The Kabbalah Unveiled — S. L. MacGregor Mathers (from Knorr von Rosenroth's Latin) (1887)
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guarded and shut in on every side ; hence it is in the nature of an Arcanum.*
715. Woe unto him who discloseth secrets! For he who revealeth secrets doth the same thing as if he should deny the superior formation, which is so arranged that the secrets may be collected together, and that they may not issue forth without.
716. Also we have learned in Barietha f : At that time when they call aloud in their troubles, and the hairs are moved from before the ears, the voice entereth into the ears through that channel, and the spirit of distillation from the brain [entereth into that chamiel likevnse).
717. And in the brain is it collected (otherwise, and it slideth on into the brain), and departeth through the nostrils of the nose, and is bound, and the nose becometh shorter (that of Microprosopus , namely) and gloweth with fire, and fire and smoke issue forth ; and from those nostrils are excited all the severities, and vengeance is exercised.
718. Truly before that from those nostrils the fire and smoke issue forth, that voice ascendeth upwards, and slideth into the beginning of the brain ; and the two tears flow down from the eyes.
719. And by means of that voice the smoke goeth forth, and the fire from the brightness which openeth those gates ; for through that voice which entereth into the ears all these things are excited and urged forth (otherwise, are mingled together).
720. And therefore is it written, Num. xi. 1 : “ And Tetragrammaton heard, and His wrath was kindled, and the fire of Tetragrammaton was kindled against them.” For through that hearing of that voice the whole brain is stirred up.
- 721. We have learned. It is written, 2 Kings
- xix. 16: “ Incline, O my God, Thine ear like as if it
* Because in a similar manner a secret is guarded and shut in. t See ante , § 388. Barietha is “ Traditio extra urbem.”
THE GREATER HOLY ASSEMBLY.
should be said, “ Let six hundred thousand myriads of those wings which depend from those ears be elongated ; ” and they are all called the ears of Tetragrammaton.
722. When therefore it is said, “ Incline, 0 Tetragrammaton, Thine ear,” ( this phrase) “ Thine ear,” is that of Microprosopus.
723. From one cavity of the brain do those ears depend ; and from the fifty gates * which proceed from that cavity, this is one gate, which extendeth and goeth forth and openeth into that channel of the ear.
724. Like as it is written, Job. xxxiv. 3 : “Because
the ear trieth words.” Also it is written, Ps. vii. 10:
“ And He trieth the heart and reins.”
725. And in proportion to the expansion of that cavity of fifty gates which proceedeth into the body, so is the latter expanded even in that place wherein the heart resideth.
726. Therefore concerning the ear it is said that in it is made probation ; and also concerning the heart it is said that in it is made probation ; because that they proceed (alike) from one place.
727. We have learned in the “Book of Concealed Mystery ” that, like as this ear proveth as well the good as the evil, so all things which are in Microprosopus have part good and part evil, right and left, Mercy and Judgment.
728. And this ear is contiguous unto the brain; and because it is contiguous unto the brain, hence that voice is directed into a cavity which entereth into the ear.
729. Therefore concerning the ear it is called hearing ; but in this hearing, Binah, the Understanding ( the third Sephira) is comprehended ; for, also, to hear, is the same as to understand, because that thereby all examinations are examined together.
730. And those words of the Lord of Lords are given
* This refers to the “ fifty gates of the Understanding ” — alluding to the third Sephira.
KABBALAH.
forth so that they may be heard, so that they may be meditated upon and be understood.
731. Come, behold! it is written, Hab. iii. 1: a0
Tetragrammaton ! I have heard Thy voice, and was afraid.”
732. This passage hath this meaning: When that holy prophet heard and understood and knew, and was occupied with those conformations, it is written : “ I was afraid.” Eight ly was it (so written ) that he should be afraid and be broken before Him, for these words are said concerning Microprosopus.
733. When further he understood and knew, what is then written ? u 0 Tetragrammaton ! revive Thy work in the midst of the years.” But concerning the Ancient of Days is this said.