Genesis. Chapter I : * p. 85 THE BOOK OF LIGHT. Containing the doctrines of the Kabbalah, together with the discourses and teachings of its author, the great Kabbalist, Rabbi Simeon ben Jochai, and now for the first time translated into English with notes, references, and expository remarks. BY NURHO DE MANHAR...
Introduction. The Lily : * p. 1 1a THE SEPHER HA-ZOHAR; OR, THE BOOK OF LIGHT. Containing the doctrines of Kabbalah, together with the discourses and teachings of its author, the Kabbalist, Rabbi ben Simeon, and now for the first time translated into English, with notes, references and expository remarks. BY NURHO DE...
Genesis. Chapter Xx. Devachanic Spheres : * "DEVACHANIC SPHERES AND MANSIONS." In the third mansion or higher sphere is the spirit Nogah (splendor), whose aura is of the most absolute whiteness and purity and without a shade of color, by reason of which it takes its name. It is altogether invisible to the lower spheres except when...
Genesis. Chapter Lxvi. The Mystery Of The Logos : * p. 303 "THE MYSTERY OF THE LOGOS." The three primordial elements of nature are fire, air and water.this section omitted from Soncino Really they are one in use and substance and are able to change the one into the other. It is the same with Thought and Speech and Logos, they are one and the same...
Genesis. Chapter Xliii : * p. 258 SAID Rabbi Eleazar: "What David beheld at that awful moment was not an angel but a manifestation of the Holy One. The scripture uses the words 'The Angel of the Lord' as a metaphoric appellation of the Divine Being, 61aas did also Jacob when blessing Ephraim and Manasseh saying, '...
Preface : * p. 1 THE SEPHER HA-ZOHAR. OR THE BOOK OF LIGHT. BY NURHO DE MANHAR. AS a preliminary to the translation of the great Kabbalistic work, "The Sepher Zohar, or Book of Light," we purpose to sketch in brief outline the history of its origin, the nature and purpose of its doctrines and teachings...
Genesis. Chapter Lxix. A Comparison Between : * A COMPARISON BETWEEN NOAH AND MOSES. SAID Rabbi Jehuda: "Whilst the antediluvians were living,67a-67b the Holy One looked down up the hearth and beheld no one able to save them from being destroyed. If it be asked, was there not Noah? the question is of no force, since Noah had not th...
Genesis. Chapter Lxxxvi. Kabbalistic Cosmology : * p. 350 82a KABBALISTIC COSMOLOGY IT is written, "And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him and they sent him away and his wife and all that he had." Note that the Holy One is the protector of the upright that they may not fall under the power of evil and suffer injury from men of the world...
Genesis. Chapter L : * p. 275 65a THIS union and harmony between the finite and the infinite, God and man is the highest and deepest of mysteries, the mystery of all ages since the creation of the world. Happy are they in this world and the world to come who have attained unto a knowledge of it. Observe furthermore...
Genesis. Chapter Xix. Rabbi Simeon's Discourse : * p. 185 RABBI SIMEON'S DISCOURSE ON PRAYER. RABBI SIMEON said: "Who is he that knoweth how to address his prayers to the Almighty as did Moses in all the circumstances of his life, whether long or brief in their duration. We have found in an ancient book, that prayer, in order that it may become...
Genesis. Chapter Lvii. The Mystery : * "THE MYSTERY OF THE BOW IN THE CLOUD." "It is written, and Alhim said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creation that is with you for perpetual generations, I do set (nathati) my bow in the cloud! (Gen. IX. 12. 13). The word '"nathati"' here...
Genesis. Chapter Lvi. The Divine Lehaerot : * "THE DIVINE LEHAEROT ON EZECHIEL'S VISIONS." SAID Rabbi Hezekiah: "The title of one of the Psalms is thus, 'A psalm of David Maschil' (for understanding), 'Blessed is he whose transgression is lifted up and whose sin is covered' (Ps. XXXII. 1). This verse has already been commented on. There is...
Genesis. Chapter Ci. Rabbi Abba's Punishment : * RABBI ABBA'S PUNISHMENT As Rabbi Abba returned homewards, the guests along with the host accompanied him three leagues on his way. Said they unto him: "Truly our host has been blessed by the good deed he has done." Then said Rabbi Abba: "What may that good deed be?" Then replied the host: "She...
Genesis. Chapter Xxxvii. Of The Patriarch : * "OF THE PATRIARCH HENOCH AND THE SIN OF THE ANTEDILUVIANS." Said Rabbi Jose: "Whilst the king sitteth at his table (bimsibo) my spikenard sendeth forth the smell ther" (Cant. i., 12). This verse has already been explained, but there is yet another interpretation worth noting. Whenever a m...
