The letters
Here, Rabbi Shimon speaks at length, telling how all the letters formed, rolled, combined, conceived new letters and thus participated in the creation of everything, fire, water, air, all the Sfirot, the light, the goatskin covering on the tabernacle, the perfection of the tabernacle, sound, the Garden, and the waters. He tells how all the seven names coming from the name of Mem-Bet in 42 letters are the secret of, "In the beginning Elohim created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form and void.'" We also learn the meanings of, "And darkness was on the face of the deep," "Let there be light, and there was light," "the laver and its pedestal," "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters," "The voice of the Creator is upon the waters, the El of Glory'," "Let the earth bring forth grass," and "Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together to one place."
The Hebrew letters are the instruments of Creation. They are genetic strands of cosmic DNA. The letters transcend religion, race, geography, and the very concept of language. They are instruments of power.
This truth is found within the Hebrew word for "letter," which means "pulse" or "vibration," indicating a flow of energy. By virtue of their shapes, sounds, and sequences, Hebrew letters radiate a wide range of forces. Their influence is universal, their scope, sweeping. Their power is shared with all mankind, though this illuminating truth has been concealed for millennia. Their sacred energy removes rash and intolerant emotions, fear, and anxiety from our beings. Their spiritual influence cleanses destructive impulses from our natures. The Light they emit purifies our hearts.
All these spiritual benefits, and more, are now bequeathed to us in this majestic passage discoursing on the Creation of the spiritual and physical cosmos.
607. Afterwards, the letters are erected in such a way that the Aleph that was originally on the right side, begot and brought forth IN THE LEFT the letter Shin, WHICH IS COMBINED OF THE THREE SIDES - RIGHT LEFT AND CENTER. THEREFORE, IT CONTAINS THREE VAV'S and it jpined with the letter Aleph, and THE COMBINATION Esh (Eng. 'fire') was made ON THE LEFT. Some more letters were conceived by the blows of the two sides, RIGHT AND LEFT, and they approached each other in controversy, FOR THE RIGHT IS MADE OF WATER AND THE LEFT OF FIRE. From this controversy of fire with water and water with fire, they bore letters and they brought forth the letter Resh and the letter Vav and the letter Chet to become Ruach (Eng. 'air'). THE RUACH entered between the two sides, WHICH ARE WATER AND FIRE, AND MEDIATED AND COMBINED THE ONE WITH THE OTHER, and then the original letters settled in their places, each one in perfection.
607. לְבָתַר אִתְבָּנוּן אַתְוָון, א' דַּהֲוָה בְּקַדְמֵיתָא בְּסִטְרָא דִּימִינָא, אוֹלִיד וְאַפִּיק אָת ש,' כָּלִיל בִּתְלַת סִטְרִין, וְאִשְׁתָּתַּף בְּאָת א,' וְאִתְעָבֵיד אֵשׁ. תּוּ אַעְדּוּ אַתְוָון אִלֵּין, גּוֹ בְּטִישׁוּ דִּתְרֵין סִטְרִין אִלֵּין, וְאִתְקְרִיבוּ כַּחֲדָא בְּמַחְלוֹקֶת, וּמִגּוֹ מַחֲלוֹקֶת דָּא דְּמַיִם בְּאֵשׁ, וְאֵשׁ בְּמַיִם, אוֹלִידוּ אַתְוָון וְאַפִּיקוּ אָת ר' וְאָת ו' וְאָת ח' וְאִתְעָבֵידוּ רוּחַ, וְעָאל בֵּין תְּרֵין סִטְרִין, וּכְדֵין אִתְיָישָׁבוּ אַתְוָון קַדְמָאֵי בְּדוּכְתַּיְיהוּ, כָּל חַד וְחַד בִּשְׁלִימוּ.
