The following is another explanation of the words: “These are the generations of heaven and earth.” The expression “these are” here corresponds to the same expression in the text: “these are thy gods, O Israel” (Ex. 32, 4). When these shall be exterminated, it will be as if God had made heaven and earth on that day; hence it is written, “on the day that God makes heaven and earth”. At that time God will reveal Himself with the Shekinah and the world will be renewed, as it is written, “for as the new earth and the new heaven, etc.” (Is. 66, 22);
At that time “the Lord shall cause to spring from the ground every pleasant tree, etc.”, but before these are exterminated the rain of the Torah will not descend, and Israel, who are compared to herbs and trees, cannot shoot up, as is hinted in the words: “no shrub of the field was yet in the earth, and no herb of the field, etc.” (Gen. 2, 5), because “there was no man”, i.e. Israel were not in the Temple, “to till the ground” with sacrifices.
According to another explanation, the words “no shrub of the field was yet in the earth” refer to the first Messiah, and the words “no herb of the field had yet sprung up” refer to the second Messiah. Why had they not shot forth? Because Moses was not there to serve the Shekinah-Moses, of whom it is written, “and there was no man to till the ground”. This is also hinted at in the verse “the sceptre shall not depart from Judah nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet”, “the sceptre” referring to the Messiah of the house of Judah, and “the staff’ to the Messiah of the house of Joseph. “Until Shiloh cometh”: this is Moses, the numerical value of the two names Shiloh and Moses being the same.1The last 8 lines of the Hebrew text do not appear in our translation.
1The Hebrew text of this page does not correspond entirely to the English translation. AND THE LORD GOD CAUSED TO GROW. The two names may be referred to the Father and the Mother; “every pleasant tree” refers to the Zaddik; “good to eat” refers to the Central Column, through which He provided food for all, and from which alone the Zaddik is nourished, as the Shekinah from him. These have no need of the lower world, but, on the contrary, all below are nourished from him. For in this period of captivity the Shekinah and “the Life of the universe” are only nourished by the eighteen blessings of Israel’s prayer, but at the time he will be food for all.
AND THE LORD GOD FORMED MAN. “Man” here refers to Israel, whom God shaped at that time both for this world and for the future world. Further, the word vayizer (and he formed) implies that God brought them under the aegis of His own name by shaping the two eyes like the letter Yod and the nose between like the letter Vau….
Forthwith at that time He planted Israel in the holy Garden of Eden, as it is said: “and the Lord God planted” (Gen. 2, 8). The two names here refer to the Father and the Mother; the “Garden” is the Shekinah on earth, and “Eden” is the supernal Mother; “the man” is the Central Column; the Shekinah was to be his plantation, his spouse who was never to depart from him and was to be his perpetual delight. Thus God at that time planted Israel as a holy shoot, as it is written, “the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, in which I glory”.
AND THE LORD GOD CAUSED TO GROW. The two names may be referred to the Father and the Mother; “every pleasant tree” refers to the Zaddik; “good to eat” refers to the Central Column, through which He provided food for all, and from which alone the Zaddik is nourished, as the Shekinah from him. These have no need of the lower world, but, on the contrary, all below are nourished from him. For in this period of captivity the Shekinah and “the Life of the universe” are only nourished by the eighteen blessings of Israel’s prayer, but at the time he will be food for all.
AND THE TREE OF LIFE. This means that at that time the Tree of Life will be planted in the Garden, so that “he shall take also of the Tree of Life and eat and live for ever” (Gen. 3, 22). The Shekinah will no longer be in the power of the “evil influence”, i.e. the mixed multitude who are “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”, and shall no longer receive into itself anyone unclean, to fulfil what is written, “the Lord alone shall lead him and there shall be no strange god with him” (Deut. 32, 12). For this reason proselytes will no longer be admitted in the days of the Messiah. The Shekinah will be like a vine on which there cannot be grafted any shoot from another species,
and Israel shall be “every tree pleasant to see”, and their former beauty shall be restored to them, of which we are told: “He cast from heaven to earth the beauty of Israel” (Lam. 2, 1). “The tree of the knowledge of good and evil” shall be thrust from them and shall not cleave to them or mingle with them, for of Israel it is said: “and of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil ye shall not eat”. This tree is the “mixed multitude”, and God pointed out to them that through mixing with them they suffered two losses, of the first and of the second Temple, as it is said: “and on the day that thou eatest of it thou shalt surely die”. They caused the Zaddik to be left parched and desolate by the loss of the first Temple, which is the Shekinah in heaven, and by the loss of the second Temple, which is the Shekinah on earth. Hence it is written, “and the river shall be drained dry”; i.e. the river vau shall dry in the lower he, so as to deprive it of the flow of yod issuing from En-Sof.
