Chapter 53

1Now after all the above, a person who contemplates it, will understand the general point of the entire Hitbonenut – contemplation, from the simple essential desire [that arose] in the actual Essence of the Light of HaShem-יהו"ה, the Unlimited One, because of the aspect of the essential desire for kindness that arose in His simple will (as discussed in chapter ten) etc., all the way to the aspect of the most final desire, which is the aspect of the desire to bring the world of Asiyah-Actuality into being, both generally and specifically, and is called Keter and Atik Yomin of Asiyah, regarding which it states, “Everything that HaShem-יהו"ה desired, He did (Asah).”

2For certainly, just as it arose in His desire to have a desire and will to emanate [Atzilut], so likewise the desire and will to create [Briyah] and the desire and will to form [Yetzirah] and the desire and will to do [Asiyah], were all included in the Essence of His simple will in His Essential Self.

3For example, this is just as when it arises in a person’s essential desire to have a desire for some specific matter; although this desire immediately divides into multiple desires from level to level, until the most final desire, which is the desire for the actual final action, nonetheless, it all arose instantaneously within his essential will etc., without divisions of levels whatsoever.

4(This was explained in chapter seven, that there is no division of levels in the aspect of the Keter of the worlds of Atzilut, Briyah, Yetzirah and Asiyah, even though in the chaining down, the aspect of the Malchut of the upper level becomes the Keter of the lower level etc.)

5Likewise, relative to the essence of His simple will in the aspect of the Essence of the light of HaShem-יהו"ה, the Unlimited One (Ein Sof), blessed is He, there is no differentiation of levels between the desire and will to emanate (Atzilut) and the desire and will to do (Asiyah) etc.

6This is the meaning of,¹ “I am first,” in the desire of Malchut of HaShem-יהו"ה, the Unlimited One (Ein Sof), blessed is He, which is the source for the desire to emanate (Atzilut), and “I am last,” in the most final desire of Malchut of the world of Action (Asiyah), to bring into being the most lowly and final world, which are the Ophanim [angels] and the Mazalot, that are the root for the existence of the spirituality of the four elements of fire, air, water and earth, and the spirituality of the physical levels of inanimate, plant life and animals.

7(This is as stated at the end of Etz Chayim), that everything is included in the verse, “Everything that HaShem-יהו"ה desired” – in His Essential Self – “He did,” which includes the entire chaining down of the Kav-line until the end of the world of Asiyah; that is, He includes them all.

8[Relative to Him] it all is considered to be an action (Asiyah), because relative to His Essential Self the root of Atzilut and the root of Asiyah are literally equal, etc.

9This then, is the meaning [of the continuation of the verse, “Everything that HaShem-יהו"ה desired He did] in the Heavens,” referring to the general encompassing light (Sovev) of the upper purity (Tihiru Ila'ah), “and in the earth,” referring to the aspect of how He fills all worlds (Memaleh Kol Almin) in the lower purity (Tihiru Ta'taa) etc.² It all is equally one [before Him].

10(This is as known that the heel of Adam Kadmon concludes at the end of Asiyah³ and his head is in the general thought at the beginning of the Kav (As it says about Adam HaRishon-The first man, that prior to the sin his feet were in Asiyah and his head was in Briyah),⁴ but Adam Kadmon [is nevertheless] called Adam of Briyah,⁵ that is, [created] something from nothing etc.)

11(This is [also] the meaning of,⁶ “Every stature shall bow before You etc.,” as discussed elsewhere.)

12This then, is the primary intention of the entire contemplation of every detail within the chaining down of the Kav-line, from before the first Tzimtzum-restraint until the end of the world of Asiyah. That is, [the intention] is to unite everything in the simple unity, which is in the aspect of the Essence of the light of the Singular Preexistent Intrinsic Being, HaShem-יהו״ה, the Unlimited One, blessed is He, until the order of HaShem’s-יהו"ה Godly supervision of every detail, is engrained in one’s soul, even to the very last detail.

13That is, even in the world of the planetary cycles and constellations (Mazalot), that only come from the nine external vessels of Malchut of Malchut of Asiyah, [one must recognize] that it literally is only according to His simple will within the Essential Self of the light of HaShem-יהו"ה, the Unlimited One (Ein Sof), blessed is He.

14This is as we say [in our prayers],⁷ “He – specifically – orders the stars in their watches within the firmament according to His will,” that is, literally according to His simple will in His Essential Self, for the aforementioned reason.

