AND THEY WENT THREE DAYS IN THE WILDERNESS AND FOUND NO WATER . I n Scripture “water” stands as a symbol for the Torah: “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters” (Isa. 55, 1). ‘But’, remarked R. Jesse, ‘the time for the giving of the Torah was not yet, and how could they expect to find this “water” there?’
Said R. Eleazar: ‘They went out into the wilderness to see the glory of the Holy One, but could not, for He removed it from there. We learn from this that “water” is the symbol of the Torah, and the Holy One and the Torah are one.’
Said R. Simeon: ‘There in the wilderness a strange power, representing the nations of the world, the ruling spirit of the desert, appeared to them, but they soon discovered that it was not the radiance of their King’s glory. Hence it says: AND WHEN THEY CAME TO MARAH THEY COULD NOT DRINK OF THE WATERS OF MARAH, FOR THEY WERE BITTER, and they did not feel the same “sweetness” in their souls as before. Moreover, this power came to act as an accuser against them.
Then HE (Moses) CRIED UNTO THE LORD, AND THE LORD SHOWED HIM A TREE, without deviating right or left. This is symbolized by the sound of the Shophar, which is thrust forth in a straight line from a narrow opening and breaks through the firmaments in order to stir up the Spirit above. It is true, we are told, that “Isaac did meditate in the field” (Gen. 24, 63); but there are special reasons for this; and besides, the field where he prayed was not an ordinary field. WHICH, WHEN HE CAST IT INTO THE WATERS, THE WATERS WERE MADE SWEET. The tree is a symbol of the Torah, which is “a tree of life to those who lay hold upon her” (Prov. 3, 18), and the Torah and the Holy One, blessed be He, are one.’ R. Abba said: ‘The “Tree” is a direct symbol of the Holy One, for it says: “The tree of the field is (the supernal) Adam” (Deut. 20, 19). The “field” is the “Field of the holy apples”. Thus, when the light of their King’s glory manifested itself to them, “the waters were made sweet”, and the accuser became an intercessor.’
THERE HE MADE FOR THEM A STATUTE AND ORDINANCE. Said R. Abba: ‘At first, when the Israelites entered into the Covenant of the Holy One, there was something lacking in them, namely the final act of circumcision, the ”peri’a”, so that the holy sign was not manifested in them, but as soon as they arrived at this place they entered into both aspects of the holy sign, through the laying bare of its impress. These two aspects are symbolized by the two terms “statute” and “ordinance. AND THERE HE PROVED THEM: by this holy sign.
(שמות ט״ו:כ״ב) וַיֵּלְכוּ שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים בַּמִּדְבָּר וְלֹא מָצְאוּ מָיִם. וְאֵין מַיִם אֶלָּא תּוֹרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיהו נ״ה:א׳) הוֹי כָּל צָמֵא לְכוּ לַמַּיִם. אָמַר רִבִּי יֵיסָא, וְכִי מַאן יָהַב לְהוּ אוֹרַיְיתָא הָכָא, וְהָא עַד כְּעַן לָא אִתְיְהִיבַת לוֹן אוֹרַיְיתָא.
AND THEY WENT THREE DAYS IN THE WILDERNESS AND FOUND NO WATER . I n Scripture “water” stands as a symbol for the Torah: “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters” (Isa. 55, 1). ‘But’, remarked R. Jesse, ‘the time for the giving of the Torah was not yet, and how could they expect to find this “water” there?’
אָמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, אִינּוּן נָפְקוּ לְמַדְבְּרָא לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא נָטַל זִיוָא יְקָרָא דִּילֵיהּ מִתַּמָּן, וְאִינּוּן אָזְלוּ לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא (לקודשא בריך הוא) בֵּיהּ, וְלָא אַשְׁכְּחוּהוּ. וְאוֹלִיפְנָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא תּוֹרָה אִקְרֵי, וְאֵין מַיִם אֶלָּא תּוֹרָה, וְאֵין תּוֹרָה אֶלָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא.
Said R. Eleazar: ‘They went out into the wilderness to see the glory of the Holy One, but could not, for He removed it from there. We learn from this that “water” is the symbol of the Torah, and the Holy One and the Torah are one.’
אָמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, עַד דַּהֲווֹ אַזְלֵי בְּמַדְבְּרָא, אִתְגְּלֵי עָלַיְיהוּ רְשׁוּתָא אַחֲרָא, דִּשְׁאַר עַמִּין, הַהוּא דְּשָׁלִיט בְּמַדְבְּרָא, וְאִעֲרָעוּ בְּהוּ תַּמָּן. חָמוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, דְּלָא הֲוָה הַהוּא זִיוָא יְקָרָא דְּמַלְכֵּיהוֹן, הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב, וַיָּבֹאוּ מָרָתָה וְלֹא יָכְלוּ לִשְׁתּוֹת מַיִם מִמָּרָה. מַאי טַעְמָא. כִּי מָרִים הֵם, לָא אִתְבְּסָם נַפְשַׁיְיהוּ כְּקַדְמִיתָא. וְלא עוֹד אֶלָּא דְּאָתֵי לְקַטְרְגָא עָלַיְיהוּ.
