"The chariots of Pharaoh and his host"

Synopsis

We are told that in the time to come, the Holy One, blessed be He, will wage a great and powerful war against the nations in order to honor His Name. Rabbi Yehuda narrates a dialogue between God and the angel who was appointed over the sea, wherein we learn that when He created the sea it was on condition that it would split for the children of Yisrael. Rabbi Elazar says that all the Chariots and hosts above were given into the hands of Judgment of Malchut, called the 'Great Sea' to break them in their level; when they were broken, then those below were broken and lost in the sea. He returns to the subject of the ten fingers of the hands, corresponding to the ten saying with which the Holy One, blessed be He was afterwards named. Rabbi Elazar says that all the ten plagues that He caused in Egypt were all by one hand, because the left hand was included in the right.

Now Rabbi Yitzchak begins to describe the seven firmaments created by God, in each of which stars are stationed and fly; above them all is Aravot, the seventh heaven. Above Aravot is the firmament of the four holy beasts, that are comparable to all those that are below them. He talks of the seven depths and the seven sanctuaries, then of the sea that is Malchut where all the fish swim and gather and descend, illuminating downward; all the Chariots are called by their name. The dominion of the Other Side is broken by the strong power of Hashem, at the splitting of the sea.

Chariot Pharaoh, The Seas War

259. Come and behold, all the time that the Holy One, blessed be He, arouses war in the world, those above and those below, NAMELY, THE NATION BELOW AND THEIR PATRONS ABOVE, are dislodged from their places, as we have established. This is the meaning of the verse, "The chariots of Pharaoh and his host has He thrown into the sea" (Shemot 15:4). And in the time to come, the Holy One, blessed be He, shall wage a great and powerful war against the nations in order to glorify His Name, as it is written, "Then Hashem shall go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights in the day of battle" (Zecharyah 14:3), and, "Thus will I magnify Myself and sanctify Myself; and I will make Myself known..." (Yechezkel 38:23).

259. תָּא חֲזֵי, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִתְּעַר קְרָבָא בְּעָלְמָא, עִלָּאֵי וְתַתָּאֵי אִתְעַקְּרוּ מֵאַתְרַיְיהוּ, כְּמָה דְּאוֹקִימְנָא הה"ד מַרְכְּבוֹת פַּרְעֹה וְחֵילוֹ יָרָה בַיָּם. וּלְזִמְנָא דְּאָתֵי, זַמִין קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְאַגָּחָא קְרָבָא עִלָּאָה וְתַקִּיפָא בַּעֲמַמְיָא, בְּגִין לְאוֹקְרָא שְׁמֵיהּ, הה"ד וְיָצָא יְיָ' וְנִלְחַם בַּגּוֹיִם הָהֵם כַּיּוֹם הִלָּחֲמוֹ בְּיוֹם קְרָב וּכְתִיב וְהִתְגַּדִּלְתִּי וְהִתְקַדִּשְׁתִּי וְנוֹדַעְתִּי וְגוֹ.'

Angels Egyptians Seas Sin Waters

260. Rabbi Yehuda opened the discussion, saying: "The waters saw You, Elohim, the waters saw You; they were afraid..." (Tehilim 77:17). At the time that Yisrael crossed the sea, the Holy One, blessed be He, said to the angel, who was appointed over the sea: 'Divide your waters.' He asked Him, 'Why?' He said to him, 'In order that My children may cross through you.' He said to Him, 'breaking the yoke of the reckoning is true,' MEANING FORGIVENESS OF SINS IS TRUE, BECAUSE THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, INDEED FORGIVES AND PARDONS SINS-'but what is the difference between the two? IF YOU FORGIVE THE CHILDREN OF YISRAEL, THEN ALSO FORGIVE THE EGYPTIANS.'

