394. Rabbi Elazar said: THE VERSE "Let there be lights (me'orot)" WITHOUT THE VAV REFERS TO MALCHUT FROM THE ASPECT OF the mirror that does not shine by itself, but by the reflection of the upper lights, just as THE GLASS WALLS OF the lantern reflect the light of the candle inside. IN THE SAME MANNER, THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE TAKES THE LIGHTS FROM THE UPPER GRADES AND BESTOWS THEM ON THE LOWER BEINGS, THOUGH IT HAS NO LIGHT OF HER OWN. It is written: "Behold, the ark of the covenant (of) the master of all the earth" (Yehoshua 3:11). "Behold, the ark" refers to the opaque mirror - MALCHUT, THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE OF ZEIR ANPIN. "The covenant" is the shining mirror. "Behold, the ark" refers to Me'orot WITHOUT THE LETTER VAV, WHICH MEANS THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE BEFORE ZEIR ANPIN THAT IS CALLED THE WRITTEN TORAH JOINS HER. The ark is a chest in which the Written Torah, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN, is laid. The covenant is the sun, NAMELY ZEIR ANPIN, which shines on THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE. She is ALSO CALLED 'the covenant,' AS HE IS, WHEN SHE IS UNITED WITH HIM. THIS IS WHY SHE IS DESCRIBED IN THE VERSE AS "THE ARK OF THE COVENANT." SO SHE IS indeed "the ark of the covenant (of) the master of all the earth," BECAUSE ONLY WHEN SHE IS UNITED WITH ZEIR ANPIN, WHO IS CALLED THE COVENANT, IS SHE CALLED "THE MASTER OF ALL THE EARTH," LIKE HER HUSBAND, ZEIR ANPIN. WHY? BECAUSE the covenant, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN, is CALLED "The master of all the earth."