Pinchas: Chapter 65

The eagle

Synopsis

An eagle descends, takes a rose from among the rabbis, and flies away. Rabbi Pinchas talks about the inner meaning of this event. In the morning, the rabbis see a comet, and Rabbi Pinchas says that when God calls the stars by name they run to praise him.

Relevance

The eagle descends upon Yisrael and all the world, removing the thorns of the rose and emitting the sweet scent of freedom and blessings all over the world. The eagle is Mercy, and it removes the judgments that weigh over our hearts, bringing freedom, health, and blessings to us and to the whole world.

Capitalizing upon David's might, we win the war against our Evil Inclination. All the wicked adversaries (our dark side) who test and challenge us go down in defeat. The streaking comet ignites "praises" to the Creator on our behalf. A "praise" denotes our connection to the Light, which allows divinity to flow to our realm of existence.

Eagle

382. While they were still sitting there, an eagle came, descended IN HIS FLIGHT and took one rose from among them and went. They said: From here on we shall go on our way. They arose and left. And so far they had ALL gone in the way of Rabbi Pinchas, for Rabbi Shimon went together with Rabbi Elazar and the other companions, while Rabbi Pinchas was with the other friends.

382. עַד דַּהֲווֹ יָתְבֵי, אָתָא נִשְׁרָא, וּמָאִיךְ, וְנָטִיל חַד שׁוֹשַׁנָה מִבֵּינַיְיהוּ, וְאַזְלַת. אָמְרוּ, מִכָּאן וּלְהָלְאָה, נְהַךְ לְאוֹרְחִין. קָמוּ וְאָזְלוּ. עַד הָכָא אוֹרְחָא דְּר' פִּנְחָס, ור"ש אָזַל לֵיהּ, אִיהוּ ור' אֶלְעָזָר, וּשְׁאַר חַבְרַיָּיא, ור' פִּנְחָס וּשְׁאַר חַבְרַיָּיא.

Aram Aram Tzova Astrology David Directions Eagle Grades Heavens Joab Mesopotamia Mochin Sanhedrin Shechinah Stars Testimony War Wisdom

383. Rabbi Pinchas began by quoting about this, ABOUT THE EAGLE THAT TOOK THE ROSE: "To the chief musician upon Shushan-Edut; A michtam (Eng. 'writ') of David, to teach" (Tehilim 60:1). What is the meaning of "to teach?" It is to teach wisdom to people, and we have already expounded this. "Shushan-Edut" refers to the Great Sanhedrin, WHICH IS MALCHUT THAT ATTIRES BINAH, FOR THE MOCHIN of BINAH ARE CALLED 'EDUT' (ENG. 'TESTIMONY'). "A michtam of David" refers to a sign that was shown to David IN SHUSHAN-EDUT THAT HE WOULD WIN THE WAR, when he sent Joab to Aram Naharaim (Mesopotamia) and Aram Tzova to make war against them. Rabbi Pinchas said, This Shushan-Edut that is mentioned here is when the stars that are in the heavens and the Shechinah are over us, and with Her the upper levels, NAMELY THE MOCHIN OF BINAH THAT ARE CALLED 'TESTIMONY,' and She is a holy help for extolling praises. This is Shushan, in perfection, as is fitting. They arose and went on their way, some in one direction, others in a different direction. Rabbi Pinchas went to the village of Akimin and stayed overnight, and Rabbi Yitzchak and Rabbi Chiya with him.

