162. "This (Heb. zot) is the anointing of Aaron, and of the anointing of his sons" (Vayikra 7:35): Rabbi Yosi said: "Zot," WHICH IS MALCHUT, is surely an anointment of Aaron. For Aaron was anointed FROM CHOCHMAH; he brought down the supernal oil of ointment from above, CHOCHMAH, and drew it downward TO MALCHUT. It is due to Aaron that MALCHUT was anointed and blessed with holy ointment. It therefore says, "This (Heb. zot) is the anointing of Aaron, and of the anointing of his sons," most certainly.

163. Rabbi Yehuda opened the discussion with the verse: "And Elisha said to her, 'What shall I do for you? tell me, what have you in the house?'" (II Melachim 4:2). From this we learned that blessings do not abide upon an empty table or an empty thing. "And she said, 'Your handmaid has nothing in the house, except a pot of oil'" (Ibid.). ELISHA said to her: 'Surely this was done by a miracle,' THAT YOU HAVE OIL, WHICH ALLUDES TO CHOCHMAH, 'for surely it is in its place,' THE PLACE OF CHOCHMAH, 'whence blessings come out to dwell,' BELOW. It is written: "They brought the vessels to her; and she poured out" (Ibid. 5). It says only, "she poured," WITHOUT MENTIONING WHO POURS, SINCE IT REFERS TO CHOCHMAH.

164. Rabbi Yosi said: "And the oil stopped flowing" (Ibid. 6). This resembles the words: "In the corner of Ben Shemen (lit. 'oil')" (Yeshayah 5:1), "CORNER" MEANING MALCHUT, AND "OIL" MEANING CHOCHMAH. It is also written: "For your flowing oil you are renowned," (Shir Hashirim 1:3) WHICH MEANS THE OIL, CHOCHMAH, FLOWS ON YOUR NAME, MALCHUT. This shows that from this oil, CHOCHMAH, blessings are drawn by the priests, and the priests draw it downward to anoint Zot, MALCHUT. Hence, it says: "This (Heb. zot) is the anointing of Aaron, and of the anointing of his sons," WHICH MEANS THAT "ZOT," MALCHUT, IS ANOINTED BY AARON, WHO DREW THE OIL FROM CHOCHMAH. It is also written: "It is like the precious oil upon the head" (Tehilim 133:2). THE OIL IS DRAWN UPON AARON'S HEAD AND FLOWS ON TO MALCHUT. We already learned this.