351. Rabbi Chiya opened the discussion saying, "Therefore fear you not, O My servant Jacob...for, lo, I will save you from afar" (Yirmeyah 30:10). HE ASKS, "From afar?" It should have said, 'from near by.' We explained in relation to this verse that "from afar" is like 'they return from a far country;' NAMELY, IT ALLUDES TO A PLACE. Yet, "from afar" HAS THE SAME MEANING as the words: "Hashem appeared to me from afar" (Yirmeyah 31:2) and "she brings her food from afar" (Mishlei 31:14). What is this? It is the deep river, CHOCHMAH CALLED FAR, AS WRITTEN, "I SAID, I WILL BE WISE; BUT IT WAS FAR FROM ME" (KOHELET 7:23). This is the place from whence the river, BINAH, comes out and flows.

352. "And Jacob shall return" (Yirmeyah 30:10). HE ASKS, Since it already says, "Therefore fear you not, O My servant Jacob," why also does it say, "And Jacob shall return, AND SHALL BE QUIET AND AT EASE, AND NONE SHALL MAKE HIM AFRAID" (Ibid.), WHICH IS A REPETITION? HE ANSWERS, As we have learned, the Holy One, blessed be He, NAMELY ZEIR ANPIN, rises high up, NAMELY TO CHOCHMAH, as written, "Why, Hashem, stand You afar off" (Tehilim 10:1) IN CHOCHMAH, AS EXPLAINED ABOVE. From that far place, "I will save you," NAMELY, POUR THE ABUNDANCE OF CHOCHMAH. "And Jacob shall return:" NAMELY, ZEIR ANPIN CALLED JACOB SHALL RETURN FROM CHOCHMAH AND DESCEND to his place to join the Congregation of Yisrael, MALCHUT. Yesod is quiet and at ease, which MEANS THAT IT IS AT EASE to set his abode in her, IN MALCHUT. "None shall make him afraid," NAMELY of Isaac, WHO IS THE LEFT COLUMN AND OF JUDGMENTS, as written, "And Isaac trembled very much" (Beresheet 27:33). It is therefore written, "And the fear of Isaac" (Beresheet 31:42), WHO IS THE LEFT COLUMN. When that fear is aroused, Yesod is gone elsewhere AND DOES NOT BESTOW PLENTY ON MALCHUT. Hence, "the sinners in Zion are afraid" (Yeshayahu 33:14). THEY WILL FEAR THE JUDGMENTS OF THE LEFT COLUMN CALLED FEAR THAT REMOVES THE YESOD, SO IT WILL NOT GIVE PLENTY TO MALCHUT. Zion is accurate, BECAUSE ZION IS YESOD OF MALCHUT, BECAUSE YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN LEAVES HER DUE TO THE JUDGMENTS OF THE LEFT. Hence, it says, "And none shall make him afraid." The Holy One, blessed be He, saved us from afar and hid us in this place, IN THE CAVE, in quiet and peace, with none to make us afraid. When the Holy One, blessed be He, makes a miracle, He does so completely.

353. Rabbi Yosi opened the discussion with the verse: "And Barak said to her, If you will go with me, then I will go" (Shoftim 4:8). HE ASKS, What does it mean? HE ANSWERS, Since the Holy Spirit rests on her, Barak said I will be saved in her merit and shall come to no harm. As Barak put his Faith on a woman to be saved by her merit, how much more we, when the Torah is with us, which is the name of the Holy King.