"You shall make a table"
Rabbi Yitzchak begins here by explaining that as long as the children of Yisrael were in the Holy Land, they derived their sustenance from a high place, and all the leftovers were sufficient to nourish the rest of the world. But when they were sent into exile, they themselves received only the remnants. Leftovers are given only to dogs and servants, which is exactly what the children of Yisrael have come to resemble in their exile. Next, Rabbi Chiya, Rabbi Shimon, Rabbi Ya'akov (son of Idi) and Rabbi Yesa Junior are traveling, and while they travel they wonder about the meaning of, "But show loyal love to the sons of Barzillay the Giladite, and let them be of those that eat at your table." Rabbi Yesa Junior, the youngest of them, explains the meaning of, "Who gives bread to all flesh: for His steadfast love endures forever." He draws parallels between the brain, the heart and the liver, and Binah, Zeir Anpin and Malchut, and he goes on to speak of how nourishment is sent back and forth between them. Then he mentions the sources of the body as the three worlds Binah, Yetzirah and Asiyah. He explains that, "For he did eat continually at the table of the king" means that all his sustenance and food came from there. Finally, Rabbi Yesa blesses their small meal as they sit down to eat.
As we read this passage, we must ask ourselves, "At whose table are we sitting, and from whom are we deriving our spiritual sustenance?" If it is not from God, then it will never nourish our souls as they need and deserve. If our meals are not blessed with His presence, they are only fit for dogs. Yet if they do derive from God, we shall find ourselves ever-growing in the wisdom that can only come from the Creator. Awareness of this truth emerges in our consciousness. In turn, sustenance, livelihood, and spiritual nourishment flow to us in great abundance, bringing blessings to all mankind.
485. "You shall make a table of acacia wood... " (Shemot 25:23). Rabbi Yitzchak opened the discussion saying, "When you have eaten and are replete, then you shall bless Hashem your Elohim... " (Devarim 8:10). How fortunate are the children of Yisrael that the Holy One, blessed be He, favors them and brings them close to Him from among all the nations. Because of them, He gives His sustenance and satisfies the whole world. If it were not for Yisrael, the Holy One, blessed be He, would not give sustenance to the world. Now that they are in exile, surely the whole world receives SUSTENANCE doubly, IN ORDER THAT THE REMAINS SHOULD SUFFICE FOR YISRAEL.
485. וְעָשִׂיתָ שֻׁלְחָן עֲצֵי שִׁטִּים וְגוֹ.' רַבִּי יִצְחָק פָּתַח, וְאָכַלְתָּ וְשָׂבָעְתָּ וּבֵרַכְתָּ אֶת יְיָ' אֱלֹֹהֶיךָ וְגוֹ,' כַּמָה זַכָּאִין אִינּוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל, דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִתְרְעֵי בְּהוּ, וְקָרִיב לוֹן לְגַבֵּיהּ מִכָּל עַמִּין, וּבְגִינֵהוֹן דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, יָהִיב מְזוֹנָא וְשַׂבְעָא, לְכָל עָלְמָא, וְאִלְמָלֵא יִשְׂרָאֵל לָא יָהִיב קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מְזוֹנָא לְעָלְמָא, וְהַשְׁתָּא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל אִינּוּן בְּגָלוּתָא, עאכ"ו דְּנַטְלֵי מְזוֹנָא עַל חַד תְּרֵין.
486. As long as the children of Yisrael were in the Holy Land, sustenance would descend to them from a high place, and they would give a portion of the remnants to the idol worshipping peoples. All the nations were sustained only from the remnants. But now that they are in exile, the situation has changed into a different manner. THE SUSTENANCE REACHES THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD, AND THEY RECEIVE THE REMNANTS FROM THEM.
486. בְּזִמְנָא דַּהֲווֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּאַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא, הֲוָה נָחִית לוֹן מְזוֹנָא מֵאֲתָר עִלָּאָה, וְאִינּוּן יָהֲבֵי חוֹלָק תַּמְצִית לְעַמִּין עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים, וְעַמִּין כֻּלְּהוּ לָא אִתְּזָנוּ אֶלָּא מִתַּמְצִית וְהַשְׁתָּא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל אִינּוּן בְּגָלוּתָא, אִתְהַפַּךְ בְּגַוְונָא אַחֲרָא.