But as soon as Israel shall go forth from captivity, that is, the holy people alone, then that river which was dried up shall become “the river that goes forth from Eden to water the garden”. This river is the Central Column; “goes forth from Eden” is the supernal Mother; “to water the garden” is the Shekinah on earth.
In reference to that time it is said of Moses and Israel, “Then thou shalt delight in the Lord”, and the words shall be fulfilled, “then Moses shall sing” (Ex. 15, 1).1The Hebrew text of this page does not correspond entirely to the English translation.
Further, the river “shall part from thence and become four heads” (Gen. 2, 10). The first of these is Hesed (Kindness), which is the right arm. From this shall drink the camp of Michael, and with it the tribe of Judah and his two accompanying tribes. The second is Geburah (Force), and from it shall drink the camp of Gabriel, and with it the tribe of Dan and his two accompanying tribes. The third is Nezah (Victory), the right leg, and from it shall drink the camp of Nuriel, and with it the tribe of Reuben and his two accompanying tribes. The fourth is Hod (Majesty), the “left leg” (referred to in what was said of Jacob, that “he halted on his left thigh”), and from it shall drink the camp of Raphael, whose mission is to heal the ills of the captivity, and with it the tribe of Ephraim and his two accompanying tribes.1Here follows a digression (up to abathreh, p. 27a) on a saying of R. Akiba about the esoteric study, too technical for translation into English.2The Hebrew text of this page does not correspond entirely to the English translation.
דָּבָר אַחֵר אֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדוֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְגו' אִלֵּין אִנּוּן דְּאִתְּמָר בְּהוֹן (שמות ל״ב:ד׳) אֵלֶּה אֱלֹהֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל. בְּיוֹמָא דְּיִתְמְחִין אִלֵּין כְּאִלּוּ הַהוּא יוֹמָא עֲבִיד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא שְׁמַיָא וְאַרְעָא הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, (בראשית ב׳:ד׳) בְּיוֹם עֲשׂוֹת יְיָ אֱלֹהִים אֶרֶץ וְשָׁמָיִם. בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא יְהֵא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עִם שְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ וְיִתְחַדֵּשׁ עַלְמָא הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, (ישעיהו ס״ו:כ״ב) כִּי כַּאֲשֶׁר הַשָּׁמַיִם הַחֲדָשִׁים וְהָאָרֶץ הַחֲדָשָׁה וְגו' דָּא אִיהוּ בְּיוֹם עֲשׂוֹת.
The following is another explanation of the words: “These are the generations of heaven and earth.” The expression “these are” here corresponds to the same expression in the text: “these are thy gods, O Israel” (Ex. 32, 4). When these shall be exterminated, it will be as if God had made heaven and earth on that day; hence it is written, “on the day that God makes heaven and earth”. At that time God will reveal Himself with the Shekinah and the world will be renewed, as it is written, “for as the new earth and the new heaven, etc.” (Is. 66, 22);
בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא וַיַּצְמַח יְיָ אֱלֹהִים מִן הָאֲדָמָה כָּל עֵץ נְחְמָד וְגו'. אֲבָל בְּקַדְמִיתָא עַד דְּיִתְמָחוּן אִלֵּין לָא נָחִית מִטְרָא דְאוֹרַיְיתָא. וְיִשְׂרָאֵל דְּדַמְיָין לַעֲשָׂבִים וּלְאִילָנִין לָא יִצְמְחוּן. וְרָזָא דְמִלָּה וְכֹל שִׂיחַ הַשָּׂדֶה טֶרֶם יִהְיֶה בָּאָרֶץ וְכָל עֵשֶׂב הַשָּׂדֶה וְגו', בְּגִין דְּאָדָם אַיִן דְּאִנּוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּבֵי מַקְדְּשָׁא לַעֲבוֹד אֶת הָאֲדָמָה בְּקָרְבָּנִין.
