Measuring line and measuring reed

236. He opened the discussion with the verse: "And He brought me there, and behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a thread of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed, and he stood by the gate" (Yechezkel 40:3). What Ezekiel saw in the mirror of prophecy was that man, who was a messenger clothed in linen, NAMELY GABRIEL.

237. Here he says "man," not "the man clothed in linen" (Yechezkel 10:2), for when he is on errand to deal Judgment or show it IN A VISION, he is "clothed in linen," but on a different mission he is differently clothed. As the mission differs, so do his appearance and clothes, ACCORDING TO THE MISSION. Indeed, he is always of the left side, GABRIEL IS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CHARIOT, dressed in various clothes, and his attendants of his side.

238. "Whose appearance was like the appearance of brass." Here he is clad with the garment of mountains of brass, called in the scripture "mountains of brass" (Zecharyah 6:1), and he, GABRIEL, brings measurement with him, with which to measure.

239. This MEASUREMENT, NAMELY THE MEASURING REED, is not the hard spark, stored, and concealed, but the measuring reed come down from THE HARD SPARK, coated by the light left by the holy spark when it was gone up to be engraved upon the scintillating, unknown sapphires. Therefore, this measuring reed is present in the measuring below, IN THIS WORLD.

240. Sometimes the measuring reed IS USED and sometimes the measuring line. Therefore, there is the thread of flax, WHICH IS THE MEASURING LINE, and the measuring reed with which to measure. All the measurements done by Ezekiel were made by the measuring reed, AND NOT BY THE THREAD OF FLAX, WHICH IS THE MEASURING LINE. At the construction of the Tabernacle, all the measurements were made by the measuring line.

241. In the Tabernacle, in the lower measurement by the measuring line, they used the thread OF FLAX. When it expanded, there was a knot each cubit, UP TO EACH KNOT THERE WAS ONE CUBIT LENGTH. And he measured using the unit of cubit, AND THOUGH HE MEASURED A NUMBER OF CUBITS, IT IS TERMED CUBIT, IN THE SINGULAR. It is therefore written, "28 cubit, and the breadth four cubit" (Shemot 36:9), and not "four cubits," because he was measuring using one cubit on each side, MEANING HE WAS NOT USING NEW CUBITS, BUT THE SAME CUBIT, MULTIPLYING IT ALONG THE SIDES.

242. THIS MEASUREMENT LINE comes out of the mystery of the high luminary, BINAH, and the measurement below IN MALCHUT IS DERIVED from the measurement above, BINAH. The measurement below contains one thousand five hundred aspects, twelve thousand cubits each, and they are all measured by the same cubit, AS EACH CUBIT EXPANDS TO GRASP THIS SIZE. This cubit OF THE MEASURING LINE measures it, and the measuring line expands to produce a second cubit, and measures ANOTHER CUBIT - the same in all measurements.

243. "twenty-eight cubit" is the length of one cubit. "And the breadth four cubit," refers also to the same cubit. It is found that one cubit is the length of thirty-two measures, as it is said: "and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure" (Yeshayah 40:12). These thirty-two MEASURES correspond to the thirty two paths OF WISDOM going out from above.

244. When the length was measured, and was found to contain four sides, CORRESPONDING TO CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET AND MALCHUT, seven cubits to each, CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD, YESOD AND MALCHUT, thus seven cubits to each of the four sides, in the secret of seven, amounting to the length of 28, because seven is the most high mystery. FOR SEVEN IS THE SECRET OF MALCHUT, THE SECRET OF LOWER CHOCHMAH. And all the 32 paths OF WISDOM are included in the seven, in the secret of the Holy Name, NAMELY, THE SECRET OF MALCHUT CALLED 'HOLY NAME'.