487. For example, a king prepares a meal for his household. As long as they do his bidding, they eat together with the king, and they give the dogs a portion of bones to chew. But when the household does not do the bidding of the king, he gives the entire meal to the dogs, and he gives the bones to them.
487. מְתַל לְמַלְכָּא, דְּאַתְקִין סְעוּדָתָא לִבְנֵי בֵּיתֵיהּ, כָּל זִמְנָא דְּאִינּוּן עַבְדֵי רְעוּתֵיהּ, אַכְלֵי סְעוּדָתָא עִם מַלְכָּא, וְיָהֲבֵי לְכַלְבֵּי חוּלָק גַּרְמִין לְמִגְרַר. בְּשַׁעֲתָא דִּבְנֵי בֵּיתֵיהּ לָא עַבְדֵי רְעוּתָא דְּמַלְכָּא, מַלְכָּא יָהִיב כָּל סְעוּדָתָא לְכַלְבֵּי, וְסָלִיק לוֹן גַּרְמֵי.
488. Similarly, as long as the children of Yisrael do the bidding of their Master, they eat at the table of the King and the entire meal is prepared for them. Because of their joy, they give the bones, which are the remains, to the idol worshippers. As long as the children of Yisrael are not doing the bidding of their Master, they go into exile and the meal is given to the dogs, while they are given the remains, AS IT IS WRITTEN, "Thus shall the children of Yisrael eat their bread, unclean, among the nations" (Yechezkel 4:13). They eat the remnants of their abhorrence, MEANING OF THEIR REPUGNANT FOOD. Woe is to the king's son who sits and waits at the table of the servant, and eats what is left of his table.
488. כְּגַוְונָא דָּא, כָּל זִמְנָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל עַבְדֵי רְעוּתָא דְּמָארֵיהוֹן, הָא עַל פָּתוֹרָא דְּמַלְכָּא אִינּוּן אַכְלֵי, וְכָל סְעוּדָתָא אִתְתָּקַּן לְהוֹן. וְאִינּוּן, מֵהַהוּא חֶדְוָה דִּלְהוֹן, יָהֲבֵי גַּרְמֵי דְּאִיהוּ תַּמְצִית לְעוֹבָדֵי כּוֹכָבִים. וְכָל זִמְנָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל לָא עַבְדֵי רְעוּתָא דְּמָארֵיהוֹן, אַזְלֵי בְּגָלוּתָא, וְהָא סְעוּדָתָא לְכַלְבֵּי, וְאִסְתַּלָּק לוֹן תַּמְצִית כָּכָה יֹאכְלוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת לַחְמָם טָמֵא בַּגּוֹיִם, דְּהָא תַּמְצִית דְּגִעוּלֵיהוֹן אַכְלֵי. וַוי לִבְרָא דְּמַלְכָּא, דְּיָתִיב וּמְצַפֶּה לְפָתוֹרָא דְּעַבְדָא, מַה דְּאִשְׁתְּאַר מִגּוֹ פָּתוֹרָא אִיהוּ אָכִיל.
489. King David said, "You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies, You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over" (Tehilim 23:5). "You prepare a table for me," namely the King's meal, "in the presence of my enemies." They are the dogs that sit under the table and wait for the portion of bones, while he sits with the King at His table with the delight of the meal.
489. דָּוִד מַלְכָּא אָמַר, תַּעֲרֹךְ לְפָנַי שֻׁלְחָן נֶגֶד צוֹרְרָי דִּשַּׁנְתָּ בַשֶּׁמֶן רֹאשִׁי כּוֹסִי רְוָיָה. תַּעֲרוֹךְ לְפָנַי שֻׁלְחָן, דָּא סְעוּדָתָא דְּמַלְכָּא. נֶגֶד צוֹרְרָי, אִינּוּן כַּלְבֵּי דְּיַתְבֵי קָמֵי פָּתוֹרָא, מְצַפָּאן לְחוּלָק גַּרְמִין, וְאִיהוּ יָתִיב עִם מַלְכָּא בְּעִנוּגָא דִּסְעוּדָתָא בְּפָתוֹרָא.
