Daf 49a (דַּף מ״ט ע״א)

And Shalshelet Teru‘ah [a chain of broken blasts] is to seize the prisoners in the prison of the King (שַׁלְשֶׁלֶ״ת תְּרוּעָה לְמִתְפַּשׂ לוֹן אֲסוּרִין בְּבֵית אֲסוּרִין דְּמַלְכָּא), as it is said: “To bind their kings with chains …” (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר לֶאְסוֹר מַלְכֵיהֶם בְּזִיקִים וגו׳) (Psalms 149:8). Shofar Holekh [the shofar that goes], Pasek [divider], Maqqaf [connector] (שׁוֹפָ״ר הוֹלֵ״ךְ, פָּסֵ״ק, מַקַּ״ף). The sound of the Shofar [ram’s horn] ascends in the Teru‘ah [broken blast] like a spear, to arouse upon them the sound of the Teru‘ah [blast] of war (קָלָא דְשׁוֹפָרָא סָלְקָא בִתְרוּעָה כְּרוּמְחָא, לְעוֹרֵר עֲלַיְיהוּ קוֹל תְּרוּעַת מִלְחָמָה). And this is Shofar Holekh [the shofar that goes] (וְדָא שׁוֹפָ״ר הוֹלֵ״ךְ). Pasek [divider]—this is Shevarim [broken blasts], which makes separations and knots (פָּסֵק דָּא שְׁבָרִים דְּעָבִיד לוֹן פְּסָקוֹת וְקָטְרִין). Some say: “and cuts,” or “and tears” (נ״א וקרטין או וקרעין). And this is the blow of the sword, slaughter, and destruction (וְדָא מַכַּת חֶרֶב וְהֶרֶג וְאַבְּדָן). Maqqaf [connector] in the Teru‘ah [broken blast]—this is strangulation (מַקַּף תְּרוּעָה דָּא חָנֵק). And this is: “Going and growing very strong” (וְדָא אִיהוּ הוֹלֵךְ וְחָזֵק מְאֹד) (Exodus 19:19). “Very” (מְאֹד)—this is death, which strengthened itself over them, in the likeness of the giving of the Torah (דָּא מָוְת דְּאִתְתַּקַּף עֲלַיְיהוּ, כְּגַוְונָא דְמַתַּן תּוֹרָה).

And furthermore, Azla Gerish [cantillation mark] (וְעוֹד אַזְלָ״א גְרִי״שׁ). The Shekhinta says to the Holy One, blessed be He: “Cast out this maidservant and her son” (שְׁכִינְתָּא אָמְרַת לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, גָּרֵשׁ הָאָמָה הַזֹּאת וְאֶת בְּנָהּ) (Bereshit 21:10) - these are the Erev rav (אִלֵּין עִרֶב רַב). “For they have driven me out this day from cleaving to the inheritance of Hashem” (דְּגֵרְשׁוּנִי מֵהִסְתַּפֵּחַ בְּנַחֲלַת יהו״ה) (I Samuel 26:19). Cast them out from this world and from the World to Come, that they may have no portion with Yisrael (גַּרֵישׁ לוֹן מִן עָלְמָא דֵין וּמֵעָלְמָא דְאָתֵי, דְלָא יְהֵא לוֹן חוּלָקָא עִם יִשְׂרָאֵל). Shofar Holekh, Revi‘a, two Gerishin, Shelsheleth (שׁוֹפָ״ר הוֹלֵ״ךְ, רָבִי״עַ, שְׁנֵ״י גְרִישִׁי״ן, שַׁלְשֶׁלֶ״ת). At that time the Holy One, blessed be He, takes the spear, which is the 248 words that are in the recitation of the Shema, and the six words of the union (בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא נָטִיל קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא רוֹמַ״ח, דְּאִיהִי רְמַ״ח תֵּיבִין דְּאִית בִּקְרִיאַת שְׁמַע וְשִׁית תֵּיבִין דְּיִחוּדָא). And with it: “And he pierced both of them” - male and female (וּבָהּ וַיִּדְקֹר אֶת שְׁנֵיהֶם, דְּכַר וְנוּקְבָא) (Numbers 25:8). This is Samael and the serpent (דָא סמא״ל וְנָחָשׁ). And the Revi‘a is in the likeness and image of the spear (וְרָבִי״עַ דִּיּוֹקְנָא דוּמְיָא דְרוֹמַ״ח).