Genesis. Chapter Lxxxv : * p. 346 SAID Rabbi Jehuda: "Observe that as Abraham went down into Egypt without the divine permission, he caused his descendants to suffer four hundred years of bondage. He should first have obtained this and all would have gone well. From the first night of his entrance into Egypt, he had...
Genesis. Chapter Xii. Symbolism Of The Divine : * SYMBOLISM OF THE DIVINE LIFE AND HUMAN DESTINY. "AND the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it"27a (Gen. 11:15). The question may be asked: "Whence did He take him?" The answer is: "From the four elements, fire, air, earth and water, which form...
Genesis. Chapter Xxxv. The Antediluvians : * THE ANTEDILUVIANS AND THEIR MAGICAL ARTS. Said Rabbi Jose: "Adam through disobedience to the divine commandment, lost the knowledge and understanding of the secret doctrine and occult power and meaning of the letters of the alphabet except the two last, namely, the letters Shin (S) and Tau (Th)...
Genesis. Chapter Xxxiv. Male And Female Created : * "MALE AND FEMALE CREATED HE THEM." Said Rabbi Simeon: "In these words are involved and contained great occult truths, even the greatest and most profound divine mysteries respecting the origin and creation of man, and so beyond human comprehension that they must remain subjects p. 236 of faith...
Genesis. Chapter Lxxxviii. Abraham's Initiatory : * ABRAHAM'S INITIATORY PROBATION. AGAIN Rabbi Simeon spake and said: "Observe further what is written, 'And he went on his journeys' (Gen. XII. 3),83b-84a signifying that after the termination of his trials and probation he lived the perfect life. By the term journeys (masaav) is implied...
Genesis. Chapter Lxxx. Section Lekh Lekh : * SECTION LEKH LEKHA OR THE CALL OF ABRAM. NOW the Lord said unto Abram: 'Get thee out of thy76b-77a country and from thy kindred, and from they father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee'." (Gen. XII, 1.)Start of Lekh Lekha, Gen. 12:1-12:27 At a meeting of Rabbi Simeon's students...
Genesis. Chapter X. Symbolisms Of Man : * SYMBOLISMS OF MAN. "And the Lord God formed man" (Gen. ii. 7), that is, Israel. Here the word vayitzer (formed) is written with two yods or I's, indicating that the Holy One formed him with two natures, the higher and lower self; the one divine, the other earthly, and impressed upon his form...
Genesis. Chapter Li. The Occult Meaning : * THE OCCULT MEANING OF THE SIX HUNDRED YEARS OF NOAH'S LIFE. Referring again to the words "And Alhim said unto Noah, the end of all flesh is before me," Rabbi Simeon spake and said: "These words mean that the destroying angel presented himself before the Holy One, demanding power and authority...
Genesis. Chapter Xviii. Higher Devachanic : * p. 180 HIGHER DEVACHANIC OR HEAVENLY SPHERES. SAID Rabbi Abbi: "The higher or celestial world with its accompanying spheres, though invisible to mortal sight, has its reflection and analogue, namely, the lower world with its circumambient spheres, according to the saying, 'As above, so below.'...
Genesis. Chapter Liii. Remarks On The Destroying : * REMARKS ON THE DESTROYING ANGEL AND THE ANTEDILUVIANS. "'Behold I even I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth,'" said Rabbi Jehuda. "These words have reference to the waters of strife (Meribah), when the children of Israel murmured against the Lord and caused his holiness to appear...
Genesis. Chapter Xvi. A Symposium Of Rabbi : * p. 166 "A SYMPOSIUM OF RABBI SIMEON'S STUDENTS." IT IS written, "Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind" (Gen. i. 20, 24). Said Rabbi Eleazar: "The waters below, like the waters above, brought...
Genesis. Chapter Xci. Rabbi Eleazar And Rabbi : * RABBI ELEAZAR AND RABBI HEZEKIAH, AND THEIR NOCTURNAL STUDIES. Rabbi Eleazar was once staying at a wayside inn in Lud, where he met with Rabbi Hezekiah. At midnight, as was his custom, he arose to meditate on the Secret Doctrine. His fellow student did the same. Said Rabbi Eleazar: "An inn...
Genesis. Chapter Lxxviii. The Primeval Language : * THE PRIMEVAL LANGUAGE AND THE BOOK OF ADAM. "Its chief characteristic was, it enabled everyone to express himself clearly and unmistakably in terms exactly corresponding to his thoughts, wishes and intentions, otherwise they were not understood and comprehended by the heavenly powers. Thus it...
Genesis. Chapter Lxxv. Comparison Between : * COMPARISON BETWEEN ADAM AND THE POSTDILUVIANS. It is written, "And the Lord came down to see71a, 75a the city and the tower which the children of men builded" (Gen. XI. 8). This is one of the ten manifestations and descents of the Schekina in the world. If it be asked what need was there...
