"The woods of Lebanon" are the six days of Creation

Synopsis

Here we read an alternative explanation of "the woods of Lebanon" - that they are the six days of creation. The six attributes of Chesed, Gvurah, Tiferet, Netzach, Hod and Yesod all in their turn entered and mated with the palanquin, producing in this fashion the manifested world in six days. Then, we learn, this palanquin became sanctified until it ascended the crown of rest and was given a supernal name, 'Shabbat.' Rabbi Shimon tells us that we have to see we are sitting in the shadow of the Creator within that palanquin.

Relevance

Again and again in the Zohar, we see that each interpretation of Scripture leads us back to the knowledge that God has placed His own qualities into the creation that He made for us. From our mundane perspective, the upper world consists of six Sfirot [dimensions] rolled into one, called Zeir Anpin. This realm is the repository of all our wisdom and fulfillment. The love we feel, the joy we experience, the serenity we seek, all originate there.

Zeir Anpin also embodies the supernal Light of Shabbat. Access to this realm can be achieved through inner transformation and various tools, such as the Zohar. On Shabbat, however, this Light is freely given as a gift to all Creation. These words of Zohar open up the gates to Zeir Anpin, causing the Light of the cosmic Sabbath to shine the moment our eyes fall upon them.

Creation Lebanon Light Palanquin Zeir Anpin

26. Another explanation of "the woods of Lebanon:" These are the six days of creation, for each day is arranged on this palanquin in the system that applies to it. EVERY ATTRIBUTE OF CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN, WHICH ARE COMPLETED THROUGH BINAH, BESTOWS ONE PART IN THE EDIFICE OF MALCHUT THAT IS CALLED 'PALANQUIN.' The first system, The first light that was concealed is drawn from the right side OF BINAH, and it takes from the right side OF ZEIR ANPIN who enters this palanquin upon one foundation and cohabits with it. Afterwards, the palanquin produces an image that is suitable for this light, WHICH IS THE ATTRIBUTE OF CHESED OF THE PALANQUIN. This is the secret of what is written, "Let there be light, and there was light" (Beresheet 1:3). After it said, "Let there be light," why add, "And there was light?" It could have just been written, 'And it was so.' Wherefore does it say, "And there was light?" It means that this light brought forth a different light that was suitable for it, and this was the first day of these woods of Lebanon.

26. תּוּ מֵעֲצֵי הַלְּבָנוֹן, אִלֵּין שִׁית יוֹמִין דִּבְרֵאשִׁית דְּכָל יוֹמָא וְיוֹמָא, מְסַדֵּר בְּהַאי אַפִּרְיוֹן, סִדּוּרָא דְּאִתְחָזֵי לֵיהּ: סִדּוּרָא קַדְמָאָה. אִתְנְגִיד מִסִּטְרָא דִּימִינָא, אוֹר קַדְמָאָה דְּאִתְגְּנִיז, וְאִתְנְטִיל מִסִּטְרָא דִּימִינָא, וְעָאל בְּהַאי אַפִּרְיוֹן עַל יְדָא דִּיְסוֹדָא חַד, וְעָבִיד בֵּיהּ שִׁמּוּשָׁא. לְבָתַר אַפִּיק הַהוּא אַפִּרְיוֹן חַד דִּיּוּקְנָא כְּגַוְונָא דְּהַאי אוֹר, וְדָא הוּא רָזָא דִּכְתִּיב, יְהִי אוֹר וַיְהִי אוֹר. כֵּיוָן דְּאָמַר יְהִי אוֹר, אֲמַאי כְּתִיב וַיְהִי אוֹר, לָא אִצְטְרִיךְ קְרָא לְמִכְתָּב, אֶלָּא וַיְהִי כֵּן, מַהוּ וַיְהִי אוֹר. אֶלָּא, דְּהַהוּא אוֹר אַפִּיק, אוֹר אַחֲרָא דְּאִתְחָזֵי לֵיהּ, וְדָא אִיהוּ יוֹמָא קַדְמָאָה, מֵאִינּוּן עֲצֵי הַלְּבָנוֹן.

