The firmaments over the Garden of Eden

292. Upon the lower, EARTHLY, Garden of Eden there stands a firmament, in which are contained high mysteries. When the Holy One, blessed be He, made the firmament, He brought fire and water from the Throne of Glory, WHICH IS THE WORLD OF BRIYAH, and put them together to form the lower firmament, OF OUR EARTH. They expanded until they reached that place, the Garden of Eden, and settled, THAT IS, EXPANDED NO MORE. What did the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He took from the holy high heaven, CHOCHMAH AND BINAH OF ZEIR ANPIN, CALLED HEAVEN OF ATZILUT, other fire and water, that both exist and do not exist, both disclosed and not disclosed. From these fire and water taken from the high heaven, He caused the firmament to expand, and stretched them over the lower Garden of Eden. That firmament, WHICH IS DA'AT, is united with the other firmament, OF OUR EARTH, WHICH IS TIFERET.

293. In the expansion of that firmament upon the garden, four colors are displayed: white, red, green and black. THEY ARE THE THREE COLUMNS, RIGHT, LEFT AND CENTRAL, WHITE, RED AND GREEN; AND BLACK WHICH IS MALCHUT THAT RECEIVES FROM THESE THREE COLUMNS. In these colors there are four openings underneath the expansion of the firmament. They open to the four sides of the firmament above the garden. FOR SOUTH AND NORTH ARE CHESED AND GVURAH, AND EAST AND WEST ARE TIFERET AND MALCHUT. From the fire and water from which the firmament was made, THE MENTIONED CHOCHMAH AND BINAH OF ZEIR ANPIN, four lights come through these four doors.

294. On the opening to the right from the expansion of the water aspect OF THE FIRMAMENT, THAT IS MADE OF FIRE AND WATER, NAMELY FROM THE LIGHT OF CHASSADIM, two lights shine through the two doors: through the right opening, IN THE SOUTH WHICH IS CHESED, and through the frontal opening, THAT IS, IN THE EAST WHICH IS TIFERET. BECAUSE EAST AND WEST ARE CALLED FRONT AND BACK. AND THE LIGHT OF CHASSADIM ALSO ILLUMINES IN TIFERET AS WE ALREADY KNOW.

295. Within the light that illumines to the right, one letter engraved, stands out and glitters from inside the light. It is the letter Mem, THE FIRST LETTER OF 'MICHAEL', which stands in the middle of that light at that opening. This letter goes up and down, and does not stand still. That light ON THE RIGHT SIDE takes that letter out, therefore it does not stand still. THIS IS THE MYSTERY OF "AND THE LIVING CREATURES RAN AND RETURNED" (YECHEZKEL 1:14), FOR THEY DO NOT STAND STILL.

296. Within the light that illumines the side opposite the front, THAT IS EAST WHICH IS TIFERET, one letter is engraved, shining and standing out and glitters from inside the light. It is the letter Resh, WHICH IS THE FIRST LETTER OF THE ANGEL RAPHAEL. Sometimes the letter Bet is seen, THE FIRST LETTER THE ANGEL BOEL. It stands in the center of that light in the opening, going up and down. Sometimes it is seen and sometimes not. And it does not stand still, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MYSTERY OF "AND THE LIVING CREATURES RAN AND RETURNED." These two letters stand IN THE CENTER OF THE LIGHT IN THE TWO OPENINGS, and when the souls of the righteous come to Garden of Eden, these two letters step out of the light, and stand by that soul, and go up and down, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MYSTERY OF "AND THE LIVING CREATURES RAN AND RETURNED." AND WHAT IS SAID HERE THAT THE EAST IS CALLED RAPHAEL IS IN OPPOSITION TO SOME EXPLANATIONS IN WHICH URIEL IS THE EAST.

297. From the two doors, two Chariots then hasten to come down. One supernal Chariot is the Chariot of Michael, the great prince, and the second Chariot is of the superior chief Boel, who is the important minister called Raphael. They go down and stand by the soul and tell it, 'come in peace, it "shall enter in peace" (Yeshayah 57:2), enter in peace'. The two letters then mount, stand in their places and are concealed within the light of the doors.