Genesis. Chapter Xxi : * THIS sword is suspended over the judges presiding in the fourth mansion and is alluded to in an old saying, "Let every judge when delivering judgment remember, that the sword is suspended above his "own" head." It is continually turning and when the Ophanim become fused together, two fiery rays...
Introduction. The Initiation Of Rabbi Hiya : * 3b THE INITIATION OF RABBI HIYA. Bereshith, "In the beginning," said Rabbi Ionda, "what is the signification of this mystical word? It is hochma--wisdom, that wisdom by which the world was formed and still subsists. Like a globe it includes the six directions of space, viz., north, south, east...
Genesis. Chapter Xxix : * SAID Rabbi Simeon: What I have discoursed on has reference to the secret doctrine and its teachings of the mystery of the divine wisdom united with the divine essence. Thus the final H in the tetragrammaton corresponds to the51a-51b dark or blue flame united with the three letters preceding it...
Genesis. Chapter Xliv : * p. 266 SAID Rabbi Hiya "Since the day that Adam transgressed the command of God, the world became affiliated with poverty until the advent of Noah, who, through the sacrifice he offered up, caused it to regain its normal fertility. " Said Rabbi Jose, "the earth recovered its fertility, but did...
Genesis. Chapter Lxii. The Mystery : * "THE MYSTERY OF THE CURSING OF CANAAN BY NOAH." "And Noah began to he a husbandman and he planted a vineyard" (Gen. IX. 20). In their comments on these words, Rabbi Jehuda and Rabbi Jose greatly differed, the one affirming p. 298 that Noah planted a vine taken from the garden of Eden, the other...
Genesis. Chapter Xv : * "AND God said let there be light and light was.' To whom spake Alhim these words, 'let there be light?' It was to the dwellers on the earth; but 'light was' refers to the light made for the world to come. The higher light, the light of the eye was created first by the Holy One who caused Adam...
Genesis. Chapter Lxxvi. Rabbi Sime : * RABBI SIMEON ON THE CLOSING OF THE SANCTUARY. Said Rabbi Simeon: "We read, thus saith the Lord God. The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east, (quadim), shall be shut the six working days, but on the Sabbath, it shall be opened and on the day of the new moon it shall be opened'...
Genesis. Chapter Lxxxii. Abraham's First : * "ABRAHAM'S FIRST STUDIES IN OCCULTISM." "The esoteric meaning of the words, 'Get thee out of thy country,'78a is this: the Holy One endowed Abraham with the spirit of wisdom by which he attained to a knowledge of the names and powers of the spiritual chiefs and rulers over the different nations...
Genesis. Chapter Lxiv : * p. 301 73b-74a It is written of Nimrod, "And he was a mighty hunter before the Lord' (Gen. X. 9). He acquired authority and renown by wearing the primogenital robes and garments of Adam and was able thus to corrupt the minds and habits of mankind in his days. Said Rabbi Eleazer: "Nimrod first...
Genesis. Chapter Xiv. A Kabbalistic Symposium : * p. 156 "A KABBALISTIC SYMPOSIUM BY RABBI SIMEON'S STUDENTS." RABBI ELEAZAR spake and said: "It is written 'the voice of the Lord is upon the waters.31a The God of glory thundereth, the Lord is upon mighty waters' (Ps. xxlx. 3). These words allude to the celestial river whose life-giving waters...
Genesis. Chapter Xcvi. A Feast Of The Circumcision : * p. 374 A FEAST OF THE CIRCUMCISION. SAID Rabbi Abba: "Scripture states, 'All thy people are93a righteous.' These words have been explained by the students initiates. Why are thy people called righteous? Were all the children of Israel upright and just? Were there not amongst them sinners...
Genesis. Chapter Lii. Adam Sitting : * ADAM SITTING AT THE GATE OF THE GARDEN OF EDEN. On another occasion Rabbi Simeon spake and said: "It is written, 'I said, I shall not see the Lord even the Lord in the land of the living; I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants65b Isa. 38:11 of the world' (Ps. xxxviii. 11). How gre...
Genesis. Chapter Xxxix : * p. 244 SAID Rabbi Yissa: "Everyone on leaving the world goes57b-58a into the presence of Adam so that they may learn that not his, but their own sins and wrong-doing have caused their death. Amongst myriads of those that have lived and died, only three have there been whose decease was not owing...
Genesis. Chapter Lxxxiii. Abraham's Initiati : * p. 343 ABRAHAM'S INITIATION INTO THE LESSER MYSTERIES SAID Rabbi Simeon: Wherefore on first revealing himself79b to Abraham did the Holy One say unto him, 'Lekh lekha, (Get thee out) when as yet he had not spoken a word to him? It was that by the numerical value of the letters of these words he...