Fire Firmaments Lebanon Palanquin Water Waters Zeir Anpin

27. The second system, The separation of the waters is drawn from the left side OF BINAH by the drawing of a strong fire, taken from the left side OF ZEIR ANPIN. It enters into the palanquin, mates with it and divides between the water on the right side and the water on the left side. Afterwards, the palanquin brought forth an image similar to this, AND THE ATTRIBUTE OF GVURAH OF THE PALANQUIN WAS BUILT. This is the secret of the verse, "The waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament, and it was so" (Ibid. 7). This is the second day of these woods of Lebanon.

27. סִדּוּרָא תִּנְיָינָא: אִתְנְגִיד מִסִּטְרָא דִּשְׂמָאלָא, פְּרִישׁוּ דְּמַיָּא, בִּנְגִידוּ דְּאֶשָּׂא תַּקִּיפָא, וְאִתְנְטִיל מִסִּטְרָא דִּשְׂמָאלָא, וְעָאל בְּהַאי אַפִּרְיוֹן, וְעָבֵיד בֵּיהּ שִׁמּוּשָׁא, וְאַפְרִישׁ בֵּין מַיִין דְּבִסְטַר יְמִינָא, וּבֵין אִינּוּן מַיִין דְּבִסְטַר שְׂמָאלָא. לְבָתַר אַפִּיק הַהוּא אַפִּרְיוֹן, חַד דִּיּוּקְנָא, כְּגַוְונָא דִּילֵיהּ. וְדָא אִיהוּ רָזָא דִּכְתִּיב, בֵּין הַמַּיִם אֲשֶׁר מִתַּחַת לָרָקִיעַ וּבֵין הַמַּיִם אֲשֶׁר מֵעַל לָרָקִיעַ וַיְהִי כֵן. וְדָא אִיהוּ יוֹמָא תִּנְיָינָא מֵאִינּוּן עֲצֵי הַלְּבָנוֹן.

Fruit Lebanon Palanquin Peace Zeir Anpin

28. The third system, A certain third day is drawn from the central side and the right side, MEANING THE ATTRIBUTE OF TIFERET OF ZEIR ANPIN, WHICH IS THE CENTRAL COLUMN that makes peace in the world BETWEEN THE TWO COLUMNS, RIGHT AND LEFT, whence fruits proceed to everyone. And it cohabits with this palanquin and draws forth a species after its kind, a species that does many actions like the kinds that fit it accordingly, MEANING all the vegetation and grasses and trees in many strengths, and its image remains IN THE PALANQUIN. That palanquin brings forth a species exactly identical to it THAT CAME FORTH FROM THE CENTRAL COLUMN, AND THE ATTRIBUTE OF TIFERET OF THE PALANQUIN IS BUILT. This is the third day that includes both sides, RIGHT AND LEFT, of these woods of Lebanon.

28. סִדּוּרָא תְּלִיתָאָה: אִתְנְגִיד מִסִּטְרָא דְּאֶמְצָעִיתָא, וּמִסִּטְרָא דִּימִינָא, חַד יוֹמָא תְּלִיתָאָה, דְּעָבֵיד שְׁלָמָא בְּעָלְמָא. וּמִתַּמָּן אִתְמְשִׁיכוּ אֵיבִין לְכֹלָּא, וְדָא עָבֵיד שִׁמּוּשָׁא בְּהַאי אַפִּרְיוֹן, וְאַפִּיק זִּינָא לְזִינֵיהּ. זִּינָא לְעוֹבָדִין סַגִּיאִין, זִּינָא דְּאִתְחָזֵי לֵיהּ, וְכָל דְּשָׁאִין וַעֲשָׂבִין וְאִילָנִין בְּכַמָּה חֵילִין. וְאִשְׁתְּאַר דִּיּוּקְנֵיהּ תַּמָּן, וְאַפִּיק זִּינָא הַהוּא אַפִּרְיוֹן, כְּהַהוּא גַּוְונָא מַמָּשׁ, וְדָא אִיהוּ יוֹמָא תְּלִיתָאָה, דְּאִתְכְּלִיל מִב' סִטְרִין, מֵאִינּוּן עֲצֵי הַלְּבָנוֹן.

