AND GOD MADE THE TWO GREAT LIGHTS. The word “made” signifies the due expansion and establishment of the whole. The words “the two great lights” show that at first they were associated as equals, symbolising the full name Tetragrammaton Elohim (although the latter part is not revealed, but is known inferentially).
The word “great” shows that at their creation they were dignified with the same name, so that through them the name of the Whole was called Mazpaz Mazpaz,1If the Hebrew alphabet is inverted, M= Y, Z=H, P=V. the two highest names of the thirteen categories of mercy.1v. Ex. 34, 6. These were invested with greater dignity, and they are placed at the head because they derive from on high and ascend for the benefit of the world and for the preservation of worlds. Similarly the two lights ascended together with the same dignity.
The moon, however, was not at ease with the sun, and in fact each felt mortified by the other. The moon said “Where dost thou pasture?” (S. S. 1, 7). The sun said “Where dost thou make thy flock to rest at noon? (Ibid.) How can a little candle shine at midday?” God thereupon said to her, “Go and diminish thyself.” She felt humiliated and said “Why should I be as one that veileth herself?” (Ibid.). God then said “Go thy way forth in the footsteps of the flock.” Thereupon she diminished herself so as to be head of the lower ranks.
From that time she has had no light of her own, but derives her light from the sun. At first they were on an equality, but afterwards she diminished herself among all those grades of hers, although she is still head of them; for a woman enjoys no honour save in conjunction with her husband. The “great light” corresponds to Tetragrammaton, and the “lesser light” to Elohim, which is the last of the degrees and the close of the Thought. At first it was inscribed above among the letters of the sacred Name, in the fourth letter thereof, but afterwards it took a lower rank with the name Elohim;
nevertheless, it still ascends in all directions above in the letter He in the union of the letters of the sacred Name. Afterwards degrees extended on this side and on that. The degrees that extended upwards were called “the dominion of the day”, and the degrees that extended downwards were called “the dominion of the night”.
“The stars” are the remainder of the forces and the hosts which, countless in number, are all suspended in that “firmament of the heaven” which is the “life of the universe”, as it is written, “and God placed them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth….” This is the lower earth, which derives light from them as they from above.
On this (the fourth) day the kingdom of David was established, the fourth leg and support of the (divine) throne, and the letters (of the divine Name) were firmly fixed in their places. Yet withal until the sixth day, when the likeness of man was fully formed, the throne was not firmly fixed in its place; but then at last both the upper and the lower thrones were established, and all the worlds were settled in their places, and all the letters were fixed in their spheres by the extension of the primordial vapour.
The fourth day was “rejected of the builders”, because on it this luminary degraded itself and abated its radiance, and the outer shells were reinforced. All those radiating lights are suspended in that firmament of the heaven, that by them the throne of David may be established.
Those lights are formative agents in the lower world to perfect the shape of all those who are included in the term “man”. This is the name given to every interior shape; and thus every shape which is comprised in this extension is called “man”,
which properly indicates man’s spirit emanating from the realm of holiness, to which his body is a vestment, as we read, “Thou clothest me in skin and flesh” (Job 10, 11). Hence we often meet the expression “flesh of man”, implying that the real man is within and the flesh which is his body is only a vestment.
The lower beings which have been compounded with this spirit assume shapes which are clothed in another vestment, such as the forms of clean animals, ox, sheep, goat, deer, etc. They would fain partake of the vestment of man, corresponding to their inner nature, but their forms are covered by the name applied to their bodies; so we find “flesh of ox”, “ox” being the inner element of that body, while the “flesh” is the vestment; and so with all.
Similarly with the “other side”: the spirit which is found in the idolatrous nations issues from the realm of uncleanliness and is not, properly speaking, “man”; therefore it is not covered by this name and has no portion (in the future world). Its body, which is the vestment of that unclean thing, is unclean flesh, and the spirit is unclean within the flesh that clothes it. Therefore as long as that spirit is within that body it is called “unclean”. When the spirit emerges from that covering it is not called “unclean”, and the vestment does not bear the name of man.
