815. Rabbi Yitzchak opened the discussion with the verse, "And they came to the threshing floor of Atad...and when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanite, saw the mourning at the floor of Atad" (Beresheet 50:10-11). We have to examine these verses. Why should it concern us that they came to the threshing floor of Atad, and why was it named "the mourning of Egypt." It should have been named 'the mourning of Yisrael,' so why Egypt?

816. HE ANSWERS, So they said that as long as Jacob dwelt in Egypt, the land was blessed for his sake, and the Nile used to rise and water the land. Moreover, the famine ceased due to Jacob. Hence the Egyptians mourned, and the mourning was named after them.

817. He opened the discussion saying, "Who can utter the mighty acts (Heb. Gvurot) of Hashem? who can declare all His praise?" (Tehilim 106:2). This verse has been explained, yet why say "utter" instead of the usual "speak?" If, you say scripture is wont TO USE SYNONYMS FOR THE BEAUTY OF STYLE, it is not so. But all verses WITH SYNONYMS convey a specific meaning. Here, too, there is a specific meaning in "utter (Heb. yemalel)," as in the verse "pluck the ears (Heb. melilot)" (Devarim. 23:26), WHICH IS DERIVED FROM CUTTING AND SEVERANCE. "The Gvurot of Hashem" are numerous, since all verdicts come from thence, FROM THE GVUROT OF HASHEM, THE LEFT COLUMN. SCRIPTURE therefore SAYS, "WHO CAN UTTER GVUROT OF HASHEM," WHICH MEANS who will be able to cancel and annul one decree of the mighty acts performed by the Holy One, blessed be He.

818. We should also add that 'utter' and 'speak' are the same and that UTTER MEANS speak. How numerous are the mighty acts, the prosecutors, the advocates and the executioners of those who break the Law. Speech cannot enumerate them, HENCE THE VERSE SAYS, "WHO CAN UTTER THE MIGHTY ACTS OF HASHEM."

819. THE MIGHTY ACTS OF HASHEM are made known through recital, which contains the secret of wisdom, AND THROUGH WISDOM THEY CAN BE KNOWN. For through utterance and speech, there is no uttering and knowing them, only through recital, as it is written, "One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare (recite) Your mighty acts" (Tehilim 145:4), through which secret they are made known; NAMELY BY RECITAL, THE SECRET OF WISDOM. But of Your Gvurah, the lower Gvurah WITHIN THE NUKVA, they shall talk, FOR IT CAN BE SPOKEN OF, as it is written, "and talk of Your Gvurah" (Ibid. 11).

820. "Who can declare all His praise?" For many judgments are seen by it and are united in praise, and several hosts join in praise, as it is written, "Is there any number to His armies" (Iyov 25:3). Hence "who can declare all His praise?"

821. Come and see, All the Egyptians were wise, on the side of Gvurah, NAMELY THE LEFT COLUMN, whence legions and hosts come forth and grades that reach the lower grades. The Egyptians, who were sorcerers, had knowledge of them, and knew of the undisclosed secrets in the world. They saw that as long as Jacob lived in this world, no nation could rule over his children, yet they knew that they would enslave Yisrael for a long period.

822. When Jacob died they rejoiced THAT NOW THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO ENSLAVE YISRAEL. They looked to see what would become of it and saw the threshing floor of Atad, the prevailing punishment, as 'Atad' has the same numerical value as 'hand,' mentioned in the verse, "And Yisrael saw that great work (lit. 'hand') which Hashem did upon Egypt" (Shemot 14:31). When they came to this place, they saw the mighty acts coming from Atad UPON THEM, NAMELY THE TEN PLAGUES OF EGYPT AND THE PARTING OF THE RED SEA. Why is it called Atad (Eng. 'thorn-bush')? As the thorns grow on both sides of the thorn-bush, so do the fingers of the hand, each containing numerous Gvurot, punishments and decrees. Hence "they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation...so that the name of it was called the mourning of the Egyptians." This was truly a grievous mourning for the Egyptians, and no one else.

823. When Rabbi Shimon explained the verses, they went out of the cave WHERE THEY SAT. He said, I see that today a house in town will collapse, and two Roman informers will die there. If I am in town, the house will not fall, FOR MY MERIT WILL PROTECT THEM. They returned to the cave, FOR HE DID NOT WISH TO RETURN TO HIS TOWN AND SO PROTECT THEM, BUT HE WANTED THE HOUSE TO FALL, AND THE INFORMERS BE KILLED. They sat down.