Daf 232a (דַּף רל״ב ע״א)

“The One who brings forth their host by number” (Isaiah 40) (הַמּוֹצִיא בְּמִסְפָּר צְבָאָם), what is “the One who brings forth”? (מַאי הַמּוֹצִיא). Rather, because that place which is hidden and concealed (אֶלָּא בְּגִין דְּהַהוּא אֲתָר דְּאִיהוּ טָמִיר וְגָנִיז), it brings forth all (אִיהוּ אַפִּיק כֹּלָּא), in the secret of a voice that goes out from the Shofar (בְּרָזָא דְּקוֹל דְּנָפִיק מִשּׁוֹפָר). And that voice (וְהַהוּא קוֹל), it is the number of all the supernal forces (אִיהוּ מִסְפָּר דְּכָל חֵילִין עִלָּאִין), and the accounting of all (וְחוּשְׁבָּנָא דְּכֹלָּא). And from there is found the secret of supernal faith (וּמִתַּמָּן אִשְׁתְּכַח רָזָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא עִלָּאָה), in all those supernal sides (בְּכָל אִינּוּן סִטְרִין עִלָּאִין), until the grades extend (עַד דְּנַגְדִּין דַּרְגִּין), and are drawn down below (וְאִתְמַשְּׁכָאן לְתַתָּא), and are divided into many forces according to their kinds (וְאִתְפָּרְשָׁאן כַּמָה חֵילִין לְזִנַּיְיהוּ), and all stand in an accounting (וְכֻלְּהוּ קַיְימָן בְּחוּשְׁבָּנָא), and are called by name (וְאִקְרוּן בִּשְׁמָא). “By the greatness of might” (מֵרוֹב אוֹנִים), this is the side of the right (דָּא סִטְרָא דִּימִינָא). “And strong in power” (וְאַמִּיץ כֹּחַ), this is the side of the left (דָּא סִטְרָא דִּשְׂמָאלָא). “Not one is lacking” (אִישׁ לֹא נֶעְדָּר), these are the sides that extend from the two sides (סִטְרִין דְּנַגְדִּין מִתְּרֵין עֲבָרִין). Another matter (דָּבָר אַחֵר): “Lift up your eyes on high and see who created these” (Isaiah 40) (שְׂאוּ מָרוֹם עֵינֵיכֶם וּרְאוּ מִי בָרָא אֵלֶּה), this verse, when the Mishkan was established (הַאי קְרָא כַּד אִתְּקַם מַשְׁכְּנָא).

And it was prepared (וַהֲוָה אִתְתָּקַּן), that whoever saw the Mishkan (כָּל מַאן דְּחָמֵי לֵיהּ לְמַשְׁכְּנָא), looked into it above and below (אִסְתָּכַּל בֵּיהּ לְעֵילָּא וְתַתָּא), and saw all in it in the Mishkan (וְכֹלָּא חָמֵי בֵּיהּ בְּמַשְׁכְּנָא).