The lower beings compounded with this spirit assume shapes which clothe themselves in another vestment, such as the forms of unclean animals, of which the Law says “this shall be unclean to you”, such as the pig and unclean birds, and beasts of that side. The spirit is covered by the name of the body in which it is clothed, and the body is called “flesh of pig”-pig within the flesh which clothes it. Consequently these two groups are sharply separated, one side being embraced under the category “man” and the other under the category “unclean”, and the individuals flock each to its kind and return to their kind.
Thus the supernal lights radiate in that “firmament of the heaven” to fashion in the lower world the requisite shapes, as it is written, “and God set them in the firmament of the heaven… and to rule by day and by night”. It is fit and proper that two lights should rule, the greater light by day and the lesser light by night.
The lesson we derive is that the male rules by day to regulate his household and to bring food and sustenance into it. When night arrives, the female takes command, and she rules the house, as it is written, “she rises while it is still night and giveth food to her house” (Prov. 31, 15)-she and not he. Thus the dominion of the day belongs to the male and the dominion of the night to the female.
16
(מאור גדול דא הוא שמשא ואית ביה תרין עשר פתחין. אית ביה תרי עשר שעתי. ושמשא שליט על יומא. מאור קטן אית ביה תרי עשר פתחין ודא סיהרא ושלטא על ליליא. וליליא אית ביה תריסר שעתי. ועל דא ביום ההוא יהיה יי אחד ושמו אחד. שמשא ותריסר פתחין אתעבידן י"ג מכילן דרחמי. ליל סיהרא ותריסר פתחין ואתעבידו י"ג ואתעבידו שמשא וסיהרא חד. ויום ולילה אחד. הדא הוא דכתיב ויהי ערב ויהי בקר יום אחד ורזא דא לעילא).
Further it is written, AND THE STARS. As soon as the wife has given her orders and retired with her husband, the direction of the house is left to the maidens, who remain in the house to look after all its requirements. Then when day comes the man again duly takes command.
וַיַּעַשׂ אֱלֹהִים אֶת שְׁנֵי הַמְאוֹרוֹת הַגְּדוֹלִים וַיַּעַשׂ רִבּוּיָא וְתִקּוּנָא דְּכֹלָּא כְּדְקָא יְאוּת. אֶת שְׁנֵי הַמְאוֹרוֹת הַגְּדוֹלִים בְּקַדְמִיתָא בְּחִבּוּרָא חָדָא. רָזָא דָּא שְׁמָא שְׁלִים כְּחֲדָא יהו"ה אֱלהִים אַף עַל גַּב דְּלָא אִיהוּ בְּאִתְגַּלְּיָא אֶלָּא בְּאֹרַח סָתִים.
AND GOD MADE THE TWO GREAT LIGHTS. The word “made” signifies the due expansion and establishment of the whole. The words “the two great lights” show that at first they were associated as equals, symbolising the full name Tetragrammaton Elohim (although the latter part is not revealed, but is known inferentially).
הַגְּדוֹלִים דְּאִתְבְּרִיאוּ (נ"א דאתרביאו) בִּשְׁמָא דָא כְּדָא לְאִתְקְרֵי בְּהוּ שְׁמָא דְכֹלָּא. מצפץ מצפץ אִלֵּין שְׁמָהָן עִלָּאִין דִּתְלֵיסַר מְכִּילָן דְּרַחֲמֵי. הַגְּדוֹלִים, אִלֵּין אִתְרַבִּיאוּ וְסָלְקִין לְעֵילָא. בְּגִין דְּאִנּוּן עִלָּאִין מֵרָזָא עִלָּאָה וְסָלְקִין לְתוֹעַלְתָא דְּעָלְמָא דְאִתְקַיְימָא בְּהוֹן עָלְמִין. כְּגַוְונָא דָא שְׁנֵי הַמְאוֹרוֹת תַרְוַויְיהוּ כְּחֲדָא סְלִיקוּ בִּרְבוּתָא חָדָא.