490. "You anoint my head with oil:" This is the beginning (head) of the meal, for all the oil and fats and the prepared items of the meal are given at the beginning to the friend of the king. Whatever is left over is given afterwards to the dogs and those who serve at the table. "My cup runs over" means that the cup in front of the king's friend is always full and he does not have to request. Upon this secret, the children of Yisrael were consistently IN RELATION with the other nations.
490. דִּשַּׁנְתָּ בַשֶּׁמֶן רֹאשִׁי, דָּא רֵישָׁא דִּסְעוּדָתָא, דְּכָל מִשְׁחָא, וְשַׁמְנוּנָא, וְתִקוּן סְעוּדָתָא, אִתְיְיהִיב בְּקַדְמֵיתָא לִרְחִימָא דְּמַלְכָּא. מַה דְּאִשְׁתְּאַר, לְבָתַר אִתְיְיהִיב לְכַלְבֵּי, וּלְאִינּוּן פַּלְחֵי פָּתוֹרָא. כּוֹסִי רְוָיָה, מַלְיָא כַּסָּא קָמֵי רְחִימָא דְּמַלְכָּא תָּדִיר, דְּלָא יִצְטְרִיךְ לְמִשְׁאַל. וְעַל רָזָא דָּא, הֲווֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל תָּדִיר, עִם שְׁאַר עַמִּין.
491. Rabbi Chiya went to Rabbi Shimon in Tiberias with Rabbi Ya'akov bar Idi, and Rabbi Yesa Junior. While they were still traveling, Rabbi Yesa said to Rabbi Chiya: I wonder about the words "But show loyal love to the sons of Barzillay the Giladite, and let them be of those that eat at your table... " (I Melachim 2:7). According to this, all the kindness and truthfulness means to eat at his table and no more, in accordance with the words, "and let them be of those that eat at your table." Also, it is not the honor of the king that someone else eats by his table. It should not be so, rather the king should eat alone and around him all his ministers that are lower than he.
491. רַבִּי חִיָּיא הֲוָה אָזִיל לְגַבֵּי דְּרִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן לִטְבֶרְיָה, וַהֲווֹ עִמֵּיהּ רַבִּי יַעֲקֹב בַּר אִידִי, וְרַבִּי יֵיסָא זְעִירָא, עַד דַּהֲווֹ אַזְלֵי, אָמַר רַבִּי יֵיסָא לְרַבִּי חִיָּיא, תֵּימָה מָה דִּכְתִּיב, וְלִבְנַי בַרְזִיּלַי הַגִּלְעָדִי תַּעֲשֶׂה חֶסֶד וְהָיוּ בְּאוֹכְלֵי שֻׁלְחָנֶךָ וְגוֹ.' אִי הָכִי כָּל טִיבוּ וּקְשׁוֹט, לְמֵיכַל עַל פָּתוֹרֵיהּ וְלָא יַתִּיר, מִדְּקָאָמַר הָכָא וְהָיוּ בְּאוֹכְלֵי שֻׁלְחָנֶךָ. וְתוּ, לָאו יְקָרָא דְּמַלְכָּא אִיהוּ, לְמֵיכַל בַּר נָשׁ אָחֳרָא עַל פָּתוֹרֵיהּ דְּמַלְכָּא, וְלָא אִצְטְרִיךְ דָּא, אֶלָּא מַלְכָּא בִּלְחוֹדוֹי, וְכֻלְּהוּ רַבְרְבָנוֹהִי סַחֲרָנֵיהּ, לְתַתָּא מִנֵּיהּ.
492. Rabbi Chiya said, I have heard nothing about this matter and I make no comment. He said to Rabbi Ya'akov bar Idi, Did you hear anything about this matter? He said to him, You who nurture daily from the honey of the supernal oil, MEANING RABBI SHIMON, if you did not hear, of course I did not. He said to Rabbi Yesa: Did you hear anything about this matter? He said to him, Even though I am a youth, and it has only been a few days since I came to you and before that I had no merit, NONETHELESS I did hear.
492. אָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּיא לָא שְׁמַעְנָא בְּהַאי מִידִי, וְלָא אֵימָא. אֵ"ל לְרַבִּי יַעֲקֹב בַּר אִידִי, וְאַתְּ שָׁמַעְתָּ בְּהַאי מִידִי. אֵ"ל, אַתּוּן דְּיַנְקִין בְּכָל יוֹמָא מִדֻּבְשָׁא דְּמִשְׁחָא עִלָּאָה, לָא שְׁמַעְתּוּן, כָּל שֶׁכֵּן אֲנָא. אָמַר לֵיהּ לְרַבִּי יֵיסָא, וְאַתְּ שָׁמַעְתָּ מִידִי בְּהַאי. אֵ"ל אע"ג דַּאֲנָא רַבְיָא וּמִיּוֹמִין זְעִירִין אֲתֵינָא לְגַבַּיְיכוּ, וְלָא זָכֵינָא מִקַּדְמַת דְּנָא, אֲנָא שְׁמַעְנָא.
493. He opened the discussion saying, "Who gives bread to all flesh: for His steadfast love endures forever" (Tehilim 136:25). HE QUESTIONS, What did David have in mind, that he concluded the great praise with this passage? HE ANSWERS, There are three rulers above through whom the Holy One, blessed be He, is known, and they are the mystery of His glory. They are the brain, the heart, and the liver, MEANING BINAH, ZEIR ANPIN, AND MALCHUT. They are opposite of this world, MEANING FROM THE ASPECT OF THE AWAKENING FROM BELOW THAT ASCENDS FROM THIS WORLD, AS DURING A FAST DAY OR THE LIKE, AS IT IS WRITTEN BEFORE US. Above, the brain receives first and afterwards gives to the heart. Then the heart takes and gives to the liver, and afterwards, the liver gives a portion to all the sources that are below, each one as is proper. Below, THROUGH THE AWAKENING FROM BELOW, the liver, WHICH IS MALCHUT, is first to awaken and later brings it near to the heart, BEING ZEIR ANPIN. The heart takes the best of the food and, after it has received and has become strengthened from the power and desire that it received, it gives and brings awakening to the brain, WHICH IS BINAH. AND THEN THE SUPPLY IS PROJECTED FROM BINAH TO ZEIR ANPIN, AND FROM ZEIR ANPIN TO MALCHUT, WHICH IS THE LIVER. Afterwards, the liver again distributes sustenance to all the sources of the body, WHICH ARE THE THREE WORLDS BRIYAH, YETZIRAH, AND ASIYAH.
493. פָּתַח וְאָמַר נוֹתֵן לֶחֶם לְכָל בָּשָׂר כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ. מַאי קָא חָמָא דָּוִד דְּסִיוּם הַלֵּלָא רַבָּא, סִיֵּים הָכִי בְּהַאי קְרָא. אֶלָּא תְּלַת שַׁלִּיטִין אִינּוּן לְעֵילָּא, דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִשְׁתְּמוֹדְעָא בְּהוּ, וְאִינּוּן רָזָא יַקִּירָא דִּילֵיהּ, וְאִלֵּין אִינּוּן: מוֹחָא, וְלִבָּא, וְכַבְדָּא. וְאִינּוּן בְּהִפּוּכָא דְּהַאי עָלְמָא. לְעֵילָּא, מוֹחָא נָטִיל בְּרֵישָׁא, וּבָתַר יָהִיב לְלִבָּא, וְלִבָּא נָטִיל וְיָהִיב לְכַבְדָּא, וּלְבָתַר כַּבְדָא יָהִיב חוּלָק לְכָל אִינּוּן מְקוֹרִין דִּלְתַתָּא, כָּל חַד וְחַד כַּדְקָא חֲזִי לֵיהּ. לְתַתָּא, כַּבְדָא נָטִיל בְּרֵישָׁא, וּלְבָתַר אִיהוּ מְקָרַב כֹּלָּא לְלִבָּא, וְנָטִיל לִבָּא שְׁפִירוּ דְּמֵיכְלָא. כֵּיוָן דְּנָטִיל, וְאִתְתָּקַף מֵהַהוּא תֻּקְפָּא וּרְעוּ דְּקָא נָטִיל, יָהִיב וְאִתְּעַר לְגַבֵּי מוֹחָא. וּלְבָתַר אַהְדָּר כַּבְדָא, וּפָלִיג מְזוֹנָא לְכָל מְקוֹרִין דְּגוּפָא.