608. More letters were conceived and they rolled together. The Aleph brought forth Mem that is from the right side, because it settled in the right, AND NOW THE ALEPH BROUGHT IT OUT TO THE ASPECT OF THE LEFT SIDE - the Mem brought forth the Shin TO THE ASPECT OF THE CENTRAL COLUMN, because the Mem was originally included in the left, BECAUSE IT WAS A CLOSED FINAL MEM IN THE NAME ELOHIM ON THE LEFT. Afterwards, it became combined in the right, FOR THE ALEPH TOOK IT AND MADE IT INTO AN OPEN MEM SO WE FIND THAT it is completed on two sides, ON THE RIGHT AND ON THE LEFT - and once it was completed, BOTH THE SIDES IN IT CONCEIVED and bore together THE LETTER SHIN that is combined of the two sides. IT IS THE SECRET OF THE CENTRAL COLUMN THAT COMBINES WITHIN ITSELF RIGHT AND LEFT - FOR THE THREE BRANCHES OF THE SHIN ALLUDE TO THEM.
608. תּוּ אַתְוָון אַעְדּוּ, וְאִתְגַּלְגְּלוּ כַּחֲדָא, א' אַפִּיק מ,' דְּאִיהוּ מִסִּטְרָא דִּילֵיהּ בִּימִינָא, דְּהָא בִּימִינָא אִתְיָישָׁב. מ' אַפִּיק ש' בְּגִין דְּהָא מ' כְּלִילָא אִיהִי, בְּקַדְמֵיתָא הֲוַת מִשְּׂמָאלָא, וְאִתְכְּלִיל לְבָתַר בִּימִינָא וְאִשְׁתְּלִים בִּתְרֵין סִטְרִין, כֵּיוָן דְּאִשְׁתְּלִים, אַעְדּוּ וְאוֹלִידוּ כַּחֲדָא, וְאִתְכְּלִלוּ בִּתְרֵין סִטְרִין.
609. Those three letters, Aleph, Mem, Shin, grew stronger, conceived and begot three others while revolving. The Mem was constructed and conceived and bore Resh. The Aleph conceived and bore Vav. The Shin conceived and bore the letter Chet, and then they were accomplished together.
609. אִתְתְּקָפוּ אַתְוָון אמ"ש תְּלַת אִלֵּין, וְאַעֲדוּ וְאוֹלִידוּ תְּלַת אַחֲרָנִין, גּוֹ גִּלְגּוּלָא. מ' אִתְתָּקַּן וְאַעְדֵּי וְאוֹלִיד ר.' א' אַעְדֵּי וְאוֹלִיד ו.' ש' אַעְדֵּי וְאוֹלִיד ח,' וְאִשְׁתָּכְלַל כֹּלָּא.
610. The letters of the secret of Aleph-Mem-Shin again conceived and revolved as before. The Aleph conceived and bore the letter Bet on the West side, WHICH IS MALCHUT. Then THE ALEPH settled on the South side, WHICH IS CHESED. The Mem conceived and bore the letter Dalet on the North side, WHICH IS GVURAH, and THE MEM ascended between North and South, where it is suspended in the air. The Shin conceived and bore the letter Gimel and settled in the East side, WHICH IS TIFERET, and THE SHIN ascended between West and East and is suspended in the air. So we find the two letters Mem and Shin are suspended in the air.
610. תּוּ אַעְדּוּ אַתְוָון אִלֵּין רָזָא אמ"ש, וְאִתְגַּלְגְּלוּ כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין, א' אַעְדֵּי וְאוֹלִיד וְאַפִּיק אָת ב' בְּסִטְרָא דְּמַעֲרָב, כְּדֵין אִתְיָישָׁב אִיהוּ בִּסְטַר דָּרוֹם. מ' אַעְדֵּי וְאוֹלִיד וְאַפִּיק אָת ד' בְּסִטְרָא דְּצָפוֹן, כְּדֵין אִסְתַּלָּק אִיהוּ בֵּין צָפוֹן וְדָרוֹם, וְתַלְיָא בַּאֲוִירָא. ש' אַעְדֵּי וְאוֹלִיד וְאַפִּיק אָת ג,' וְאִתְיָישָׁב בְּסִטְרָא דְּמִזְרָח, וְאִיהוּ אִסְתַּלָּק בֵּין מַעֲרָב וּמִזְרָח, וְתַלְיָא בַּאֲוִירָא. אִשְׁתְּכָחוּ תְּרֵין אַתְוָון מ"ש, תַּלְיָין בַּאֲוִירָא.