The word “great” shows that at their creation they were dignified with the same name, so that through them the name of the Whole was called Mazpaz Mazpaz,1If the Hebrew alphabet is inverted, M= Y, Z=H, P=V. the two highest names of the thirteen categories of mercy.1v. Ex. 34, 6. These were invested with greater dignity, and they are placed at the head because they derive from on high and ascend for the benefit of the world and for the preservation of worlds. Similarly the two lights ascended together with the same dignity.
לָא אִתְיְישָׁב סִיהֲרָא לְגַבֵּי שִׁמְשָׁא. דָּא אַכְסִיף מִקַּמֵּי דָּא. סִיהֲרָא אָמְרָה (שיר השירים א׳:ז׳) אֵיכָה תִרְעֶה. שִׁמְשָׁא אָמְרָה (שם) אֵיכָה תַרְבִּיץ בַּצָּהֳרָיִם. שְׁרַגָא זְעֵירָא אֵיכְדֵין צָהִיר בַּצָּהֳרָיִם. (שם) שַׁלָּמָה אֶהיֶה כְּעוֹטְיָה אֵיכְדֵּין בְּכִסּוּפָא. כְּדֵין אַזְעִירַת גַרְמָהּ לְמֶהוֵי רֵישָׁא לְתַתָּאי. דִּכְתִיב צְאִי לָךְ בְּעִקְבֵי הַצֹּאן. אָמַר לָהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, זִילִי וְאַזְעִירִי גַרְמָךְ.
The moon, however, was not at ease with the sun, and in fact each felt mortified by the other. The moon said “Where dost thou pasture?” (S. S. 1, 7). The sun said “Where dost thou make thy flock to rest at noon? (Ibid.) How can a little candle shine at midday?” God thereupon said to her, “Go and diminish thyself.” She felt humiliated and said “Why should I be as one that veileth herself?” (Ibid.). God then said “Go thy way forth in the footsteps of the flock.” Thereupon she diminished herself so as to be head of the lower ranks.
וּמִתַּמָּן לֵית לָהּ נְהוֹרָא בַּר מִשִּׁמְשָׁא. דִּבְקַדְמִיתָא הֲווּ יַתְבֵי כְּחֲדָא בְּשִׁקּוּלָא. לְבָתַר אַזְעִירַת גַּרְמָהּ בְּכָל אִנּוּן דַּרְגִּין דִּילָהּ, אַף עַל גַּב דְּאִיהִי רֵישָׁא עָלַיְיהוּ. דְּהָא לֵית אִתְּתָא בְּרִבּוּיָא בַּר בְּבַעֲלָהּ כְּחֲדָא. אֶת הַמָּאוֹר הַגָּדוֹל יהו"ה. וְאֶת הַמָּאוֹר הַקָּטָן אֱלֹהִי"ם סוֹף כָּל דַּרְגִּין סוֹפָא דְּמַחֲשָׁבָה. בְּקַדְמִיתָא אִתְרְשִׁים אִיהוּ לְעֵילָא בְּאַתְוָון דִּשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא, אָת רְבִיעָאָה דִילֵיהּ. וּלְבָתַר אַזְעִירַת גַּרְמָהּ לְאִתְקְרֵי בִּשְׁמָא דְּאֱלהִים.
From that time she has had no light of her own, but derives her light from the sun. At first they were on an equality, but afterwards she diminished herself among all those grades of hers, although she is still head of them; for a woman enjoys no honour save in conjunction with her husband. The “great light” corresponds to Tetragrammaton, and the “lesser light” to Elohim, which is the last of the degrees and the close of the Thought. At first it was inscribed above among the letters of the sacred Name, in the fourth letter thereof, but afterwards it took a lower rank with the name Elohim;
וְעִם כָּל דָּא סַלְקָא לְכָל סִטְרִין לְעֵיל בְּאָת ה' בְּחִבּוּרָא דְּאַתְוָון דִּשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא. לְבָתַר אִתְפַּשְׁטוּ דַרְגִין מִסִּטְרָא דָא וּמִסִּטְרָא דָא. דַּרְגִּין דְּאִתְפַּשְׁטוּ מִסִּטְרָא דִּלְעֵיל (דלעלא) אִקְרוּן מֶמְשֶׁלֶת הַיּוֹם. דַּרְגִּין דְּאִתְפַּשְׁטוּן מִסִּטְרָא דְתַתָּא (דלתתא) אִקְרוּן מֶמְשֶׁלֶת הַלַּיְלָה.
