The Kabbalah Unveiled — S. L. MacGregor Mathers (from Knorr von Rosenroth's Latin) (1887)
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490. What is this passage intended to imply ? Assuredly the sense of these words, “ they know not,” is this, “ They do not know, and they do not wish to know.”
491. “ Wherein they stumble.” Do not read “ BMH,
Bameh , wherein,” but “ BAIMA, Be-Aima, in Aima, the
Mother,” they stumble. That is, through those who are
attributed unto the side of the Mother.
492. What is the side of the Mother ? Severe Rigour,
whereunto are attributed the Lords of Lamentation and
Wailing.
493. From the third Brain the Lords of Lords proceed through those locks arranged in the middle condition (i.e., partly hard and partly soft), and depend ( therefrom ) ; and they are called the Luminous and the Non-Luminous Countenances.
494. And concerning these it is written, Prov. iv. 26 :
11 Ponder the path of thy feet.”
495. And all these are found in those locks of the hair of the Head.
CHAPTER XIII.
CONCERNING THE FOREHEAD OF MICROPROSOPUS.
496. The forehead of the Skull (of Microprosopus) is the forehead for visiting sinners (otherwise, for rooting out sinners).
497. And when that forehead is uncovered there are excited the Lords of Judgments against those who are shameless in their deeds. •
498. This forehead hath a rosy redness. But at that time when the forehead of the Ancient One is uncovered over against this forehead, the latter appeareth white as snow.
499. And that time is called the Time of Grace for all.
500. In the “ Book of the Teaching of the School of
Rav Yeyeva the Elder” it is said: The forehead is according as the forehead * of the Ancient One. Otherwise, the letter Cheth , Ch, is placed between the other two letters, according to this passage, Num. xxiv. 1 7 :
* The word translated forehead is MTzCh, Metzach ; now if a metathesis be formed of this word by placing the last letter between the first and second letters, we get MChTz, he shall smite. Hence the first form symbolizes Mercy, and the second, Severity.
3io
KABBALAH.
“ VMChTz, Ve-Machetz , and shall smite the corners of
Moab?”
501. And we have elsewhere said that it is also called NTzCh, Netzach , the neighbouring letters ( M and N ; neighbouring letters in the alphabet that is , and allied in sense , for Mem = Water, and Nun —Fish, that which lives in the water) being counterchanged. ( [Netzach =
Victory, and is the seventh Sephira).
502. But many are the NTzChIM, Netzachim, Victories ;* so that another (development of) Netzach may be elevated into another path, and other Netzachim may be given which are extended throughout the whole body (of Microprosopus ) .
503. But on the day of the Sabbath, at the time of the afternoon prayers, the forehead of the Most Holy Ancient One is uncovered, so that the judgments may not be aroused.
504. And all the judgments are subjected; and
although they be there, yet are they not called forth.
(Otherwise, and they are appeased.)
505. From this forehead depend twenty-four tribunals, for all those who are shameless in their deeds.
506. And it is written, Ps. lxxiii. 11 : “And they have said, ‘ How can El know ? and is there knowledge in the Most High ? ’ ”
507. But truly (the tribunals) are only twenty; wherefore are four added ? Assuredly, in respect of the punishments of the inferior tribunals which depend from the Supernals.
508. Therefore there remain twenty.! And therefore unto none do they adjudge capital punishment until
* And therefore is the divine name of Tzabaoth, or hosts, attributed both to Netzach and to Hod, the seventh and eight Sephiroth, as may be seen by referring to the Introduction, and to the “Book of Concealed Mystery,” ch. iii. § 5, annotation.
t And 20 is H, He , in the four worlds, for H = 5, which, multiplied by 4= 20.
THE LESSER HOLY ASSEMBLY.
3 ii he shall have fulfilled and reached the age of twentyyears, in respect of these twenty tribunals.
509. But in our doctrine regarding our Arcana have we taught that the books which are contained in the Law refer back unto these twenty-four.
CHAPTER XIY.
CONCERNING THE EYES OF MICROPROSOPUS.
510. The Eyes of the Head (0 f Microprosopus) are those eyes from which sinners cannot guard themselves ; the eyes which sleep, and yet which sleep not.
5 1 1 . And therefore are they called “ Eyes like unto doves, KIVNIM, Re-Ionim.” What is IYNIM, Ionim ? Surely it is said, Lev. xxv. 17 : “Ye shall not deceive any man his neighbour.”