The Book of Illumination (Sefer HaBahir)

world. And if he were weak, he would not be able to sustain the world. Therefore, it is not the world [itself], but rather one Righteous One who sustains the world, as it is written: “The Righteous One is the foundation of the world.” Proverbs 10:25. In Kabbalah, the "Zaddik" or Righteous One refers to the Sefirah of Yesod (Foundation). Therefore: “Take My offering from Me” first, and afterward: “And this is the offering which you shall take from them”—from the remainder. And what is this? “Gold,” etc. Another interpretation: “That they take for Me an offering” Exodus 25:2—they shall take for the Holy One an offering, which is the letter Yod [י], and it is the tenth. And from where do we know that the tenth is holy? As it is written: “The tenth shall be holy.” Leviticus 27:32 And what is this "Holy"? As it is written: “The first of all the first-fruits of all, and every offering of all,” etc. Ezekiel 44:30 and it is written: “The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord.” Psalm 111:10 Do not read it as "Fear of the Lord" but as "The Vision of the Lord" original: Mar'ot YHVH instead of Yirat YHVH (others say: “And the fear of the Lord”).

His students asked Rabbi Akiva: "Our teacher, what is the meaning of 'Sanctify to Me every firstborn'? Exodus 13:2 Is the Holy One, blessed be He, a firstborn?" He said to them: "No, 'Sanctify to Me every firstborn' refers to the second [level] in holiness, and it is called by the name of Israel, as it is written: 'Israel is My son, My firstborn.' Exodus 4:22 As it were, He was with them at the time of their enslavement. And this is what is written: 'You shall surely let the mother go,' etc. Deuteronomy 22:7 It does not say 'You shall surely let the father go,' but rather 'You shall surely let the mother go' out of honor for those who are called 'the world,' as it is said: 'The mother is the firstborn' (and some say: 'the firstborn of firstborns'). And she is called Atzeret The "Assembly" or the holiday of Shavuot/Shemini Atzeret, who is called 'Mother,' as it is said: 'For if you call out to understanding [Binah]' Proverbs 2:3. In Kabbalah, Binah is the Divine Mother.. And what is 'but the children you may take for yourself'? Rabbi Rahumai said: Those children that she raised. And what are they? The seven days of Sukkot, which are the seven days of the week. There is a difference between them, for they are higher in holiness, as it is written regarding them: 'A holy convocation.' And is Atzeret then a holy convocation? He said to them: Yes. But this is A-H-V-H A divine name permutation as it is written: 'On the first day a holy convocation' and 'on the seventh day a holy convocation.' He asked: 'Why is Atzeret alone?' Because on it the Torah was given to Israel. And when the Torah was created, it was the 'Beginning' Reshit; the Holy One, blessed be He, ruled His world with it alone, as it is written: 'The beginning of wisdom.' He said: 'Since it is so, your holiness shall be for you alone.' And what is Sukkot? He said to him: A House [Bayit], as it is written: 'With wisdom a house is built.' Proverbs 24:3 And from where do we know that Sukkot is a house? As it is written: 'And Jacob journeyed to Sukkot and built for himself a house.' Genesis 33:17"

Rabbi Berechiah sat and expounded:

What is the meaning of "hanging"? It is a hint that there is before the Holy One, blessed be He, a place in which all the spheres are included, as it is written: “His locks are wavy [taltalim].” Song of Songs 5:11. A wordplay on 'hanging' or 'mounds'. And what is this sphere? It is the belly. And what is the heart? As it is written: “unto the heart of the heavens,” etc. Included within are the 32 wondrous paths of wisdom. What is the meaning of that which is written: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace”? The Priestly Blessing, Numbers 6:24-26 This is the Explicit Name Shem HaMephorash of the Holy One, blessed be He, and it is a name of twelve [letters], as it is written: YHV"D YHV"H YHV"D. This teaches that the names of the Holy One, blessed be He, are three armies, and each army is not like its fellow, and they are all sealed with His name in Y-H-H. And how does 24 combine with the name YHVH? That is one: “The Lord bless you,” and also the second: “The Lord make His face shine,” with the 24 names of the Holy One, blessed be He; and also the third: “The Lord lift up,” with the 24 names of the Holy One, blessed be He. And now combine the 24 and also with the 24 names of the Holy One, blessed be He—three times will be the 72 names of the Holy One, blessed be He, which emerge from [the verses] “And he journeyed,” “And he came,” “And he stretched out.” Exodus 14:19-21. Each verse has 72 letters, used to derive the 72-letter Name of God. And who are these ministers? This teaches that there are three: for Gevurah (Might) is the minister of all the holy forms, and thus it is on the left side of the Holy One, blessed be He, where Gabriel stands. And on His right are all the holy forms, Michael. And in the center is the Truth, the minister of all the holy forms. And each minister has 24 forms, and there is no end to his legions, as it is written: “Is there any number to His legions?” If so, are there another 72 and 72? He said: Do not say so, except at the time when Israel offers a sacrifice before their Father in Heaven, they are unified. And this is the unity of our God. And why is it called a Korban [sacrifice]? Because it brings the holy powers close wordplay: Korban (sacrifice) and Karav (to draw near), as it is written: “And join them one to another into one stick,” etc. And it says: “for a pleasing aroma”—and there is no aroma except in the nose, and there is no breath (which is the smelling) except in the nose. And there is no Nichoach [pleasing/rest] except a descent, as it is said: “And He descended,” which the Targum translates as “And He rested” [Ve-nachat]. And He descends and is unified with the holy forms, and they are brought close through the sacrifice. And this is what is written: “A sacrifice to Him.” (Others say: The Name that emerges from the three verses 'And he journeyed,' 'And he came,' 'And he stretched out.' The first verse is arranged in the order of the verse; the letters of the second verse are in reverse order; and the third verse, which is 'And he stretched out,' is in the order of the verse. Each of the verses has 72 letters. It is found that in every single name of the 72 names emerging from these three verses... there are three letters... this is the Explicit Name that emerges from it... and it is forbidden to mention these. These are the 72 names that emerge and are divided into three parts, 24 for each part. And over each part of the three parts, a high minister is over them. And over each part, he has four directions for his name: East, West, North, South. And they are divided, and for every direction there are found... 24 forms...) And all of them are sealed with YHVH, EHYH, Shaddai, Elohim Chayim, Shaddai, High and Exalted, Inhabiting Eternity, Whose name is Holy and Exalted, YHVH. Blessed be the name of His glorious kingdom forever and ever.

Rabbi Ahala’a sat and expounded:

What is the meaning of “The Lord reigns, the Lord has reigned, the Lord shall reign forever and ever”? This is the Explicit Name that was placed at the head to combine and to mention, as it is written: “And they shall put My name upon the children of Israel.” Numbers 6:27 And it is a name of twelve [letters] within the name of the Priestly Blessing: “The Lord bless you,” etc., which are