The third chamber of the Other Side, Dumah, corresponding to the name 'foe' of the Evil Inclination

866. The third chamber is dark and somber, for there is no light in it whatsoever. It is darker than the first CHAMBERS. It is called 'Dumah', corresponding to the name OF THE EVIL INCLINATION foe. There are four openings to this chamber, one on this side, another on that side, and so on.

867. There is a chief in charge of the first opening, sustained by the anger in the world, and when Judgment is upon the world, this chief that dwells in that gate takes weapons and puts them at the entrance to the synagogue. He is called 'Sakafortaya', and is the stumbling of the world. Of this it is written, "The way of the wicked is like darkness: they know not at what they stumble" (Mishlei 4:19). When he is in power, and there is Judgment upon the world, he goes to see who walks alone in a public place, and if he sees him, he may cause him harm and weaken his fortune.

868. On the second opening there is another chief, ready to receive the verdicts, NAMELY, THE NOTES UPON WHICH THE VERDICTS ARE WRITTEN. This is Sangadiel, under whom there are complainants and accusers in power, ready to receive these verdicts. THIS CHIEF stands at the SECOND opening.

869. When he receives the verdict FROM THE CHIEFTAIN MALKIEL, OF THE FIRST OPENING OF THE THIRD CHAMBER OF HOLINESS, he stands at this opening, then descends into the dark gates below, to the one called 'grave', NAMELY, TO THE SECOND CHAMBER OF THE OTHER SIDE, and to the one called 'pit', WHICH IS THE FIRST CHAMBER OF THE OTHER SIDE, that are below. There are several thousands and tens of thousands of officers, whose duty it is to execute judgment in the world. Justice is concluded by verdict.

870. A chief named Angerayon is over the third opening. He is in charge over all illness and pains, trembling and the fire within the bones, NAMELY, WHICH DO NOT CAUSE DEATH, DRAWN FROM THE JUDGMENTS OF THE LEFT. Many thousands and tens of thousands of officers come out from him, in charge together with him over all the illnesses and pains, as we learned.

871. In the fourth opening there is a spirit born when the moon was in diminution. He is called 'Askara', in charge over the death of children. He comes before CHILDREN, laughs with them until eventually he kills them. He is seen before them in the guise of a woman, like the child's mother, suckles them, laughs at them, grabs them and kills them.

872. In the middle of this chamber stands a spirit called 'Agirison', in charge over those who died when they were between thirteen and twenty years of age. Their death COMES BY THE HAND OF THAT CHIEF, as we explained, by his joining the serpent we mentioned, which abides by him and follows him. For that reason the Angel of Death is called 'very good', as it is written, "and, behold, it was very good" (Beresheet 1:31), which we explained TO BE THE ANGEL OF DEATH.

873. From this place come and spread out two spirits called 'wrath' and 'fury', appointed over all those who are rebuked by someone who is occupied in the Torah, NAMELY, THAT HE WHO STUDIES THE TORAH SCOLDS THEM FOR NOT WALKING THE PATH OF TRUTH. They trust him, HIS GOODNESS, and are unaffected by that; also those who laugh and mock at the words of the Torah and of the words of the sages.

874. From wrath and fury come out some thousands and tens of thousands. They all come out and hover above people who study the Torah, or are occupied in the precepts, and walk in their ways, to make them sad instead of rejoicing IN THE TORAH AND THE PRECEPTS THEY ARE OCCUPIED WITH. Moses was afraid of these two when Yisrael sinned BY THE MAKING OF THE CALF, and he descended from the mountain, as it is written, "for I was afraid of the wrath and fury" (Devarim 9:19).

875. Under these, WRATH AND FURY, there is a spirit appointed over the evil tongued. For when men start to slander, the evil unholy spirit above, called 'Sachsicha', is bestirred, dwells upon this stirring of the evil tongue that men let loose, and causes, by that arousal of the evil tongue, death, sword, and killing in the world. Woe to those who awaken this Evil Side and do not guard their mouth and tongue, nor care for this. They do not know that awakening above depends upon a awakening below, either good or bad.

876. Come and see: When the evil tongue is awakened below, a slant serpent above raises its scales TO STAND UPRIGHT, and stirs from head to toe. The scales are all those who transgress the law and justice outside.

877. They bestir to grab that evil word THE MAN SAID, and awaken the "piercing serpent" (Yeshayah 27:1), THE MALE SERPENT. Then the whole evil body of that serpent bestirs, from head to toe, to damage all the chambers of which we talked. Then all the scales on the skin come off, and the skin is shed and comes down. The body, WITHOUT SKIN AND SCALES, comes up aroused to be an accuser above.

878. Come and see: Though there is a set time for all the serpents in the world to shed their skin, NAMELY, EVERY SEVEN YEARS, NEVERTHELESS, they shed it only when the evil tongue is stirred below. Then the evil serpent above is aroused, and sheds its skin and scales. This goes up and that goes down, MEANING THAT THE BODY GOES UP AGAINST BINAH, AND THE SKIN AND SCALES COME OFF IT AND GO DOWN. This sloughing OF SKIN AND SCALES is difficult for the serpent, because it is separated from its spouse, NAMELY, THE SKIN AND SCALES ARE THE ASPECT OF MALCHUT OF THE SERPENT, THE SPOUSE OF THE SERPENT. WHY WOULD IT DO THIS - BE SEPARATED FROM ITS MALCHUT? BECAUSE if all were united, NAMELY, WITH MALCHUT, THE SKIN AND SCALES WHICH ARE THE ASPECT OF FIERCE JUDGMENT, the world would not have been able to bear it. IT IS THEREFORE THE CORRECTION OF THE WORLD. WITH ALL THAT, all this is caused by the arousal of the evil tongue below. THIS MEANS THAT THOUGH IT IS THE CORRECTION OF THE WORLD, IT IS NOT DONE OF ITS OWN, BUT CAUSED BY THE SIN OF SLANDER.

879. When the serpents below shed their skin, each one raises its voice, and arouses several serpents in that place called 'pit', where there are snakes. All of them gossip ABOUT THE WORLD, to arouse the great serpent to gossip about the world. All this is caused by the awakening of the evil tongue, which happens below.

880. In the same manner, whoever studies the Torah, many ANGELS called 'the holy tongue', are united and arouse that place called 'the holy tongue', NAMELY, the tongue that comes from holiness above, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF THE CENTRAL COLUMN, WHICH IS THE TIP (TONGUE) OF THE SCALES, THAT JOINS TOGETHER RIGHT AND LEFT, SO THAT HOLINESS WILL BE REVEALED IN THEM. Many sanctifications and holy beings are bestirred on all sides. Happy is the portion of the righteous, who caused sanctifications to be stirred above and below, the sanctification above, IN BINAH, and sanctification below, IN MALCHUT.

881. Of this it is written, "You shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and you shall be holy" (Vayikra 11:44). "You shall...sanctify yourselves" refers to the first water, called 'supernal water', NAMELY, THE SANCTIFICATION ABOVE, IN BINAH. And "you shall be holy" refers to the last water (fingerbowl water), NAMELY, THE SANCTIFICATION BELOW, WHICH IS MALCHUT. The food comes between the first and last water. Therefore, the food is not in the last water, MALCHUT, but in the first water, BINAH, because the first water comes from above, FROM BINAH, where food abides, AS ALL MOCHIN ARE FROM BINAH, but it is not in the last water, WHICH IS MALCHUT RECEIVING FROM BINAH, WHICH HAS NOTHING ON HER OWN. This secret was handed to the high holy men, happy is their portion in this world and in the World to Come.