23. Rabbi Elazar said: "Do not cut off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites" (Bemidbar 4:18), since they are the trunk and root of the Levites. "...but thus do to them, that they may live, and not die..." (Ibid.). The priest must establish that for them; even though they are nearing to the Holy, they should only approach with the amendment of the priest, since he is aware of the signal, UP TO WHERE he can reach and not further. When they cover the holy vessels, another coverage prevails from above and it is forbidden FOR THE LEVITES to approach and look, since anything that is in a whisper, THAT IS, A SECRET, applies only to the priests, since their speech and activities are in secret and they whisper. The Levites' speech and activities are in the raising of the voice IN SONG.
24. Therefore, all the activities of the priests are performed quietly and secretively. Consequently, wine is forbidden to them, since wine is for raising the voice, FOR SONG, and revelation of secrets. The Levites are given to attend the raising of voice because they are connected to Judgment and Judgment is open in order to publicize it to all. However, all the priest's words are secretive and in a whisper, they are not spoken openly because he is of the right, THAT IS CHESED. When Judgments prevail on the world from the left aspect, the right draws near. By means of what? By the burning of incense, which is done quietly in secret, more subtle and refined than anything, THAT IS BINAH.
25. Come and behold: when this other altar, THE EXTERNAL ALTAR, WHICH IS MALCHUT, begins to stir the awakening OF JUDGMENT, and no righteous people are around TO PROTECT it, the inner altar, BINAH, awakens to him and stands up against him, and the Judgments are subdued. Therefore, THIS one stands opposite the other one and then Judgment departs.
26. Rabbi Elazar says: "This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the Tent of Meeting, namely, the most holy thing" (Ibid. 4). During the period of time that the sons of Kohath came to take the Holy of Holies, the priest approached and covered everything prior to their approach, and they never saw what they carried. Instead, everything was covered from them, as it says, "and when the camp sets forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the veil of the screen" (Ibid. 5). Most of the casings for the Temple's utensils were colored blue. The significance of blue was already explained and taught. After everything was covered, the children of Kohath, who carried it, came near. They did not get any closer than the poles that extended out, as it is written: "and when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the Sanctuary...as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it..." (Ibid. 15).
27. Therefore, burnt incense, which is inward, and all that is in secret is given over to the priest. Therefore, "Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation...and he put on incense" (Bemidbar 17:12), because it is of the innermost, the secret of the priest WHO IS ALSO WITHIN. Then, "and made atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living..." - that is, between the Tree of Life and the Tree of Death. Then the right causes one to approach the other, MEANING THE TREE OF LIFE, THAT IS RIGHT, COMES CLOSE TO THE PRIEST, WHO IS RIGHT, "and the plague was stayed." Praised is the priest's lot, since the priest has power above and power below, and he is the cause of peace above and below. And at all times, the left serves the right. This is what it says: "that they may be joined to you, and minister to you" (Bemidbar 18:2); and the right THAT IS INCLUDED in the left is prevalent in the Temple.