The Book of Splendor

Main Text (Zohar)

It is good for her referring to the Shekhinah, the Divine Presence at the times when the service below ascends and they meet one another. Behold, "Oil and incense rejoice the heart" Proverbs 27:9; incense is prepared above and incense below, and then there is joy for all. Rabbi Chasdai and Rabbi Yose lifted their hands and gave thanks to Rabbi Chasdai. Rabbi Chasdai opened his discourse: "And a dream came... and he dreamed a dream" referring to the dreams of Joseph or general dream phenomena. It is written: "And God said to him in a dream, 'I also knew that you did this in the integrity of your heart...'" Genesis 20:6. By my life! "And God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night"—what is the praise here regarding the dreams of the world? "And God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night" contains a secret regarding the dreams of others.

You should know that because the Holy One, blessed be He, is high and exalted, dwelling forever and Holy is His Name, He is King over all. When He descends, His holy palace is prepared in restraint below. Within it are seventy crowns, and from here seventy ministers are appointed over the seventy nations of the world, to see that each one rules over his nation and his land. They receive and guard the spirit of impurity in their studies. But the Voice the Divine Word rules over Israel and Jerusalem, for "Your name is called upon Your city and upon Your people" Daniel 9:19.

No other nation has a portion in the Holy One, blessed be He, as it is written: "And all the peoples of the earth shall see that the name of the Lord is called upon you" Deuteronomy 28:10. And it is written: "For all peoples walk each in the name of his god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God" Micah 4:5. And it is written: "For the Lord's portion is His people..." Deuteronomy 32:9. Rather, we have learned: every mention of "God" Elohim - a name associated with judgment and universal governance here refers to that great power appointed over them. Similarly, "And God came to Balaam at night"—this refers to the power appointed over him. And if you say, "And God said in a dream of the night," it is so. By my life! "I also knew"—the word "also" Hebrew: gam comes to include something more. Even though it is known from the power above, "I also knew." "And I also withheld you"—the "also" includes you. However, the word for "sinning against Me" Hebrew: me-chato is written without the letter Aleph. What does this say? Because he placed them in the standing powers.

Rather, this is the exchange: just as the people below cause a blemish above, so the people below can remove their ministers above from their dominion. "And I also withheld you"—after the matter depends on the one above, "I also" includes Himself. "From sinning against Me" original: me-chato li—because they were not found barking like dogs at this time. For if you cause me to sin through your guilt, it would remove me from my dominion and my seniority, as it is said: "And I will be zealous..." In these matters, we learn that through the sins of human beings, they create a blemish within the inner realms above, and it strikes the bosom of all. In simplicity, it ascends to heat and cover.

And for this reason, a Sacrifice Korban - from the root 'to draw near' is offered. Why is it called a Korban? It is as we said: after simplicity forgives the violence that caused a separation within, the Korban brings the upper world near to the lower world, and everything is made one.

Rabbi Abba and Rabbi Judah taught, and they waited for Rabbi Isaac. Rabbi Judah opened: "Serve the Lord with gladness..." Psalms 100:2 and "Serve the Lord with fear" Psalms 2:11. The service that a person must perform for the Holy One, blessed be He, must be with gladness and joy, with the will of the heart, so that his service is found in perfection. And if you say: the service of the sacrifice—is it not a loss? For that man who transgressed the commandment of his Master, the commandment of the Torah, and returns before his Master like one who is ashamed—surely he stands before Him with a broken spirit and a sad spirit! Where then is the joy and the song?

However, we have learned there: that man who stands before his Master and transgressed His commandments and sinned, brings a sacrifice to repair himself with a broken spirit and a sad spirit. But the joy and the song are found in the service of the Priests and the Levites. For they complete the joy and the song on our behalf. Joy is in the Priest Kohen to prepare, because he is always far from Judgment Din, and he must always be found with a shining countenance and more joy than all the people, for his crown is light. Song or "ringing cry" is in the Levites, and so it is, for the Levites are found in song forever, as they have established. And the hosts stand over it.