245. You may say that it is written, "the curtains were all of one size" (Shemot 36:9), MEANING THAT THEY ARE MANY CUBITS PER CURTAIN, AND THE SCRIPTURE SHOULD SAY THERE WERE ALL OF ONE SIZE. TO THIS HE REPLIES: Assuredly they were all of one size, THAT IS, ONE CUBIT. And though the measuring line expands one cubit after another, IT ADDS NOTHING TO THE FIRST CUBIT. All is in the secret OF THE MOCHIN OF the luminary above, BINAH, so there will be one measurement above and below, IN BINAH AND IN MALCHUT.

246. This is a measurement pertaining more to holiness, and there is another measurement that covers THE TEN CURTAINS, which is inside, NAMELY, THE COVERING OF THE CURTAINS OF GOATS' HAIR. One unit that covers the other is thirty-four in number. THE CURTAINS inside are 32 in number. This is the mystery of covering - 32 inside and 34 outside.

247. HE EXPLAINS: Since the former measurement is sacred, with the sacred colors "of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet" (Shemot 36:8). These are sacred colors, ALLUDING TO CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET AND MALCHUT, LINEN BEING CHESED; SCARLET, GVURAH; PURPLE, TIFERET; AND BLUE, MALCHUT. Its whole sum amounts to 32, 28 IN LENGTH AND FOUR IN BREADTH, ALTOGETHER 32. The other measurement OF GOATS' HAIR CURTAINS, which is outside, covering the former, amounts to 34 in number (Dalet-Lamed), NAMELY, THIRTY IN LENGTH AND FOUR IN BREADTH. To this alludes the verse, "Blessed is he who considers the poor (Heb. dal), Hashem will deliver him in the day of evil" (Tehilim 41:2), MEANING THAT in the day of evil, OF JUDGMENT, Hashem will deliver him. FOR THE CURTAINS OF GOATS' HAIR ALLUDE TO POVERTY AND JUDGMENT, COVERING AND PROTECTING HOLINESS, WHICH IS CURTAINS OF FINE TWINED LINEN...SO THAT THE EXTERNAL FORCES WOULD NOT NOURISH FROM THEM.

248. The secret of reckoning inside OF THE CURTAINS OF FINE TWINED LINEN...is the secret of the 32 PATHS OF WISDOM. Of the reckoning outside, it is said: "And you shall make curtains of goats' hair" (Shemot 26:7). Why goats (Heb. izim) IF THE NAME 'GOATS' INDICATES SEVERE (HEB. AZIM) AND RIGOROUS JUDGMENT? HE ANSWERS: The secret of its color gives it a place in the secret of holiness, BY ITS COVERING THE HOLINESS. Hence THERE IS NEED OF curtains of goats' hair, FOR THE JUDGMENT IN THEM PROTECTS HOLINESS, SO THE EXTERNAL FORCES WOULD NOT BE UNITED WITH IT, NAMELY WITH THE CURTAINS OF FINE TWINED LINEN... It is written, "I went down into the garden of nuts..."(Shir Hashirim 6:11). This verse was explained. Nevertheless, as the nut has a shell encircling it and covering its fruit, and its fruit is inside, so is everything pertaining to holiness. Holiness is inside and the Other Side outside. This is the inner meaning of the verse, "for the wicked man surrounds the righteous" (Chavakuk 1:4). Hence, it is called 'a nut', as explained elsewhere.

249. Come and see: On the outside, THE CURTAINS OF GOATS' HAIR, whatever is added, lessens, an example of which are the bulls on Sukkot that diminish SINCE THEY ARE SACRIFICED ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONS, WHICH ARE EXTERNAL FORCES. Also, here it is written about the inside, "and you shall make the Tabernacle with ten curtains" (Shemot 26:1). Of the outside, "eleven (Aramaic ashtei esreh) curtains" (Ibid. 7), is spelled with an additional letter. THE LETTER AYIN IS ADDED TO THE WORD SHTEI ESREH (LIT. 'TWELVE'), this reducing the number. THE NUMBER TWELVE IS REDUCED BY ONE, DUE TO THE ADDED AYIN TO SHTEI ESREH (TO ASHTEI). Thus adding to reckoning is lessening. There is addition in number in the words: "the length of one curtain shall be thirty cubit, and the breadth of one curtain four cubit" (Ibid. 8), WHILE THE INNER CURTAINS WERE ONLY 28 CUBIT LONG. Adding in number is lessening, for it amounts to 34 (Dalet-Lamed), the most severe connotation of poverty being poor (Heb. dal). And that is why, what is added, lessens.