Darkness Lebanon Light Likenesses Palanquin Sun

29. The fourth system, The light of the sun is drawn and illuminates this palanquin in the midst of its darkness. It enters to illuminate but does not cohabit with it, until the fifth day. THEN the palanquin brings forth the cohabitation of the illumination that entered it on the fourth day, and the palanquin brings forth the exact likeness of that light. THE ATTRIBUTE OF NETZACH OF THE PALANQUIN IS BUILT IN THIS WAY. This is the fourth day, which is one of the woods of Lebanon.

29. סִדּוּרָא רְבִיעָאָה: אִתְנְגִיד וְאִתְנְהִיר נְהִירוּ דְּשִׁמְשָׁא, לְאַנְהָרָא לְהַאי אַפִּרְיוֹן, גּוֹ חָשׁוּךְ דִּילֵיהּ, וְעָאל בֵּיהּ לְאַנְהָרָא, וְלָא עָבֵיד בֵּיהּ שִׁמּוּשָׁא. עַד יוֹמָא חֲמִשָׁאָה, דְּאַפִּיק הַאי אַפִּרְיוֹן הַהוּא שִׁמּוּשָׁא דִּנְהִירוּ, דְּעָאל בֵּיהּ בְּיוֹמָא רְבִיעָאָה, וְאַפִּיק הַהוּא אַפִּרְיוֹן בְּהַהוּא גַּוְונָא מַמָּשׁ דְּהַהוּא נְהִירוּ, וְדָא אִיהוּ יוֹמָא רְבִיעָאָה חַד מֵאִינּוּן עֲצֵי הַלְּבָנוֹן.

Earth Judgment Lebanon Light Living Creatures Palanquin Sixth Day, The Water

30. The fifth system, One drawing of the swarming of the water was brought forth, and mated so as to bring forth that light from the system of the fourth day. It cohabited with that palanquin ON THE FIFTH DAY, and brought forth species according to its very own kind. This day OF THE WOODS OF LEBANON did that action more than in the other days, BECAUSE IT PERFECTED THE ATTRIBUTE OF HOD IN THE PALANQUIN WITH THE SWEETENED JUDGMENTS OF BINAH. It was all suspended until the sixth day, for the palanquin brought forth all that was hidden in it, as it is written, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind" (Ibid. 24). This is the fifth day, ONE day of the woods of the Lebanon.

30. סִדּוּרָא חֲמִישָׁאָה: אִתְנְגִיד חַד מְשִׁיכוּ, דִּרְחִישׁוּ דְּמַיָּא, וְעָבֵיד שִׁמּוּשָׁא לְאַפָּקָא הַהוּא נְהִירוּ, דְּסִדּוּרָא דְּיוֹמָא רְבִיעָאָה, וְעָבֵיד בְּהַאי אַפִּרְיוֹן שִׁמּוּשָׁא, וְאַפִּיק זִינִין לְזִינֵיהּ, אִינּוּן דְּאִתְחָזֵי כְּהַהוּא גַּוְונָא מַמָּשׁ, וְהַאי יוֹמָא שִׁמֵּשׁ הַהוּא שִׁמּוּשָׁא, יַתִּיר מִכָּל שְׁאַר יוֹמִין. וְכֹלָּא תַּלְיָא עַד יוֹמָא שְׁתִיתָאָה, דְּאַפִּיק אַפִּרְיוֹן כָּל מַה דַּהֲוָה גָּנִיז בֵּיהּ, דִּכְתִּיב, תּוֹצֵא הָאָרֶץ נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה לְמִינָהּ וְגוֹ.' וְדָא אִיהוּ יוֹמָא חֲמִישָׁאָה, חַד מֵאִינּוּן עֲצֵי הַלְּבָנוֹן.