nevertheless, it still ascends in all directions above in the letter He in the union of the letters of the sacred Name. Afterwards degrees extended on this side and on that. The degrees that extended upwards were called “the dominion of the day”, and the degrees that extended downwards were called “the dominion of the night”.
וְאֵת הַכּוֹכָבִים שְׁאָר חֵילִין (חיילין) וּמַשִּׁירְיָין דְּלֵית לוֹן חוּשְׁבְּנָא דְּכֻלְהוּ תַּלְיָין בְּהַהוּא רְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמָיִם חַי הָעוֹלָמִים. דִּכְתִיב וַיִּתֵּן אוֹתָם אֱלֹהִים בִּרְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמַיִם. לְהָאִיר עַל הָאָרֶץ. דָּא אֶרֶץ עִלָּאָה לְתַתָּא כְּדוּגְמָא דָא חַי הָעוֹלָמִים. וְדָא לְהָאִיר עַל הָאָרֶץ דָּא אֶרֶץ תַּתָּאָה כְּדוּגְמָא דִלְעֵיל.
“The stars” are the remainder of the forces and the hosts which, countless in number, are all suspended in that “firmament of the heaven” which is the “life of the universe”, as it is written, “and God placed them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth….” This is the lower earth, which derives light from them as they from above.
מַלְכוּתָא דְּדָוִד. אִתְתַּקַּן בְּיוֹמָא דָא (ודא הוא) רִגְלָא וְסַמְכָא רְבִיעָאָה דְכוּרְסְיָיא, אִתְתַּקָּנוּ אַתְוָון וְאִתְיַישְׁרוּ עַל דּוּכְתַּיְיהוּ. וְעִם כָּל דָּא, עַד יוֹם שְׁתִיתָאָה דְּאִתְתַּקַּן דִּיוּקְנָא דְּאָדָם תִּקּוּנָא כְּדְקָא יְאוּת לָא אִתְיְישַׁב בְּדוּכְתֵּיהּ. וּכְדֵין אִתְתַּקַּן כּוּרְסְיָיא עִלָּאָה וְכוּרְסְיָיא תַּתָּאָה. וְעָלְמִין כֻּלְהוּ אִתְיַישְׁבוּ בְּדוּכְתַּיְיהוּ. וְאַתְוָון כֻּלְהוּ אִתְתַּקְּנָן עַל גַּלְגַּלּוֹי בִּפְשִׁיטוּ דְּטוּפְסִירָא דְּקוּטְרָא.
On this (the fourth) day the kingdom of David was established, the fourth leg and support of the (divine) throne, and the letters (of the divine Name) were firmly fixed in their places. Yet withal until the sixth day, when the likeness of man was fully formed, the throne was not firmly fixed in its place; but then at last both the upper and the lower thrones were established, and all the worlds were settled in their places, and all the letters were fixed in their spheres by the extension of the primordial vapour.
וְיוֹמָא רְבִיעָאָה אִיהוּ יוֹמָא מָאִיס מִבּוֹנִים כְּמָא דְאַתְּ אָמֵר (תהילים קי״ח:כ״ב) אֶבֶן מָאֲסוּ הַבּוֹנִים. הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, (שיר השירים א׳:ו׳) בְּנֵי אִמִּי נִחֲרוּ בִי. דְּהָא נְהוֹרָא דָא אַזְעִירַת גַּרְמָהּ וּנְהִירוּ דִילָהּ. וּקְלִיפִּין אִתְקְנוּ עַל דּוּכְתַּיְיהוּ. כָּל אִנּוּן נְהוֹרִין דְּנָהֲרָן כֻּלְהוּ תַּלְיָין בְּהַאי רְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמָיִם לְאַתְקָנָא בְּהוּ כּוּרְסְיָיא דְדָוִד.
