The Kabbalah Unveiled — S. L. MacGregor Mathers (from Knorr von Rosenroth's Latin) (1887)
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680. But when that is not uncovered, all the judgments of Microprosopus are prepared ; and in this manner, if it be permitted us to say so, Mercy become th Judgment ; that is, the most Ancient One of all.
681. We have learned in Barietha* : “When the Ancient of the Ancient Ones uncovereth the benevolence of benevolences, all those lights which are called by a similar name shine, and Mercy is found in all things.
682. But when that Concealed One of the Concealed Ones is not uncovered, and those lights shine not, judgments are stirred up, and Judgment is exercised.
683. Who therefore is the cause of that Judgment ?
The benevolence of the benevolences, because it is not
uncovered, and therefore do sinners change Mercy into
Judgment (as regardeth themselves ).
68 4. But because this is said, Gen. xix. 24: “ From Tetragrammaton out of heaven,” it is said concerning Zauir Anpin, Microprosopus.
685. And whence is this obtained? Because it is written (in the preceding passage ) : MN HShMIM, Men Ha-Shamayim , out of heaven. (But the word
* See ante, § 388 of this book.
O 2
KABBALAH, .
HShMIM, Ha-Sha mayim , is equivalent to) ASh VMM* Ash Ve-Mim , fire and water, Mercy and Judgment, in the antithesis of that ( condition ) wherein no Judgment is found at all.
686. We have learned that this nose (of Microprosopus) is short, t and when the smoke commenceth to issue therefrom, it departeth thence swiftly, and Judgment is exercised.
6S7. But what hindereth that nose that it may not
produce smoke ? The nose of the Ancient and Holy
One ; for He is also called before all others ARK APIM,
Arikh Aphim, Long of Nose.
688. And this is the Arcanum which we have learned :
Between the two words, IHYH, IHVH, Tetragrammaton,
Tetragrammaton, an accent is interpolated J (whensoever
these two are found in juxtaposition in Scripture).
68 9. For wheresoever any name is repeated twice over, a distinction is made ( between them), as when it is said, Gen. xxii. 11, “Abraham, Abraham;” also, Gen. xlvi. 2, “ Jacob, Jacob also, 1 Sam. iii. 10, “Samuel, Samuel ; ” where, by the Psiq accent, these pairs of names are distinguished ; excepting that place, Exod. iii. 4, “ Moses, Moses,” where no accent interveneth.
690. For what reason ? “ Abraham, Abraham,” Gen.
xxii. 1 1 (herein therefore is an accent introduced because
* In the “ Sepher Yetzirah,” to which work I have already had occasion to refer more than once, the letter Sh is said to symbolize fire, and therefore ShMIM may be said to be fire and water.
+ In contradistinction to that of Macroprosopus, who is called also Arikh Aphim, Long of Nose, as well as Arikh Anpin, Vast of Countenance.
X This accent is called Psiq, and in the grammar of Gesenius is classed as the twentieth accent, or the fifth of the third series known as the “lesser distinctives.” It is represented by a vertical line placed between the two words to which it applies. An example of its use is to be found in Exod. xxxiv. 6: “ Tetragrammaton, Tetragrammaton {between these tico vxrrds a Psiq accent is introduced), merciful and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth.” It is worthy of note that the word here translated “ long-suffering ” is ARK APIM, Arikli Aphim, Long of Nose.
THE GREATER HOLY ASSEMBLY.
that) the latter (of these two names) denoteth that which is perfect, but the former that which is not as yet perfect ; for at this time he is perfected with ten temptations, and therefore is the (Psiq) accent interpolated, for at this time he can hardly be said to be the same man as he was before.
691. (When it is saicf) u Jacob, Jacob” (Gen. xlvi. 2), the latter denoteth that which is perfect, the former that which is not as yet perfect ; for now the messenger had come to him from his son Joseph, and over him was the Schechinah at rest.
692. Also, now at this time was perfected in the earth the holy tree, similar unto the Supernal One, in having twelve limitations and seventy branches,* which were not hitherto completed ; and therefore the latter denoteth that which is perfect, and the former that which is not as yet perfect ; whence the accent falleth between them.