The Book of Splendor

Main Text (Zohar)

below. And because of this, "A new king arose over Egypt" Exodus 1:8; this refers to their opening [of power] from the side of evil that existed. And that which gave him dominion over the other nations also opened the strength to rule over all the other nations of the world. And then was fulfilled: "Under three things the earth trembles... under a slave when he reigns" Proverbs 30:21-22. Rabbi Hiyya said: Thirty days before strength comes to a soul in the living seed, or before destruction comes to a nation among the seeds [of men], that matter is proclaimed in the world. Sometimes that matter is placed in the mouths of gazers original: "kosemim" - soothsayers or diviners, and sometimes in the mouths of living creatures original: "chayun", or humans who lack understanding. And sometimes that matter is placed in the mouths of birds who proclaim it in the world, and there is no one who knows of them. When a nation is meritorious, that matter is given to the righteous leaders original: "reishin" of the world, so that they may know and return to their Master. But when they are not righteous, it is as we have said. Rabbi Eleazar was sitting one day at the Gate of Fire, and Rabbi Abba, Rabbi Yehuda, and Rabbi Yose were sitting with him. Rabbi Yose said: I saw something like this today; as I was rising early, I saw a bird that was flying. It soared upward three times and held one wing? over itself, more than the heavens another version: firmaments. For three days, the appointed ministers [angels] over the earth's dominions—one sits who does not sit—were scattered like a burning fire. They remove the standing ones from the greatness of their dominion. Three supports rule over it, standing over the world. A voice signaled to that bird, rebuking it: "Bird, bird! Show me the three who stand appointed, and the one whose dominion they are removing. Who are they?" It threw those three from its wing at times, and then it was silenced another version: and it shook one wing, and I do not know what the sign means. Rabbi Eleazar bowed to them; he bowed to the pieces. Blood came out from his walls likely a metaphor for intense spiritual exertion or a physical reaction to the vision. He said: "Certainly, three rulers of nations stand in the seed, and they are destined to make evil decrees against Israel." He bowed to that decree which was silenced by the shaking of a sword, and it went out below to prove from it the wine of dominion which proclaims removal. And one king is destined to pass through all the land and to consume and destroy the fortified cities and tear down buildings. And then they wept another version: And a mighty king is destined to take vengeance for Israel upon her, and tear down her buildings and build his own buildings. Rabbi Eleazar threw them to the seed, all those three against the one that was silenced. While they were sitting, a child passed by and was reciting: "Behold, the Lord rides upon a swift cloud and shall come into Egypt" Isaiah 19:1. His second companion passed and said: "And the land of Egypt shall be a desolation." His third companion passed and said: "And the wisdom of Egypt shall perish." They saw that arrow which was silenced by the shaking, for they came first and there were no others above them to set it right. Rabbi Eleazar said: This matter of the bird and this matter of the children are all of the same nature another version: all of them are within the hidden wisdom. And now it is fixed to be revealed to us, the secrets regarding it, for the Holy One acts, for "the Lord will not forsake His pious ones" Psalm 37:28, for He reveals His secret to His servants. The elders and the wise are greater than all the prophets, for at times the Holy Spirit rests upon [prophets] and at times not, but from the wise, the Holy Spirit is not removed even for a single moment. And thus they know what is above and below and do not wish to reveal it. Behold, all wisdom—and the wisdom of Rabbi Eleazar is greater than all of them. Rabbi Abba said: If there were no wise men, human beings would not know what the Torah is or what the commandments of the Master of the world are, and the spirit of the wise would not be distinguished from the spirit of a beast. Rabbi Isaac said: When the Holy One, Blessed Be He, brings judgment upon a nation, He first executes judgment upon that Minister the celestial angel/patron who is appointed over them above, as it is written: "The Lord shall punish the host of the high heaven on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth" Isaiah 24:21. The judgment descends to judge that Minister above. They remove his throne, and the crown of memory is moved and goes out, and then his dominion is removed. And immediately it is proclaimed in the firmament: "The dominion of so-and-so has been removed from him!"