Genesis. Chapter Xcviii : * p. 383 94b THEY went out of the house and found the sun had already risen above the horizon. Then said one of them: "Today fire will descend from on high." Said another: "It will descend upon this house and envelope someone in flames." A third said: "It will be one who is in our midst and well...
Genesis. Chapter Xcvii : * p. 377 93b "I WOULD like," said the host, "each one of you to give forth, according as he is able, some new idea or thought relative to the secret doctrine." Then spake one of the guests and said: "It is written, 'Praise ye the Lord, for the avenging (biproa peraoth) of Israel when the people...
Genesis. Chapter Lxxix. On Words : * ON WORDS AND THE PHILOSOPHY OF SOUND. Rabbi Jose and Rabbi Hiya whilst going together on a journey began conversing on the secret doctrine. The chief subject of their discourse were the words, "For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp to deliver thee and to give up thine enemies...
Genesis. Chapter Vii. The Prayer Of Rabbi Simeon : * THE PRAYER OF RABBI SIMEON. The students had assembled and waited for the master to begin his daily discourse and exposition of the secret doctrine. Rabbi Simeon, after a few moments of meditation, prayed and said: "Oh ye angels on high and ye great teachers of the secret doctrine taught...
Genesis. Chapter Xcii. Rabbi Jose : * RABBI JOSE ON THE SEVEN HEAVENS OR FIRMAMENTS. Said Rabbi Jose: "It is written, 'And it came to pass, in the days of Amrafel King of Shinar' (Gen. XIV. 1). In the prophecy of Isaiah we read, 'Who (mi) raised up the Just One from the east and called him to follow after him' (Is. XLI. 2). This...
Genesis. Chapter Lxi. Symbolism Of The Colors : * "SYMBOLISM OF THE COLORS OF THE BOW IN THE CLOUD." Said Rabbi Eleazar: The three primal colors become differentiated into many shades and hues and, as such, are symbols of the divine life and its numerous descending grades of holiness that merge and blend imperceptibly into the evil, just...
Genesis. Chapter Xli : * RABBI SIMEON was walking one day in the country accompanied by Rabbi Eleazar, his son and his students, Rabbi Jose and Hiya. As they wended on their way, Eleazar said to his father: "That this our walk may be profitable, instruct us further, we pray thee, in the secret doctrine." Then spake...
Genesis. Chapter Lxx. Why The Animal Was Destroyed : * WHY THE ANIMAL WAS DESTROYED BY THE DELUGE: Rabbi Jose, whilst on a visit to Rabbi Simeon, asked this question: "What impelled the Holy One to Destroy, along with sinners, the beasts of the field and the fowl of the air? Were they alike responsible for the vast wickedness of the antediluvians?"...
Genesis. Chapter Ii : * p. 97 WHEN discord prevailed between the elements, a preternatural and extraordinary degree of coldness predominated throughout the world and the waters below became congealed and arid, giving birth to two demons, one male, the other female, who engendered myriads of beings similar to themselves...
Introduction. Exposition Of Bible Mysteries : * p. 62 EXPOSITION OF BIBLE MYSTERIES. "In the beginning,"7b-8a Rabbi Hiya spake and said: "The beginning of wisdom is the fear of Jehovah, a good understanding I have all they that do his commandments, his praise endureth forever" (Ps. cxi. 10). The beginning of wisdom has reference to the gre...
Genesis. Chapter V. The King's Palaces : * p. 121 THE KING'S PALACES. THE word sin refers to Samuel, who is the serpent; 23b destroys means the destroying angel, his anger, the Holy One who wishes not that these angels should seize hold of our prayers. The destroying angels are under the control of seven chiefs, each having seventy...
Genesis. Chapter Xxvi : * p. 209 SAID Rabbi Simeon: "Furthermore, we learn that the Sabbath is an image of the world to come; and so it is, for the sabbatical year is a type of the year of Jubilee. The new life which is imparted during the sabbath is hinted in the word "zacor" (remember), and when it enters into the soul...
Introduction. The Mysticism Of The Alphabet : * THE MYSTICISM OF THE ALPHABET. Rabbi Chananya spake, and said: "Before creation began, the alphabetical letters were in reversed order; thus, the two first words in the Book of Genesis, berashith, bara, begin with B; the next two, Alhim, ath, with A. Why did it not commence with A, the first...
Genesis. Chapter Xcv. Rabbi Abba's Visit : * RABBI ABBA'S VISIT AND WHAT OCCURRED. Rabbi Abba of the town of Tiberias went on a visit to his father-in-law, accompanied by his son, Rabbi Jacob, to attend a meeting of novitiates of the Hidden Wisdom. On arriving at the village of Tarsha, they decided to stay there for the night. The keeper...
Genesis. Chapter Xlv. Kabbalistic Explanati : * KABBALISTIC EXPLANATION OF THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES AND THE LOULAB. As Rabbi Hiya and Rabbi Jose travelled onwards, they beheld a stranger approaching them whom they judged by his appearance, to be an Israelite. After saluting him they asked "Who art thou.? I am," he replied, "a resident...