494. HE EXPLAINS HIS WORDS, On a fast day, man offers food and drink to the supernal liver, WHICH IS MALCHUT, and what does he offer? HE OFFERS his fat and blood and desires. That liver takes it all willingly. Once everything is already by it, it takes and offers it all to the heart, MEANING ZEIR ANPIN, who is superior and dominates it. After the heart has taken and becomes strengthened in will, it offers it all to the brain, WHICH IS BINAH, who is the highest ruler over the whole body THAT IS ZEIR ANPIN. THE SUPPLY RETURNS FROM BINAH TO ZEIR ANPIN AND FROM ZEIR ANPIN TO MALCHUT, WHICH IS LIVER, and afterwards the liver again divides portions to all the sources and limbs below IN BRIYAH, YETZIRAH, AND ASIYAH.
494. בְּיוֹמָא דְּתַעֲנִיתָא, בַּר נָשׁ מְקָרַב מֵיכְלָא וּמִשְׁתְּיָּא לְגַבֵּי כַּבְדָא עִלָּאָה, וּמַאי אִיהוּ מְקָרַב. חֶלְבֵּיהּ וְדָמֵיהּ וּרְעוּתֵיהּ. הַהוּא כַּבְדָא נָטִיל כֹּלָּא בִּרְעוּתָא. כֵּיוָן דְּכֹלָּא אִיהוּ לְגַבֵּיהּ, נָטִיל וּמְקָרַב כֹּלָּא לְקָמֵי לִבָּא, דְּאִיהוּ רַב וְשָׁלִיט עָלֵיהּ. כֵּיוָן דְּלִבָּא נָטִיל וְאִתְתָּקַף בְּרַעֲוָא, מְקָרֵב כֹּלָּא לְגַבֵּי מוֹחָא, דְּאִיהוּ שַׁלִּיטָא עִלָּאָה עַל כָּל גּוּפָא, לְבָתַר אַהְדָּר כַּבְדָא וּמְפַלֵג חוּלָקִין לְכָל אִינּוּן מְקוֹרִין וְשַׁיְיפִין דִּלְתַתָּא.
495. At a different time, MEANING WHEN THE SUPPLY IS BEING PROVIDED FROM THE SIDE OF AWAKENING FROM ABOVE, the brain first receives all supply, WHICH IS BINAH, from that which is higher than it, WHICH IS CHOCHMAH. Afterwards, it gives to the heart, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN, and the heart gives to the liver, WHICH IS MALCHUT. And the liver gives to all the sources and limbs below, IN BRIYAH, YETZIRAH AND ASIYAH. Afterwards, when it wishes to distribute sustenance to this world, it gives first, MEANING THE CHOICEST AND BEST OF THE SUPPLY, to the heart, who is the king of the earth, NAMELY THE KING OF YISRAEL, and the king's table is stimulated to receive first the other people of the world. Blessed is he who is counted among those of the king's table, for he is recognized ABOVE to do him good with that goodness of above THAT THE KING RECEIVES.
495. בְּזִמְנָא אָחֲרָא, כַּד כֹּלָּא מוֹחָא נָטִיל בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, וּלְבָתַר יָהִיב לְלִבָּא, וְלִבָּא יָהִיב לְכַבְדָּא, וְכַבְדָּא יָהִיב לְכֻלְּהוּ מְקוֹרִין וְשַׁיְיפִין דִּלְתַתָּא, וּלְבָתַר כַּד בָּעֵי לְפַלְּגָא מְזוֹנָא לְהַאי עָלְמָא, בְּרֵישָׁא יָהִיב לְלִבָּא, דְּאִיהוּ מַלְכָּא דִּי בְּאַרְעָא. וּפָתוֹרָא דְּמַלְכָּא, אִתְּעַר בְּקַדְמֵיתָא מִכָּל שְׁאַר בְּנֵי עָלְמָא. זַכָּאָה אִיהוּ, מַאן דַּהֲוֵי בְּחוּשְׁבָּנָא דְּפָתוֹרָא דְּמַלְכָּא, דְּהָא אִשְׁתְּמוֹדְעָא לְאוֹטָבָא לֵיהּ בְּהַהוּא טִיבוּ דִּלְעֵילָּא.
496. This is kindness and truth that David did for the sons of Barzillay, as it is written, "And let them be of those that eat at your table." If you say at the king's table, another person eats besides him, it is not so. The king eats first, and afterwards all the people. And those who eat with the king during the time that he eats are the ones who are loved by him exceedingly. They are the ones who were appointed TO BE of the king's table.