611. The Aleph that remained IN THE VESSEL OF CHESED OF THE BODY was elevated in its place and ascended above TO THE PLACE OF CHOCHMAH, BINAH, DA'AT, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF YUD-HEI OF THE NAME YUD HEI VAV HEI. It was crowned there with Yud-Hei. In these, YUD-HEI, THE ALEPH grew stronger to conceive and bore Hei-Vav, AND THE NAME YUD HEI VAV HEI WAS COMPLETED, and remained in its place, IN CHESED OF THE BODY. AND THE NAME YUD HEI VAV HEI ILLUMINATED WITHIN THE BODY; YUD-HEI-VAV IN CHESED, GVURAH AND TIFERET OF THE BODY AND THE LAST HEI IN MALCHUT. Then THE ALEPH was crowned and illuminated and expanded in its light and bore light and brought forth the letter Tet, which is the striking with which the mystery of the Supernal World, WHICH IS BINAH, struck and illuminated in the light OF CHESED, GVURAH AND TIFERET.
611. א' דְּאִשְׁתְּאַר, אִסְתַּלָּק בְּדוּכְתֵּיהּ, וְסָלִיק לְעֵילָּא, וְאִתְעַטָּר בֵּיהּ יָ"ה. בְּאִלֵּין אִתְתָּקַּף, וְאַעְדֵּי וְאוֹלִיד ה"ו, וְקָאֵים בְּדוּכְתֵּיהּ, כְּדֵין אִתְעֲטָּר, וְאַנְהִיר, וּפָשִׁיט נְהִירוּ, וְאוֹלִיד נְהִירוּ, וְאַפִּיק אָת ט,' בַּטִישׁוּ דְּקָא בָּטַשׁ וְנָהִיר רָזָא דְּעָלְמָא עִלָּאָה, בִּנְהִירוּ.
612. Then the Aleph was elevated and took to it Mem and Shin that were in the air. They joined it and became THE COMBINATION OF Aleph-Mem-Shin as before. The Aleph settled in the South side, WHICH IS CHESED, the Shin in the East side, WHICH IS TIFERET and the Mem in the North side, WHICH IS GVURAH. The Gimel that was in the East side ascended and conceived and bore Tzadi-Tav. And the Bet, which was in the West side, WHICH IS MALCHUT, came and ascended and joined between Tzadi and Tav. Aleph and Vav ascended, the one from the South and the other from the East, NAMELY ALEPH FROM THE SOUTH AND VAV FROM THE EAST, and were both joined with the Bet between the letters Tzadi and Tav. THEY JOINED and the Name Tzva'ot illuminated (Tzadi-Bet-Aleph-Vav-Tav).
612. כְּדֵין אִסְתַּלָּק א,' וְנָטִיל מִגּוֹ אֲוִירָא מ"ש, וְאִתְחַבָּרוּ בַּהֲדֵּיהּ, וַהֲווֹ אמ"ש כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין, וְאִתְיָישָׁב א' בְּסִטְרָא דְּדָרוֹם, ש' בְּסִטְרָא דְּמִזְרָח, מ' בְּסִטְרָא דְּצָפוֹן. סַלְּקָא ג' דַּהֲוָה בְּסִטְרָא דְּמִזְרָח, וְאַעְדֵּי וְאוֹלִיד צ"ת. אָתָא ב' דַּהֲוָה בִּסְטַר מַעֲרָב, וְסָלִיק וְאִתְחֲבָר בֵּין צ"ת. סְלִיקוּ א' ו,' דָּא מִסְּטָר דָּרוֹם וְדָא מִסְּטָר מִזְרָח, וְאִתְחַבָּרוּ תַּרְוַויְיהוּ בַּהֲדֵי ב' בֵּין צ"ת, וְאַנְהִיר שְׁמָא צְבָאוֹת.