15The explanation of, “in their watches,” refers⁸ even to the aspect of the chambers of the husks of Kelipat Nogah of Asiyah; because the constellations (Mazalot) that are fixed in the heavens, are in the aspect of Nogah of Asiyah.

16This is because the ten Sefirot of Asiyah in its aspect of lights, vessels and chambers etc., are all in an aspect of total nullification of the something (Bitul HaYesh) to the nothing (Ein) [from which they are brought into being], as known regarding the chamber of the Holy of Holies in Asiyah, where there is the union of Zeir Anpin and Nukvah of Asiyah, such as in the Holy Temple below etc.

17Even the souls and angels of Asiyah are in a state of total nullification, as it states,⁹ “The hosts of the heavens bow to You,” referring to the Ophanim and Chayot [angels] of Asiyah.

18Even the substance and vessels of the Ophanim are in an aspect of absolute nullification, as understood from the chariot [prophecy] of Ezekiel regarding the Chayot and Ophanim [angels] of Yetzirah.¹⁰

19Similarly, this is the case regarding the chariot of black and red horses of Zachariah's¹¹ [prophecy, which refers to] times of exile, in which Malchut is vested within the seventy ministering angels¹² of Nogah of Asiyah. They too are in a state of total nullification, like a horse to its rider.

20This is as stated,¹³ “Behold HaShem-יהו"ה rides upon a swift cloud-עב קל etc.,” and as explained in the Zohar,¹⁴ that they are, “like a cloud upon which He rides etc.” This is similar to the verse,¹⁵ “Can an axe glory over the One who chops with it etc.”

21Even though there are many different levels in them, with numerous chainings-down, even those who receive through a multitude of screens, in an aspect of the back of the back of Elohi״m-אלהי״ם, from the forty-eight (מ”ח) last combinations [of Elohi”m-אלהי״ם] which is called,¹⁶ “the land of the children of Cham (ח”ם-48),” in a way of ultimate concealment and Tzimtzum-restraint with various different types of screens and separations, so much so, that it is called a garment of sackcloth and skin, as in the verse,¹⁷ “I will enclothe the heavens with darkness and I will put sackcloth as their covering etc.,” as known, and as stated,¹⁸ “He who separates etc.” Nonetheless it states,¹⁹ “God reigns over the nations etc.,” and,²⁰ “Who will not fear You, O King of the nations etc.,” for,²¹ “His kingdom rules over all.”

22Proof of this is from Bilaam, who was the, “evil aspect of Nogah” (Ra D’Nogah), the aspect of Da'at of the external husks²² (Kelipah), as it states,²³ “he who knows the knowledge of the Most High (Yodeah Da'at Elyon) etc.” Nevertheless, even he said,²⁴ “I cannot transgress the word of HaShem-יהו"ה to do even the smallest thing etc.”

23(Even his donkey, which was the aspect of Nukvah of Zeir Anpin of the Kelipah – the female of Zeir Anpin of the external husks,²⁵ which is even more severe (for as will be explained about the opposite of holiness (Sitra Achera),²⁶ the aspect of the female-Nukvah is the most severe of them all²⁷ etc.), [However even about his donkey] it states,²⁸ “and his donkey turned away [from the angel of HaShem-יהו״ה] etc.,” and even Bilaam said,²⁹ “If it displeases You, I shall return etc.”)

24Now, although there are those [Kelipot-husks] that are in an aspect of total somethingness and separation, so much so, that they say,³⁰ “My power and the strength of my hand [brought me all this affluence] etc., such as the ministering angel of Egypt who said,³¹ “My river is mine and I made myself etc.” and as the sages, of blessed memory, have stated,³² “They know their master and intentionally rebel against Him.” These are from the aspect of the three totally impure husks (Kelipot), and they too submit at times, when HaShem-יהו"ה visits punishment upon them.

25This is as explained about the various prophecies of the prophets regarding some of the ministering angels of the idolatrous nations of the world etc.

26However, in the aspect of Nogah, even the aspect of Nogah of Asiyah, which is mostly evil with a minority of good,³³ they are in a state of constant submission, such as the planets and constellations, that are [influenced by] the seventy ministering angels about whom it also states, “The hosts of the heavens bow down to You,” and “They sing His praise every day” etc.³⁴

27As known, this is in accordance with the reason for the constant orbit of the physical planets [and constellations] that this is due only to their forms and souls being in a constant state of praising and spiritual bowing to HaShem-יהו"ה etc., as explained elsewhere. This will suffice for the understanding.

Rabbi Amiram Markel (Neirot) · CC BY · sefaria.org