small, on the shore of the sea.

The ‘bariaḥ¹ **snake’: this is the one of whom it is stated: (Ex. 26:28) ... the middle pole¹ *within the planks... *– and this is the Middle Pillar which is called ‘middle’¹, because it is the Middle Pillar. Its two ‘fins’, right and left, are from where the Torah is given, its two ‘scales’ – the two pillars of truth².

footnotes: ¹ pole ¹ briaḥ ¹ tikhon ² Netzaḥ-Hod

Higher Shekhinah is the sea. Lower Shekhinah is: (Prov. 30:19) The way of a ship, in the heart¹² of the sea, which is the 32 mentions of ELQYM in the act of creation.

footnotes: ¹ lev ² 32

(Ps. 104:25) *... wherein is a swarming without number... *– as it says: (Song. 6:8) ... and maidens without number etc., and they are ‘decisions of halakhah’, which are: (Ps. 45:15) *... virgins following her, her companions... *of the Shekhinah.

(Ps. 104:25) ... small creatures – these are the letters of ADNY, ... together with large – these are the letters of YQV”Q, which are the chariots of the blessed Holy One and His Shekhinah.’

All the companions came to kiss him, but he flew away, and they could not see him at all.

Opened Rabbi El’azar and said: ‘Father! But there are seven seas,¹ and higher sea is above all of them, and it is stated about it: (Deut. 33:19) *... for the bounty of the seas will they suckle... *To whom do they give suckle?’

footnotes: ¹ See BT Baba Batra 74b

He said to him: ‘My son, (Zech. 4:2) ... seven into seven...are... tubes. And thus are the firmaments – seven into seven, and thus are the mountains – seven into seven, and so are the lands – seven into seven, the settlements – seven into seven, and their heads are two, and the mystery of the matter: (Gen. 7:9) *Two by two...

• (Gen. 7:2) *... seven by seven... *and all are male and female, and above, is one that is concealed and hidden, and so are the seven thrones – seven into seven, seven chambers – seven into seven, and so are ‘the appointed’ angels – seven and seven.¹

footnotes: ¹ See Pirqei de-Rabbi Eli’ezer Ch.4

The Leviathan of the sea is the Righteous-One, the head, which is the Middle Pillar, reaches to the seventh sea, which is the head of them all, and its two fins and two scales in four seas, are their dimensions.

The dimension of the tail of the snake, reaches to the final, seventh sea, – which includes the seven seas – about which it is stated: (Ps. 119:164) Seven times in the day I have praised you.’

Rabbi Shim’on said: ‘My son, behold, ‘masters of defensive shields’, are descending from above, dressed in armour, their bows are bows of fire, and their spears are of fire, and their swords are of flame.

They are all ‘masters of the eyes’, and certainly the masters of shields of the house of study, and they will be aroused with them as weapons, to fight the battle above.

And not only that, but behold ‘the great fish’ is coming – Rabbi Hamnuna the Elder, specifically, with many ‘fish’ – holy warriors of the scholars, who multiply in the sea.

Now it is required to cast a net for them, so that they may be in our domain, and for the masters of shields, to prepare instruments of war.

Now it is required to arrange: the sling, with the stones of the sling, the bow, with the arrows of the bow, with the spear, with the sword, (Ps. 35:2) Take hold of shield and buckler...

For there are masters of defensive shields who are battling with horses, and there are others who are infantry, upon whom it is stated – at the going out from the Egyptian exile – (Ex. 12:37) ... about six-hundred thousand on foot... etc.’

Arose Rabbi Shim’on, he opened a discourse, and said: (Mic. 6:2) *Hear, O mountains, the ‘argument’*¹ *of Y”Y... *Who is ‘argument’? This is the Shekhinah, Who is the RYV¹ of Y”Y – which is the same letters as RaBiY¹. RaV¹¹: for the sake of Her children, She is ‘argument’, with the titles: RaBY, and RaBaN, and RaBA.

footnotes: ¹ ryv ¹ argument ¹ Rabbi ¹ Rabbi ¹ arguing

Argument, certainly, with all those Tannaim and Amoraim – for She argues with them throughout the six orders of the Mishnah, for the sake of Her husband – Who is the Middle Pillar, inclusive of six ‘orders’¹. And about them it is stated: (Is. 27:5) *If they shall grasp my stronghold, it shall make peace for me, peace it shall make for me... *– two times peace: one in the Middle Pillar¹, and one in the Righteous-One¹, about which it is stated: (Is. 57:19) ... peace, peace, to the far and to the near...

footnotes: ¹ Ḥesed-to-Yesod ¹ Tipheret ¹ Yesod

For in exile, it is stated of the Middle Pillar: (Jer. 31:2) From afar Y”Y appeared to me... whereas the Righteous-One is close to Her, and it is stated because of it: (Prov. 27:10) ... better a close neighbour, than a distant brother.

And thus: Hear, O mountains... (Mic. 6:2) * *– these are the Patriarchs, *the argument of Y”Y *– this is the Shekhinah, and She argues with the Patriarchs, because they distance Her from Her husband, for they are called ‘Amoraim’¹ (Mic. 6:2) And the mighty-ones¹ *, foundations of the earth *– these are the ‘Tannaim’¹, and these TaNaYiM are EiTaNYM¹ with a reversal of

footnotes: ¹ Sages of the Gemara ¹ eiytanim ¹ Sages of the Mishnah ¹ mighty-ones