298. Through the other two openings shine two other lights, glowing from the light of the fire in the openings, one to the left side and one to the rear. Two other letters burn within the lights and glitter therein. One is the letter Gimel and one letter is Nun, WHICH ARE THE FIRST LETTERS OF THE ANGEL GABRIEL AND THE ANGEL NURIEL. And when the first two letters return to their place, these two letters glitter and go up and down, leave the lights IN THE OPENINGS and stand by the soul.

299. Two Chariots then descend from the two openings. One is the Chariot of Gabriel, a high delegate and honorable chief. The second is another holy Chariot of the high superior Nuriel. They descend from the doors and stand by the soul. And the letters Gimel and Nun go back to their places.

300. The two Chariots then ascend into a hidden chamber called 'Ohalot' (lit. 'tents'), where there are twelve kinds of concealed sweet spices, as is written: "Nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense..." (Shir Hashirim 4:14). These are ALSO the twelve kinds of spices of the lower GARDEN OF EDEN.

301. There you may also find the garments, the souls are worthy of wearing, each according to the soul's worth. In that garment, the good deeds are recorded, which he did in this world. All are written and proclaim, 'this is the garment of so-and-so'. AND THE ANGELS take the garments and clothe the souls of the righteous in the garden, in the likeness of the form of this world.

302. This takes place only at the thirtieth day and afterwards. For in the thirty days AFTER DEATH, there is no soul that is not punished before entering the Garden of Eden. Once it is punished, it enters the Garden of Eden, as explained. And after it was blanched, NAMELY, AFTER PURIFICATION OF THE FILTH OF THIS WORLD BY PUNISHMENT, it wears THE SAID GARMENT. Once it wore the garment, it is given place according to its worth. Then, AFTER THE SOUL RECEIVES ITS PLACE, all the letters Mem, Resh, Gimel, Nun, WHICH ARE THE INITIALS OF THE MENTIONED ANGELS, go down, and the Chariots OF THOSE FOUR ANGELS MENTIONED go back up to their places. FOR AFTER THE ANGELS COME BACK, AN IMPRESSION OF THEIR ILLUMINATION MUST REMAIN. THIS IS THE SECRET OF FOUR THE LETTERS MEM, RESH, GIMEL, NUN.

303. That firmament revolves twice a day by the journey of another firmament that is attached to it. And that firmament does not go out of the Garden OF EDEN, FOR IT ONLY HOVERS ABOVE THE GARDEN EXCLUSIVELY; this firmament is embroidered with many colors, TO WIT, WHITE, RED, GREEN AND BLACK, WHICH ARE CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET AND MALCHUT.

304. The twenty two letters are impressed and engraved upon that firmament, ABOVE THE GARDEN OF EDEN, each letter distilling dew, from the higher dew, over the Garden. By that dew, WHICH IS ILLUMINATION OF CHASSADIM, the souls are bathed and healed, after immersing themselves in the river of fire for purification. The dew comes down only from within the letters that are impressed and engraved upon that particular firmament, because these letter are the entirety of the Torah, FOR THEY ARE DRAWN FROM ZEIR ANPIN OF ATZILUT, named Torah because it was made from the fire and water of the Torah, THAT IS, FROM THE FIRE AND WATER OF ZEIR ANPIN OF ATZILUT.

305. Therefore they distill dew on all those that are occupied in the Torah for its sake in this world. For these words that are engraved in the Garden of Eden, go up to the firmament ABOVE THE GARDEN OF EDEN and take from those TWENTY TWO letters THAT ABIDE THERE, dew to nourish the soul. This is the meaning of "my doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distill as the dew" (Devarim 32:2)

306. In the middle of that firmament, there is an opening, facing the opening of the supernal chamber, IN YETZIRAH, through which the souls soar from the lower Garden of Eden upward by means of a pillar that is stuck in the EARTH OF Garden of Eden AND REACHES that opening.

