? (וְכִי מַלְאַךְ הָאֱלֹהִים אִתְקְרֵי). Rabbi Abba said: Yes (אָמַר רִבִּי אַבָּא: אִין).

Come and see (תָּא חֲזֵי), thus said Rabbi Shim‘on (הָכִי אָמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן): Kudsha Berikh Hu arranged before Him a holy palace (אַתְקִין קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא קָמֵיהּ: הֵיכָלָא קַדִּישָׁא), a supernal palace (הֵיכָלָא עִלָּאָה), a holy city (קַרְתָּא קַדִּישָׁא), a supernal city (קַרְתָּא עִלָּאָה). “Jerusalem, the Holy City,” it is called (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם עִיר הַקֹּדֶשׁ אִקְרֵי). One who enters to the King (מַאן דְּעָאל לְמַלְכָּא), does not enter except through that holy city (לָא עָאל אֶלָּא מֵהַהוּא קַרְתָּא קַדִּישָׁא), and takes the path to the King (נָטִיל אָרְחָא לְמַלְכָּא), for the path is arranged from there (דְּאָרְחָא מֵהָכָא אִתְּתַקָּן).

This is what is written (Psalms 118) “This is the gate to Hashem; the righteous shall enter through it” (הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִיב: זֶה הַשַּׁעַר לַיְיָ, צַדִּיקִים יָבוֹאוּ בוֹ). Every mission that the King desires emerges from the house of the Matronita (כָּל שְׁלִיחוּתָא דְּבָעֵי מַלְכָּא מִבֵּי מַטְרוֹנִיתָא נָפְקָא), and every mission from below to the King (וְכָל שְׁלִיחוּתָא מִתַּתָּא לְמַלְכָּא), some say: that the King desires (ס״א: דְּבָעֵי מַלְכָּא), first enters the house of the Matronita (לְבֵי מַטְרוֹנִיתָא עָיִיל בְּקַדְמִיתָא), and from there to the King (וּמִתַּמָּן לְמַלְכָּא). Thus it is found that the Matronita is the emissary of all (אִשְׁתְּכַח דְּמַטְרוֹנִיתָא אִיהִי שְׁלִיחָא דְּכֹלָּא), from above to below, and from below to above (מֵעֵילָּא לְתַּתָּא וּמִתַּתָּא לְעֵילָּא). And because of this, she is the emissary of all (וְעַל דָּא אִיהִי שְׁלִיחָא דְּכֹלָּא), as it is written: “And the angel of Elohim who went before the camp of Yisrael” (Exodus 14) (הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִיב: וַיִּסַּע מַלְאַךְ הָאֱלֹהִים הַהוֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵי מַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל) Yisrael Above (יִשְׂרָאֵל דִּלְעֵילָּא). “Angel of Elohim”-this is that which is written about him (מַלְאַךְ הָאֱלֹהִים, הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ): “And Hashem went before them, etc.” (Exodus 13), and this is by day and by night, as has been established (וַייָ הוֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵיהֶם וְגוֹ', וְהַאי לָלֶכֶת יוֹמָם וְלַיְלָה, כְּמָה דְּאוּקְמוּהָ).

