73. “And corresponding to these four times etc.” And corresponding to these four times, as it is stated: “Then He saw it”; “and told it”; He established it”; “and also inquired after it,” the Holy One, blessed be He, created what He created. Before He performed His action, He first brought forth four words, as it is stated: Bereshit bara Elohim et [“In the beginning God created”], which are four, and it is subsequently written**: HaShamayim [“the heavens”]. These correspond to the four times that the Holy One, blessed be He, looked in the Torah before He brought out His action for His labor.**

Explanation: “And corresponding to these four times etc.” Those four times are the mystical meaning of Ḥokhma, Bina, Tiferet, and Malkhut: “Then He saw it” is Ḥokhma; “and declared it” is Bina; “He established it” is Ze’er Anpin; “and also inquired after it” is Malkhut. After those four enclothings, “the Holy One, blessed be He, created what He created.” This is also alluded to by the first four words of the Torah: Bereshit is Ḥokhma; bara is Bina; Elohim is Ze’er Anpin; et is Malkhut. After those four enclothings, the heavens were created.