307. Into that firmament, within that opening in the middle of the firmament above the garden, three colors of light enter, mixed together. They ARE CHOCHMAH, BINAH, DA'AT, WHICH shine upon the colors of that pillar, WHICH GOES UP THERE. Then the pillar glitters and glows by the glowing colors. AND THE RIGHTEOUS, WHO ASCENDED BY WAY OF THAT PILLAR INTO THE FIRMAMENT, RECEIVE THE LIGHTS THROUGH THAT PILLAR. The righteous glow at any time from that high effulgence; THAT GOES ON, CONSTANTLY, but on Shabbat and the beginning of the month more than on other times because the Shechinah is then noticeably revealed in that firmament, and all the righteous come to bow before Her.

308. Happy is the portion of whoever is worthy of the said garments. These garments are made from the good deeds one did in this world by the precepts of the Torah, THE COMMANDMENTS CONNECTED TO ACTION, and through them the soul stands in the lower Garden of Eden wrapped in these precious garments.

309. When the soul ascends through the door of the higher firmament, other lofty and precious garments are presented before it, MADE BY PRECEPTS CONNECTED WITH wish and intention of the heart, study and prayer. For when that wish goes up, it is used as a crown, and part of it remains for that person, and is made into garments of light for the soul to wear when it ascends. And though it was said that the garments OF THE SOUL IN THE LOWER GARDEN OF EDEN depend on deeds, AS WAS MENTIONED BEFORE, nevertheless, those THAT GO UP TO THE HIGH FIRMAMENT depend on the wish of the spirit alone, as we said, to be among the angels, who are holy spirits. This is the clarification of the matter, and the holy luminary, RABBI SHIMON, learned it so from Elijah, that the lower garments of the earthly Garden of Eden ARE CONNECTED with deeds and the higher garments ARE CONNECTED with the intention and the wish of the spirit that is in the heart.

310. It is written: "and a river went out of Eden to water the garden..." (Beresheet 2:10). This verse was explained. But assuredly a river flows out of Eden (lit. 'pleasure') of the Garden below, THE LOWER GARDEN OF EDEN. One should know that river that is flowing out of the lower Garden, its whereabouts and source. HE ANSWERS: THERE IS NO QUESTION about its location BECAUSE it is in Eden, SAME AS THE RIVER WHICH FLOWS OUT OF EDEN OF ATZILUT, WHICH IS CHOCHMAH OF ATZILUT. But Eden is a very high mystery and permission was not given for the mind's eye to have power over it. The secret of the matter is that if this place, NAMELY, EDEN, WHICH IS CHOCHMAH IN THE FIRMAMENTS OF THE LOWER GARDEN OF EDEN, were disclosed and revealed down below; then that place of the higher holy Eden WOULD HAVE TO be disclosed and known. But in order to keep the secrecy of the honor of the higher holy Eden, WHICH IS CHOCHMAH OF ATZILUT, WHICH MUST NOT BE REVEALED, the lower Eden too is hidden and concealed, WHICH IS CHOCHMAH IN THE FIRMAMENTS OF THE LOWER GARDEN OF EDEN, out of which the river in the Garden of Eden emanates. Therefore this Eden is not revealed even to the souls in the Garden of Eden.

311. As this river, BINAH, TIFERET AND MALCHUT, departs and flows out of Eden, WHICH IS CHOCHMAH AT THE TOP OF ARICH ANPIN, to water the upper garden, MALCHUT OF ATZILUT; a light comes out of the center door OF THE GARDEN'S FIRMAMENTS, divided between the four openings in the four directions, where the letters MEM, GIMEL, RESH, NUN, are written. This light, divided into four lights and four glittering letters, goes out of Eden, where the upper point shines, WHICH REFERS TO CHOCHMAH, THE ASPECT OF THE HIGHEST POINT, OF THE FIRMAMENTS OF THE EARTHLY GARDEN OF EDEN.

