The difference between Torah and prophets

Synopsis

We are told that those who study the Torah are in a much higher grade than the prophets; those who say things from the Holy Spirit are the lowest since the Holy Spirit is drawn from Malchut, that is the lowest. Those who study Torah stand above in the place called Torah, Zeir Anpin, that sustains Malchut. The rabbis meet a man with three branches of myrtle tied together to represent the fragrance of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Faith Grades Prophets Torah Zeir Anpin

185. Come and behold: what is the difference between those who are occupied with the Torah and the faithful prophets? IT IS THAT those who are occupied with the Torah are always more valuable than the prophets. Why? They are in a much higher grade than the prophets, since they who are occupied in the Torah stand above in the place called 'the Torah,' ZEIR ANPIN, which sustains all the Faith, MALCHUT, WHICH HAS NOTHING BUT WHAT ZEIR ANPIN GIVES HER. The prophets stand below, NAMELY, UNDER THE CHEST OF ZEIR ANPIN, in the place called 'Netzach' and 'Hod.' Those who are occupied with the Torah are of more importance than the prophets and are superior to them, for the ones stand above and the others stand below. Those who say things through the Holy Spirit are the lowest, SINCE THE HOLY SPIRIT IS DRAWN FROM MALCHUT, WHICH IS THE LOWEST.

185. תָּא חֲזֵי, מַה בֵּין אִינּוּן דְּמִשְׁתַּדְּלֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, לִנְבִיאֵי מְהֵימְנֵי. אִינּוּן דְּמִשְׁתַּדְּלֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, עֲדִיפֵי מִנְּבִיאֵי בְּכָל זִמְנָא. מַאי טַעֲמָא. דְּאִינּוּן קַיְימֵי בְּדַרְגָּא עִלָּאָה, יַתִּיר מִנְּבִיאֵי, אִינּוּן דְּמִשְׁתַּדְּלֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא קַיְימֵי לְעֵילָּא, בְּאַתְרָא דְּאִקְרֵי תּוֹרָה, דְּהוּא קִיוּמָא דְּכָל מְהֵימְנוּתָא. וּנְבִיאֵי קַיְימֵי לְתַתָּא, בַּאֲתַר דְּאִקְרוּן נֶצַח וְהוֹד. וְעַל דָּא, אִינּוּן דְּמִשְׁתַּדְּלֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, עֲדִיפֵי מִנְּבִיאֵי, וְעִלָּאִין מִנְּהוֹן יַתִּיר. דְּאִלֵּין קַיְימִין לְעֵילָּא, וְאִלֵּין קַיְימִין לְתַתָּא. אִינּוּן דְּאַמְרֵי מִלִּין בְּרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ, קַיְימֵי לְתַתָּא מְכֻּלְּהוּ.

Faith Grades Love Peace Sacrifice Torah

186. זַכָּאִין אִינּוּן דְּמִשְׁתַּדְּלֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, דְּאִינּוּן בְּדַרְגָּא עִלָּאָה יַתִּיר עַל כֹּלָּא. מַאן דְּלָעֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, לָא אִצְטְרִיךְ לָא לְקָרְבְּנִין, וְלָא לְעִלָּוָון. דְּהָא אוֹרַיְיתָא עָדִיף מִכֹּלָּא, וְקִשּׁוּרָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא דְּכֹלָּא. וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב, דְּרָכֶיהָּ דַּרְכֵי נֹעַם וְכָל נְתִיבוֹתֶיהָ שָׁלוֹם. וּכְתִיב, שָׁלוֹם רָב לְאוֹהֲבֵי תוֹרָתֶךָ וְאֵין לָמוֹ מִכְשׁוֹל.