The fourth day was “rejected of the builders”, because on it this luminary degraded itself and abated its radiance, and the outer shells were reinforced. All those radiating lights are suspended in that firmament of the heaven, that by them the throne of David may be established.
אִלֵּין נְהוֹרִין מְצַיְירָן צִיּוּרָא דִלְתַתָּא לְאַתְקָנָא צִיּוּרָא דְּכֻלְהוּ דְּאִנּוּן בִּכְלָלָא דְאָדָם צִיּוּרָא פְּנִימָאָה. דְּכָל צִיּוּרָא פְּנִימָאָה אִקְרֵי הָכִי. וּמֵהָכָא כָּל צִיּוּרָא דְּאִתְכְּלִיל בְּאִתְפַּשְׁטוּ דָא אִקְרֵי אָדָם. הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, (יחזקאל לה) אָדָם אַתֶּם. אַתֶּם קְרוּיִן אָדָם וְלא שְׁאָר עַמִּין עוֹבְדֵי עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת.
Those lights are formative agents in the lower world to perfect the shape of all those who are included in the term “man”. This is the name given to every interior shape; and thus every shape which is comprised in this extension is called “man”,
וְכָל רוּחָא אִקְרֵי אָדָם. רוּחָא דִסְטַר קַדִּישָׁא גּוּפָא דִילֵיהּ לְבוּשָׁא (דאדם) אִיהוּ. וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב, (איוב י׳:י״א) (יתרו סוף עה, וריש עו) עוֹר וּבָשָׂר תַּלְבִּישֵׁנִי וְגו' בִּשְׂרָא דְאָדָם לְבוּשָׁא אִיהוּ. וּבְכָל אֲתַר כְּתִיב בְּשַׂר אָדָם, אָדָם לְגוֹ. בָּשָׂר לְבוּשָׁא דְּאָדָם גּוּפָא דִילֵיהּ.
which properly indicates man’s spirit emanating from the realm of holiness, to which his body is a vestment, as we read, “Thou clothest me in skin and flesh” (Job 10, 11). Hence we often meet the expression “flesh of man”, implying that the real man is within and the flesh which is his body is only a vestment.
טְסִירִין דִּלְתַתָּא דְּאִתְהַתָּךְ בְּהִתּוּכָא דְרוּחָא דָא. אִצְטַיְירוּ מִנֵּיהּ צִיּוּרִין דְּאִתְלַבְּשָׁן בִּלְבוּשָׁא אָחֳרָא. כְּגוֹן צִיּוּרָא דִּבְעִירֵי דַכְיָין (דברים י״ד:ד׳-ה׳) שׁוֹר שֵׂה כְשָׂבִים וְשֵׂה עִזִּים אַיָּל וּצְבִי וְיַחְמוּר וְגו' אִנּוּן דְּבָעְיָין לְאִתְכְּלָלָא בִּלְבוּשָׁא דְאָדָם הַהוּא רוּחָא פְּנִימָאָה דְּאִנּוּן סִטְרִין (ס"א ציורין), סָלִיק בְּהַהוּא שְׁמָא דְאִתְקְרֵי בָהּ גּוּפָא דִילֵיהּ לְבוּשָׁא דְהַהוּא שְׁמָא בְּשַׂר שׁוֹר. שׁוֹר אִיהוּ פְּנִימָאָה דְהַהוּא גוּפָא. בָּשָׂר דִּילֵיהּ לְבוּשָׁא. וְכֵן כֻּלְהוּ.