Said R. Simeon: ‘There in the wilderness a strange power, representing the nations of the world, the ruling spirit of the desert, appeared to them, but they soon discovered that it was not the radiance of their King’s glory. Hence it says: AND WHEN THEY CAME TO MARAH THEY COULD NOT DRINK OF THE WATERS OF MARAH, FOR THEY WERE BITTER, and they did not feel the same “sweetness” in their souls as before. Moreover, this power came to act as an accuser against them.
מַה כְּתִיב, וְיִצְעַק אֶל יְיָ' וַיּוֹרֵהוּ יְיָ' עֵץ, וְאֵין עֵץ אֶלָּא תּוֹרָה, דִּכְתִּיב, (משלי ג׳:י״ח) עֵץ חַיִּים הִיא לַמַּחֲזִיקִים בָּהּ. וְאֵין תּוֹרָה, אֶלָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. רִבִּי אַבָּא אָמַר, אֵין עֵץ אֶלָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דִּכְתִּיב, (דברים כ׳:י״ט) כִּי הָאָדָם עֵץ הַשָּׂדֶה, עֵץ הַשָּׂדֶה וַדַּאי, דָּא עֵץ שָׂדֶה דְּתַפּוּחִין קַדִּישִׁין. וְכַד אִתְגְּלֵי זִיו יְקָרָא דְּמַלְכֵּהוֹן עָלַיְיהוּ, כְּדֵין וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ אֶל הַמַּיִם וַיִּמְתְּקוּ הַמָּיִם. מַאי וַיִּמְתְּקוּ הַמָּיִם. דְּקַטֵּיגוֹרָא אִתְעָבִיד סַנֵּיגוֹרָא.
Then HE (Moses) CRIED UNTO THE LORD, AND THE LORD SHOWED HIM A TREE, without deviating right or left. This is symbolized by the sound of the Shophar, which is thrust forth in a straight line from a narrow opening and breaks through the firmaments in order to stir up the Spirit above. It is true, we are told, that “Isaac did meditate in the field” (Gen. 24, 63); but there are special reasons for this; and besides, the field where he prayed was not an ordinary field. WHICH, WHEN HE CAST IT INTO THE WATERS, THE WATERS WERE MADE SWEET. The tree is a symbol of the Torah, which is “a tree of life to those who lay hold upon her” (Prov. 3, 18), and the Torah and the Holy One, blessed be He, are one.’ R. Abba said: ‘The “Tree” is a direct symbol of the Holy One, for it says: “The tree of the field is (the supernal) Adam” (Deut. 20, 19). The “field” is the “Field of the holy apples”. Thus, when the light of their King’s glory manifested itself to them, “the waters were made sweet”, and the accuser became an intercessor.’
אָמַר רִבִּי אַבָּא, תָּא חֲזֵי בְּקַדְמִיתָא כַּד עָאלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּקַיָימָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, לָא עָאלוּ כְּדְקָא יֵאוֹת. מַאי טַעֲמָא. בְּגִין דְּאִתְגְּזָרוּ וְלָא אִתְפְּרָעוּ, וְלָא אִתְגַּלְּיָיא רְשִׁימָא קַדִּישָׁא. כֵּיוָן דְּמָטוּ הָכָא, מַה כְּתִיב, שָׁם שָׂם לוֹ חֹק וּמִשְׁפָּט. תַּמָּן עָאלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּתְרֵין חוּלָקִין קַדִּישִׁין, בְּהַהוּא גִּלּוּיָא דְּאִתְגַּלְיָא רְשִׁימָא דִּלְהוֹן, וְאִקְרוּן חֹק וּמִשְׁפָּט. חֹק: כְּמָה דְּאַתְּ אָמַר (משלי כא) וַתִּתֵּן טֶרֶף לְבֵיתָהּ וְחֹק לְנַעֲרוֹתֶיהָ. וּמִשְׁפָּט: כְּמָה דְּאִתְּמַר (תהילים פ״א:ה׳) מִשְׁפַּט לֵאלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב. וְשָׁם נִסָּהוּ, בְּהַהוּא אָת קַדִּישָׁא.
THERE HE MADE FOR THEM A STATUTE AND ORDINANCE. Said R. Abba: ‘At first, when the Israelites entered into the Covenant of the Holy One, there was something lacking in them, namely the final act of circumcision, the ”peri’a”, so that the holy sign was not manifested in them, but as soon as they arrived at this place they entered into both aspects of the holy sign, through the laying bare of its impress. These two aspects are symbolized by the two terms “statute” and “ordinance. AND THERE HE PROVED THEM: by this holy sign.