At that time “the Lord shall cause to spring from the ground every pleasant tree, etc.”, but before these are exterminated the rain of the Torah will not descend, and Israel, who are compared to herbs and trees, cannot shoot up, as is hinted in the words: “no shrub of the field was yet in the earth, and no herb of the field, etc.” (Gen. 2, 5), because “there was no man”, i.e. Israel were not in the Temple, “to till the ground” with sacrifices.
דָּבָר אַחֵר וְכֹל שִׂיחַ הַשָּׂדֶה, דָּא מָשִׁיחַ רִאשׁוֹן טֶרֶם יִהְיֶה בְּאַרְעָא. וְכָל עֵשֶׂב הַשָּׂדֶה טֶרֶם יִצְמָח דָּא מָשִׁיחַ שֵׁנִי. וְלָמָּה בְּגִין דְּלֵית תַּמָּן משֶׁה לְמִפְלַח לִשְׁכִינְתָּא דְּעֲלֵיהּ אִתְּמָר וְאָדָם אַיִן לַעֲבוֹד אֶת הָאֲדָמָה. וְרָזָא דְמִלָּה (בראשית מ״ט:י׳) לא יָסוּר שֵׁבֶט מִיהוּדָה דָּא מָשִׁיחַ בֶּן דָּוִד. וּמְחוֹקֵק מִבֵּין רַגְלָיו דָּא מָשִׁיחַ בֶּן יוֹסֵף. עַד כִּי יָבוֹא שִׁיל"ה דָּא משֶׁה חֻשְׁבַּן דָּא כְּדָא. וְל"וֹ יִקְהַ"ת עַמִּים, אַתְוָון וְלֵוִ"י קְהָ"ת.
According to another explanation, the words “no shrub of the field was yet in the earth” refer to the first Messiah, and the words “no herb of the field had yet sprung up” refer to the second Messiah. Why had they not shot forth? Because Moses was not there to serve the Shekinah-Moses, of whom it is written, “and there was no man to till the ground”. This is also hinted at in the verse “the sceptre shall not depart from Judah nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet”, “the sceptre” referring to the Messiah of the house of Judah, and “the staff’ to the Messiah of the house of Joseph. “Until Shiloh cometh”: this is Moses, the numerical value of the two names Shiloh and Moses being the same.1The last 8 lines of the Hebrew text do not appear in our translation.
דָּבָר אַחֵר וְכֹל שִׂיחַ הַשָּׂדֶה אִלֵּין צַדִּיקַיָּיא דְּאִנּוּן מִסִּטְרָא דְּצַדִּיק חַ"י עָלְמִין. שִׂיחַ ש' חַי. ש תְּלַת עַנְפִּין דְּאִילָנָא וְאִנּוּן ג' אֲבָהָן וּמִן ח"י עָלְמִין.
לָשׁוֹן אַחֵר וְכָל עֵשֶׂב הַשָּׂדֶה ע"ב שי"ן. תְּלַת עָלִין דְּאִנּוּן ש יאהדונה"י. וְאִנּוּן ע"ב עַנְפִּין דְּתַלְיָין בְּהוֹן בְּחוּשְׁבַּן ע"ב. כֻּלְהוּ לָא אִתְאַחֲדִין בְּאַתְרָא דְּאִיהִי שְׁכִינְתָּא עַד דְּיֵיתֵי הַהוּא דְּאִקְרֵי אָדָ"ם דְּאִיהוּ יו"ד ה"א וא"ו ה"א. וְדָא אִיהוּ וְאָדָ"ם אַיִן לַעֲבוֹד אֶת הָאֲדָמָה.