613. When this name, TZVA'OT, illuminated in the Tabernacle, WHICH IS MALCHUT, the letters conceived and bore Zayin-Bet-Nun. The letters Aleph-Mem-Shin ascended as before, MEANING THAT THEY ILLUMINATED IN CHESED, GVURAH AND TIFERET as MENTIONED ABOVE. They conceived and bore Samech-Ayin-Pe, WHICH ARE THE SFIROT TIFERET, NETZACH AND HOD.
613. כַּד אִתְנְהִיר שְׁמָא דָּא גּוֹ מַשְׁכְּנָא, אַעְדּוּ אַתְוָון וְאוֹלִידוּ ז' ב' נ.' סְלִיקוּ אמ"ש כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין, וְאַעֲדוּ וְאוֹלִידוּ ס' ע' פ.'
614. The Kof remained alone, but went up and down and then stood in the hole of the great abyss. The Holy One, blessed be He, saw that it was confused and without a body or form, and that it did not enter the Tabernacle WHICH IS MALCHUT. So He made it into a cover on the Tabernacle. What is it? It is the curtain of goats' hair to be a covering over the Tabernacle, as it is written, "And you shall make curtains of goats' hair to be a covering (lit. 'tent') upon the tabernacle" (Shemot 26:7). IT IS WRITTEN a tent yet it is not a tent, BUT A COVER FOR THE TENT, for it is a monkey (Heb. Kof) and not a human.
614. אִשְׁתְּאַר ק' יְחִידָאי, וְסַלְּקָא וְנַחְתָּא, קַיְּימָא גּוֹ נוּקְבָּא דִּתְהוֹמָא רַבָּא, חָמָא לֵהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דְּקָא מִתְעַרְבְּבָא, בְּלֹא גּוּפָא וְלָא צִיּוּרָא, וְלָא עָיֵיל לְמַשְׁכְּנָא. עָבֵד לֵהּ חוּפָּאָה לְמַשְׁכְּנָא. וּמַאי נִיהוּ. יְרִיעוֹת עִזִּים לְאֹהֶל עַל הַמִּשְׁכָּן, כד"א, וְעָשִׂיתָ יְרִיעֹת עִזִּים לְאֹהֶל עַל הַמִּשְׁכָּן, לְאֹהֶל וְלָא אֹהֶל. קוֹ"ף וְלָא אָדָם.
615. Again the letters ALEPH-MEM-SHIN rolled into the building of the Tabernacle as before, the Shin on the East side, and the Gimel, THAT WAS IN THE EAST, remained suspended in the air. FOR FROM IT EMERGED THE NAME TZVA'OT and the Mem rolled and settled in the North side, BECAUSE IN ORDER TO ILLUMINATE IN NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD, THE LETTERS ALEPH-MEM-SHIN HAVE TO BE CLOTHED IN CHESED, GVURAH AND TIFERET. The Dalet emerged, WHICH WAS IN THE NORTH, and joined the Shin on that side AND THE COMBINATION SHIN-DALET (ENG. 'DEMON') WAS FORMED. The Aleph rolled and settled ON THE SOUTH SIDE, and ascended to THE HEAD OF the Yud THAT IS THERE. It ascended and became strengthened with it and took it, AND JOINED IT WITH SHIN-DALET, the Name Shadai (Shin-Dalet-Yud) was unified into one, WHICH ILLUMINATES IN THE SFIRAH YESOD. When this Name was established in the Tabernacle, WHICH IS MALCHUT, it (she) can exist and is situated within the lower Tabernacle, MEANING THAT ITS EXISTENCE DEPENDS UPON THE ERECTION OF THE LOWER TABERNACLE.
