117. We learned that Pharaoh was wiser than all his sorcerers, and observed that zot, NAMELY MALCHUT, would execute Judgment upon him and destroy his land, as Moses said, "In this (zot) you shall know that I am Hashem" (Shemot 7:17). It is written about him, "And Pharaoh turned" (Ibid. 23), "turned" MEANING that he turned his heart away from this thought, as it is written, "And Ahab turned" (Bemidbar 12:10). "And went to his house, neither did set his heart even to this (Heb. zot)" (Ibid.) THE WORD "also," WHICH IS SUPERFLUOUS, is to add that one which will destroy his land, "neither did set his heart even to this," MEANING THE WORD "ALSO" IMPLIES THAT EVEN THOUGH HE KNEW THAT THE NAME 'ZOT,' WHICH IS MALCHUT, WOULD DESTROY HIS LAND, HE DID NOT PAY ATTENTION TO IT.

118. IT IS WRITTEN, "All the firstborn." "FIRSTBORN" IS THE ASPECT CHOCHMAH, AND "ALL THE FIRSTBORN" DENOTES THAT even upper and lower levels were broken in power - MEANING all those levels that rule by THE POWER OF their wisdom, WHICH IS THE WISDOM OF EGYPT as it is written, "ALL THE FIRSTBORN in the land of Egypt." All the upper and lower levels that were broken in power are all alluded to in the verse, "From the firstborn of Pharaoh that sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of cattle" (Shemot 11:5). So we see that they are all alluded to in the passage.

119. In brief, "From the firstborn of Pharaoh that sits on his throne," REFERS TO the power of the lowest Sfirah OF THE KLIPOT, WHICH RECEIVE from the upper Malchut. "Even to the firstborn of the maidservant," refers to the left Sfirah, which is under the power MENTIONED EARLIER, from behind four mills, which are the four legions OF THE KLIPOT. This is understood, because it is written, "behind the millstone," and not 'from the millstone.' "And all the firstborn of cattle," REFERS TO THOSE below the lower beings MENTIONED EARLIER. It is a female, of the females of donkeys, cattle and donkeys, large and small animals, WHICH ARE THE LEVELS OF IMPURITY. Males and females come out from them. "To the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon," MEANS those that descend from the maidservant, for with them, SORCERY is performed on the prisoners in order to enslave them forever and ensure they never go free.

120. Because they relied upon these levels, the Egyptians refused TO LET THE CHILDREN OF YISRAEL GO, for they formed a knot OF SORCERY against Yisrael so they would never be able to leave their bondage. The strength and dominion of the Holy One, blessed be He, is seen in this, and this memory will never cease from Yisrael for generations and generations. If not for the strength and power of the Holy One, blessed be He, none the kings of the nations and all the sorcerers of the world would be able to deliver Yisrael from bondage. For He opened their bonds and smashed all these crowns OF THE FIRSTBORN OF THE CAPTIVE MENTIONED EARLIER in order to take them out TO FREEDOM. Referring to this, it is written, "Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For to You it is fitting. For among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdom, there is none like You" (Yirmeyah 10:7).

121. Rabbi Shimon wept, raised his voice and sighed. He said, There is an attachment formed. Have you thought HOW MUCH the Holy One, blessed be He, ATTACHED HIMSELF, AND praised HIMSELF SO many times FOR THE EXODUS FROM EGYPT? It is written, "Who brought you out of the Land of Egypt" (Devarim 5:6); "Hashem your Elohim brought you forth out of Egypt" (Devarim 16:1); "Hashem your Elohim brought you out from there" (Devarim 5:15); "I brought your hosts out" (Shemot 12:17); "Remember this day, in which you came out from Egypt" (Shemot 13:3); "and brought you out, He Himself being present, with His mighty power out of Egypt" (Devarim 4:37); "Hashem brought you out from this place" (Shemot 13:3). THE EXODUS FROM EGYPT IS MENTIONED IN THE TORAH FIFTY TIMES.

122. HE ANSWERS, Yet we learned that there are ten crowns, MEANING SFIROT, below IN THE KLIPOT, as above IN HOLINESS. They are all blocked by the three KLIPOT we mentioned, NAMELY THE FIRSTBORN OF PHARAOH, THE FIRSTBORN OF THE MAIDSERVANT AND THE FIRSTBORN OF CATTLE. They formed three ties on these three levels, with which they caused that Yisrael would never leave their bondage.

123. Fortunate are you, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, for the ties were untied for your sakes, and the Holy One, blessed be He, remembered your three ties of Faith. This is the meaning of, "And Elohim remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob" (Shemot 2:24). "With Abraham," is one tie of Abraham, "with Isaac," is the second tie of Isaac, and "with Jacob," is the third whole tie of Jacob.

124. We learned that every holiday, festival and Shabbat is in memory of this, THE EXODUS OUT OF EGYPT. They are all based on this and were it not for this, there would be no observance of the holidays, festivals and Shabbat. Therefore, the memory of Egypt has not ceased from all holidays, festivals and Shabbatot. Come and behold, this Judgment IN THE EXODUS FROM EGYPT is the foundation and source of the Torah and all the commandments and the complete Faith of the children of Yisrael. THEREFORE, THE EXODUS OUT OF EGYPT IS MENTIONED MANY TIMES IN THE TORAH.

125. Also regarding your question why the Judgment of Egypt did not occur by day, we learned that it is written, "This day you came out" (Shemot 13:4), and, "Hashem your Elohim brought you forth out of Egypt by night" (Devarim 16:1). But we learned that the redemption of the children of Yisrael was mainly by night, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF MALCHUT CALLED 'NIGHT,' for the night opened the ties and wreaked revenge, while the day brought them out with a high hand. This is the meaning of, "The children of Yisrael went out with a high hand in the sight of all Egypt. And Egypt was burying all their firstborn whom Hashem had smitten among them" (Bemidbar 33:3). This was in order to make the miracle famous.

126. Rabbi Chiya and Rabbi Yosi came and prostrated before him, and kissed his hands. They wept and said, Upper and lower images raise their heads through your merit. The Holy One, blessed be He, made terrestrial Jerusalem, WHICH IS MALCHUT, in the likeness of celestial Jerusalem, WHICH IS BINAH. And He made the outer walls of the Holy City and its gates. One cannot enter until the gates are opened for him. One cannot ascend until the steps to the outer walls are prepared. Who can open the gates of the Holy City? And who can repair the steps to the outer walls? This is Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, who opens the gates of the secrets of Wisdom and repairs the upper levels. And it is written, "Every one of your males shall appear before the Master Hashem" (Shemot 34:23). Who is before the Master Hashem? This is Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. For he who is a memory (Heb. zecher) of the remembrances, THAT IS, HE IS THE ASPECT OF THE MALE (HEB. ZACHAR) OF THE SUPERNAL MOCHIN THAT ARE CALLED 'REMEMBRANCES (HEB. ZICHRONOT),' WHICH ARE OF THE MOCHIN OF ABA AND IMA, has to appear before Him.