וּבְגִין דָּא אִתְּמָר בֵּיהּ וְכָל עֵשֶׂב הַשָּׂדֶה טֶרֶם יִצְמָח עַד דְּיִצְמַח צַדִּי"ק. וּמִנֵּיהּ (תהילים פ״ה:י״ב) אֱמֶת מֵאֶרֶץ תִּצְמָח דְּאִתְּמָר בֵּיהּ (דניאל ח׳:י״ב) וַתַּשְׁלֵךְ אֱמֶת אַרְצָה. וְתַלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים דְּאִנּוּן דְּשָׁאִין לָא צָמְחִין בְּגָלוּתָא עַד דֶּאֱמֶת מֵאֶרֶץ תִּצְמָח, וְדָא משֶׁה דְּאִתְּמָר בֵּיהּ (מלאכי ב׳:ו׳) תּוֹרַת אֱמֶת הָיְתָה בְּפִיהוּ דְּלָא יְהֵא מָאן דְּדָרִישׁ לִשְׁכִינְתָּא כַּוָּתֵיהּ. וּבְגִין דָּא וְאָדָם אַיִן לַעֲבוֹד.
וּמִיָּד דְּאִיהוּ יֵיתֵי, מִיָּד וְאֵ"ד יַעֲלֶה מִן הָאָרֶץ א"ד מִן אדנ"י סָלִיק לֵיהּ ו' וְאִתְעֲבִיד בַּהּ אֲדוֹן כָּל הָאָרֶץ. מִיָּד וְהִשְׁקָה אֶת כָּל פְּנִי הָאֲדָמָה מִנֵּיהּ אִתְשַׁקְּיָין יִשְׂרָאֵל לְתַתָּא בְּע' אַנְפִּין דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא.
1The Hebrew text of this page does not correspond entirely to the English translation. AND THE LORD GOD CAUSED TO GROW. The two names may be referred to the Father and the Mother; “every pleasant tree” refers to the Zaddik; “good to eat” refers to the Central Column, through which He provided food for all, and from which alone the Zaddik is nourished, as the Shekinah from him. These have no need of the lower world, but, on the contrary, all below are nourished from him. For in this period of captivity the Shekinah and “the Life of the universe” are only nourished by the eighteen blessings of Israel’s prayer, but at the time he will be food for all.
דָּבָר אַחֵר וְאֵד יַעֲלֶה מִן הָאָרֶץ תַּרְגּוּמוֹ וְעֲנָנָא יִסְתַּלַּק מִן אַרְעָא. הַהִיא דְּאִתְּמָר בַּהּ (שמות מ׳:ל״ח) כִּי עֲנַן יְיָ עַל הַמִּשְׁכָּן וְגו' וּבֵיהּ מִתְשַׁקְּיָין תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים בְּאַרְעָא בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא:
וַיִּיצֶר יְיָ אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאָדָם אִלֵּין יִשְׂרָאֵל. בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא צַיַּיר לוֹן בְּצִיּוּרִין דְּעָלְמָא דֵּין וְעָלְמָא דְּאֲתֵי. וַיִּיצֶר בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עַיֵיל לוֹן בִּשְׁמֵיהּ בְּצִיּוּרָא דְּב' יוּדִי"ן י' י' ו' בֵּינַיְיהוּ דְּאִנּוּן סָלְקִין לְחֶשְׁבּוֹן יהו"ה. וִיהוֹן מְצוּיָירִין בְּאַנְפּוֹי בְּאַנְפִּין דִּילְהוֹן בִּתְרֵין יוּדִי"ן בְּחוֹטְמָא דִּילְהוֹן בְּאָת ו'.
AND THE LORD GOD FORMED MAN. “Man” here refers to Israel, whom God shaped at that time both for this world and for the future world. Further, the word vayizer (and he formed) implies that God brought them under the aegis of His own name by shaping the two eyes like the letter Yod and the nose between like the letter Vau….
וּבְגִין דָּא אָמַר קְרָא (במדבר כ״ג:ט׳) כִּי מֵרֹאשׁ צוּרִים אֶרְאֶנּוּ. אִלֵּין אִנּוּן צִיּוּרִין דִּשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא. וִיהוֹן מְצוּיָירִין בְּאַנְפַּיְיהוּ בִּתְרֵין לוּחִין יַקִּירִין דְּאִנּוּן י' י' דְּאִיהוּ ו' חָרוּת עָלַיְיהוּ.