260. ר' יְהוּדָה פָּתַח וְאָמַר, רָאוּךָ מַּיִם אֱלֹהִים רָאוּךָ מַּיִם יָחִילוּ וְגוֹ,' בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּעָבְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל יַת יַמָּא, אָמַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְמַלְאָכָא דִּי מְמָנָא עַל יַמָּא, פָּלִיג מֵימָךְ. א"ל לָמָּה. א"ל בְּגִין דְּבָנַי יַעַבְרוּן בְּגַוָּוךְ. אָמַר לֵיהּ, פּוּרְקָנָא דְּקִיטְנָא קְשׁוֹט. מ"ש אִלֵּין מֵאִלֵּין.

Angels Chariot Creation Pharaoh, The Seas Waters

261. THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, said to him, It was on this condition that I made the sea when I created the world, MEANING THE CONDITION THAT IT WOULD BE SPLIT FOR THE CHILDREN OF YISRAEL. What did the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He roused His might and the waters folded. This is what is meant by, "The waters saw You, Elohim, the waters saw You: they were afraid." The Holy One, blessed be He, said TO THE PATRON ANGEL OF THE SEA: Slay all these multitudes and afterwards cast them out. Afterwards the sea covered them, as it is written, "The chariots of Pharaoh and his host has He thrown into the sea."

261. א"ל עַל, תְּנַאי דָּא, עֲבָדִית לְיַמָּא כַּד בָּרָאתִי עָלְמָא. מַה עָבֵיד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, אִתְּעַר גְּבוּרְתָּא דִּילֵיהּ, וְאִתְקְמָטוּ מַיָּא. הה"ד רָאוּךָ מַּיִם אֱלֹהִים רָאוּךָ מַּיִם יָחִילוּ. א"ל קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, קְטוֹל כָּל אִינּוּן אֹכְלוֹסִין, לְבָתַר אַרְמִי לוֹן לְבַר. לְבָתַר חָפֵי יַמָּא עָלַיְיהוּ, הה"ד מַרְכְּבוֹת פַּרְעֹה וְחֵילוֹ יָרָה בַיָּם.

Chariot Elazar Grades Hosts

262. אָמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, פּוּק חָמֵי כַּמָּה רְתִיכִין עָבֵד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְעֵילָּא, כַּמָּה אֹכְלוֹסִין, כַּמָּה חַיָּילִין, וְכֻלְּהוּ קְשִׁירִין אִלֵּין בְּאִלֵּין. כֻּלְּהוּ רְתִיכִין אִלֵּין לְאִלֵּין, דַּרְגִּין עַל דַּרְגִּין, וּמִסִּטְרָא דִּשְׂמָאלָא מִתְעָרִין רְתִיכִין דְּלָא קַדִּישִׁין שַׁלִּיטִין. וְכֻלְּהוּ דַּרְגִּין יְדִיעָן לְעֵילָּא.

Beasts Chariot Firstborn Grades Hosts Pharaoh, The

263. וְהָא אִתְּעַרְנָא בִּבְכוֹר פַּרְעֹה, דְּהוּא דַּרְגָּא חַד, דְּקָטַל קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וְתָבַר לֵיהּ מְשׁוּלְשֶׁלֵיהּ תַּקִּיפָא, תְּחוֹת שׁוּלְטָנֵיהּ, כַּמָּה רְתִיכִין וְכַמָּה חַיָּילִין דְּקוּזְמִיטִין מִסְּטָר שְׂמָאלָא, מִנְּהוֹן אֲחִידָן בַּאֲתָר עִלָּאָה דְּשׁוּלְטָנוּתָא דִּלְהוֹן, וּמִנְהוֹן אֲחִידָן בְּמַלְכוּתָא דִּלְעֵילָּא. מִנְּהוֹן אֲחִידָן בָּתַר אַרְבַּע חִיוָן, כְּמָה דְּאִתְּמַר.