Genesis. Chapter Xlvii. A Vexata Questio : * "A VEXATA QUESTIO IN BIBLICAL PHILOLOGY." The stranger began speaking again. "Know you," said he, "why the sacred name I. H. V. H. is found mentioned in the verse, "Then Jehovah rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from heaven" (Gen. XIX. 24) instead of the divine name Alhim which...
Genesis. Chapter Xxxii : * p. 230 SAID Rabbi Eleazar: "By these words, 'And Cain brought54b of the fruits of the ground,' we learn that Cain and Abel offered sacrifices of a character corresponding to their own state and nature. According to the actions or works of a man, so is his offering. It is pure or impure...
Genesis. Chapter Xc. Remarks On The Schekina : * p. 361 REMARKS ON THE SCHEKINA. Said Rabbi Abba: "It is written, 'But Jonah rose up to84b flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord' (John I. 3). Jonah 1:3 Woe unto him who thinks to hide himself from the Holy One, of whom it is said, 'Can anyone hide himself in secret places, that I...
Genesis. Chapter Lviii. Rabbi Jehuda's Discussi : * p. 289 p. 290 "RABBI JEHUDA'S DISCUSSION WITH THE MERCHANT, ON JACOB'S PILLAR." RABBI JEHUDA, whilst staying at an inn in the town of Masheya, rose up at midnight in order to meditate and study the secret doctrine. In the same apartment there happened to be sleeping a Jewish merchant who had...
Introduction. Abundant Goodness : * RABBI ELEAZAR spake and said: "How great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee" (Ps. xxxi. 19). How exceedingly great the celestial happiness which the Holy One has prepared for those who are pure in heart and mind and delight in the study of the divine law, when they...
Genesis. Chapter Lxxii. And Every Living : * "AND EVERY LIVING SUBSTANCE WAS DESTROYED WHICH WAS UPON THE FACE OF THE GROUND." GEN. VII. 23. Said Rabbi Abba: "The word 'ath' preceding 'col hayqoun' (every living substance) includes in the deluge also the celestial chiefs and rulers under whose jurisdiction the earth was placed at that time...
Genesis. Chapter Lxxxix. The Esoteric Explanati : * THE ESOTERIC EXPLANATION OF LOT'S PARTING FROM ABRAHAM. "It is further stated of Abraham that there was a strife84a Gen 13:7 between the herdsmen of Abraham's cattle and the herdsmen of Lot's cattle. The word strife (riv) is here written with a yod (i), by which is indicated that Lot wished...
Genesis. Chapter Xxvii : * p. 214 RABBI SIMEON answered and said: "The lower or passionate nature is always striving to imitate the actions of the higher, with this difference, that what is spiritual and pure it changes into the carnal and impure. The higher nature takes its origin from the right side of the sephirotic...
Genesis. Chapter Vi. On Israel Or The Children : * ON ISRAEL OR THE CHILDREN OF LIGHT. Now the children of Israel are all included and summed up in the name Abraham, of whom God spoke as "his friend," and which also applies to Israel, for Israel is contained in the divine name written in full, IV D, HA, VAV, HA, the numerical value of which is...
Genesis. Chapter Xlviii. Kabbalistic Explanati : * "KABBALISTIC EXPLANATION OF THE GOAT AZAZEL." Rabbi Eleazar whilst sitting in presence of his father Rabbi Simeon, spake and said, "the demon called 'the end of all flesh' doth it take pleasure and receive any advantage from the sacrifices of Israel or not?" Whereupon Rabbi Simeon replied "Ye...
Genesis. Chapter Lxv. The Thaumaturgical : * "THE THAUMATURGICAL ERECTION OF SOLOMON'S TEMPLE." "It is written, 'And the whole earth was of one language and of one speech' (Gen. XI. 1). Said Rabbi Simeon, 'Scripture relates of Solomon's temple, it was built of stones made ready before brought to the house. so that the sound of hammer, n...
Genesis. Chapter Xl. Traditions Concerning Noah : * p. 246 TRADITIONS CONCERNING NOAH. Said Rabbi Jose: "It is written, 'And the Lord said I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth! (Gen. vi., 7); also, 'My thoughts are not your thoughts and my ways are not your ways saith the Lord' (Is. lv., 8). When anyone seeks to wreak...
Genesis. Chapter Iv : * p. 112 WHY was the thigh of Jacob weakened? Because impurity attacks a man on his left side and deprives him of his power and strength, and this state of weakness prevailed till the coming of Samuel, who reminded the people that netzach was the light of Jacob, the netzach that triumphs in Israel...
