"The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine"
Rabbi Yehuda begins by explaining to Rabbi Aba that the verse, "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine," means that "the heavens are the heavens of The Creator." He then explains the importance of the holy garments, which are Aba and Ima. The High Priest above is Aba, and the one below, Ima. They are the secret of the Malchut of Zeir Anpin.
When the energies of male and female unite, spiritual energy is free to flow throughout all the worlds. By revealing the secrets of the holy garments which are Aba [Male] and Ima [Female], the Zohar, is in effect, linking the Upper [Male] and Lower [Female] Worlds. Thus, the dazzling heavenly Light of The Creator gleams throughout our world, removing all forms of darkness from our lives. This splendid occurrence takes place the moment our eyes fall upon the mystical texts that reveal these supernal secrets.
129. RABBI YEHUDA said to RABBI ABA, Tell me Rabbi, it is written, "And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen" (Shemot 28:5), yet silver is not mentioned. But AT THE OFFERING FOR THE TABERNACLE it says "gold and silver" (Shemot 25:3). He said, brass too is not mentioned, though both silver and brass were counted AS AN OFFERING FOR THE TABERNACLE. Here, IN RELATION TO THE VESTMENTS OF THE HIGH PRIEST they are not mentioned. But if the Holy Luminary, NAMELY RABBI SHIMON, did not reveal this mystery when it was discussed, I MYSELF should not reveal it either.
129. א"ל, רִבִּי אֵימָא לִי, כְּתִיב וְהֵם יִקְחוּ אֶת הַזָּהָב וְאֶת הַתְּכֵלֶת וְאֶת הָאַרְגָּמָן וְאֶת תּוֹלַעַת הַשָּׁנִי וְאֶת הַשֵּׁשׁ, וְאִילּוּ כֶּסֶף לָא כְתִיב, וְהָא כְתִיב זָהָב וָכֶסֶף, א"ל וְהָא נָמֵי נְחשֶׁת, דְּכֶסֶף וּנְחשֶׁת בְּחֻשְׁבְּנָא הֲווֹ, וְהָכָא לָא. אֶלָּא אִי לָא דְּגַלֵּי בּוֹצִינָא קַדִּישָׁא בְּאַתְרֵיהּ, לָא אִצְטָרִיכְנָא לְגַלָּאָה.
130. RABBI ABA opened with, "The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,' says Hashem" (Chagai 2:8) as it says in the verse, "The heavens are the heavens of Hashem" (Tehilim 115:16).
130. פְּתַח וַאֲמַר, לִי הַכֶּסֶף וְלִי הַזָּהָב נְאֻם ה,' הַיְינוּ דִכְתִיב הַשָּׁמַיִם שָׁמַיִם לַה.'
131. I have looked at the vessels of the sanctuary in several places; NAMELY THE RAIMENTS OF THE HIGH PRIEST, as it is written, "These are holy garments" (Vayikra 16:4) "and they shall make holy garments" (Shemot 28:4). HE ASKS, What holiness is there TO THE GARMENTS OF THE HIGH PRIEST? HE SAYS, We have learned that in all of these places THAT ARE MENTIONED there is holiness. NAMELY, "these are holy garments," "and they shall make holy garments," WHICH MEAN they resemble the ones above -- MEANING, ABA AND IMA, WHICH ARE CALLED HOLY, FOR THE HIGH PRIEST CORRESPONDS TO SUPERNAL ABA, AND HIS GARMENTS ARE THEREFORE CALLED HOLY GARMENTS, AS WAS SAID.
131. בְּכַמָּה אֲתַר אִסְתַּכַּלְנָא בְּאִלֵּין מָאנֵי דְּקוּדְשָׁא, דִּכְתִיב בִּגְדֵי קֹדֶשׁ הֵם, וּכְתִיב וְעָשׂוּ בִּגְדֵי קֹדֶשׁ, מַאי קְדוּשָּׁה הָכָא, אֶלָּא הָכֵי תָּנִינָן, קְדוּשָּׁה אִינוּן בְּכָל אֲתַר. וּכְתִיב בִּגְדֵי קֹדֶשׁ הֵם. וְעָשִׂיתָ בִּגְדֵי קֹדֶשׁ, כְּגַוְונָא דִלְעֵילָא.
132. For we have learned that there is a High Priest above, ABA, and a High Priest below, WHO CORRESPONDS TO HIM. Therefore, the holy raiments OF ABA above CORRESPOND TO the holy raiment OF THE HIGH PRIEST below. HENCE, AS ABA IS THE SECRET OF HOLINESS SO IS THE HIGH PRIEST HOLY; AS THE RAIMENTS OF HONOR OF ABA ARE HOLY GARMENTS SO ARE THE GARMENTS OF THE HIGH PRIEST. Thus, the verse does not mention silver or brass because they are assigned to another place, NOT CORRESPONDING TO THE SUPERNAL ABA AND IMA, as it is written, "All the pillars round about the court shall be bound with silver...and their sockets of brass" (Shemot 27:17). They are the instruments of service of the tabernacle, THE SECRET OF THE NUKVA OF ZEIR ANPIN.
132. דְּתַנְיָא כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל לְעֵילָא, כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל לְתַתָּא, לְבוּשִׁין דִּיקָר לְעֵילָא, לְבוּשִׁין דִּיקָר לְתַתָּא, וּמַה דְּלָא אֲמַר כֶּסֶף וּנְחשֶׁת, לַאֲתַר אָחֳרָא אִסְתַּלִּיקוּ, דִּכְתִיב כָּל עַמּוּדֵי הֶחָצֵר סָבִיב מְחוּשָׁקִים כָּסֶף וגו,' וּכְתִיב וְאַדְנֵיהֶם נְחשֶׁת, דְּאִינוּן מָאנֵי שִׁמּוּשָׁא, לְאִשְׁתַּמָּשָׁא מַשְׁכְּנָא בְּהוֹ.
133. But no one is allowed to use the garment of honor OF THE HIGH PRIEST only the High Priest, who is anointed with the oil of holy ointment upon his head, as it is written, "And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother for honor and for beauty" (Shemot 28:2). For in these garments, he resembles ABA above.
133. אֲבָל הָכָא בְּאִלֵּין לְבוּשִׁין דִּיקָר, לָא בָּעֵי לְאִשְׁתַּמָּשָׁא בְּהוֹ ב"נ אָחֳרָא, בַּר מִכַּהֲנָא רַבָּא, דִּרְבוּ מְשַׁח קוּדְשָׁא עַל רֵישֵׁיהּ, דִּכְתִיב וְעָשִׂיתָ בִּגְדֵי קֹדֶשׁ לְאַהֲרֹן אָחִיךָ לְכָבוֹד וּלְתִפְאָרֶת, דִּבְאִינוּן לְבוּשִׁין דָּמֵי לְגַוְונָא דִלְעֵילָא.