Chambers Maidens Palanquin Seven Soul, The Zeir Anpin

31. The sixth system, It is the day that perfected the entire palanquin. THE PALANQUIN has no perfection and power except through that day, WHICH IS YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN, BECAUSE THE PALANQUIN DOES NOT RECEIVE ANYTHING FROM THOSE ABOVE EXCEPT THROUGH YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN. When that day came, the palanquin became perfected with many spirits, with many souls, and with many beautiful maidens, WHO ARE SEVEN CHAMBERS THAT SERVE MALCHUT, those ones worthy to sit in the King's chamber. YESOD also was perfected with the beauty of all the days that preceded, BECAUSE YESOD INCLUDES ALL THE FIVE DAYS, CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH AND HOD. And it perfected them with one wish, with desire, joy, and perfection of above and below.

31. סִדּוּרָא שְׁתִיתָאָה: דָּא אִיהוּ יוֹמָא, דְּאַתְקִין כָּל הַאי אַפִּרְיוֹן, וְלֵית לֵיהּ תִּקּוּנָא, וְלֵית לֵיהּ תֻּקְפָּא, בַּר מֵהַאי יוֹמָא, כַּד אָתָא הַאי יוֹמָא, אִתְתָּקַּן הַאי אַפִּרְיוֹן, בְּכַמָּה רוּחִין, בְּכַמָּה נִשְׁמָתִין, בְּכַמָּה עוּלֵימָתָן שְׁפִירָן בְּחֵיזוּ. אִינּוּן דְּאִתְחָזוּן לְמֵיתָב בְּהֵיכְלָא דְּמַלְכָּא. אוּף אִיהוּ אִתְתָּקַּן בִּשְׁפִירוּ כָּל שְׁאָר יוֹמִין דַּהֲווֹ בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, וְאַתְקִין לוֹן בְּתִיאוּבְתָּא חֲדָא, בִּרְעוּתָא בְּחֶדְוָה, תִּקּוּנָא דִּלְעֵילָּא וְתַתָּא.

Crowns Holy Name Lebanon Palanquin Shabbat

32. כְּדֵין אִתְקַדָּשׁ הַאי אַפִּרְיוֹן, בְּקִדּוּשִׁין עִלָּאִין וְאִתְעַטָּר בְּעִטְרוֹי, עַד דְּסָלִיק בִּסְלִיקוּ דְּעִטְרָא דְּנַיְיחָא, וְאִקְרֵי שְׁמָא עִלָּאָה, שְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא, דְּאִיהִי שַׁבָּת. נַיְיחָא דְּכֹלָּא, תִּיאוּבְתָּא דְּכֹלָּא, דְּבֵקוּתָא דְּכֹלָּא, דְּעֵילָּא וְתַתָּא כַּחֲדָא. וּכְדֵין כְּתִיב, אַפִּרְיוֹן עָשָׂה לוֹ הַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה מֵעֲצֵי הַלְּבָנוֹן.

Crowns Palanquin Peace Shadow

33. Rabbi Shimon said, The one who merits that palanquin merits everything. He merits to sit and rest in the shadow of Hashem, as it is written, "I sat down under His shadow with great delight" (Shir Hashirim 2:3). Now that I sit in the shadow of this rest, we have to see that we are sitting in the shadow of the Holy One, blessed be He, within that palanquin. But we have to adorn this place with supernal crowns, until the trees of that palanquin are aroused to come to us with a different shadow.

33. אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, מַאן דְּזָכֵי בְּהַהוּא אַפִּרְיוֹן, זָכֵי בְּכֹלָּא, זָכֵי לְמֵיתַב בְּנַיְיחָא דְּצִלָּא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, כד"א, בְּצִלּוֹ חִמַּדְתִּי וְיָשַׁבְתִּי. וְהַשְׁתָּא דְּיָתִיבְנָא בְּצִלָּא דְּנַיְיחָא דָּא, אִית לָן לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא דְּלָא יַתְבֵינָן אֶלָּא בְּצִלָּא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, גּוֹ הַהוּא אַפִּרְיוֹן. וְאִית לָן לְאַעֲטָרָא הַאי אֲתָר, בְּעִטְרִין עִלָאִין, עַד דְּיִתְעָרוּן אִילָנֵי דְּהַהוּא אַפִּרְיוֹן, לְמֵיתֵי עֲלָן בְּצִלָּא אַחֲרָא.