195. In the verse, "And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potifar bought him" (Beresheet 39:1), why is it written, "brought down" RATHER THAN 'WENT DOWN TO EGYPT?' HE ANSWERS, The Holy One, blessed be He, consented to the act OF SELLING JOSEPH TO EGYPT, so that the decree He made between the pieces would be fulfilled, as it is written, "Know surely that your seed shall be a stranger" (Beresheet 15:13). "And Potiphar bought him," to commit sin with him, NAMELY SODOMY.
196. He quoted the verse, "Who commands the sun, and it rises not; and seals up the stars" (Iyov 9:7). Come and behold, the Holy One, blessed be He, made seven stars in the firmament THAT CORRESPOND TO THE SEVEN SFIROT: CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD, YESOD AND MALCHUT. Each firmament contains numerous attendants who wait upon the Holy One, blessed be He.
197. There is no attendant or appointee who does not have a specific task and service to perform for the Holy One, blessed be He, and each knows his own task.
198. Some act as their Master's messengers, appointed in this world to oversee men's deeds. There are those who sing CHANTS AND HYMNS before Him, and those in charge of poetry. And even they are in charge of poetry, there is no host, no star or constellation that does not praise the Holy One, blessed be He.
199. For when night falls, three legions are divided into the three directions of the world, each containing tens of thousands OF ANGELS, whose task it is to sing.
200. There are three hosts OF ANGELS and one living creature, THE NUKVA, that stands in charge of them. They all praise the Holy One, blessed be He, until morning comes, when those of the south side and the luminous stars, THE ANGELS, praise and recite poetry before the Holy One, blessed be He. It is written, "When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of Elohim shouted for joy" (Iyov 38:7). "The morning stars" are the stars on the south side, NAMELY CHESED, as it is written, "And Abraham went early in the morning" (Beresheet 19:27). "All the sons of Elohim shouted for joy," refers to the stars on the left side, which are included within the right.
201. When daylight breaks, Yisrael sing the praises of the Holy One, blessed be He, three times a day, corresponding to the three night WATCHES. They stand before each other until the glory of the Holy One, blessed be He, is duly risen day and night. The Holy One, blessed be He, ascends by means of the six LITANIES, THREE IN THE DAY AND THREE AT NIGHT.
202. The living creature that stands above them, THE NUKVA, also stands on Yisrael below to properly fix everything, as it is written, "She rises also while it is yet night, and gives food to her household, and a portion to her maidens" (Mishlei 31:15). "And gives food to her household," refers to the upper THREE hosts and, "a portion to her maidens," alludes to the camp of Yisrael below. Thus the glory of the Holy One, blessed be He, is extolled on every side, above and below; everything exists by His permission and according to His wish.
203. " ...Who commands the sun, and it rises not ..." (Iyov 9:7). Rabbi Shimon says this refers to Joseph WHEN HE WAS SOLD INTO EGYPT. "And seals up the stars" are his brothers, about whom it is written, "And the eleven stars bowed down to me" (Beresheet 37:9). In another explanation, "Who commands the sun," refers to Jacob at the time he was told, "Know now WHETHER IT BE YOUR SON'S COAT OR NOT" (Beresheet 37:32). " ...And it rises not ..." means when the Shechinah was gone from him; "and seals up the stars," means his sons, as his light was sealed and closed upon him because of them. The sun darkened and the stars did not shine because Joseph was separated from his father. Come and behold, since Joseph was sold, Jacob abstained from marital intercourse and remained in mourning until he heard the good tidings of Joseph.