Chariot Egyptians Grades Judgment Pharaoh, The Seas

264. וְכֻלְּהוּ אִתְמְסָרוּ בִּידֵיהּ, בְּדִינָא דְּמַלְכוּתָא, דְּאִקְרֵי יַמָּא רַבָּא, לְתַבְרָא לוֹן מִדַּרְגֵּיהוֹן, וְכַד אִינּוּן אִתְּבָּרוּ לְעֵילָּא, כָּל אִינּוּן דִּלְתַתָּא אִתְּבָּרוּ, וְאִתְאֲבִידוּ בְּיַמָּא תַּתָּאָה. הה"ד, מַרְכְּבוֹת פַּרְעֹה וְחֵילוֹ יָרָה בַיָּם. בַיָּם סְתָם.

Grades Likenesses Sea of Suf Seas

265. וּמִבְחַר שָׁלִישָׁיו טֻבְּעוּ בְיַם סוּף. וּמִבְחַר שָׁלִישָׁיו, הָא אִתְּמַר, וְשָׁלִישִׁים עַל כֻּלּוֹ, כֻּלְּהוּ דַּרְגִּין תְּרֵין וְחָד. אִלֵּין עַל אִלֵּין. כְּגַוְונָא עִלָּאָה הָכִי אִתְעָבֵידוּ. וְכֻלְּהוּ אִתְמְסָרוּ בִּידָהָא, לְאִתָּבְּרָא מִשּׁוּלְטָנֵיהוֹן, אִלֵּין וְאִלֵּין.

Chariot Edom Egypt Garments Pharaoh, The Plagues Seas Ten

266. Come and behold, we have learned that the ten plagues that the Holy One, blessed be He, caused in Egypt were all by one hand, because the left hand was included in the right. And ten fingers were included in each other, corresponding to the ten sayings with which the Holy One, blessed be He, was afterwards named. Corresponding to them all, the one of the sea was strong and great and dominating, as is said, "And afterward (lit. 'the last one') He afflicted her more" (Yeshayah 8:23). This is what is meant by, "The chariots of Pharaoh and his host has he thrown into the sea." In the time to come, the Holy One, blessed be He, shall slay multitudes, and different officers, and leaders of Edom. This is what is said, "Who is this, who comes from Edom, with crimsoned garments from Batzrah?" (Yeshayah 63:1).

266. ת"ח, הָא אִתְּמַר דְּכֻלְּהוּ עֶשֶׂר מָחָאן דְּעָבֵד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּמִצְרַיִם, כֹּלָּא הֲוָה יְדָא חֲדָא, דִּשְׂמָאלָא אַכְלִיל בִּימִינָא. דְּעֶשֶׂר אֶצְבְּעָן כְּלִילָן דָּא בְּדָא, לָקֳבֵל עֶשֶׂר אֲמִירָן, דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִתְקְרֵי בְּהוּ לְבָתַר. לָקֳבְלֵיהּ דְּכֹלָּא הַאי דְּיַמָּא, תַּקִּיף וְרַב וְשַׁלִּיטָא. כד"א, וְהָאַחֲרוֹן הִכְבִּיד. הה"ד מַרְכְּבוֹת פַּרְעֹה וְחֵילוֹ יָרָה בַיָּם וְגוֹ.' וּלְזִמְנָא דְּאָתֵי, זַמִּין קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְקַטְּלָא אֹכְלוֹסִין וְקוּזְתוּרְנָטִין וְקוֹנְטְירִיסִין וְקָלַטְירוֹלְסִין דֶּאֱדוֹם הה"ד מִי זֶה בָּא מֵאֱדוֹם חֲמוּץ בְּגָדִים מִבָּצְרָה.