250. But when it lessens the reckoning, it is elevated, rising to the secret of 32 PATHS OF WISDOM, the secret of the whole Faith, MALCHUT, the secret of the Holy Name. Therefore, DIMINISHING is rising and ADDING is diminishing. This one adds yet diminishes, and that one diminishes yet adds, the one inside IS THE CURTAINS OF FINE TWINED LINEN, THE SECRET OF DIMINISHING YET ADDING, and the other outside, NAMELY, THE CURTAINS OF GOATS' HAIR IS THE SECRET OF ADDING YET LESSENING.

251. The measuring line started to stretch and measured the size of the boards, as it is written, "And he made boards for the Tabernacle of acacia wood, standing up" (Shemot 36:20). These BOARDS are the secret of the Seraphim IN THE WORLD OF BRIYAH. It was established, that it is said: "Acacia wood, standing up," and "Seraphim were standing up" (Yeshayah 6:2); BOTH VERSES REFER TO SERAPHIM.

252. The measurements are - "The length of a board was ten cubits, and the breadth of a board one cubit and a half" (Shemot 36:21). It is written, "ten cubits" and not 'ten cubit', AS SAID OF THE CURTAINS. These TEN CUBIT are three times three, which are nine, CORRESPONDING TO CHOCHMAH, BINAH, DA'AT, CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD OF THE SERAPHIM, and one hovering above them, the spirit hovering over them.

253. We already mentioned the size of the cubit, 28 IN LENGTH, AND FOUR IN BREADTH, 32 IN ALL. In here, the proportions are eleven and a half, TEN IN LENGTH AND ONE CUBIT AND A HALF CUBIT IN BREADTH, ELEVEN AND A HALF CUBITS IN ALL, amounting TO TWELVE but do not amount BECAUSE THEY ARE ONE-HALF SHORT, for the wheels are missing. It was explained in relation to the mystery of the Holy Chariot, that there are twenty BOARDS, ten to the right side and ten to the left side, reaching up to the high Seraphim. Then the secret of holiness rises until all are awakened in the secret of the middle bar. That is why they have but an incomplete half, BEING ONLY ELEVEN AND A HALF INSTEAD OF THE COMPLETE TWELVE.

254. The secret of this measurement, OF ELEVEN AND A HALF, multiplied by the twenty boards is 230. All this is subject to measuring and reckoning. Each number measured in the measuring pertains to the secret of the Seraphim.

255. The curtains of the Tabernacle, which we said to contain high mysteries, are the secret of heaven, NAMELY, ZEIR ANPIN. It was explained in the secret of the verse, "who stretches out the heavens like a curtain" (Tehilim 104:2). Their inner meaning comes of the said reckoning, 32. There are curtains pertaining to one principle, THE CURTAINS OF FINE TWINED LINEN...and there are curtains pertaining to another principle, THE CURTAINS OF GOATS' HAIR. All is within the secret of above, OF THE ASPECT OF HEAVEN, for us to know wisdom in each and every aspect and thing. Therefore, man distinguishes between good and evil, NAMELY, BETWEEN THE CURTAINS OF FINE TWINED LINEN, WHICH ARE GOOD, AND THE CURTAINS OF GOATS' HAIR, WHICH ARE EVIL, between the secret of Chochmah, and something not established by Chochmah, BUT BY CHASSADIM, NAMELY BETWEEN THE CURTAINS OF FINE TWINED LINEN ...UNDER THE RULE OF CHASSADIM, AND THE BOARDS UNDER THE RULE OF CHOCHMAH. In the secret of the first measurement, IN THE SECRET OF CUBIT, it was explained how many aspects it embraced, NAMELY ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED ASPECTS, TWELVE THOUSAND CUBIT EACH.

