112. “They walked and reached a certain etc.” They walked and reached a certain mountain, as the sun was setting. They began rattling the branches of a tree on the mountain against each other, and chanting a song. As they were walking, they heard a loud voice saying: “Holy sons of God, you who are scattered among the living in this world, you lamps of the members of the academy, gather to your places to delight with your Master in the Torah.” They became afraid and remained standing in their places, and [then] sat.

Explanation: “They walked and reached a certain mountain.” This is the mystical meaning of the mountain about which King David declared: “Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord, and who will stand in His holy place?” (Psalms 24:3). When they climbed the mountain the sun was setting, an allusion to the departure of their lights. The branches of the trees were rattling against each other, which is the mystical meaning of the conversing of the trees. They heard a song from them, in the mystical meaning of the verse: “Then all the trees of the wood shall sing for joy” (Psalms 96:12).

“They heard a loud voice etc.” That is, they heard a loud voice instructing them to return to their places to delight with the Lord and His Torah, that is, that they should descend from the mountain. It called them “holy sons of God” due to their sublime level. However, it [also] alluded to them that the people of this world are unworthy of dwelling together with them. This is the meaning of the allusion to them, “you who are scattered among the living in this world.” In other words, the people of this world are unsuitable for them, since they would be unable to tolerate each other.

Accordingly, “they became afraid,” and yet they did not descend from the mountain but arose, sat, and did not move from their places.