Genesis. Chapter Xxxviii. The Divine Compassion : * THE DIVINE COMPASSION. Said Rabbi Jose: "It is written, 'And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth and it grieved him at his heart' (Gen. vi., 6). 'Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity and sin as it were with a cart-rope' (Is. v., 18). The words, 'that draw...
Introduction. The Mysterious Stranger : * 4b THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER. Bereshith! Rabbi Simeon spake and said: "I have put my words in thy month, and I have covered thee in the shadow of my hand, that I may plant the heavens and lay the foundation of the earth"."Is. 51:16 These words inculcate that man should study and acquaint himself...
Genesis. Chapter Xlix. Rabbi Simeon's Reflections : * "RABBI SIMEON'S REFLECTIONS ON THE SUPREME AND ITS UNION WITH HUMAN SOULS." Said Rabbi Simeon, during prayer, I raise my hands on high as a token and expression of the gratitude of my will nature that goeth up to the almighty supreme Being whose essence is Will infinite and beyond all hum...
Genesis. Chapter Lv. Various Kabbalistic : * VARIOUS KABBALISTIC EXPOSITIONS OF BIBLICAL TEXTS. Said Rabbi Simeon: "We read, 'And God said unto Noah, enter thou and all thy house into the ark.' Wherefore in the narrative of the deluge is the divine name of Alhim used throughout, except in this particular passage in which the sacred p. 283...
Genesis. Chapter Lxiii. Remarks On Predestination : * "REMARKS ON PREDESTINATION." Said Rabbi Abba: It has been handed down by tradition that Bathsheba was predestined from the creation of the world p. 300 to become the wife of David. If so, how was it that the Holy One permitted before becoming so that she should be the spouse of Uriah...
Genesis. Chapter Lxviii. The Tower Of Babel : * "THE TOWER OF BABEL." Said Rabbi Hiya: It is written, 'The wicked are like the troubled sea' (nigrash) (Is. LVII. 20). Is there then a troubled sea? Truly so, for when it exceedeth its boundaries, it becomes 'nigrash' and bursting its barriers, as a man intoxicated with wine, rolling...
Genesis. Chapter Lxxiii. What Two Rabbis : * "WHAT TWO RABBIS LEARNED FROM A YOUTH." SAID Rabbi Hezekiah to Rabbi Jose, whom he met when69b travelling from Cappadocia to Hyda and who had expressed surprise at his journeying alone and without any companion with whom to converse, contrary to the usual custom: "I am accompanied by a youth...
Genesis. Chapter Ix : * WHEN the Holy One wished to form man and said: "Let us make man in our image. " He intended to set him over the angelic hosts who should be subject to his commands. The revolting angels, however, protested and said: "What is man that he merits Thy regards? (Ps. viii. 5); he will most certainly...
Genesis. Chapter Xxiii : * p. 198 SAID Rabbi Isaac: "It is written, 'And God said, let there45b-46a be light.' (Gen. 1-3). This was the primeval light that illuminated the world on all sides and which the Holy One withdrew and hid, that it might not be enjoyed save by the righteous--" Said Rabbi Simeon: "By the words...
Genesis. Chapter Xi. The Strange Visitor : * "THE STRANGE VISITOR." As Rabbi Simeon concluded his remarks, Rabbi Eleazar, his son, spake and said: My father! I along with other students were one day discussing in the college a remarkable saying of Rabbi Akiba to his novitiates, viz., "When you come to places paved with pure white marble...
Genesis. Chapter Iii : * p. 103 AND God said "Let there be light" (Gen. i.14); the word19b meoroth (lights) is defective in the Hebrew, being written without vau and therefore is it that offspring suffer from epilepsy and similar complaints. When the primal light was as yet invisible or unmanifest, a qalepha 1 (sheath...
Genesis. Chapter Xxiv. Further Kabbalistic : * p. 203 FURTHER KABBALISTIC EXPOSITIONS OF THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION. SAID Rabbi Abba: "'Nephesh hahaya' (living soul) truly denote the souls of Israel. They are the children of the Holy One and holy in his sight, but the souls of the heathen and idolatrous nations whence come they?" Said Rabbi...
Genesis. Chapter Lxxi. The Gilgal Or Revoluti : * THE GILGAL OR REVOLUTION ANIMARUM. "Observe when the Holy One shall raise the dead he will form bodies for them similar to what they were incarnated in during their earthly existence, whether they lived in a foreign country or in the Holy Land; for in every body there exists a mysterious bone...
Genesis. Chapter Lxxiv : * p. 323 SAID Rabbi Abba: "'The blessing of the Lord maketh70a-71b rich' (Prov. X. 22). The blessing of the Lord is the Schekina who rules over the blessings that come to mankind, To the words of this verse in scripture is added, 'And he added no sorrow with it.' Now the term atzeb (sorrow) is...