The lower beings which have been compounded with this spirit assume shapes which are clothed in another vestment, such as the forms of clean animals, ox, sheep, goat, deer, etc. They would fain partake of the vestment of man, corresponding to their inner nature, but their forms are covered by the name applied to their bodies; so we find “flesh of ox”, “ox” being the inner element of that body, while the “flesh” is the vestment; and so with all.
כְּגַוְונָא דָא בְּסִטְרָא אָחֳרָא מְסָאֳבָא, רוּחָא דְאִתְפַּשַּׁט בִּשְׁאָר עַמִּין עוֹבְדֵי עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת נַפְקָא מִסִּטְרָא דִּמְסָאֲבוּ לָאו אִיהוּ אָדָם. וּבְגִין כָּךְ לָא סָלִיק בִּשְׁמָא דָא. שְׁמָא דְהַהוּא רוּחָא טָמֵא לָא סָלִיק בִּשְׁמָא דְאָדָם וְלֵית בֵּיהּ חוּלָקָא. גּוּפָא דִילֵיהּ לְבוּשָׁא דְהַהוּא טָמֵא בָּשָׂר טָמֵא יִטְמָא לְגוֹ בְּשַׂר לְבוּשָׁא דִילֵיהּ, בְּגִין כַּךְ בְּעוֹד דְּשָׁרֵי הַהוּא רוּחָא בְּהַהוּא גוּפָא אִתְקְרֵי טָמֵא. נָפַק רוּחָא מֵהַהוּא לְבוּשָׁא לָאו אִקְרֵי טָמֵא וְלָא סָלִיק הַהוּא לְבוּשָׁא בִּשְׁמָא.
Similarly with the “other side”: the spirit which is found in the idolatrous nations issues from the realm of uncleanliness and is not, properly speaking, “man”; therefore it is not covered by this name and has no portion (in the future world). Its body, which is the vestment of that unclean thing, is unclean flesh, and the spirit is unclean within the flesh that clothes it. Therefore as long as that spirit is within that body it is called “unclean”. When the spirit emerges from that covering it is not called “unclean”, and the vestment does not bear the name of man.
טְסִירִין לְתַתָּא דְּאִתְהַתָּךְ בְּהִתּוּכָא דְרוּחָא דָא. אִצְטַיְירָן מִנֵּיהּ צִיּוּרִין דְּאִתְלַבְּשָׁן בִּלְבוּשָׁא אָחֳרָא כְּגוֹן צִיּוּרֵי בְּעִירֵי מְסָאֲבֵי. וְאוֹרַיְיתָא פָּתַח בְּהוּ (ויקרא י״א:כ״ט) וְזֶה לָכֶם הַטָּמֵא. כְּגוֹן חֲזִיר וְעוֹפֵי וּבְעִירֵי דְהַהוּא סִטְרָא רוּחָא סָלִיק בְּהַהוּא שְׁמָא גּוּפָא לְבוּשָׁא דִילֵיהּ. וְגוּפָא בְּשַׂר חֲזִיר אִקְרֵי. חֲזִיר לְגוֹ בִּשְׂרָא לְבוּשָׁא דִילֵיהּ. וּבְגִין כַּךְ אִלֵּין תְּרֵין סִטְרִין מִתְפָּרְשָׁן. אִלֵּין אִתְכְּלִילוּ בְּרָזָא דְאָדָם. וְאִלֵּין אִתְכְּלִילוּ בְּרָזָא דְטָמֵא. כָּל זִינָא אָזִיל לְזִינֵיהּ וְאִתְהַדַּר לְזִינֵיהּ.
The lower beings compounded with this spirit assume shapes which clothe themselves in another vestment, such as the forms of unclean animals, of which the Law says “this shall be unclean to you”, such as the pig and unclean birds, and beasts of that side. The spirit is covered by the name of the body in which it is clothed, and the body is called “flesh of pig”-pig within the flesh which clothes it. Consequently these two groups are sharply separated, one side being embraced under the category “man” and the other under the category “unclean”, and the individuals flock each to its kind and return to their kind.
