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.
- 39. (Concerning this face, it is written) Exod. xxxiv. 29 : “ And Moses knew not that the skin of his face shone ” where by the face the mother is understood ; by the skin, the queen.) This is that which is said, Gen.
- iii. 2 1 : “ Tunics of skin ” (because by itself the kingdom i3 wanting in light).
40. To shine (but when it is said a the face of Moses,” the mother is understood), according to that passage, 1 Sam. xvi. 13:“ And Samuel took the horn of oil ” (where by the oil, the wisdom, by the horn, or the splendour of the oil, the understanding is denoted). For there is no anointing except by the horn (that is, every descent of unction is through the mother). Hence it is said, Ps. lxxxix. 1 8 : “ And in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.” (Also) Ps. cxxxii. 17 : “ There shall the horn of David flourish ” (that is, the queen shall receive the influx from the mother). This is the tenth of the kings (that is, the path of the kingdom), and originateth from jubilee, who is the mother.
41. For it is written, Josh. vi. 5 : “ And it shall be when the horn of jubilee is sounded.” This is the splendour of the jubilee, and the tenth (path) is crowned by the mother.
42. (This is) the horn which receiveth the horn and the spirit, that it may restore the spirit of Yod He unto Yod He. (That is, when the spirit is to be given unto Microprosopus, his mother contributed as much, which is QRN, Qaran , “ the horn,” the brilliancy, as the increase which he receiveth from the father.) And this is the horn of jubilee. And IVBL, Ydbel , “ jubilee,” is H, He (the first He of the Tetragrammaton) ; and He is the spirit rushing forth over all (because the mother is the world to come, when in the resurrection all things will receive the spirit) ; and all things shall return unto their place (like as in the jubilee, so in the world to come).
43. For it is written, AHH, IHVH, ALHIM, Almh
Tetragrammaton Elohim ! u Ah Tetragrammaton Elohim ! ”
io8
KABBALAH .
When the H, He , appeareth (first), and H, He (in the second place) ; then is Tetragrammaton called Elohim (like as a jndge ; because in the world to come there will be work for much strength. This is) the full name. And it is written, Isa. ii. 1 1 : “ And Tetragrammaton alone shall be exalted in that day.” When the one He is turned towards the other He , and Yod is taken away, then cometh vengeance into the universe ; and except for that Adam who is called Tetragrammaton, the universe would not exist ; but all things would be destroyed. Hence it is written : “ And the Tetragrammaton alone,” &c.
44. Hereunto is the hidden and involved Mystery of the King, that is “The Book of Concealed Mystery.” Blessed is he who entereth into and departeth therefrom, and knoweth its paths and ways.
HADRA RBA QDIShA
(HA IDEA EABBA QADISHA) ;
OR,
THE GREATER HOLY ASSEMBLY.
CHAPTER I.
THE INGRESS AND THE PREFACE.
1. Tradition. — Rabbi Schimeon spake unto bis companions, and said : “ How long shall we abide in the condition of one column by itself ? when it is written, Psa. cxix. 126 : ‘It is time for Tbee, Lord, to lay to Tbine band, for they have destroyed Thy law/
2. c: The days are few, and the creditor is urgent ; the herald crietb aloud daily, and the reapers of the land are few ; and those who are about the end of the vineyard attend not, and have not known where may be the lawful place. ( That is , do not study holiness , vohich is called the vineyard.)
3. “Assemble yourselves, 0 my companions, in an open space, equipped with armour and spears ; be ye ready in your preparations, in council, in wisdom, in understanding, in science, in care, with hands and with feet ! Appoint as King over you, Him in whose power is life and death, so that the words of truth may be received ;
no
KABBALAH.
things unto which the supernal holy ones attend, and rejoice to hear and to know them.”
4. Rabbi Schimeon sat down and wept ; then he said :
“ Woe ! if I shall reveal it ! Woe ! if I shall not reveal
it ! ”
5. His companions who were there were silent.