Genesis. Chapter Xxviii. Rabbi Simeon's Analogies : * RABBI SIMEON'S ANALOGIES OF THE DIVINE LIFE IN MAN. As Rabbi Simeon ceased speaking the students rose up to depart, but ere they left he himself stood up and said: "I have still a few further remarks to make before going, on two passages of scripture, which seemingly are somewhat contradictory...
Introduction. The Occult Origin Of Alhim : * THE OCCULT ORIGIN OF ALHIM. Rabbi Eliezar spoke, and said: "Lift up your eyes on high and behold who hath created these."Isa. 40:26 Lift up your eyes on high. Where? To the place whither all eyes are turned. There is the "pathakh azeen", or opening of eyes. There you will recognize...
Genesis. Chapter Lxxxvii. Kabbalistic Philosophy : * p. 354 KABBALISTIC PHILOSOPHY OF THE SOUL RABBI SIMEON, when on a journey accompanied by Rabbi Eleazar, his son, Rabbi Abba and Rabbi Jehuda, said: "How astonishing it is that men give so little consideration to the study of the secret doctrine and the precepts of the good law.83a It is written...
Genesis. Chapter Lxxxi. Interlocutory Explanations : * INTERLOCUTORY EXPLANATIONS "Get thee out of thy country." (Gen. XII. 1.) "In the preceding chapter it is stated that Haran died in the lifetime of his father Terah, by which words is indicated that up to that time no man had ever died before the decease of his parent. When Abraham was cast...
Genesis. Chapter Xxx. The Two Serpents, Astral : * THE TWO SERPENTS, ASTRAL FLUID AND THE ANIMAL NATURE. "A great fish coming from the left swims through all these waterways to poison and corrupt them. Its scales are as steel. From its mouth comes forth a lurid flame and its tongue is like a sharp sword. Its object is to force its way ...
Genesis. Chapter Xxxi. A Further Symposium : * p. 224 A FURTHER SYMPOSIUM OF RABBI SIMEON'S STUDENTS. RABBI ELEAZAR and Rabbi Abba differed widely in their opinions on this subject.52b Rabbi Eleazar maintained that the tabernacle of the congregation (moed) was so called because it was a source of blessing to the children of Israel; th...
Genesis. Chapter Lxxvii. The Object Of Building : * THE OBJECT OF BUILDING THE TOWER OF BABEL. Whilst sitting one day in the presence of Rabbi Simeon, this question was asked by Rabbi Isaac: "What impelled these Postdiluvians to be so foolish as to revolt against the Holy One, and how did they become actuated with the idea of building a tower...
Genesis. Chapter Lx. Rabbi Simeon On Mysteries : * p. 294 p. 295 "RABBI SIMEON ON MYSTERIES AND THE HIGHER LIFE." "AND the sons of Noah that went forth of the ark were72b Shem, Ham and Japhet" (Gen. IX. 18). Said Rabbi Eleazer: Why are these names only mentioned? Had Noah other sons who did not go with him on his exit from the ark? In reply...
Genesis. Chapter Liv. Kabbalistic Remarks : * KABBALISTIC REMARKS ON THE COVENANT OR UNION OF THE HIGHER AND LOWER SELF. Said Rabbi Eleazar: "It is written, 'But with thee will I establish my covenant' (Gen. vi. 18): as the continuity of the p. 281 covenant or good law on earth is the same as in the higher spheres, we infer from these words...
Genesis. Chapter Viii. Previous Worlds And Races : * PREVIOUS WORLDS AND RACES. "These (aleh) are the generations (children or races) of the heavens and the earth" (Gen. xi., 4). It has been stated that in every passage of Scripture that the word aleh occurs, there is no connection with what precedes it. This is the ease with the passage just...
Genesis. Chapter Xxv : * p. 207 REMARK what is said of Solomon, 'And if he act unjustly I will chastise him with the rod of men and with47b-48a the stripes of the children of men.' (II Sam. vii. 3). What mean the stripes of the children of men? They are the elementals or demons. Furthermore, at the time of the creati...
Genesis. Chapter Xlvi. The Occultism Of Sacrifices : * THE OCCULTISM OF SACRIFICES There is yet another subject the knowledge of which is only imparted to those who are conversant with the teachings and wisdom of the Secret Doctrine. From all others I am prohibited and forbidden to discourse thereon. "What may that be?" asked Rabbi Jose. "I cannot,"...
Genesis. Chapter C : * p. 391 96a AT the birth of Isaac, justice became united to mercy; these divine attributes, symbolized by the patriarchs Isaac and Abraham, became blended in the person of Jacob, their offspring; and, therefore, it is written, 'Thou art my servant, oh Israel, in which I will be glorified' (Is...
