419. Rabbi Chizkiyah opened the discussion with the verse, "Let my prayer be set forth before You like incense; and the lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice" (Tehilim 141:2). HE ASKS, Why does it mention the "evening sacrifice" and not the morning service, for it does not say, 'Let my prayer be set in the morning?' HE ANSWERS, We have learned from the words, "Let my prayer be set forth before You like incense" that incense is a token of gladness, as it is written, "Oil and incense rejoice the heart" (Mishlei 27:9). Therefore, when he lit the candles, the priest used to offer incense, as it says, "When he dresses the lamps, he shall burn incense on it. And when Aaron lights the lamps at evening, he shall burn incense upon it" (Shemot 30:7-8). In the morning, HE BURNS INCENSE because of the joy brought by the season, AS MORNING IS A TIME OF JOY, and in the evening HE BURNS INCENSE to bring joy to the left side, as befits. Incense is ever a sign of joy.

420. Come and see how incense ties bonds BETWEEN THE SFIROT. It is attached above and below and removes death, accusations, and anger so they will have no power over the world, as it says, "And Moses said to Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire in it from off the altar, and put on incense, and take it quickly...and run...and made atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed" (Bemidbar 17:11-13). For no evil aspect or accuser can exist before incense. Therefore, it brings gladness and connection among everything.

421. At the time of Minchah, when Judgment rests upon the world, David was intent upon that prayer OF THE INCENSE, as it is written, "Let my prayer be set forth before You like incense." This prayer which he offered removed the wrath of strict Judgment which now ruled IN THE EVENING through the power of incense which rejects and removes wrath and any accusation in the world. Hence it says "evening sacrifice," for IT IS IN THE TIME OF MINCHAH THAT Judgment has sway upon the world.

422. Come and see, When the Temple was destroyed, it was burned at the time of Minchah. Therefore it is written, "Woe to us! for the day declines, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out" (Yirmeyah 6:4). The evening shadows are the accusers in the world and the wrath of Judgment that are in wait at the time. We have therefore learned that it behooves man to pray with great intention at all prayers, but at Minchah more than the rest, since Judgment then rests upon the world. This is why it was Isaac who instituted the prayer of Minchah, WHICH IS OF JUDGMENT AND THE LEFT, as we have already explained.