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.
320. “ How is the beard of the high priest disposed ? The beard of the high priest is disposed in eight conformations. Because also the high priest hath eight vestments, when the ointment descendeth upon his beard.
321. “This is that which is written, Ps. cxxxiii. 2 :
£ Like the precious oil upon the head descending upon the beard, the beard of Aaron, which descendeth according to the proportion of his attributes,’ &c.
322. “ And whence is this to us ? Because it is written in the same place : c Also for brethren to dwell together in equality.’ The word c also ’ increaseth the signification of the inferior high priest.
323. “Seeing that in the same way as the inferior high priest ministereth in the high priesthood, so also, if it be permitted to say so, doth the High Priest above minister in His high priesthood.
324. “This is the first ordination of the beard of the
Ancient One, the most concealed of all.”
325. Rabbi Schimeon said unto him: “ It is justly thy due, Rabbi Isaac, that thou shouldest be under the ornament of the conformation of the beard, and that
♦ The Great High Priest is the sod, Microprosopus, symbolized on earth by the high priest. Compare what St. Paul says about Christ being our Great High Priest.
THE GREATER HOLY ASSEMBLY.
thou shouldest receive the light of the countenance of the Ancient of Days, the Ancient of the Ancient Ones. Blessed is thy portion, and blessed be my lot with thee in the world to come.”
CHAPTER XIII.
CONCERNING THE SECOND PART OF THE BEARD OF
MACROPROSOPUS.
326. “ Arise, Rabbi Chisqiah, and stand in thy place, and declare the worthiness of this part of the holy beard.”
327. Rabbi Chisqiah arose, and began his speech, and said, Cant. vii. 10 : “I am my beloved’s, and his desire is towards me.”
328. “Who is under consideration here, that ‘I am my beloved’s ? ’ and because that ‘ his desire is toward me?’
329. “I have meditated, and lo ! I have beheld the most excellent light of the supernal lights.
330. “It shone forth, and ascended on three hundred and twenty-five sides.
331. u And in that light was a certain obscurity washed away, like as when a man batheth in a deep river, whose divided waters flow round him on every side from that part which is above.
332. “And that light ascend eth unto the shore of the deep superior sea,* for all good openings and dignities are disclosed in that opening.
333. “I asked of them what might be the interpretation of that which I beheld ; and, commencing they
* Binali, the third Sephira, -which is called the “ sea ” in the “ Book of Concealed Mystery.” It answers to the first letter H, He, in the Tetragrammaton. (See Introduction.)
KABBALAH.
replied, ‘NVShA OVN, Noslia Auan , Thou hast beheld iniquity being taken away. 5 ”
334. He said: “This is the second disposition,” and sat down.
335. Rabbi Schimeon said : How is the universe united together (or mitigated). Blessed be thou, Rabbi Chisqiah, of the Ancient of the Ancient Ones !
336. Rabbi Schimeon said : All the lights are congregated together which come under this holy seal.
337. I bear witness that the highest heavens from the highest (powers) are above me, and the highest holy earth from the supernals, because now I can see what man hath not beheld from that time, when Moses for the second time ascended the mountain of Sinai.
338. For I see that my countenance shineth like the vehement splendour of the sun, who is about to issue forth for the healing of the universe.*
339. Like as it is written, Mai. iv. 2: “But unto you that fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise, and healing in his wings.”
340. Furthermore, I know that my countenance shineth; Moses neither knew nor perceived (the fact).
341. Like as it is written, Exod. xxxiv. 29: “And
Moses know not that the skin of his face shone.”
342. Furthermore, I behold before me with mine eyes those thirteen sculptured (forms of the beard of Macroprosopus), and like flaming light did they shine.
343. And when the second of those (dispositions) was explained by thy mouth, that same at once was raised, and conformed, and crowned, and concealed in the concealment of the forms of the beard, but all the others were reinstated (in outward form).f
* This phrase “ splendour of the sun, who is,” &c., evidently refers to the sixth Sephira, Tiphereth, or beauty, the splendour of the countenance of Microprosopus, while the “ universe ” refers to Malkuth.
+ While Rabbi Chisqiah was speaking Rabbi Schimeon had this vision of the conformations of the beard.
THE GREATER HOLY ASSEMBLY.