36. "And these are the names of the children of Israel" (Shemot 1:1). Rabbi Elazar and Rabbi Yosi were traveling. While they were walking, Rabbi Elazar said to Rabbi Yosi: Open your mouth and let your words illuminate. He said to him, If it pleases my master, may I ask him one thing that I find difficult? I have heard from the Holy Luminary that he used to say that, "And these are the names of the children of Israel," means Yisrael Saba. "WHO CAME INTO EGYPT," MEANS all the hosts and camps OF ANGELS who descended into exile with Jacob, as it is written, "with Jacob;" AND ACCORDING TO THIS IT IS DIFFICULT. Why does it say, "Every man came with his household" (Shemot 1:1)? DO ANGELS HAVE HOUSEHOLDS? He said to him, Certainly it is so THAT THE ANGELS CAME, EACH ONE WITH HIS HOUSEHOLD. For so we have learned, anyone who receives from another is considered as household to the giver. Therefore, "every man came with his household," MEANS THE GIVER AND THE RECEIVER, WHICH ALSO APPLIES TO ANGELS.
37. Rabbi Elazar opened the discussion saying: "And when Solomon finished building the house of Hashem and the house of the King..." (I Melachim 9:1). HE ASKS, Since it said "the house of Hashem," what is the meaning of, "the house of the King?" You may reason that of Solomon it is said "THE HOUSE OF THE KING," yet it is not so. Indeed, "the house of Hashem," refers to the Temple and "the house of the King" refers to the Holy of Holies.
38. AND HE EXPLAINS HIS WORDS, "The house of Hashem" is the Temple, that is, the courtyards, chambers, the hall leading to the interior of the Temple and the sanctuary. This is the Temple, WHICH IS MALCHUT. Most certainly, it is called "the house of Hashem." "The house of the King" is the Holy of Holies which is innermost of all, NAMELY BINAH that is called simply 'King.' This King, though he is Supernal King, is considered female in relation to the Highest Point that is concealed from all, WHICH IS CHOCHMAH. But even though it is female, nevertheless it is male compared to the king below, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN - MEANING THAT THE HIGHER LEVEL IS ALWAYS CONSIDERED MALE IN RELATION TO THE LOWER, AND THE LOWER IS CONSIDERED FEMALE. YET, IN COMPARISON TO WHAT IS STILL LOWER, IT IS CONSIDERED MALE. AND SO IT IS ALWAYS. Therefore, everything is in this way. Of the lower beings, THE ANGELS THAT DESCENDED WITH JACOB INTO EGYPT, it is written, "every man came with his household," EVEN THOUGH THEY DO NOT HAVE HOUSEHOLDS, FOR "MAN WITH HIS HOUSEHOLD" MEANS MALE AND FEMALE. FOR EVERY HIGHER LEVEL AMONG THEM IS CONSIDERED AS MALE IN RELATION TO THE LOWER LEVEL, AND EVERY LOWER LEVEL IS CONSIDERED AS FEMALE TO THE HIGHER LEVEL AND MALE TO ITS LOWER LEVEL.
39. "And these are the names...." Rabbi Yosi opened the discussion saying: "A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a spring shut up, a fountain sealed" (Shir Hashirim 4:12). "A garden locked," refers to the Congregation of Yisrael, THE NUKVA, as Rabbi Elazar said, Just as one must cultivate a garden, water and prune it, so too does the Congregation of Yisrael need to be cultivated, watered and pruned, WHICH IS THE SERVICE OF THE RIGHTEOUS - TO RAISE MAYIN NUKVIN ('FEMALE WATERS') AND TO PRUNE THE KLIPOT THAT SURROUND THE NUKVA. Therefore, it is called "garden" and it is also called "vineyard" for Yisrael - MEANING THE HOUSE OF YISRAEL, WHICH IS THE NUKVA - needs to be cultivated, watered and pruned just as the vineyard does. It is written, "For the vineyard of Hashem Tzva'ot is the House of Yisrael" (Yeshayah 5:7), and, "And he broke ground and cleared away its stones..." (Ibid. 2).