43. "When a man has taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war...and shall cheer his wife whom he has taken" (Devarim 24:5). This precept is for the groom to rejoice in his wife for one year, as it is written, "but he shall be free at home one year" (Ibid.), since these twelve months are hers. For the year is a bride, NAMELY MALCHUT THAT IS CALLED A YEAR, and the bride is present only with twelve months, as it is written, "AND HE MADE A MOLTEN SEA... It stood upon twelve oxen" (I Melachim 7:23-25). FOR THE SEA IS MALCHUT; TWELVE OXEN ARE THE SECRET OF FOUR SFIROT, CHOCHMAH, BINAH, TIFERET AND MALCHUT, EACH OF THREE COLUMNS, WHICH ARE ALWAYS TWELVE. And since the bride is perfected only with twelve, the groom needs to cheer her and her household, her and her equipment, as it is above. Hence it is written of Jacob, "and he took of the stones of that place" (Beresheet 28:11), THE PLACE BEING MALCHUT. There are twelve stones to that place, and whoever cheers the bride cheers her maids, HER SFIROT IN BRIYAH. There are twelve maids FOR THE SAME REASON. Everything pertains to the mystery of the year. For that reason the groom has to rejoice in his bride for one year.