256. This is the secret of the Ark: which is reckoned whence it takes, whence it receives and what it possesses. HE EXPLAINS: It takes from the two sides, RIGHT AND LEFT. ALSO, WHATEVER it receives IS from the same two sides. Therefore, there is one cubit on this side, RIGHT, and one cubit on that side, LEFT, and a half cubit it has on its own. Hence it is written, "two cubits and a half was the length of it" (Shemot 37:1), two cubits from the two sides, RIGHT AND LEFT, and a half of its own, regarding length. It is one cubit and a half wide and high; one CUBIT from the side which takes more, the same as it took from right and left, and a half of its own, for a thing dwells but upon some substance, hence there is a half in each and every reckoning. And that is why the Ark, WHICH IS MALCHUT, receives from all, and is found to contain the secret of the reckoning of them all.

257. It was explained why THE ARK was inlaid with gold inside and outside, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF THE INCLUSION OF THE ILLUMINATION OF CHOCHMAH THAT IS CALLED 'GOLD'. This is the dimension established in the first measurement OF THE SAID CURTAINS, and everything is based on the same principle. The table too fits the first measurements OF THE CURTAINS.

258. But the dimensions of the Ark, found in the secret of the Torah, and the first dimensions OF THE CURTAINS, mentioned by my father, RABBI SHIMON, were not to be made MORE USE of than he revealed to the superior wise men, so they may know from it the secret of wisdom and distinguish between good and evil, between supernal Wisdom and the other Wisdom IN MALCHUT. All the other constructions of the Tabernacle were measured by the cubit, LIKE THE CURTAINS, except for the measuring of the breastplate, which was made by the span, as was explained.

259. Come and see: All the tunics, OF AARON AND HIS SONS, were made in the mystery of holiness, AND THOUGH THERE ARE NO SIZES MENTIONED, it was all in the secret of six, CHESED, INCLUDING THE SIX DIRECTIONS CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD, and made by six THREADS, THE SECRET OF CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN, ESTABLISHED and existing by six. All that was made IN THE TABERNACLE was to be dressed by and corrected by the six, CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN, and in the secret of six, CHESED.

260. All THE MEASUREMENTS IN THE TABERNACLE WERE in the secret of the measuring line. The measurements made by Ezekiel were made by the measuring reed, because that house is destined to remain with the same walls, and stone walls, the same entrances and the same doors, everything according to measure. But in the future, BY THE MEASUREMENTS OF THE MANSION OF EZEKIEL, WHICH WILL BE IN THE FUTURE, it is said of that measure "the side chambers were broader as they wound higher and higher" (Yechezkel. 41:7). For when they will start to build using the measuring reed, it will stretch higher and higher in length and breadth, the mansion will expand on all sides, and none will think ill of it, as explained by the verse, "and Damascus shall be His resting place" (Zecharyah 9:1). For at that time there will be no Judgment upon the world, and all will be established firmly and completely, as it is said: "and be troubled no more; neither shall the children of wickedness torment them any more..." (II Shmuel 7:10).

261. Come and see: All the measuring and measurements, MENTIONED OF THE HOUSE OF EZEKIEL, are all present in this world, so it may be a reflection of above, to connect this world to the upper world so all will be one in one mystery. But at that time when the Holy One, blessed be He will bestir Himself to renew the world, then all the worlds will be in the secret of one, LIKE THE UPPER WORLD, and the glory of the Holy One, blessed be He WILL BE in them all. And "in that day shall Hashem be One, and His Name One" (Zecharyah 14:9). HIS NAME, THE SECRET OF MALCHUT, IS ONE ON ITS OWN LIKE YUD HEI VAV HEI.