Because all the works of the upper and lower worlds (בְּגִין דְּכָל עוֹבָדִין דְּעָלְמָא עִלָּאָה וְתַתָּאָה), all were prepared in the Mishkan (כֻלְּהוּ אִתְתָּקָנוּ בֵּיהּ בְּמַשְׁכְּנָא). And behold, we have established (וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא), that whoever saw those clasps in the Mishkan (כָּל מַאן דְּחָמֵי אִינּוּן קְרָסִים בְּמַשְׁכְּנָא), and gazed upon them (וְאִסְתָּכַּל בְּהוּ), it was as though he gazed at their radiance, at the radiance of the stars (הֲוָה מִסְתָּכַּל בִּנְהִירוּ דִּלְהוֹן, בִּנְהִירוּ דְּכֹּכָבַיָּא), because so do the stars stand in the firmament (בְּגִין דְּהָכִי קַיְימָן כֹּכָבַיָּא בִּרְקִיעָא). He opened and said (פָּתַח וְאָמַר): “Hallelu-Yah! Praise Hashem from the heavens” (Psalms 148) (הַלְלוּיָהּ הַלְלוּ אֶת יְיָ מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם וְגוֹ׳). Come and see (תָּא חֲזֵי), this praise that David said (תוּשְׁבַּחְתָּא דָּא אָמַר דָּוִד), corresponds to the secret of the holy Name (לָקֳבֵל רָזָא דִּשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא), which is the generality of all praise (דְּאִיהוּ כְּלָלָא דְּתוּשְׁבַּחְתָּא דְּכֹלָּא). Two praises are they (תְּרֵין תּוּשְׁבְּחָן אִינּוּן), in the likeness of the secret of the supernal holy Name (כְּגַוְונָא דְּרָזָא דִּשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא עִלָּאָה), which is the totality of all praise (דְּאִיהוּ כְּלָלָא דְּתוּשְׁבַּחְתָּא דְּכֹלָּא). And they are: this one (וְאִינּוּן: דָּא), and the later praise (וְתוּשְׁבַּחְתָּא בַּתְרָאָה), which is the totality of all praise (דְּאִיהִי כְּלָלָא דְּתוּשְׁבַּחְתָּא דְּכֹלָּא), as it is written: “Hallelu-Yah! Praise El in His sanctuary, etc.” (Psalms 150) (דִּכְתִּיב, הַלְלוּיָהּ הַלְלוּ אֵל בְּקָדְשׁוֹ וְגוֹ׳). But this one was on ten kinds (אֲבָל דָּא הֲוָה, עַל עֶשֶׂר מִינִים). And this one is on seven (וְדָא הוּא עַל שֶׁבַע). And all is one secret in the holy Name (וְכֹלָּא רָזָא חֲדָא בִּשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא).

“Hallelu-Yah! Praise Hashem from the heavens” (הַלְלוּיָהּ הַלְלוּ אֶת יְיָ מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם), this is the service of the six sides spreading below (אִיהוּ שֵׁירוּתָא דְּשִׁית סִטְרִין לְאִתְפַּשְׁטָא לְתַתָּא). For this is the secret that stands for questioning (דְּדָא אִיהוּ רָזָא דְּקַיְּימָא לִשְׁאֵלָה), as you say: “For ask now of the former days which were before you” (Deuteronomy 4) (כְּמָה דְּאַתְּ אָמֵר, כִּי שְׁאַל נָא לְיָמִים רִאשׁוֹנִים אֲשֶׁר הָיוּ לְפָנֶיךָ וְגוֹ׳). Until here there is permission to question (עַד הָכָא אִית רְשׁוּ לִשְׁאֵלָה): “From the day that El created, etc., and unto the end of the heavens” (מִן הַיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא וְגוֹ׳, וְעַד קְצֵה הַשָּׁמַיִם). From here onward there is no standing for questioning (מִכָּאן וּלְהָלְאָה, לָאו קַיְּימָא לִשְׁאֵלָא), because it is a place hidden and concealed (בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ אֲתָר טָמִיר וְגָנִיז). And because of this (וְעַל דָּא), “Praise Hashem from the heavens, praise Him in the heights” (Psalms 148) (הַלְלוּ אֶת יְיָ מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם הַלְלוּהוּ בַּמְרוֹמִים), these are the two sides (אִלֵּין תְּרֵין סִטְרִין), that are the heights of service (דְּאִינּוּן רוּמָא דִּשְׁירוּתָא), right and left (יְמִינָא וּשְׂמָאלָא). And from here all the others spread out below (וּמֵהָכָא אִתְפַּשְּׁטָאן כֻּלְּהוּ אַחֲרָנִין לְתַתָּא), in the secret of grades to be ordered properly (בְּרָזָא דְּדַרְגִּין לְאִתְתַּקְנָא כְּדְקָא יֵאוֹת). “Praise Him, all His angels” (Psalms 148) (הַלְלוּהוּ כָּל מַלְאָכָיו), these are the two pillars that stand beneath the body (אִלֵּין תְּרֵין קַיָימִין דְּקַיְימֵי תְּחוֹת גּוּפָא), to support the body upon them (לְמִשְׁעָן גּוּפָא עָלַיְיהוּ).