Two Gerishin: the Holy One, blessed be He, pursues them from heaven and earth (שְׁנֵ״י גְרִישִׁי״ן, תָּרֵיךְ לוֹן קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מִן שְׁמַיָּא וְאַרְעָא). At that time: “A horse is a vain thing for salvation…” (בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא שֶׁקֶר הַסּוּס לִתְשׁוּעָה וגו׳) (Psalms 33:17). For the Holy One, blessed be He, pursues after them, and seizes them with a Shelsheleth upon their necks (דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא רָדִיף אַבַּתְרַיְיהוּ, וְנָטִיל לוֹן בְּשַׁלְשֶׁלֶ״ת עַל צַוָּארֵיהוֹן). And afterward He kills them with the spear, which is the Revi‘a (וּלְבָתַר קָטִיל לוֹן בְּרוּמְחָא דְאִיהוּ רָבִי״עַ). First He pursues them, and afterward He overtakes them and grasps them, and afterward He kills them (בְּקַדְמֵיתָא תָרֵיךְ לוֹן, וּלְבָתַר רָדִיף אַבַּתְרַיְיהוּ וְתָּפִיס לוֹן, וּלְבָתַר קָטִיל לוֹן). And the Revi‘a, and the two Gerishin, and the Shelsheleth - these are Tekiah, Shevarim, Teru‘ah (וְרָבִי״עַ, וּשְׁנֵ״י גְרִישִׁי״ן, וְשַׁלְשֶׁלֶ״ת, אִינוּן תְּקִיעָ״ה שְׁבָרִי״ם תְּרוּעָ״ה).

Shevarim: “You shall shatter their pillars” (שְׁבָרִי״ם שַׁבֵּר תְּשַׁבֵּר מַצֵּבוֹתֵיהֶם) (Exodus 23:24). These are those about whom it is said: “And the sons of Elohim came to present themselves before Hashem” (אִלֵּין דְּאִתְּמַר בְּהוֹן וַיָּבֹאוּ בְנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים לְהִתְיַצֵּב עַל יְהוָה) (Job 1:6), in judgment upon the Shekhinta and Yisrael (בְּדִינָא עַל שְׁכִינְתָּא וְיִשְׂרָאֵל). As it is said: “And the Satan also came among them” (דְאִתְּמַר בֵּיהּ וַיָּבֹא גַם הַשָּׂטָן בְּתוֹכָם) (Job 1:6). This is Samael, who comes to accuse the children of Yisrael and to judge the Shekhinta (דָּא סמא״ל דְּאָתָא לְקַטְרֵג עַל בְּנוֹי דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, וְלָדוּן לִשְׁכִינְתָּא). And since he seeks judgment upon the Shekhinta and her children, it is as though they stand against Him (וְכֵיוָן דְּהוּא בָעִי דִינָא עַל שְׁכִינְתָּא וּבְנוֹי, כְּאִלּוּ קַיְימִין עֲלֵיהּ). Teru‘ah in this: “You shall break them with a rod of iron” (תְּרוּעָ״ה בָהּ תְּרוֹעִם בְּשֵׁבֶט בַּרְזֶל) (Psalms 2:9). Tekiah: “And hang them up before Hashem in the sun” (תְּקִיעָ״ה וְהוֹקַע אוֹתָם לַיהוָה נֶגֶד הַשָּׁמֶשׁ) (Numbers 25:4). And the Shofar is the voice (וְשׁוֹפָר אִיהוּ קָלָא). From it goes forth a voice in Tekiah, Shevarim, Teru‘ah (מִנֵּיהּ נָפִיק קָלָא בִתְקִיעָה שְׁבָרִים תְּרוּעָה). Tekiah - from the brain (תְּקִיעָה מִן מוֹחָא). Shevarim - from the heart (שְׁבָרִים מִלִּבָּא). As it is said: “A broken and contrite heart…” (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר לֵב נִשְׁבָּר וְנִדְכֶּה וְגוֹמֵר) (Psalms 51:19). This is “the sacrifices of Elohim: a broken spirit” (דָּא אִיהוּ זִבְחֵי אֱלֹהִים רוּחַ נִשְׁבָּרָה).

A voice in the Teru‘ah - from the wings of the lungs (קָלָא בִתְרוּעָה מִכַּנְפֵי רֵיאָה). And all of them were included in the windpipe and the lungs, and were made into voice, and in the mouth into speech (וְכֻלְּהוּ אִתְכְּלִילוּ בְקָנֶה וְרֵיאָה, וְאִתְעֲבִידוּ קוֹל, וּבְפוּמָא דִבּוּר). And furthermore, the Neshamah, the Ruach, and the Nefesh of man - these are Tekiah, Teru‘ah, Shevarim (וְעוֹד נִשְׁמָתָא וְרוּחָא וְנַפְשָׁא דְבַר נַשׁ, אִינוּן תְּקִיעָה תְּרוּעָה שְׁבָרִים). The Nefesh in the heart - and this is Shevarim (נַפְשָׁא בְּלִבָּא וְדָא שְׁבָרִים). As it is said: “A broken and contrite heart” (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר לֵב נִשְׁבָּר וְנִדְכֶּה) (Psalms 51:19). The Neshamah in the brain - and this is Tekiah (נִשְׁמָתָא בְמוֹחָא וְדָא תְקִיעָה). The Ruach in the wings of the lungs, which blows upon the heart, which is a burning fire; and if not, the whole body would burn (רוּחָא בְּכַנְפֵי רֵיאָה, דְנָשִׁיב עַל לִבָּא דְאִיהוּ נוּר דָּלֵיק, וְאִם לַאו הֲוָה דָלֵיק כָּל גּוּפָא).

