384. "And Jacob went on his way, and angels of Elohim met him..." (Beresheet 32:2). Rabbi Aba began with the verse, "male and female He created them" (Beresheet 5:2). How much it behooves us to look into the words of the Torah, THE SECRET OF ZEIR ANPIN, THE CENTRAL COLUMN. Woe to all the hard hearted and blindfolded, WHO CLEAVE TO THE LEFT COLUMN, BLOCKED FROM CHOCHMAH, WHICH IS 'EYES,' AND FROM BINAH, CALLED 'HEART.' For the Torah, WHICH IS OF THE CENTRAL COLUMN, calls to them, "Come, eat of my bread (WHICH IS DRAWN FROM THE RIGHT COLUMN OF THE TORAH), and drink of the wine which I have mingled (WHICH IS DRAWN FROM THE LEFT COLUMN OF THE TORAH)" (Mishlei 9:5). "Whoever is simple, WHOEVER CLINGS TO THE LEFT, let him turn in here, as for him that lacks understanding, she says to him" (Mishlei 9:4). But there is no one to pay attention to her.
385. Come and behold, "MALE AND FEMALE HE CREATED THEM," for it contains deep mysteries. It alludes inwardly TO THE MALE AND FEMALE and outwardly TO ADAM AND EVE. THIS MEANS THAT THERE IS A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE INNER MALE AND FEMALE, IN GREATNESS, AND A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE OUTER MALE AND FEMALE, IN SMALLNESS. It may be understood in this INNER manner, and that OUTER manner. One way to understand this is that the sun and moon, MALE AND FEMALE, are bound as one, about which it is written, "He created them," and "The sun and moon stood still in her habitation" (Chavakuk 3:11). THEY ARE THE SECRET OF THE INNER MALE AND FEMALE. It is also understood FROM THIS VERSE that Adam and Eve were created AND COME from the union OF THE SUPERNAL, OUTER MALE AND FEMALE. Once they were joined as one, Elohim "blessed them" (Beresheet 5:2). This is because blessing dwells only where male and female are found.
386. Come and behold, when Jacob turned to go toward Charan, he was unmarried. It is written, "And he lighted on a certain place" (Beresheet 28:11). Then he was answered only in a dream. After he was married and came to all the tribes, the supernal camps met him and entreated him, as it is written, "And angels of Elohim met (also: 'entreated') him." Now they came to meet him, NAMELY, TO ENTREAT HIM. First he WAS BEGGING, as it is written, "And he lighted (Heb. vayifga) on a certain place." Now they BEGGED, AS IT IS WRITTEN "and angels of Elohim met (Heb. vayifgeu) him."
387. The reason is that Jacob and the tribes were given water from the great sea, THE PLENTY OF THE NUKVA AT TIME OF GREATNESS, THEN CALLED THE 'GREAT SEA.' THEY THEREFORE ENTREATED HIM TO DRAW PLENTY ON THEM. Also, at first, he saw them at night in a dream, AS IT IS WRITTEN, "AND HE DREAMED...AND BEHOLD THE ANGELS OF ELOHIM ASCENDING AND DESCENDING ON IT." Now he saw them with his eyes during the daytime, as it is written, "And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is Elohim's camp" (Beresheet 32:2).
388. HE ASKS, How did he recognize them TO BE ANGELS OF ELOHIM? HE ANSWERS, He saw they were the same angels as in his dream. He therefore called them "Machanayim (lit. 'two camps')," THAT IS, AFTER THE VERSE, "AND BEHOLD THE ANGELS OF ELOHIM ASCENDING AND DESCENDING ON IT," WHOM HE SAW IN HIS DREAM. Those who were seen above and below FORMED TWO CAMPS.
389. HE ASKS, Why were THE ANGELS now revealed to him to entreat him? HE ANSWERS, The Shechinah went to take Jacob his house ?, SO AS TO HAVE JACOB'S WHOLE HOUSEHOLD. THE SHECHINAH waited for Benjamin to take the house together with Jacob properly, NAMELY, WITH ALL THE TWELVE TRIBES. THE ANGELS WERE THEN REVEALED TO HIM, TO COMPLETE HIM. Then scripture reads, "And Jacob shall return, and be quiet and at ease, and none shall make him afraid" (Yirmeyah 46:27).
390. Sitrei Torah (Secrets of the Torah). "And Jacob went on his way, and angels of Elohim met him." Mishen, The shields of the ministers are standing upright, and the bright blade of the revolving sword is appointed over all the armies and camps.
391. That bright, revolving sword is a red sword, about which it is written, "The sword of Hashem is filled with blood" (Yeshayah 34:6). On this sword the revolving OF THE ANGELS WHO ARE now men, now women, depends. From this ASPECT several other aspects of grades are derived.
392. From the side of the Tree of Life come those who are joined by the union of the bond. These holy ones are always filled by the dew of the heaven. THEY ARE CALLED THE 'DEW OF HEAVEN.' The name of Elohim is perfected through them. By the four winds of the world, THE MOCHIN WERE MADE for the legs of the throne. They are all pearls, limbs and pillars, and are never divided from that name. They are tied to Jacob, who chose them as his portion, and was perfected with this name. They all issued from Jacob.
393. When Jacob went on his way, the four sides, the four corners of the world, surrounded and guarded him. Only for a short time did the supernal place stir in order to maintain the tree below. Then "And Jacob said, when he saw them 'this is a camp (Heb. machaneh) of Elohim'" then "he called the place Machanaim" (Beresheet 32:3).