Aravot Astrology Chariot Earth Firmaments Grades Heaven Heavens Pharaoh, The Rain Seas Seven Stars Water Wind

267. "The chariots of Pharaoh and his host has He thrown into the sea." Rabbi Yitzchak opened the discussion, saying: "When His voice resounds with the great mass of water in the heavens, and He raises vapors from the ends of the earth; when He makes lightning flashes among the rain, and brings forth the wind out of His storehouses" (Yirmeyah 10:13). We have learned that the Holy One, blessed be He, made seven firmaments CORRESPONDING TO CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD, YESOD, AND MALCHUT, and stars are stationed in every firmament, MEANING FROM THE ASPECT OF "AND RETURNED" (YECHEZKEL 1:14). Stars fly in every single firmament, MEANING LEVELS FROM THE ASPECT OF "RAN" (IBID.). And above all of them is Aravot, WHICH IS THE FIRST THREE SFIROT OF THE FIRMAMENTS.

267. מַרְכְּבוֹת פַּרְעֹה וְחֵילוֹ יָרָה בַיָּם. רִבִּי יִצְחָק פָּתַח, לְקוֹל תִּתּוֹ הֲמוֹן מַיִם בַּשָּׁמַיִם וַיַעֲלֶה נְשִׂיאִים מִקְּצֵה הָאָרֶץ בְּרָקִים לַמָּטָר עָשָׂה וַיּוֹצֵא רוּחַ מֵאוֹצְרוֹתָיו. הָא תָּנֵינָן, שִׁבְעָה רְקִיעִין עָבֵד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וּבְכָל רְקִיעָא וּרְקִיעָא כֹּכָבִין קְבִיעִין, וְרַהֲטִין בְּכָל רְקִיעָא וּרְקִיעָא, וּלְעֵילָּא מִכֻּלְּהוּ עֲרָבוֹת.

Aravot Firmaments Hundred Year

268. וְכָל רְקִיעָא וּרְקִיעָא בְּהִלּוּכוֹ מָאתַן שְׁנִין, וְרוּמֵיהּ חֲמֵשׁ מְאָה שְׁנִין. וּבֵין רְקִיעָא וּרְקִיעָא, חֲמֵשׁ מְאָה שְׁנִין. וְהַאי עֲרָבוֹת הִלּוּכוֹ בְּאוֹרְכֵיהּ, אֶלֶף וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאָה שְׁנִין. וּפוּתְיֵהּ, אֶלֶף וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאָה שְׁנִין, וּמִזִּיוָא דִּילֵיהּ, נָהֲרִין כָּל אִינּוּן רְקִיעִין.

Aravot Beasts Eagle Firmaments Head Lion Ox Ten

269. We have learned that above Aravot is the firmament of the living creatures, WHERE THERE ARE FOUR LIVING CREATURES, LION, OX, EAGLE AND MAN. The hoofs of the living creatures and their height resemble all of those THAT ARE UNDER THEM, BECAUSE THE UPPER ONE CONTAINS WITHIN IT ALL THAT IS BELOW IT. Above them are the ankles of living creatures, and they resemble all of those THAT ARE BELOW THEM. The shanks of the living creatures resemble all of those THAT ARE BELOW. The thighs of the living creatures resemble all of those THAT ARE BELOW. The buttocks of the living creatures resemble all of those THAT ARE BELOW, and the torsos of the living creatures resemble all of those THAT ARE BELOW. The wings resemble all of those THAT ARE BELOW. Their necks resemble all of those THAT ARE BELOW. The heads of the living creatures resemble all of those THAT ARE BELOW. HE ENUMERATES HERE TEN ASPECTS CORRESPONDING TO TEN SFIROT. HE ASKS, What is the meaning of 'resemble all of those?' AND HE ANSWERS, THEY ARE CONSIDERED comparable to all those THAT ARE BELOW THEM.