496. וְדָא אִיהוּ טִיבוּ וּקְשׁוֹט, דַּעֲבַד דָּוִד לִבְנֵי בַרְזִיּלַי, דִּכְתִּיב וְהָיוּ בְּאֹכְלֵי שֻׁלְחָנֶךָ. וְאִי תֵּימָא דִּבְשֻׁלְחָנָא דְּמַלְכָּא, אָכִיל בַּר נָשׁ אָחֳרָא בַּר מִנֵּיהּ. לָא. אֶלָּא מַלְכָּא אָכִיל בְּרֵישָׁא, וּבָתַר כָּל עַמָּא. וְאִינּוּן דְּאַכְלֵי עִם מַלְכָּא, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאִיהוּ אָכִיל אִינּוּן דְּחָבִיבִין עָלֵיהּ מִכֻּלְּהוּ, וְאִינּוּן אִתְמְנוּן מִשֻׁלְחָנָא דְּמַלְכָּא.
497. You may ask, Is it not written, "For he did eat continually at the table of the king" (II Shmuel 9:13)? SO IT SEEMS THAT HE ACTUALLY ATE AT THE TABLE? HE ANSWERS, It is because all his food WAS INCLUDED AMONG THOSE WHO ATE AT THE KING'S TABLE, and he made no other reckoning but at the king's table, for his sustenance and food came from there. This is the meaning of, "For he did eat continually at the king's table." Rabbi Chiya came and kissed him on his head, and said to him, You are a youth, but supernal Wisdom dwells in you. In the meantime, they saw that Rabbi Hezekiah had come. Rabbi Chiya said to him, Certainly in this group will the Holy One, blessed be He, join with us, because new words in Torah will be promulgated here.
497. וְאִי תֵּימָא, הָא כְּתִיב, עַל שֻׁלְחָן הַמֶּלֶךְ תָּמִיד הוּא אוֹכֵל. בְּגִין דְּכָל מְזוֹנָא דִּילֵיהּ, לָא עָבֵיד חוּשְׁבָּנָא אָחֳרָא, אֶלָּא עַל שֻׁלְחָן הַמֶּלֶךְ, דְּמִתַּמָּן הֲוָה אָתֵי מְזוֹנָא וּמֵיכְלָא דִּילֵיהּ. וְדָא אִיהוּ עַל שֻׁלְחָן הַמֶּלֶךְ תָּמִיד הוּא אוֹכֵל. אָתָא רַבִּי חִיָּיא, וּנְשָׁקֵיהּ עַל רֵישֵׁיהּ, אָמַר לֵיהּ רַבְיָא אַנְתְּ, וְחָכְמְתָא עִלָּאָה שַׁרְיָא בְּלִבָּךְ. אַדְּהָכִי, חָמוּ לֵיהּ לְרַבִּי חִזְקִיָּה דַּהֲוָה אָתֵי. אֵ"ל רַבִּי חִיָּיא, וַדַּאי בְּחַבְרוּתָא דָּא, קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יִתְחַבָּר עָלָנָא, דְּהָא מִלִּין חַדְתִּין דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא יִתְחַדְתּוּן הָכָא.
498. They sat down to eat and said, let each of us say a word of Torah during this meal. Rabbi Yesa said, This is a small meal, but still in all it is called 'a meal.' Even more, this is called 'a meal' from which the Holy One, blessed be He, derives pleasure, as it is written, "This is the table that is before Hashem" (Yechezkel 41:22), because words of Torah surround this place.
498. יָתְבוּ לְמֵיכַל. אָמְרוּ, כָּל חַד וְחַד לֵימָא מִלֵּי דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא בְּהַאי סְעוּדָתָא, אָמַר רַבִּי יֵיסָא, סְעוּדַת עֲרַאי אִיהִי, וְעכ"ד סְעוּדָה אִקְרֵי. וְלָא עוֹד, אֶלָּא דְּהַאי אִקְרֵי סְעוּדָתָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִתְהֲנֵי מִינָּהּ. וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב, זֶה הַשֻּׁלְחָן אֲשֶׁר לִפְנֵי יְיָ,' דְּהָא מִלִּין דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא יִסְחֲרוּן לְהַאי אֲתָר.