The Kabbalah Unveiled — S. L. MacGregor Mathers (from Knorr von Rosenroth's Latin) (1887)
The text is shown on its own: no facing layer is held for this issue.
18. They were in the earth in those days, but not in the following time, until Joshua came. (That is, they are applicable unto the path of the bride, which also is called the land of Canaan, wherein Joshua found the giants. For the word NPILIM, Nephilinv , occurreth not fully, except when it is used in the incident of the spies, Nnm. xiii. 33.)
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19. And the sons of the Elohim are guarded (nor is mention made of a similar case) until Solomon came and joined himself with the daughters of men ; like as it is written, Eccles. ii. 8 : VThONVGVTh, Ve-Thonogoth , “ And the delights of the sons of men,” &c. Where (in the feminine gender) he calleth the word ThONVGVTh, Thonogoth , and not (as elsewhere in the masculine gender) ThONVGIM, Thonogim , “ sons of Adam; ” so that it is intimated in an occult manner that the latter (the sons of the Elohim) are of those other spirits who are not contained under the supernal wisdom ; concerning which it is written, 1 Kings v. 1 2 : “ And the Lord gave wisdom unto Solomon.” (Concerning these matters, further see the “ Treatise of the Revolutions.”)
[The “ Treatise of the Revolutions ” is not published in this volume.]
20. Also it is written, ibid. iv. 31 : “And He was wise above every man.” Because these are not classed with man.
21. (But when it is said) “ And the Tetragrammaton gave him wisdom,” then is understood the supernal He. (Because he gave unto him the influx of the wisdom of the queen.) “ And he was wise before every man,” because from her he received the wisdom here below (through the path to the kingdom).
22. Those (spirits) are powerful who exist from eternity. That is, from (eternity or) the supernal world (the understanding, namely, whence are excited severity and rigour). The men of the name (that is) who exercised themselves in the name.
23. In what name? In the Holy Name, wherein they exercised themselves (for the performing of various wonders), and not the holy inferiors. Yet (these) did not exercise themselves save in the name (and not in holiness).
24. It is said openly “ the men of the name,” and
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not “ the men of the Tetragrammaton.” Not (therefore used they the name) with respect unto the mystery of the Arcanum, or in a diminutive form ; nor yet with any diminution of the (name itself).
25. (And because) the men of the name (are) openly (spoken of, hence) are they shut out from the general conception of man.
26. It is written, Ps. xlix. 12: “Man being in honour, abideth not.” (When it is said) “ man being in honour ” (the same is as if also it were said, a man such as was Solomon) shall not remain long in the honour of the King without the spirit. (That is, in the influx from the King, Microprosopus, to whom, or to the beautiful path, the spirit belongeth.)
27. Thirteen kings (that is, the twelve metatheses of the Tetragrammaton with its radix, which are the measures of mercies) wage war with seven (with the Edomite kings; because, while the lights of the former flowed down, these could not maintain themselves, and, besides, they are the classes of the most rigorous judgments which are opposed to the mercies. For) seven kings are seen in the land (Edom), and now after that their vessels are broken, they are called shells, who have fallen down among the inferiors. These) nine vanquished in war (the measures of Microprosopus, concerning which see the “ Idra Kabba ” ; through which David conquered his enemies), which ascend in the paths of those which pass downward, on account of His ruling power (that is, which make thirteen, as they are in Macroprosopus and his beard, which is called his influence, and freely floweth down), and there is none who can withhold their hand. (For whilst the supernal measures permit the increase in the inferiors, all judgments are subdued.)
[Concerning the “twelve banners of the sacred Name,” the metatheses of the Tetragrammaton, see Introduction, § 62 ; also concerning the Edomite kings. I have before remarked that the
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demons are called Qliphoth, or “ shells,” by the Qabalists. The thirteen in Microprosopus is composed of nine manifest and four hidden.