נְהוֹרִין עִלָּאִין דְּקָא מְנַהֲרִין נַהֲרִין בְּהַהוּא רְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמָיִם וְכוּ' לְאִצְטַיְירָא לְתַתָּא צִיּוּרִין כְּדְקָא חָזֵי. דִּכְתִיב וַיִּתֵּן אוֹתָם אֱלֹהִים בִּרְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמָיִם וְגו'. וְלִמְשׁוֹל בַּיּוֹם וּבַלַּיְלָה. שָׁלְטָנוּ דִּתְרֵין נְהוֹרִין דָּא אִיהוּ שָׁלְטָנוּ כְּדְקָא חָזֵי.
Thus the supernal lights radiate in that “firmament of the heaven” to fashion in the lower world the requisite shapes, as it is written, “and God set them in the firmament of the heaven… and to rule by day and by night”. It is fit and proper that two lights should rule, the greater light by day and the lesser light by night.
מָאוֹר גָּדוֹל שָׁלְטָנוֹ בִּימָמָא. מָאוֹר קָטָן שָׁלְטָנוֹ בְּלֵילְיָא. וְרָזָא דָא מֵהָכָא שָׁלְטָנוּתָא דִדְכוּרָא בִּימָמָא לְמָנָאָה (נ"א למלאה) בֵיתֵיהּ דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ וּלְאָעֳלָא בֵּיהּ טַרְפָּא וּמְזוֹנָא. כֵּיוָן דְּעָאל לֵילְיָא וְנוּקְבָא נָקִיט כֹּלָּא לֵית שׁוּלְטָנוּ דְבֵיתָא בַּר בְּנוּקְבָא, דְּהָא כְּדֵין שָׁלְטָנוּ דִילָהּ (ולא דדכורא) דִּכְתִיב, (משלי ל״א:ט״ו) וַתָּקָם בְּעוֹד לַיְלָה וַתִּתֵּן טֶרֶף לְבֵיתָהּ. הִיא וְלֹא הוּא. מֶמְשֶׁלֶת הַיּוֹם דִּדְכוּרָא. מֶמְשֶׁלֶת הַלַּיְלָה דְּנוּקְבָא.
The lesson we derive is that the male rules by day to regulate his household and to bring food and sustenance into it. When night arrives, the female takes command, and she rules the house, as it is written, “she rises while it is still night and giveth food to her house” (Prov. 31, 15)-she and not he. Thus the dominion of the day belongs to the male and the dominion of the night to the female.
(מאור גדול דא הוא שמשא ואית ביה תרין עשר פתחין. אית ביה תרי עשר שעתי. ושמשא שליט על יומא. מאור קטן אית ביה תרי עשר פתחין ודא סיהרא ושלטא על ליליא. וליליא אית ביה תריסר שעתי. ועל דא ביום ההוא יהיה יי אחד ושמו אחד. שמשא ותריסר פתחין אתעבידן י"ג מכילן דרחמי. ליל סיהרא ותריסר פתחין ואתעבידו י"ג ואתעבידו שמשא וסיהרא חד. ויום ולילה אחד. הדא הוא דכתיב ויהי ערב ויהי בקר יום אחד ורזא דא לעילא).
וְאֵת הַכּוֹכָבִים. כֵּיוָן דְּנוּקְבָא פְּקִידַת בֵּיתָא וְאִתְכְּנִיסַת לְבַעֲלָהּ לֵית שׁוּלְטָנוּ לְבֵיתָא אֶלָּא לְעוּלֵמְתָּן דְּאִשְׁתָּאֲרָן בְּבֵיתָא לְאַתְקָנָא כָּל תִּקּוּנֵי בֵּיתָא. וּבָתַר אִתְהַדַּר בֵּיתָא לְשָׁלְטָנוּ דִדְכוּרָא בִּימָמָא כֹּלָּא כְּדְקָא חָזֵי:
Further it is written, AND THE STARS. As soon as the wife has given her orders and retired with her husband, the direction of the house is left to the maidens, who remain in the house to look after all its requirements. Then when day comes the man again duly takes command.