312. That UPPER point shines and causes Eden to shine. No one is able to see and comprehend that point, only the light spreading from it BY WAY OF THE DOOR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SAID FIRMAMENTS. The righteous in the Garden of Eden bow before the light, as we learned. And this lower point, MALCHUT WITHIN THE GARDEN OF EDEN, is the garden to the supernal Eden, THE UPPER POINT, CHOCHMAH, where it is not possible to know and behold.

313. This is referred to in the verse "no eye has ever seen that Elohim, beside You" (Yeshayah 64:3). This name, ELOHIM, is explained: A) 'Elohim, beside You' is the lower holy point, MALCHUT OF ATZILUT NAMED ELOHIM, that knows the lower Eden IN THE EARTHLY GARDEN OF EDEN, hidden in the garden, which is known by none other, SAVE MALCHUT OF ATZILUT. B) 'Elohim, besides You' is the uppermost Eden, above all, the secret of the World to Come, THAT IS CHOCHMAH OF ATZILUT NAMED UPPER EDEN, WHEN REVEALED IN BINAH OF ATZILUT BY THE NAME 'THE WORLD TO COME', CALLED ELOHIM. It knows the lower point MALCHUT OF ATZILUT, by means of a certain righteous that flows out of it - the river which waters it, NAMELY, THE RIVER THAT FLOWS OUT OF EDEN, WHICH IS YESOD, CALLED RIGHTEOUS. No one else knows it besides Him, as is written: 'Elohim, beside You', that is connected above up to the Endless Light.

314. This river, flowing out of Eden of the lower GARDEN OF Eden, is a mystery enclosed to the wise, based on the secret meaning of the verse "and satisfy your soul in drought (Heb. tzach'tzachot)" (Yeshayah 58:11). This explanation applies both above and below. When the soul leaves the darkness of this world, it longs to see the light of the upper world, like a man in his thirst desiring to drink water. Thus each one is thirsty as it says, "dried up (Heb. tzicheh) with thirst" (Yeshayah 5:13), SIMILARLY 'TZACH'TZACHOT' MEANS 'THIRSTY FOR LIGHTS'. SINCE it thirsts for the brightness (Heb. tzachut) of the lights of the garden, the firmaments and the chambers in the Garden.

315. In the river that flows out of Eden sit all the souls clad in precious garments. Without the garments, they would not be able to bear THE LIGHTS. Now they sit and slack their thirst within the brightness, for they are able to stand it. This river amends the souls so they would be able to be sustained by and enjoy the brightness. The souls are amended by it and settled by it.

316. AS the high river, YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN, lets out souls and they soar from it into the garden, MALCHUT OF ATZILUT, SO does the lower river in the terrestrial garden prepare the souls so they would be amended and settle within the brightness, like in this exterior world, where the souls are settled and shine within the smell of water. For at first they came out this way, AS WAS ALREADY SAID. And since the souls are prepared in the river that flows out of Eden, they are able to be settled in the upper brightness, and ascend higher by way of the door in the middle of the firmament and the pillar that stands in the middle of the garden, as was explained. THUS IS EXPLAINED THE VERSE "AND SATISFY...TZACHTZACHOT (LIT. 'DRAUGHT', ALSO 'BRIGHTNESS')," ABOVE AND BELOW. THE BRIGHTNESS ABOVE WAS NOW EXPLAINED. THE BRIGHTNESS BELOW ARE THE LIGHTS OF THE GARDEN, THE FIRMAMENTS AND THE CHAMBERS AS WAS SAID. BOTH ARE FORMED BY THE RIVER THAT FLOWS OUT OF EDEN.

317. THE SOULS OF THE RIGHTEOUS ascend by way of the pillar IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GARDEN, through the door of the firmament OF THE GARDEN OF EDEN. Around the pillar there are "a cloud and smoke...and the shining" (Yeshayah 4:5). THIS IS THE SECRET OF THE VERSE "AND HASHEM WILL CREATE UPON EVERY DWELLING PLACE OF MOUNT ZION, AND UPON HER ASSEMBLIES, A CLOUD AND SMOKE BY DAY, AND THE SHINING..." And though this verse was already explained, yet the cloud and smoke WERE outside and the shining light inside, in order to cover those who mount, so they would not be seen by those who stay below.