269. וְהָא תָּנֵינָן, לְעֵילָּא מֵעֲרָבוֹת, רָקִיעַ דְּחַיּוֹת. פַּרְסוֹת דְּחַיּוֹת קַדִּישִׁין וְרוּמְהוֹן, כְּכֻלְּהוּ. לְעֵילָּא מִנְּהוֹן קַרְסוּלַיִן דְּחַיּוֹת כְּכֻלְּהוּ. שׁוֹקֵי הַחַיּוֹת, כְּכֻלְּהוּ. אַרְכּוּבִין דְּחַיּוֹת, כְּכֻלְּהוּ. יַרְכִין דְּחַיּוֹת, כְּכֻלְּהוּ. עַגְבֵי דְּחַיּוֹת, כְּכֻלְּהוּ. וְגוּפָא דְּחַיּוֹת כְּכֻלְּהוּ. גַּדְפַּיְיהוּ, כְּכֻלְּהוּ. וְצַוָּארַיְהוּ, כְּכֻלְּהוּ. רָאשֵׁי הַחַיּוֹת, כְּכֻלְּהוּ. מַאי כְּכֻלְּהוּ. כָּקֳבְלֵי כֻּלְּהוּ.

Beasts Earth Firmaments Seven

270. וְכַל שַׁיְיפָא וְשַׁיְיפָא דִּבְחַיּוֹת, לָקֳבֵל שִׁבְעָה תְּהוֹמִין, וְלָקֳבֵל שִׁבְעָה הֵיכָלִין וְלָקֳבֵל מֵאַרְעָא לִרְקִיעָ. וְלָקֳבֵל מֵרְקִיעָ לִרְקִיעָ, וְשִׁיעוּרָא דְּכֻלְּהוּ וְרוּמְהוֹן עֶשְׂרִין וַחֲמִשָּׁה אַלְפִין חוּלָקִין, מִשִּׁיעוּרָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, כְּמָה דְּאוֹקִימְנָא.

Beasts Chariot Firmaments Head Likenesses Living Creatures

Beasts Chariot Corners Fish Grades Seas

272. Below the sea, WHICH IS MALCHUT, dwell all the fish of the sea. They swim and gather in their four corners - WHICH ARE CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET AND MALCHUT - and descend in their level, MEANING THEY ILLUMINATE FROM ABOVE DOWNWARDS, and all the Chariots are called by their name. Below these go the small ones, levels upon levels, as it is written, "So is this great and wide sea, wherein are creeping things innumerable, both small and great beasts" (Tehilim 104:25). We have already established these things.

272. מִתְּחוֹת יַמָּא שָׁרָאן כֻּלְּהוּ נוּנֵי יַמָּא, וְשָׁטָאן, אִתְכְּנָפוּ בְּזָוִיהוֹן אַרְבַּע, נַחְתִּין בְּדַרְגַּיְיהוּ, וְכֻלְּהוּ רְתִיכִין אִקְרוּן בִּשְׁמָהָן. מִתְּחוֹת אִלֵּין, אַזְלִין וְשָׁאטִין אִינּוּן זְעִירִין, דַּרְגִּין עַל דַּרְגִּין, דִּכְתִּיב זֶה הַיָּם גָּדוֹל וּרְחַב יָדַיִם שָׁם רֶמֶשׂ וְאֵין מִסְפָּר חַיּוֹת קְטַנּוֹת עִם גְּדוֹלוֹת. וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא מִלֵּי.

Asiyah Briyah Chariot Holiness (Kedushah) Kedushah (Holiness) Other Side Pharaoh, The Sea of Suf Seas Worlds Yetzirah

273. In the lower left side there is the dominion of the Other Side. FOR, "ELOHIM HAS MADE THE ONE AS WELL AS THE OTHER" (KOHELET 7:14). AND TO EVERYTHING THAT IS IN BRIYAH, YETZIRAH, ASIYAH OF HOLINESS, THERE IS A CORRESPONDING ONE IN THE OTHER SIDE. And they grasp onto those above, FOR THEY NURTURE FROM HOLINESS. AND NOW, AT THE SPLITTING OF THE SEA OF REEDS, they descend, broken by the strong power of Holiness, as we have established, "The chariots of Pharaoh and his host..."