884. "And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month" (Bemidbar 29:12). Rabbi Aba began by quoting: "And the ark rested in the seventh month" (Beresheet 8:4). Come and see: Throughout these days, FROM YOM KIPPUR TO SUKKOT, the Mother, WHICH IS THE SHECHINAH, hovers over the children, WHO ARE YISRAEL, in order that the Other Side should not have control OVER YISRAEL, and in order to save them. After the children have been saved and are sitting in their booths (Heb. sukkot), they are guarded with the protection OF MOTHER, WHICH IS THE SHECHINAH. On the first and second days OF THE HOLIDAY OF SUKKOT, She commanded Yisrael to make a feast for the ministering angels of the other nations, NAMELY THE SEVENTY BULLOCKS FOR THE SEVENTY MINISTERS, and She does not dwell there WITH THEM. On the third day, which is the seventeenth day of the month, THE SHECHINAH begins to rest on them. And this is the meaning of the verse: "And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat," WHERE THE ARK IS THE SECRET OF THE SHECHINAH, AND THE MOUNTAINS OF ARARAT ARE the mountains in the midst of which rest all the curses and all the punishments, WHICH ARE THE APPOINTEES OF THE NATIONS.

885. Rabbi Elazar said: On the first day of Sukkot, MALCHUT does not rest on them, ON THE MINISTERS OF THE SEVENTY NATIONS, nor on the second day; but only on the third day, which decreases by addition, does She rest on them, adding letters and decreasing in sacrifices, as it is written: "Eleven (Heb. ashtei asar) bullocks" (Bemidbar 29:20), which is appropriate for the evil eye. For on the first day and the second day there is rejoicing of the children, and Yisrael distributes booty to them, TO THE APPOINTEES OF THE NATIONS. From the third day and onwards, when MALCHUT rests upon them, what is written? "And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen" (Beresheet 8:5). "And the waters decreased continually"; these are the sacrifices that are continually reduced, and as they become fewer in number so does their goodness become less.