615. תּוּ אִתְגַּלְגָּלוּ אַתְוָון כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין, גּוֹ עוֹבָדָא דְּמַשְׁכְּנָא, אמ"ש, ש' אִתְגַּלְגְלָא וְאִתְיָישְׁבָא בִּסְטַר מִזְרָח, וְאִשְׁתְּאַר ג' תַּלְיָיא בַּאֲוִירָא. מ' אִתְגַּלְגְּלָא וְאִתְיָישְׁבָא בִּסְטַר צָפוֹן, וְנָפַק ד' וְאִתְחַבָּר גּוֹ ש' בְּהַהוּא סִטְרָא. א' אִתְגַּלְגַּל וְאִתְיָישָׁב וְסָלִיק לְגַבֵּי י,' וְסַלְּקָא וְאִתְתַּקְפָא בַּהֲדֵיהּ, וְנָטִיל לֵיהּ, וְאִתְחֲבָּר גּוֹ בְּחִבּוּרָא חֲדָא שַׁדָּ"י. כַּד שְׁמָא דָּא אִתְתָּקַּן גּוֹ מַשְׁכְּנָא, כְּדֵין קִיוּמָא וְקַיְמָא אִיהוּ מִגּוֹ מַשְׁכְּנָא דִּלְתַתָּא.
616. Again the letters ALEPH-MEM-SHIN rolled as before, in order to settle in the Tabernacle, and the letters ascended, first the Aleph and then the Tav, AND THE COMBINATION OF Aleph-Tav WAS FORMED; first the Bet and then the Shin AND THE COMBINATION OF BET-SHIN WAS FORMED. The COMBINATIONS OF the letters exchanged BY MEANS OF THE ATBASH CIPHER, AND THEN EMERGED Aleph-Bet-Gimel-Yud-Tav-Tzadi. They turned through the holy engravings, Aleph to Kof, THE ALEPH OF THE ATBASH CIPHER brought forth Kof to guard the Tabernacle, AS MENTIONED ABOVE. The Kof brought forth the Resh, the Resh brought it forth Ayin AND THESE BECAME THE COMBINATION OF Kof-Resh-Ayin.
616. תּוּ אַתְוָון אִתְגַּלְגָּלוּ כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין, לְאִתְיַישְּׁבָא מַשְׁכְּנָא, סְלִיקוּ אַתְוָון, א' בְּרֵישָׁא, ת' לְבָתַר, א"ת. ב' בְּרֵישָׁא, ש' לְבָתַר, אִתְחַלָּפוּ אַתְוָון, אב"ג ית"ץ, אִתְגַּלְגָּלוּ בְּגִלּוּפֵי קֻדְשָׁא א' ק.' א' אַפִּיק ק.' לְנַטְרָא מַשְׁכְּנָא. ק,' אַפִּיק ר.' ר' אַפִּיק ע' קר"ע.
617. This secret OF THE NAME KOF-RESH-AYIN IS THE SECRET OF THE VERSE, "And she put the skins of the kids of the goat upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck" (Beresheet 27:16) and similarly, "And you shall make curtains of goats' hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle." FOR THE NAME KOF-RESH-AYIN, WHOSE SOURCE IS KOF, CONTAINS THE HARSH (HEB. AZIM) AND SEVERE JUDGMENTS THAT ARE CALLED 'GOATS (HEB. IZIM).' THEREFORE, this part must be visible on the outside to guard what is inside, SO THAT THE EXTERNAL FORCES DO NOT GAIN NOURISHMENT FROM IT, AS HAS BEEN EXPLAINED EARLIER. The letters OF THE NAME Sin-Tet-Nun - Kof-Resh-Ayin, WHICH IS THE SECOND NAME OF THE NAME OF MEM-BET (42) AFTER ALEPH-BET-GIMEL YUD-TAV- TZADI MENTIONED EARLIER, are marked outside THE TABERNACLE in order to guard the Tabernacle, which is the secret of the holy Covenant, the foreskin was uncovered through this cover.