And is it an honor of the King (וְכִי יְקָרָא הוּא דְּמַלְכָּא), that the Matronita should go (דְּמַטְרוֹנִיתָא תֵּזִּיל), and she should wage war (וְהִיא תִּגַּח קְרָבָא), and she should go forth as emissary? (וְהִיא אַזְלַת שְׁלִיחָא). Rather, to the King who was united with the supernal Matronita (אֶלָּא, לְמַלְכָּא דְּאִזְדָּוַּוג בְּמַטְרוֹנִיתָא עִלָּאָה), the King sees her honor (חָמָא מַלְכָּא יְקִירוּ דִּילָהּ), above all other Matronitas of the world (עַל כָּל שְׁאַר מַטְרוֹנִיתָא דְּעָלְמָא), and He said: All of them are found for favor (אָמַר: כֻּלְּהוּ מִשְׁתַּכְּחִין לְחֵינָתָא), some say: for the wedding canopy (ס״א: לַחֻפְּתָּא), in contrast to this Matronita of Mine (לָקוֳבֵיל הַאי מַטְרוֹנִיתָא דִּילִי). She is exalted above all (הִיא סַלְּקָא עַל כֹּלָּא), what shall I do for her? (מַה אַעְבִיד לָהּ). Only: all My palace shall be in her hands (אֶלָּא: כָּל בֵּיתָא דִּילִי יְהֵא בִּידָהָא). The King issued a decree (אַפִּיק מַלְכָּא כָּרוֹזָא): From here on, all the words of the King shall be delivered by the hand of the Matronita (מֵהָכָא כָּל מִלִּין דְּמַלְכָּא בִּידָא דְּמַטְרוֹנִיתָא יִתְמַסְּרוּן). What did He do? (מַה עָבִיד). The King entrusted into her hands all His weapons (אַפְקִיד מַלְכָּא בִּידָהָא כָּל זַיְּינִין דִּילֵיהּ), all those commanders of battle (כָּל אִינּוּן מָארֵי מַגִּיחִין קְרָבָא), all the precious stones of the King (כָּל אִינּוּן אֲבָנִין יְקִירִין דְּמַלְכָּא), all the treasuries of the King (כָּל גִּנְזַיָּיא דְּמַלְכָּא). He said: From now on, whoever seeks to speak with Me (אָמַר: מֵהָכָא, כָּל מַאן דְּיִצְטְרִיךְ לְמַלְּלָא עִמִּי), may not speak with Me until he informs the Matronita (לָא יָכִיל לְמַלְּלָא עִמִּי, עַד דְּאוֹדַע לָהּ מַטְרוֹנִיתָא).

So too Kudsha Berikh Hu (כַּךְ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא), from the abundance of His love and affection for Knesset Yisrael (מִסְּגִיאוּת חֲבִיבוּתָא וּרְחִימוּתָא דִּילֵיהּ בְּכְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל), entrusted everything into her authority (אַפְקִיד כֹּלָּא בִּרְשׁוּתָהּ). He said: All others are not found near her at all (אָמַר: הָא כָּל שָׁאֲרִי לָא מִשְׁתַּכְּחֵי כְּלוּם לְגַבָּהָא). He said (Song of Songs 6) “Sixty are the queens, etc., one is My dove, My perfect one” (שִׁשִּׁים הֵמָּה מְלָכוֹת וְגוֹ', אַחַת הִיא יוֹנָתִי תַּמָּתִי). What shall I do for her? Only this: all My palace shall be in her hands (מַה אַעְבִיד לָהּ, אֶלָּא הָא כָּל בֵּיתָא דִּילִי בִּידָהָא). The King issued a decree (אַפִּיק מַלְכָּא כָּרוֹזָא): From now on, all matters of the King shall be delivered by the hand of the Matronita (מֵהָכָא כָּל מִלִּין דְּמַלְכָּא, בִּידָא דְּמַטְרוֹנִיתָא יִתְמַסְּרוּן).

He entrusted into her hands all His weapons (אַפְקִיד בִּידָהָא כָּל זַיְּינִין דִּילֵיהּ) spears, swords, bows, arrows, and blades (רוֹמְחִין, וְסַיְיפִין, קַשְׁתִּין, חִצִּין, וַחֲרָבִין), ballistae, armor, projectiles (בַּלִסְטְרִין, קַסְטִירָאִין, אָעִין), stones (אֲבָנִין), all those masters of (כָּל אִינּוּן מָארֵי), some say: implements of (ס״א: מָאנֵי) battle assault (מַגִּיחֵי קְרָבָא). This is what is written (Song of Songs 3) “Behold the bed of Shlomo-sixty mighty ones surround it, etc., all wielding the sword, expert in war…” (הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִיב: הִנֵּה מִטָּתוֹ שֶׁלִּשְׁלֹמֹה שִׁשִּׁים גִּבּוֹרִים וְגוֹ', כֻּלָּם אֲחוּזֵי חֶרֶב מְלוּמְּדֵי וְגוֹ').

