The inner altar and the candlestick

48. Rabbi Elazar says in relation to this portion: All the tasks of the candlestick and all the required preparations of it were already mentioned. Why is it REPEATED here a second time? HE RESPONDS: It is just that once the princes have offered their sacrifices on the altar and the necessary services required for it, the Scripture comes to relate the story of the candlestick that was prepared by Aaron, since the candlestick above, WHICH IS MALCHUT, and all its lamps, THAT ARE THE SFIROT, all shine through Aaron.

49. Come and behold the altar. Twelve princes were there to arrange and prepare it, and it was explained that the twelve represent the tribes to the four directions with four standards, SINCE THREE TRIBES WERE ASSIGNED TO EACH STANDARD and all TOGETHER were twelve. Everything was similar to above. THE ALTAR ABOVE, WHICH IS MALCHUT, RECEIVES FROM THE TWELVE PERMUTATIONS OF YUD HEI VAV HEI IN ZEIR ANPIN, WHICH ARE THE SECRET OF CHOCHMAH AND BINAH, TIFERET AND MALCHUT, IN EACH OF THE THREE COLUMNS, TOTALING TWELVE. The candlestick was assigned with the seven lamps to be lit by a priest, all similar to above, CORRESPONDING TO ZEIR ANPIN THAT ILLUMINATES CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD, YESOD AND MALCHUT OF MALCHUT. The candlestick stands by means of a sign and was produced by a miracle, FOR IT WAS MADE ON ITS OWN. This has been explained in relation to the making of the candlestick.

50. The inner altar and the candlestick are together for everyone's happiness, as it is written: "ointment and perfume (or 'incese') rejoice the heart" (Mishlei 27:9). OIL IS THE CANDLESTICK THAT IS MALCHUT THAT RECEIVES FROM CHOCHMAH, AND INCENSE IS THE INNER ALTAR. We have explained that there were two altars. One is innermost, AND THAT IS THE ALTAR FOR INCENSE and it is for happiness, AND CORRESPONDS TO BINAH. The outer one, THAT IS THE EXTERIOR ALTAR, is for sacrificial offerings, WHICH CORRESPONDS TO MALCHUT. Abundance flows from the inner altar, WHICH CORRESPONDS TO BINAH, to the one outside, WHICH IS MALCHUT. Whoever gazes and observes, understands and knows the uppermost Wisdom, that the secret of the matter is Adonai Yud Hei Vav Hei, SINCE THE INNER ALTAR IS YUD HEI VAV HEI, BINAH, AND THE OUTER IS ADONAI, MALCHUT. Therefore, incense is offered only when there was oil. THAT IS THE SECRET OF ONE UNIFICATION OF CHOCHMAH AND BINAH.

51. I discovered in the book of King Solomon that incense is for happiness and to eradicate death. What is the reason? It is because Judgment is prevalent from the outer ALTAR, WHICH IS MALCHUT. Happiness and gladness and the connection of light come from the inner ALTAR where all rejoicing exists, WHICH IS BINAH. When this is roused, THAT IS THE INNER, all Judgment disappears from here, FROM THE OUTER, and no Judgment can be executed. Therefore, the business of incense, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF THE INNER ONE, is to void death - SINCE WHEN THE INNER, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF BINAH, IS AWAKENED BY INCENSE, THE OUTER, WHICH IS MALCHUT, IS NOT CAPABLE OF CARRYING OUT JUDGMENT. Therefore, incense is the connection of everything and it is offered in the inner ALTAR, WHERE ALL HAPPINESS EXISTS. Praised are Yisrael in this world and the World to Come. About them, it is written: "and said to me, 'You are My servant, Yisrael, in whom I will be glorified'" (Yeshayah 49:3).