617. רָזָא דָּא, וְאֶת עוֹרוֹת גְּדָיֵי הָעִזִּים הִלְבִּישָׁה עַל יָדָיו וְעַל חֶלְקַת צַוָּארָיו. כְּגַוְונָא דָּא, וְעָשִׂיתָ יְרִיעֹת עִזִּים לְאֹהֶל עַל הַמִּשְׁכָּן. דְּהָא חוּלָקָא דָּא, אִצְטְרִיךְ לְאַחֲזָאָה לְבַר, לְנַטְרָא הַהִיא דִּלְגָּאו, ועַל רָזָא דָּא אַלְבִּישָׁת לֵיהּ לְיַעֲקֹב לְבַר. שט"ן קר"ע, אַתְוָון אִינּוּן רְשִׁימָן לְבַר, בְּגִין נְטוּרָא דְּמַשְׁכְּנָא, דְּאִיהוּ רָזָא דִּבְרִית קַדִּישָׁא, וְאִתְפָּרְעָא עָרְלָה לְבָתַר בְּחוּפָּאָה דָּא.
618. Again the letters rolled and brought forth THE COMBINATIONS OF the Atbash cipher UP TO Shin-Kof-Vav Tzadi-Yud-Tav. THE MEANING IS THAT THE ATBASH CIPHER BROUGHT FORTH ALL THE SEVEN NAMES COMING FROM THE NAME OF MEM-BET (42 LETTERS) OF 'ANA B'KOACH,' UNTIL SHIN-KOF-VAV TZADI-YUD-TAV. THESE ARE 'ALEPH-BET-GIMEL YUD- TAV-TZADI,' 'KOF-RESH-AYIN SIN-TET-NUN,' 'NUN-GIMEL-DALET YUD- CAF-SHIN,' 'BET-TET-RESH TZADI-TAV-GIMEL,' 'CHET-KOF-BET TET- NUN-AYIN,' 'YUD-GIMEL-LAMED PE-ZAYIN-KOF,' 'SHIN-KOF-VAV TZADI- YUD-TAV.' THEY ARE THE SECRET OF THE 42 LETTERS OF, "In the beginning Elohim created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form and void (Heb. bohu)... " (Beresheet 1:1) UNTIL THE BET OF BOHU. FOR THESE 42 LETTERS ARE THE SECRET OF THE NAME OF MEM-BET (42). In this cycle OF THE LETTERS, it is the secret of "And the earth was without form and void" because of the letters Kof-Resh-Ayin Sin- Tet-Nun, MEANING BY THE STRENGTH OF THE SEVERE JUDGMENTS THAT IT CONTAINS. THERE BECOMES, "And darkness was on the face of the deep" (Ibid. 2) The Gimel brought forth Resh and the Dalet-Kof AND THESE BECAME THE COMBINATIONS Gimel=Resh DALET=KOF - until here, AFTER THERE EMERGED THE FOUR COMBINATIONS OF Aleph =Tav BET=SHIN Gimel=Resh DALET=KOF, the letters rolled and struck one another to be established in the Tabernacle. THE REASON IS THAT THE PERMUTATION OF THE ATBASH CIPHER, CONTAINS ELEVEN COMBINATIONS, ALEPH=TAV; BET=SHIN; Gimel=Resh; DALET=KOF; HEI=TZADI; VAV=PE; ZAYIN=AYIN; CHET=SAMECH; TET=NUN; YUD= MEM AND CAF=LAMED - WHICH ARE DIVIDED INTO THREE COLUMNS, RIGHT, LEFT AND CENTRAL. THE FIRST FOUR, ALEPH=TAV BET=SHIN Gimel=Resh AND DALET=KOF ARE THE RIGHT COLUMN. THEREFORE, THEY ARE CONSIDERED AS ESTABLISHING THE TABERNACLE.
618. תּוּ אִתְגַּלְגְּלוּ אַתְוָון, וְאַפִּיק א"ת ב"ש, שִׁקוּצִי"ת בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ וְהָאָרֶץ הָיְתָה תֹהוּ וְגוֹ.' בְּגִלְגּוּלָא דָּא וְהָאָרֶץ הָיְתָה תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ בְּאַתְוָון קר"ע שט"ן. וְחֹשֶׁךְ עַל פְּנֵי תְהוֹם ג' אַפִּיק ר,' ד' ק' עַד הָכָא אַתְוָון, אִתְגַּלְגְּלוּ, וּבְטִישׁוּ דָּא בְּדָא לְתִקּוּנָא גּוֹ מַשְׁכְּנָא.