Master King, from this point onward, My battle is handed over into your hand (מַר מַלְכָּא, מִכָּאן וּלְהָלְאָה, קְרָבָא דִּילִי אִתְמְסַר בִּידָךְ), My weapons (זַיְּינִין דִּילִי), the commanders of the battle-chargers are in your hand (מָארֵי מַגִּיחֵי קְרָבָא בִּידָךְ). From this point onward, you shall be My guardian (מִכָּאן וּלְהָלְאָה אַתְּ הֲוֵי נַטְרָא לִי), as it is written (Psalms 121) “Guardian of Yisrael” (הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִיב: שׁוֹמֵר יִשְׂרָאֵל). From this point onward, whoever seeks Me (מִכָּאן וּלְהָלְאָה, מַאן דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ לִי), may not speak with Me (לָא יָכִיל לְמַלְּלָא עִמִּי), until he informs the Matronita (עַד דְּאוֹדַע לְמַטְרוֹנִיתָא), as it is written (Leviticus 16) “With this shall Aharon come into the Holy” (הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִיב: בְּזֹאת יָבֹא אַהֲרֹן אֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ). The emissary of the King in all matters, as we have established (שְׁלִיחָא דְּמַלְכָּא בְּכֹלָּא, כְּמָה דְּאוֹקִימְנָא). Thus it is found that all is in her hands (אִשְׁתְּכַּח דְּכֹלָּא בִּידָהָא), and this is the honor of the Matronita (וְדָא הוּא יְקָרָא דְּמַטְרוֹנִיתָא). This is what is written: “And the angel of Elohim traveled, etc.” (Exodus 14), as has been said (כְּמָה דְּאִתְּמַר).

“And he went behind them”-why behind them? (וַיֵּלֶךְ מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶם, מַאי טַעְמָא מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶם). Because commanders of battle-chargers were found before her (בְּגִין דְּיִשְׁתְּכָּחוּ לְקַמָהָא), some say: before her presence (ס״א: לְגַבָּהָא) (מָארֵי מַגִּיחֵי קְרָבָא), masters of ballistae (מָארֵי בַּלִּסְטְרָאוֹת), masters of spears and swords (מָארֵי רוֹמְחִין וְסַיְיפִין), and they were revealed before her (וְאִתְגְּלוּן קַמָהָא), for others were coming in bands (דְּהָא הֲווֹ אַתְיָין מַשִּׁירְיָין אַחֲרָנִין), to attack Yisrael from above (לְאַגָּחָא קְרָבָא בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל מִלְּעֵילָּא), and because of this: “And he went behind them” (וְעַל דָּא: וַיֵּלֶךְ מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶם).

And it was taught (וְתָאַנָא): At that moment, the great ruler appointed over Egypt came (בְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא, אָתָא רַבְרְבָא שׁוּלְטָנָא דִּמְמָנָא עַל מִצְרָאֵי), and gathered six hundred fiery prosecuting chariots (וְכָנַשׁ שִׁית מֵאָה רְתִיכִין מְקַטְרְגִין), and upon each and every chariot, six hundred appointed prosecuting officers (וְעַל כָּל רְתִיכָא וּרְתִיכָא, שִׁית מֵאָה שָׁלְטָנִין מְמָנָן קַטֵיגוֹרִין).

This is what is written: “And he took six hundred chosen chariots, etc.” (Exodus 14) (הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִיב: וַיִּקַּח שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת רֶכֶב בָּחוּר וְגוֹ'). And were the six hundred chosen chariots not the chariots of Egypt? (וְכִי שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת רֶכֶב בָּחוּר לָא הֲווֹ רִכְבֵי מִצְרַיִם). Why then: “And all the chariots of Egypt”? (מַאי טַעְמָא: וְכֹל רֶכֶב מִצְרַיִם). Rather, so it was taught (אֶלָּא: הָכִי תָּאַנָא): Samael added to him (הֲוָה סָמָאֵ״ל אוֹסִיף לֵיהּ), six hundred fiery prosecuting chariots to aid him (שִׁית מֵאָה רְתִיכִין מְקַטְרְגִין לְסַיְּיעָא לֵיהּ). This is what is written: “And he took six hundred chosen chariots” (Exodus 14) (הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִיב: וַיִּקַּח שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת רֶכֶב בָּחוּר).