Come and see (תָּא חֲזֵי), these pillars of the body support it (אִינּוּן קַיָימִין דְּגוּפָא אִשְׁתְּעָן עָלַיְיהוּ). They stand here in the secret of angels (קַיְימֵי הָכָא בְּרָזָא דְּמַלְאָכִין), because they are thighs that are messengers (בְּגִין דְּיַרְכִין אִינּוּן שְׁלִיחָן), to go from place to place (לְמֵיזָל מֵאֲתָר לְאֲתָר). And from this secret come those who are called angels (וּמֵרָזָא דָּא, נָפְקִין אִינּוּן דְּאִקְרוּן מַלְאֲכִין), for they are messengers to go on the mission of their Master (דְּאִינּוּן שְׁלִיחָן לְמֵהַךְ בִּשְׁלִיחוּתָא דְּמָארֵיהוֹן), from place to place (מֵאֲתָר לַאֲתָר).

“Praise Him, all His hosts” (Psalms 148) (הַלְלוּהוּ כָּל צְבָאָיו), this is the place from which all the supernal holy forces go forth (דָּא אִיהוּ אֲתָר דְּנַפְקֵי מִנֵּיהּ כָּל חֵילִין קַדִּישִׁין עִלָּאִין). The secret of the holy letter Aleph (רָזָא דְּאוֹת קַיָּימָא קַדִּישָׁא), it is the head of all the other myriads (וְאִיהוּ רָשִׁים בְּכָל שְׁאַר רִבְּוָון), as we have said (כַּדְקָא אַמָרָן). As it is written: “Hashem Tzeva’ot is His Name” (Isaiah 48) (דִּכְתִּיב, יְיָ צְבָאוֹת שְׁמוֹ), the letter Aleph is in all the other forces and myriads (אוֹת אִיהוּ בְּכָל שְׁאַר חֵילִין וְרִבְוָון).

“Praise Him, sun and moon” (Psalms 148) (הַלְלוּהוּ שֶׁמֶשׁ וְיָרֵחַ), in it this secret stands (בֵּיהּ קַיְּימָא רָזָא דָּא). And it is the sun to shine (וְאִיהוּ שִׁמְשָׁא לְאַנְהָרָא). And in it stand the supernal stars that shine (וּבֵיהּ קַיְימִין כֹּכָבַיָיא עִלָּאִין דְּנַהֲרִין), and the constellations (וּמַזָּלֵי). And behold, we have established this (וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא). Afterwards it returns above (לְבָתַר אַהְדָּר לְעֵילָּא), to that place that stands in the height of heights (לְהַהוּא אֲתָר דְּקָאִים בְּרוּמָא דִּמְּרוֹמִים). And there is the source of all (וְתַמָּן תְּקִיעוּ דְּכֹלָּא): “Praise Him, you heavens of heavens” (Psalms 148) (הַלְלוּהוּ שְׁמֵי הַשָּׁמָיִם). Afterwards: “Praise Hashem from the earth” (Psalms 148) (לְבָתַר הַלְלוּ אֶת יְיָ מִן הָאָרֶץ), corresponding to these — fire and hail, etc. (לָקֳבֵל אִלֵּין אֵשׁ וּבָרָד וְגוֹ׳).