383. פָּתַח וְאָמַר ר' פִּנְחָס עַל זֶה, לַמְנַצֵּחַ עַל שׁוּשַׁן עֵדוּת מִכְתָּם לְדָוִד לְלַמֵּד, מַאי לְלַמֵּד. לְאוֹלְפָא לִבְנֵי עָלְמָא חָכְמְתָא. וְהָא אוֹקְמוּהָ, שׁוּשַׁן עֵדוּת, אִלֵּין סַנְהֶדְרֵי גְּדוֹלָה. דִּכְתִיב בָּהּ, סוּגָה בַּשּׁוֹשַׁנִּים. מִכְתָּם לְדָוִד סִימָנָא דְּאַחְזִיאוּ לֵיהּ לְדָוִד, כַּד שָׁדַר לְיוֹאָב לַאֲרַם נַהֲרַיִם וּלְאֲרָם צוֹבָא, לְאַגָחָא בְּהוּ. א"ר פִּנְחָס, דָּא אִיהוּ שׁוּשַׁן עֵדוּת דְּקַיְּימָא הָכָא, הָא כֹּכָבַיָּא בִּשְׁמַיָּא, שְׁכִינְתָּא עֲלָן, וְדַרְגִּין עִלָּאִין בַּהֲדָהּ, וְסִיַּיעְתָּא קַדִישָׁא לְתוּשְׁבַּחְתָּא, דָּא אִיהוּ שׁוּשָׁן בִּשְׁלִימוּ כַּדְקָא יֵאוֹת. קָמוּ וְאָזְלוּ. אִלֵּין הָכָא וְאִלֵּין הָכָא. אָזַל לֵיהּ ר' פִּנְחָס, וּבַת בִּכְפַר עַקִימִין, ור' יִצְחָק ור' חִיָּיא בַּהֲדֵיהּ.

Astrology Light Morning Stars

384. As they got up early to leave, and sat to wait for the morning light, Rabbi Chiya looked up and saw those comets: NAMELY STARS THAT CARRY ALONG A TAIL OF LIGHT BEHIND THEM, streaming in the sky. He said: a number of times I have asked about those stars. WHAT IS THEIR SIGNIFICANCE?

384. עַד דְּאַקְדִימוּ לְמֵיזָל, יָתְבוּ וּמְחַכּוּ לִנְהוֹרָא דְּצַפְרָא, זָקִיף עֵינוֹי ר' חִיָּיא, וְחָמָא אִלֵּין כּוֹכָבַיָיא דְּשַׁרְבִיטָא, דְּקָא מְרַהֲטָן וְאָזְלָן. אָמַר, וַדַּאי בְּכַמָּה זִמְנִין שָׁאַלְנָא עַל אִלֵּין כּוֹכָבַיָיא.

Astrology Creation Eyes Firmaments Light Praise Stars

385. Rabbi Pinchas said, These comets are known by the understanding of the friends, that the Holy One, blessed be He, created all these stars of the firmament, both great and small, and they all give thanks and praise to the Holy One, blessed be He. And when their time to sing praises comes, the Holy One, blessed be He, calls them by name, as it is written: "He calls them all by names" (Yeshayah 40:26). And then they run and hold out a scepter of light to go and praise their Master in the same place where they were numbered, as it is written: "Lift up your eyes on high and behold who has created these things" (Ibid.). Meanwhile the light dawned. They arose and went.

385. א"ר פִּנְחָס, אִלֵּין כּוֹכָבַיָיא דְּשַׁרְבִיטָא יְדִיעָן בְּסוּכְלְתָנוּ דְּחַבְרַיָּיא, דְּהָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בָּרָא כָּל אִינּוּן כּוֹכְבֵי רְקִיעָא, רַבְרְבִין וּזְעִירִין. וְכֻלְּהוּ אוֹדָן וּמְשַׁבְּחָן לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. וְכַד מָטָא זִמְנַיְיהוּ לְשַׁבְּחָא, קְרָא לוֹן קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בִּשְׁמָא, דִּכְתִּיב לְכוּלָּם בְּשֵׁם יִקְרָא. וּכְדֵין רַהֲטֵי, וְאוֹשִׁיטוּ שַׁרְבִיטָא דִּנְהוֹרָא, לְמֵהַךְ לְשַׁבְּחָא לְמָארֵיהוֹן, בְּהַהוּא אֲתָר דְּאִתְפָּקְדָן. הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִיב, שְׂאוּ מָרוֹם עֵינֵיכֶם וּרְאוּ מִי בָרָא אֵלֶּה. וְגוֹ.' אַדְּהָכִי אָתָא נְהוֹרָא, קָמוּ וְאַזְלוּ.

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