וְעוֹד צִיֵּיר לוֹן לְכָל דּוֹר בְּבַת זוּגֵיהּ עִלָאָה דָּא י"ה וְאִנּוּן ו' יִחוּדָא דְּתַרְוַויְיהוּ. וְצַיֵּיר לוֹן בְּאִנּוּן דְּצִיּוּרָא דִּלְעֵילָא דְּאִיהוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמּוּדָא דְּאֶמְצָעִיתָא כָּלִיל שְׁכִינְתָּא עִלָּאָה וְתַתָּאָה דְּאִנּוּן קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע עַרְבִית וּקְרִיאַת שְׁמַע שַׁחֲרִית וְעֲלַיְיהוּ אִתְּמָר עֶצֶם מֵעֲצָמַי וּבָשָׂר מִבְּשָׂרִי.
וּמִיָּד בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא נָטַע לוֹן לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּגִנְתָּא דְעֵדֶן קַדִּישָׁא הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וַיִּטַּע יְיָ (כ"ח א) אֱלהִים אַבָּ"א וְאִמָּ"א. גַּ"ן דָּא שְׁכִינְתָּא תַּתָּאָה. עֵדֶ"ן דָּא אִמָּא עִלָּאָה. אֶת הָאָדָם דָּא עַמּוּדָא דְאֶמְצָעִיתָא. אִיהִי תְּהֵא נֶטַע דִּילֵיהּ, בַּת זוּגֵיהּ וְלָא תָזוּז מִנֵּיהּ לְעָלַם. וּתְהֵא עִדּוּנָא דִילֵיהּ. וְיִשְׂרָאֵל קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא נָטַע לוֹן בְּהַהִיא זִמְנָא נִטְעָא קַדִּישָׁא בְּעָלְמָא כְּמָא דְאַתְּ אָמֵר, (ישעיהו ס׳:כ״א) נֵצֶר מַטָּעַי מַעֲשֵׂי יָדַי לְהִתְפָּאֵר:
Forthwith at that time He planted Israel in the holy Garden of Eden, as it is said: “and the Lord God planted” (Gen. 2, 8). The two names here refer to the Father and the Mother; the “Garden” is the Shekinah on earth, and “Eden” is the supernal Mother; “the man” is the Central Column; the Shekinah was to be his plantation, his spouse who was never to depart from him and was to be his perpetual delight. Thus God at that time planted Israel as a holy shoot, as it is written, “the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, in which I glory”.
וַיַּצְמַח יהו"ה אֱלֹהִים. אַבָּא וְאִמָּא. כָּל עֵץ נְחְמָד דָּא צַדִּי"ק. וְטוֹב לְמַאֲכָל דָּא עַמּוּדָא דְאֶמְצָעִיתָא דְּבֵיהּ הוּא זַמִּין (נ"א זמינא) מָזוֹן לְכֹלָא דְּכֹלָּא בֵּיהּ. וְלָא אִתְפַּרְנֵס צַדִּיק אֶלָּא מִנֵּיהּ וּשְׁכִינְתָּא מִנֵּיהּ, וְלָא צְרִיכִין לְתַתָּאִין (דילהון). אֶלָּא כּוּלְהוּ נִזּוֹנִין לְתַתָּא עַל יָדֵיהּ. דִּבְגָלוּתָא לָא הֲוָה לִשְׁכִינְתָּא וּלְח"י עָלְמִין מְזוֹנָא אֶלָּא בְּח"י בִּרְכָאן דִּצְלוֹתָא. אֲבָל בְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא אִיהוּ יְהֵא מְזוֹנָא לְכֹלָּא.