619. These THREE LETTERS, Aleph-Mem-Shin, brought forth offspring Hei-Tzadi-Vav-Pe, FOR IN THE CONTINUATION OF THE ATBASH CIPHER, these are the letters that are suspended in the air. They struck others and brought forth the form of the Tabernacle Zayin-Ayin, WHICH IS THE SEVENTH COMBINATION OF THE ATBASH CIPHER. Until here, IT IS RELATED TO THE SECRET OF THE VERSE, "And darkness upon the face of the deep." All of them, NAMELY ALL THE THREE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED COMBINATIONS, HEI=TZADI VAV=PE AND ZAYIN=AYIN are at its side, MEANING THE SIDE OF DARKNESS - IT IS BY REASON THAT THESE THREE COMBINATIONS ARE IN THE LEFT COLUMN OF THE ATBASH CIPHER, AND BEFORE THE LEFT JOINS WITH THE RIGHT, IT IS WHOLLY DARK. The Samech came and joined with the letter Chet, AND THE COMBINATION CHET-SAMECH WAS FORMED - WHICH IS AT THE FIRST OF THE FOUR COMBINATIONS OF THE CENTRAL COLUMN, WHICH ARE CHET= SAMECH TET=NUN YUD=MEM AND CAF=LAMED - then it is said, "'Let there be light,' and there was light" (Beresheet 1:3), BECAUSE THE LIGHT COMES FROM THE CENTRAL COLUMN AFTER IT MEDIATES AND JOINS TOGETHER THE TWO COLUMNS, RIGHT AND LEFT.
619. אִינּוּן אמ"ש אַפִּיקוּ תּוּלְדִין, ה' צ' ו' ף' אַתְוָון דְּתַלְיָין גּוֹ אֲוִירָא, וּבְטִישׁוּ בְּאִינּוּן אַחֲרָנִין וְאַפִּיקוּ צִיּוּרָא דְּמַשְׁכְּנָא ז' ע.' עַד הָכָא קַיְּימָא וְחֹשֶׁךְ עַל פְּנֵי תְהוֹם כֻּלְּהוּ בְּסִטְרוֹי ח' אָתָא ס' וְאִתְחַבָּר בַּהֲדֵיהּ, כְּדֵין יְהִי אוֹר וַיְהִי אוֹר.
620. The letters Aleph-Bet-Gimel-Yud-Tav-Tzadi rolled as before, and conceived and bore and brought forth one form of the secrets of the Tabernacle in one inclusion in the secret of THE PERMUTATED Albam CIPHER. The Aleph conceived and bore the letter Lamed by means of strength and might AND THE COMBINATION ALEPH=LAMED WAS FORMED. THE ALEPH strengthened in its might and ascended in its glory and bore the letter Bet. Then they conceived and bore the letters, and these other LETTERS joined, the Mem joined through its engraving with the letter Bet, AND THE COMBINATION BET=MEM WAS FORMED. So they emerged in pairs up to the combinations Tet=Resh, Yud=Shin, Caf=Tav, so that the letters should rise to their places in the combination of the secret of the Tabernacle. THIS IS THE SECRET OF, "The laver and its pedestal" (Shemot 38:16), FOR THE LAVER IS NETZACH AND ITS PEDESTAL IS HOD.
620. אִתְגַּלְגְּלוּ אַתְוָון כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין, אב"ג ית"ץ, אַעְדּוּ וְאוֹלִידוּ וְאַפִּיקוּ צִיּוּרָא גּוֹ רָזִין דְּמַשְׁכְּנָא, בִּכְלָלָא חֲדָא בְּרָזָא א' ל' ב' ם,' דְּהָא אָת א' אַעְדֵּי, וְאוֹלִיד בְּרָזָא דְּחֵילָּא וְתּוּקְפָּא, אָת ל.' אִתְגַּבָּר בְּתוּקְפֵּיהּ, וְאִסְתַּלָּק בִּיקָרֵיהּ, וְאוֹלִיד אָת ב,' כְּדֵין אַעְדִּיאוּ וְאוֹלִידוּ אַתְוָון אִתְחֲבָּרוּ אַחֲרָנִין אִלֵּין מ' אִתְחַבָּר בְּגִלוּפֵיהּ בְּאָת ב,' כְּדֵין נַפְקֵי בְּחִבּוּרָא עַד ט"ר י"ש כ"ת לְמֶהֱוֵי אַתְוָון סַלְּקִין בְּאַתְרַיְיהוּ, גּוֹ צֵרוּפָא דְרָזָא דְּמַשְׁכְּנָא. אֶת הַכִּיּוֹר וְאֶת כַּנוֹ.
