143. Rabbi Elazar continued the discussion, We have learned that Leah surely bore six sons and one daughter, CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD, YESOD AND MALCHUT. And Rachel bore two sons, THE TWO UPPER AND LOWER RIGHTEOUS ONES. This is also so. But what of the four sons of the handmaids? What is their connection? AS IN THE SONS OF RACHEL AND LEAH THERE ARE ALREADY ALL THE SFIROT. HE ANSWERS, They are the four knots called 'hinder parts,' of whom it is written, "and all their hinder parts were inward" (I Melachim 7:25).

144. In the right arm, CHESED, there are three joints, AS THE ARM IS DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTS - THE BICEPS, THE ARM, AND THE HAND. THE PARTS ARE CONNECTED BY THREE JOINTS. However the joint in the middle is bigger than the others and is CONSIDERED AS a hinder part protruding outward. Similarly, there is ONE MIDDLE JOINT OF THE THREE JOINTS in the left arm; one OF THE THREE JOINTS in the right leg; and one OF THE THREE JOINTS in the left leg. When everything is properly arranged, all four hind joints COME inside THE BODY, in keeping with the verse, "and all their hinder parts were inward."

145. All the other joints, EXCEPT FOR THESE FOUR, are on the same plane WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE BODY; only these four protrude out of the arms and legs to indicate the sons of the handmaids. For although they are of the twelve TRIBES, they are not of the same rank as the sons of Leah and Rachel. Therefore, they protrude out OF THE ARMS AND LEGS.

146. Another explanation is that these SONS OF THE HANDMAIDS are the four JOINTS which force all the other joints to move; these four knots carry the others. Rabbi Aba said, Surely this is so, and therefore they are all connected as one.