AND THE LORD GOD CAUSED TO GROW. The two names may be referred to the Father and the Mother; “every pleasant tree” refers to the Zaddik; “good to eat” refers to the Central Column, through which He provided food for all, and from which alone the Zaddik is nourished, as the Shekinah from him. These have no need of the lower world, but, on the contrary, all below are nourished from him. For in this period of captivity the Shekinah and “the Life of the universe” are only nourished by the eighteen blessings of Israel’s prayer, but at the time he will be food for all.
וְעֵץ הַחַיִּים דְּהוּא אִילָנָא דְחַיֵּי יְהֵא נְטִיעַ בְּגוֹ גִנְתָּא דְּאִתְּמָר בֵּיהּ (בראשית ג׳:כ״ב) וְלָקַח גַּם מֵעֵץ הַחַיִּים וְאָכַל וָחַי לְעוֹלָם. וּשְׁכִינְתָּא לָא שָׁלְטָא עֲלָהּ אִילָנָא דְסִטְרָא אָחֳרָא דְּאִנּוּן עֵרֶב רַב דְּאִנּוּן (סוף תצא) עֵץ הַדַּעַת טוֹב וָרָע. וְלֹא תְקַבֵּל בָּהּ עוֹד טָמֵא הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, (דברים ל״ב:י״ב) יְיָ בָּדָד יַנְחֶנּוּ וְאֵין עִמּוֹ אֵל נֵכָר. וּבְגִין דָּא לָא מְקַבְּלִין גֵּרִים לִימוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַ. וּתְהֵא שְׁכִינְתָּא כְּגַפְנָא דְּלָא מְקַבְּלָא נִטְעָא מִמִּינָא אָחֳרָא.
AND THE TREE OF LIFE. This means that at that time the Tree of Life will be planted in the Garden, so that “he shall take also of the Tree of Life and eat and live for ever” (Gen. 3, 22). The Shekinah will no longer be in the power of the “evil influence”, i.e. the mixed multitude who are “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”, and shall no longer receive into itself anyone unclean, to fulfil what is written, “the Lord alone shall lead him and there shall be no strange god with him” (Deut. 32, 12). For this reason proselytes will no longer be admitted in the days of the Messiah. The Shekinah will be like a vine on which there cannot be grafted any shoot from another species,
וְיִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוֹן כָּל עֵץ נְחְמָד לְמַרְאֶה. וְיִתְחַזַּר עֲלַיְיהוּ שׁוּפְרָא דְּאִתְּמָר בֵּיהּ (איכה ב׳:א׳) הִשְׁלִיךְ מִשָּׁמַיִם אֶרֶץ תִּפְאֶרֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל. וְעֵץ הַדַּעַת טוֹב וָרָע אִדַחְיָין מִנַּיְיהוּ וְלָא מִתְדַּבְּקִין וְלָא מִתְעָרְבִין בְּהוֹן. דְּהָא אִתְּמָר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וּמֵעֵץ הַדַּעַת טוֹב וָרָע לֹא תֹאכַל מִמֶּנּוּ דְּאִנּוּן עֵרֶב רַב. וְגָלֵי לוֹן קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דְּבְיוֹם אָכְלוֹ מִמֶּנּוּ גָּרְמוּ דְּאָבְדוּ ב' אָבְדִין דְּאִנּוּן בַּיִת רִאשׁוֹן וּבַיִת שֵׁנִי. דָּא אִיהוּ כִּי בְיוֹם אֲכָלְךָ מִמֶּנּוּ מוֹת תָּמוּת ב' פְּעָמִים. וְאִנּוּן גְּרִימוּ דְּצַדִּיק יֶחֳרָב וְיָבֵשׁ בְּבַיִת רִאשׁוֹן דְּאִיהִי שְׁכִינְתָּא עִלָּאָה, וּבְבַיִת שֵׁנִי דְּאִיהִי שְׁכִינְתָּא תַּתָּאָה. דָּא אִיהוּ (ישעיהו י״ט:ה׳) וְנָהָר יֶחרָב וְיָבֵשׁ. וְנָהָר דָּא (נ"א ו) יְחרָב בְּה' תַּתָּאָה בְּגִין דְּאִסְתַּלַּק מִנֵּיהּ נְבִיעוּ דְי' לְאֵין סוֹף.