Come and see (תָּא חֲזֵי), those stars below (אִינּוּן כֹּכָבִים לְתַתָּא), stand in the drawing which is drawn from the supernal secret (קַיְימִין בִּמְשִׁיכוּ דְּאִתְמַשְּׁכָאן מֵרָזָא עִלָּאָה), because all stands in the supernal image (בְּגִין דְּכֹלָּא קַיְּימָא בְּדִיּוּקְנָא עִלָּאָה). And behold, we have established this (וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא). And because of this (וּבְגִין כַּךְ), all those stars and constellations (כָל אִינּוּן כֹּכָבַיָּיא וּמַזָּלֵי), from the height of the firmament (מֵרוּם רְקִיעָא), all stand to guide this lower world from them (כֻלְּהוּ קַיְימֵי לְאַנְהָגָא בֵּיהּ עָלְמָא דִּלְתַתָּא מִנֵּיהּ). And from there the grades spread out (וּמִתַּמָּן אִתְפַּשְּׁטָאן דַּרְגִּין), until the grades stand for those stars below (עַד דְּקַיְימִין דַּרְגִּין לְאִינּוּן כֹּכָבַיָּיא דִּלְתַתָּא). And all of them do not stand in their own authority at all (דְּכֻלְּהוּ לָא קַיְימֵי בִּרְשׁוּתַיְיהוּ כְּלוּם). And behold, we have established this (וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא). And all of them stand in the authority of above (וְכֻלָּהוּ קַיְּימָאן בִּרְשׁוּתָא דִּלְעֵילָּא). And because of this it is written (וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב): “Stand now and let those who divide the heavens, who gaze at the stars, save you” (Isaiah 47) (יַעַמְדוּ נָא וְיוֹשִׁיעֻךָ הוֹבְרֵי שָׁמַיִם הַחוֹזִים בַּכּוֹכָבִים). And all is in authority, and it has been said (וְכֹלָּא אִיהוּ בִּרְשׁוּתָא וְאִתְּמַר). “And they made the tunics of linen… and the mitre of linen…” (Exodus 39) (וַיַּעֲשׂוּ אֶת הַכָּתְנוֹת שֵׁשׁ וְגוֹ׳ וְאֵת הַמִּצְנֶפֶת שֵׁשׁ וְגוֹ׳).

Rabbi Yose opened (רִבִּי יוֹסֵי פָּתַח): “And it shall be in the end of days, that the mountain of the house of Hashem shall be established on the top of the mountains” (Isaiah 2) (וְהָיָה בְּאַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים נָכוֹן יִהְיֶה הַר בֵּית יְיָ בְּרֹאשׁ הֶהָרִים וְגוֹ׳). “And it shall be in the end of days” (וְהָיָה בְּאַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים), when Kudsha Berikh Hu will remember the daughter of Ya‘akov (כַּד יִפְקוֹד לָהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לִבְרָתָא דְּיַעֲקֹב), and will raise her from the dust (וְיוֹקִים לָהּ מֵעַפְרָא), and the sun will join with the moon (וְיִתְחַבָּר שִׁמְשָׁא בְּסִיהֲרָא). Then “the mountain of the house of Hashem shall be established” (כְּדֵין נָכוֹן יִהְיֶה הַר בֵּית יְיָ), this is Yerushalayim above (דָּא יְרוּשָׁלַיִם לְעֵילָּא), that will be prepared in her adornment to shine in the supernal light (דִּתְּהֵא מִתְתַּקְּנָא בְּתִקּוּנָהָא לְאִתְנַהֲרָא בִּנְהוֹרָא דִּלְעֵילָּא). For all her light is not prepared except by the supernal light (דְּכָל נְהוֹרָהָא לָאו אִיהוּ מִתְתַּקְּנָא, אֶלָּא בִּנְהוֹרָא דִּלְעֵילָּא). And at that time a supernal light will shine upon her (וּבְהַהוּא זִמְנָא יִתְנְהִיר עָלָה נְהוֹרָא עִלָּאָה), sevenfold more than it was before (עַל חַד שִׁבְעָה מִמַּה דַּהֲוָת מִקַּדְמַת דְּנָא). As it is written: “And the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold” (Isaiah 30) (כְּמָה דִּכְתִּיב, וְהָיָה אוֹר הַלְּבָנָה כְּאוֹר הַחַמָּה וְאוֹר הַחַמָּה יִהְיֶה שִׁבְעָתַיִם וְגוֹ׳).