The Kabbalah Unveiled — S. L. MacGregor Mathers (from Knorr von Rosenroth's Latin) (1887)

decad 370, and the judgments of the bride are denoted, to which that shell directeth his springs, because he is of middle nature betwixt the holy and the profane). “ He leapeth upon the mountains, and rusheth swiftly over the hills,” like as it is written (Cant. ii. 8. That is, he leapeth high above the rest of the shells). He holdeth his tail in his mouth between his teeth (that is, his extremity, by which he is linked to the shells, turneth towards his other extremity wherewith he looketh towards holiness). He is pierced through on either side (so that he may seek to receive the superior and inferior nature). When the chief ariseth (who is Metatron) he is changed into three spirits (that is, he assumeth the nature of three inferior shells).

[“ Nogah ”is also the qabalistical title of the sphere of the planet Venus. MTTRVN, Metatron, or Methraton, is the particular intelligence of the first Sephira, and is called the “ Prince of Paces : ” he is said also to have been the “ ruler of Moses.” Methraton has the same numeration as ShDI, Shaclclai, the Almighty.]

• 34. (But concerning Metatron) it is written, Gen.
• v. 22 : “And Enoch walked with the Elohim” (because out of Enoch, Metatron is formed). And it is written, Prov. xxii. 6: “Enoch hath been made into a boy, according to his path.” (That is, “ hath been changed into ”) the boy (namely, Metatron, who is spoken of under his name NOR, Nour , which meaneth a “ boy ”).

[“ Enoch hath been made into a boy,” &c. This peculiar rendering of the passage, “ Train up a child in the way,” &c., arises from reading in the Hebrew text ChNVK, Ghanokli, Enoch, instead of ChNK, Ghanekh , “ train up,” or “ instruct.”]

55. With the Elohim, and not with the Tetragrammaton (because he himself is referred unto the path of the queen, to whom is attributed this name of Rigour). “ And he existed not ” (longer) under this name (Enoch), because the Elohim took him in order that he might be called by this name. (For this name is communicable ic6

KABBALAH.

unto the angels, and in the first instance unto this chief among them, namely, Metatron.)

3 6. There are three houses of judgment given, which are four (that is, the three letters IHV, referred into the understanding, which yield the four letters of the Tetragrammaton, pointed with the vowel points of the name Elohim. For) there are four superior houses of judgment (the four said Tetragrammatic letters) and four inferior (which are the four letters ADNI, Adonai, belonging unto the kingdom). For it is written, Lev. xix. 3 5 : “ Ye shall not do iniquity in judgment, in dimension, in weight, and in measure.” (Where these four are mystically intimated.)

37. (There is one) rigorous judgment (of severity), another that is not rigorous (that is, of the kingdom). There is one judgment by balance (wherein are the two scales of merit and error), another judgment which is not made by balance ; (and this is) the gentle judgment (whereby the Israelites are judged. But also there is given) the judgment which is neither of the one nature nor of the other. (Namely, the beautiful path.)

[Of course the “ beautiful path ” is Tiphereth, the sixth Sephira.]

38. (Further on it is written), Gen. vi. 1 : “And it came to pass when man began to multiply upon the face of the earth.” (Where by these words) ADM, Adam , began to multiply (there is understood Daath, or the knowledge, the soul of the beautiful path, to which Moses is referred ; which sendeth down many lights into the bride, the earth, when the spouse ascendeth thither). This is that which is written (ibid. 3) : BShGM, Bcshegam , “ in that also, he is flesh ” (which word Beshegam , “ in that also,” by equality of numeration equalleth MShH, Moses) Adam (namely) the supernal (Daath, or knowledge). And it is written : “ Upon the face of the earth” (which face of the earth is this, that the highest representation of the queen is the understanding, the mother, unto whose gates Moses ascended).

THE BOOK OF CONCEALED MYSTERY.