and Israel shall be “every tree pleasant to see”, and their former beauty shall be restored to them, of which we are told: “He cast from heaven to earth the beauty of Israel” (Lam. 2, 1). “The tree of the knowledge of good and evil” shall be thrust from them and shall not cleave to them or mingle with them, for of Israel it is said: “and of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil ye shall not eat”. This tree is the “mixed multitude”, and God pointed out to them that through mixing with them they suffered two losses, of the first and of the second Temple, as it is said: “and on the day that thou eatest of it thou shalt surely die”. They caused the Zaddik to be left parched and desolate by the loss of the first Temple, which is the Shekinah in heaven, and by the loss of the second Temple, which is the Shekinah on earth. Hence it is written, “and the river shall be drained dry”; i.e. the river vau shall dry in the lower he, so as to deprive it of the flow of yod issuing from En-Sof.
וּמִיָּד דְּיִפְקוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל מִן גָּלוּתָא עַמָּא קַדִּישָׁא לְחוּד, מִיָּד נָהָר דְּהֲוָה חָרֵב וְיָבֵשׁ אִתְּמָר בֵּיהּ וְנָהָר יוֹצֵא מֵעֵדֶן דָּא ו' לְהַשְׁקוֹת אֶת הַגָּן. וְנָהָר דָּא עַמּוּדָא דְאֶמְצָעִיתָא. יוֹצֵא מֵעֵדֶן דָּא אִמָּא עִלָּאָה, לְהַשְׁקוֹת אֶת הַגָּן דָּא שְׁכִינְתָּא תַּתָּאָה.
But as soon as Israel shall go forth from captivity, that is, the holy people alone, then that river which was dried up shall become “the river that goes forth from Eden to water the garden”. This river is the Central Column; “goes forth from Eden” is the supernal Mother; “to water the garden” is the Shekinah on earth.
דִּבְהַהוּא זִמְנָא אִתְּמָר בְּמשֶׁה וּבְיִשְׂרָאֵל (ישעיהו נ״ח:י״ד) אָז תִתְעַנָּג עַל יְיָ בְּעֹנְג דְּאִיהוּ ע' עֵדֶן נ' נָהָר ג' גַּן. וְאִתְקְיַּים קְרָא (שמות ט״ו:א׳) אָז יָשִׁיר משֶׁה וְגו' שָׁר לֹא נֶאֱמַר אֶלָּא יָשִׁיר. וְאִתְהַפַּךְ לְעֵרַב רַב עֹנֶ"ג לְנֶגַ"ע וּלְאוּמִין דְּעָלְמָא עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת כְּגַוְונָא דְפַרְעֹה וּמִצְרָאֵי דְּפָרַח בְּהוֹן שְׁחִין אֲבַעְבּוּעוֹת. אֲבָל לְיִשְׂרָאֵל יְהֵא עֹנֶ"ג.
In reference to that time it is said of Moses and Israel, “Then thou shalt delight in the Lord”, and the words shall be fulfilled, “then Moses shall sing” (Ex. 15, 1).1The Hebrew text of this page does not correspond entirely to the English translation.
וְדָא אִיהוּ וְנָהָר יוֹצֵא מֵעֵדֶן לְהַשְׁקוֹת אֶת הַגָּן. וּמִשָּׁם יִפָּרֵד וְהָיָה לְאַרְבָּעָה רָאשִׁים. דְּאִנּוּן חֶסֶ"ד דְּרוֹעָא יָמִינָא. וּבְהַהוּא זִמְנָא הָרוֹצֶה לְהַחְכִּים יַדְרִים. וּמַחֲנֶה מִיכָאֵ"ל אִתְשַׁקְיָין מִנֵּיהּ וְעִמֵּיהּ מַטֵּה יְהוּדָה וּתְרֵין שִׁבְטִין. גְּבוּרָ"ה דְּרוֹעָא שְׂמָאלָא. וּבְהַהוּא זִמְנָא הָרוֹצֶה לְהַעֲשִׁיר יַצְפִּין. וּמַחֲנֶה גַּבְרִיאֵ"ל אִתְשַׁקְיָין מִנֵּיהּ וְעִמֵּיהּ מַטֵּה דָן וּתְרֵין שִׁבְטִין. נְצַ"ח שׁוֹקָא יָמִינָא וּמִנָּהּ אִתְשַׁקְיָין מַשִּׁרְיָיא דְּנוּרִיאֵ"ל וְעִמֵּיהּ מַטֵּה רְאוּבֵן וּתְרֵין שִׁבְטִין עִמֵּיהּ. הוֹ"ד שׁוֹקָא שְׂמָאלָא דְּעֲלָהּ אִתְּמָר לְיַעֲקֹב (בראשית ל״ב:ל״ב) וְהוּא צוֹלֵעַ עַל יְרֵכוֹ וּמִנֵּיהּ אִתְשַׁקְיָין מַשִּׁרְיָיא דִּרְפָאֵל דְּאִיהוּ מְמַנָּא עַל אַסְוָותָא דְגָלוּתָא וְעִמֵּיהּ מַטֵּה אֶפְרָיִם וּב' שִׁבְטִין.