And the mystery of the matter: “The wings of the dove covered with silver…” (וְרָזָא דְמִלָּה כַּנְפֵי יוֹנָה נֶחְפָּה בַכֶּסֶף וְגוֹמֵר) (Psalms 68:14). And the Ruach is crowned from fire and water, and because of this it is Teru‘ah (וְרוּחָא כְּלִיל מֵאֶשָּׁא וּמַיָּא, וּבְגִין דָּא אִיהוּ תְרוּעָה). And about it is said: “Happy is the people who know the Teru‘ah” (וַעֲלֵיהּ אִתְּמַר אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם יוֹדְעֵי תְרוּעָה) (Psalms 89:16). Because the Neshamah is the Neshmat Chayim, Binah that takes from Chokhmah (בְּגִין דְּנִשְׁמָתָא אִיהִי נִשְׁמַת חַיִּים, בִּינָה דְנָטְלָה מֵחָכְמָה). The Nefesh is Malkhut, Tevunah (נֶפֶשׁ מַלְכוּת תְּבוּנָה). The Ruach is Tiferet (רוּחַ תִּפְאֶרֶת). And it is Da‘at that includes them both (וְאִיהוּ דַעַת כְּלִיל תַּרְוַיְיהוּ). About it is said: “And by Da‘at the chambers shall be filled” (עֲלֵיהּ אִתְּמַר וּבְדַעַת חֲדָרִים יִמָּלְאוּ) (Proverbs 24:4). And from Binah - the Nevi’im, and these are Netzach and Hod (וּמִבִּינָה נְבִיאִים, וְאִינוּן נֶצַח וָהוֹד). And from Malkhut - the Ketuvim, and these are Chesed and Gevurah (וּמִמַּלְכוּת כְּתוּבִים וְאִינוּן חֶסֶד וּגְבוּרָה). Tiferet is Torah, crowned with all of them (תִּפְאֶרֶת תּוֹרָה כְּלִיל כֻּלְּהוּ). And all stand upon one pillar, and this is: “The Tzaddik is the foundation of the world” (וְכֹלָּא עַל עַמּוּדָא חַד קַיְימָא וְדָא צַדִּיק יְסוֹד עוֹלָם) (Proverbs 10:25).

The liver and the spleen - this is Samael and the serpent (כָּבֵד וּטְחוֹל דָּא סמא״ל וְנָחָ״שׁ). The liver is red fire (כָּבֵד אֶשָּׁא סוּמְקָא). The gall is green fire (מָרָה אֶשָּׁא יְרוֹקָא). The spleen is black fire (טְחוֹל אֶשָּׁא אוּכְמָא). The yoteret (caul) crowns them all (יוֹתֶרֶת כְּלִילָא דְכֻלְּהוּ). The liver and spleen are Samael and the serpent (כָּבֵד וּטְחוֹל סמא״ל וְנָחָ״שׁ). The liver is El Acher (כָּבֵד אֵל אַחֵר). The gall is his poison of death (מָרָה סַם מָוְת דִּילֵיהּ). The spleen is the female serpent of his side (טְחוֹל נָחָשׁ נוּקְבָא דִילֵיהּ). The fat is impure (חֵלֶב טָמֵא). And the gall is the sword of the Angel of Death (וּמָרָה אִיהוּ חַרְבָּא דְמַלְאַךְ הַמָּוְת), as it is said: “Her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a double-edged sword” (כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר וְאַחֲרִיתָהּ מָרָה כַלַּעֲנָה חַדָּה כְּחֶרֶב פִּיּוֹת) (Proverbs 5:4). And in the Orayta, which is the elixir of life, if an impure soul enters, it passes away from the world (וּבְאוֹרַיְיתָא דְאִיהִי סַם חַיִּים אִי נִשְׁמָתָא טָמֵא אִתְעַבְּרָא מִן עָלְמָא). The liver and spleen - this is Samael and the serpent; these are El Acher (כָּבֵד וְטְחוֹל דָּא סמא״ל וְנח״ש, דָאִינְהוּ אֵל אַחֵר). And the liver, which is El Acher, in the Teru‘ah, which is the Ruach, passes away from the world (וְכָבֵד דְּהוּא אֵל אַחֵר בִּתְרוּעָה דְאִיהוּ רוּחָא מִתְעַבְּרָא מִן עָלְמָא). The spleen, which is the serpent, in the Shevarim, which is the Nefesh, passes away from the world (טְחוֹל דְּהוּא נָחָשׁ בַּשְּׁבָרִים דְאִיהוּ נֶפֶשׁ מִתְעַבְּרָא מִן עָלְמָא). The gall, which is the poison of death, in the Tekiah, passes away from the world (מָרָה דְהוּא סַם הַמָּוְת בִּתְקִיעָה מִתְעַבְּרָא מִן עָלְמָא).