Genesis. Chapter Xlii : * p. 254 SAID Rabbi Hiya, after listening to these comments of his fellow students: "These different expositions really amount to one and the same meaning. The generations of Noah signify the present human race in the world, the offspring and work of the Holy One." Said Rabbi Simeon: "When...
Genesis. Chapter Lxxxiv. Abraham's Descent : * "ABRAHAM'S DESCENT INTO EGYPT FOR INITIATION INTO THE HIGHER MYSTERIES." "On observing this general depravation of manners and modes of living, it is written, 'And Abraham went down into Egypt to sojourn there.' Here the question may arise, what was the reason and object of his going down...
Genesis. Chapter Xcix. A Feast Of Circumcision : * p. 388 95b A FEAST OF CIRCUMCISION (CONTINUED) WHAT is truly so, but what tradition teaches us respecting this, is, when the yod (I) is united with teeth (H) they form a celestial river, as it is written, "And a river went out of Eden to water the garden.'Gen 2:10 Let no one, however, object...
Introduction. The Fourteen Precepts : * p. 73 THEN began Rabbi Simeon to discourse on the secret doctrine. "In the beginning created God" (Gen. i. 1). These words are included in the first commandment which is known as "the fear of the Lord," the first step in the acquiring of true wisdom and knowledge. It is also called the beginning...
Genesis. Chapter Xciii. Kabbalistic Remarks : * KABBALISTIC REMARKS ON MARRIAGE. SAID Rabbi Eleazar: "It is written, 'What shall we do for wives for them that remain?' (Jud. XXI. 7), and further it is added, 'Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin saying, go and lie in wait in the vineyards and catch you every man his wife, and see...
Genesis. Chapter Xiii : * p. 145 NOW the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made" (Gen. iii. 1). "Beast of the field" signifies the idolatrous nations who are the offspring and progeny of the old serpent who tempted and seduced Eve to do evil by exciting selfishness and other...
Genesis. Chapter Xvii. The Devachanic : * p. 174 THE DEVACHANIC OR HEAVENLY SPHERES. NdM p. 174-9 omitted in SoncinoSAID Rabbi Simeon: It is a tradition from the most ancient times that when the Holy One created the world he engraved and impressed on it in letters of brilliant light, the law by which it is sustained and governed. Above...
Title Page : * THE SEPHER HA-ZOHAR. OR THE BOOK OF LIGHT. BY NURHO DE MANHAR. Originally Published In "The Word" Edited By H.W. Percival New York, Theosophical Publishing Company [1900-14] NOTICE OF ATTRIBUTION Scanned , October 2005. Proofed and formatted by John Bruno Hare. This text is in the public dom...
Genesis. Chapter Xciv. On The Study : * ON THE STUDY OF THE SECRET DOCTRINE. Said Rabbi Jose: "We read, 'And Abraham was ninety-nine years old' (Gen. XVII. 1), and also, 'Thy people are all righteous, they shall inherit the land forever' (Is. LX. 21). Blessed is Israel above every other people, for the Holy One calleth them righteous...
Genesis. Chapter Lxvii. The Idolatry : * THE IDOLATRY OF THE POSTDILUVIANS. It is written, "And the earth was of one language and had the same words" (Gen. XI. 1) and it is further added "And as they, these words, went from the east" (miqqedem). This word here signifies he who is the Alpha or Premier of the world. It is also said...
Genesis. Chapter Lix. The Symbolism : * "THE SYMBOLISM OF THE FOUNDATION STONE." Said Rabbi Jehuda: "During the night that Jacob slept at Bethel, there was a marvelous replication of the earth's surface so that the foundation stone under the sanctuary in Jerusalem occupied the place where Jacob was, in order that he might rest his...
Genesis. Chapter Xxxiii. Traditions Concerning : * p. 234 TRADITIONS CONCERNING ADAM. "THIS is the Book of the generations of Adam.55a-55b In the day that Alhim created man, in the likeness of Alhim made he him." (Gen. v., 1.) Said Rabbi Isaac: "The Holy One showed Adam the forms and features of his descendants that should appear in the world...
Untitled : This is the only extensive translation of a portion of the Zohar, the longest and one of the most important texts of the Kabbalah, in the public domain. The Zohar is a Kabbalistic commentary on the Hebrew Bible. Long before the 'Bible Code,' Jewish scholars were attempting to wring deep meaning out...
Genesis. Chapter Xxii : * p. 196 THE seventh mansion is without visible form, being the highest and most mysterious of all, enshrouded with a veil which separates it from all other spheres and mansions, so that no one can perceive the two Cherubim standing behind it and therefore it is termed The Holy of Holies...
Genesis. Chapter Xxxvi : * SAID Rabbi Jose. "If all this is true, why were they so exceedingly foolish and blind that notwithstanding all their occult science they could not foresee the flood which the Holy One was preparing for their destruction?" Said Rabbi Isaac: "They knew full well what was about to take place, but...