621. "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters" (Beresheet 1:6). The waters were ascending BY THE SUPERNAL WATERS and descending BY THE LOWER WATERS in the secret of the letters Aleph-Lamed. The Aleph OF EL brought forth a Vav and the Vav brought forth Kof and the letter Lamed OF EL ascended TO THEM. The letters were engaged in the engraving in one joint, VOICE (HEB. KOL, KOF-VAV-LAMED). THEREFORE, THE UPPER WATERS WERE DIVIDED FROM THE LOWER WATERS THROUGH THE LETTERS KOF-VAV-LAMED. THIS IS WHAT IS WRITTEN, "The voice of Hashem is upon the waters, The El OF GLORY... " (Tehilim 29:3). These letters, Aleph-Lamed, THAT ARE IN THE VERSE "THE EL OF GLORY" conceived and bore and were engraved in the imprint by means of the letters, so as to produce the drawings of the Tabernacle.
621. יְהִי רָקִיעַ בְּתוֹךְ הַמָּיִם, דְּהָא מַיִין סְלִיקוּ וְנַחְתּוּ בְּרָזָא דְּאַתְוָון א"ל. א' אַפִּיק ו.' ו' אַפִּיק ק.' אָת ל' סָלִיק אִתְגְלִיפוּ אַתְוָון בְּגִלּוּפַיְיהוּ, בְּחִבּוּרָא חֲדָא, קוֹל יְיָ' עַל הַמָּיִם אֵ"ל וְכוּ,' אִלֵּין אָתְוָון אֵ"ל, דְּהָא אִלֵּין אַעְדּוּ וְאוֹלִידוּ וְאַפִּיקוּ אַתְוָון, גּוֹ צִיּוּרִין דְּמַשְׁכְּנָא.
622. THE THREE LETTERS, Aleph-Mem-Shin, conceived and bore and became engraved in the imprint of the letters, so as to produce the drawings of the Tabernacle WHICH IS MALCHUT. The Aleph brought forth Gimel. The Shin brought forth final Nun and joined it with Gimel, in the secret of Gan (garden, Gimel- final Nun), WHICH IS THE THIRD PAIR OF THE Albam cipher IN THE SECRET OF THE VERSE, "Let the earth bring forth grass" (Beresheet 1:11). The letters Aleph-Mem-Shin rolled again by means of Bet=Mem OF THE ALBAM CIPHER, in these waters that gathered into one place, as it is written, "Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together to one place" (Ibid. 9).
622. אמ"ש אַעְדוּ וְאוֹלִידוּ וְאִתְגְּלִיפוּ בְּגִלּוּפֵי רָזִין דְּאַתְוָון, לְאַפָּקָא צִיּוּרִין דְּמַשְׁכְּנָא, א' אַפִּיק ג,' ש' אַפִּיק ן,' לְחַבְּרָא גּוֹ אָת ג' בְּרָזָא גַּן. תַּדְשֵׁא הָאָרֶץ דֶּשֶׁא עֵשֶׂב וְגוֹ.' אִתְגַּלְגְּלוּ אַתְוָון כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין אמ"ש, בְּרָזָא ב"ם בְּאִלֵּין כְּנִישׁוּ מַיָּא לַאֲתָר חַד, דִּכְתִּיב יִקָּווּ הַמַּיִם מִתַּחַת הַשָּׁמַיִם אֶל מָקוֹם אֶחָד.