Further, the river “shall part from thence and become four heads” (Gen. 2, 10). The first of these is Hesed (Kindness), which is the right arm. From this shall drink the camp of Michael, and with it the tribe of Judah and his two accompanying tribes. The second is Geburah (Force), and from it shall drink the camp of Gabriel, and with it the tribe of Dan and his two accompanying tribes. The third is Nezah (Victory), the right leg, and from it shall drink the camp of Nuriel, and with it the tribe of Reuben and his two accompanying tribes. The fourth is Hod (Majesty), the “left leg” (referred to in what was said of Jacob, that “he halted on his left thigh”), and from it shall drink the camp of Raphael, whose mission is to heal the ills of the captivity, and with it the tribe of Ephraim and his two accompanying tribes.1Here follows a digression (up to abathreh, p. 27a) on a saying of R. Akiba about the esoteric study, too technical for translation into English.2The Hebrew text of this page does not correspond entirely to the English translation.
דָּבָר אַחֵר וּמִשָּׁם יִפָּרֵד וְהָיָה לְאַרְבָּעָה רָאשִׁים אִלֵּין אִנּוּן אַרְבָּעָה דְּנִכְנְסוּ לַפַּרְדֵּס. חַד עָאל בְּפִישׁוֹ"ן דְּאִיהוּ פִּי שׁוֹנֶה הֲלָכוֹת. תִּנְיָינָא עָאל בְּגִיחוֹ"ן. וְתַמָּן הוּא קָבוּר הַהוּא דְּאִתְּמָר בֵּיהּ (ויקרא י״א:מ״ב) כָּל הוֹלֵךְ עַל גָּחוֹן, גַּבְרִיאֵ"ל גָּבַר אֵל עֲלֵיהּ אִתְּמָר (איוב ג׳:כ״ג) לְגֶבֶר אֲשֶׁר דַּרְכּוֹ נִסְתָּרָה וַיָּסֶךְ אֱלוֹהַּ בַּעֲדוֹ. וְלֹא יָדַע גְּבַר יַת קְבוּרְתֵּיהּ עַד יוֹמָא הָדֵין דְּאִתְגַּלְיָיא תַּמָּן. וְדָא אִיהוּ רֶמֶז וּלְחַכִּימָא בִּרְמִיזָא.
תְּלִיתָאָה עָאל בַּחִדֶּקֶ"ל חַד קַל וְדָא לִישְׁנָא חֲדִידָא קַלָּא לִדְרָשָׁא. רְבִיעָאָה עָאל בַּפְּרָ"ת דְּאִיהוּ מוֹחָא דְּבֵיהּ פְּרִיָּה וּרְבִיָּה. בֶּן זוֹמָא וּבֶן עֲזַאי דְּעָאלוּ בִּקְלִיפִין דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא הֲווּ לָקָאן בְּהוֹן. רִבִּי עֲקִיבָא (פקודי רנ"ד ע"א) דְּעָאל בְּמוֹחָא אִתְּמָר בֵּיהּ דְּעָאל בִּשְׁלָם וְנָפַק בִּשְׁלָם.