318. This is a secret mystery. When the point, THE GARDEN WHICH IS MALCHUT OF BINAH OF THE EARTH OF ASIYAH, CALLED POINT, wanted to be properly fixed, and be adorned on Shabbat and the festivals and holidays; THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, sent it the four faces of the eagle. They stand upon the temple called Dror, OF "pure (Heb. dror) myrrh" (Shemot 30:23). For that reason, at the time of Jubilee, we should proclaim freedom, as says the verse "and proclaim liberty (Heb. dror)...TO ALL ITS INHABITANTS" (Vayikra 25:10). These four aspects utter a sound, NAMELY, THEY PROCLAIM FREEDOM TO ALL THE INHABITANTS OF THE GARDEN, and no one hears it save the souls worthy of ascending. And they gather there, IN THE TEMPLE OF FREEDOM, and are taken by the four aspects and put inside the pillar that stands in the middle OF THE GARDEN.

319. At that time the pillar raises cloud, fire, smoke and bright light from within. These two, THE ILLUMINATION OF FREEDOM AND THE SOULS, are called "dwelling place of Mount Zion, and...her assemblies," OF WHICH IT IS WRITTEN: "AND HASHEM WILL CREATE UPON EVERY DWELLING PLACE OF MOUNT ZION, AND UPON HER ASSEMBLIES, A CLOUD AND SMOKE BY DAY, AND THE SHINING OF A FLAMING FIRE BY NIGHT" (YESHAYAH 4:5). For the dwelling place of Mount Zion is the higher amendment, when the lower point is adorned, TO WIT, IT IS THE ILLUMINATION OF FREEDOM BY THE FOUR FACES OF THE EAGLE OF ABOVE. And they, THE SOULS, are called by that point to be adorned. MEANING, THESE SOULS THAT HEARD THE LIBERATION CALL, ARE CONSIDERED HER INVITED GUESTS CALLED TO HER.

320. When the souls mount and arrive at the opening of that firmament, then that firmament revolves three times around the garden. From the sweet voice that comes of the firmament's revolving, the souls in the door of the firmament go out and listen to the sweetness of the firmament and see the pillar THROUGH WHICH THEY ASCENDED, that emits fire, cloud, smoke and a bright light. They all bow LOWERING THEIR HEAD, they then ascend through that opening, until they reach the circle that goes round that point, NAMELY, INTO THE FIRMAMENT THAT REVOLVES AROUND THE GARDEN CALLED POINT, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF CHOCHMAH. Then they see what they see, TO WIT, THEY RECEIVE THE ILLUMINATION OF CHOCHMAH BY THE NAME OF SIGHT. From the joy and gladness caused by what they see, they go up and down, come near and retreat, IN THE SECRET OF "RAN AND RETURNED" (YECHEZKEL 1:14).

321. CHOCHMAH, THE SECRET OF THE SUPERNAL POINT, desires them and decorates them with its light. MEANING, THE SOULS THAT ROSE TO IT BECOME WITHIN IT AS MAYIN NUKVIN (LIT. 'FEMALE WATERS'). Then one supernal Righteous is clad with jealousy, YESOD OF THE WORLD OF YETZIRAH, regards the light and beauty of that point and its establishments, seizes it and brings it up to him TO YETZIRAH, and light shines into light. TO WIT, THE LIGHT OF CHASSADIM IN YESOD SHINES INTO THE LIGHT OF CHOCHMAH WITHIN THE POINT and they become one. NAMELY, THEY UNITE. All the legions of heaven open and say at that time 'happy are the righteous, who observe the Torah, happy are you to be occupied in the Torah, for the joy of your Master is in you, who adorn the crown of your Master, FOR THEY BROUGHT ABOUT THAT UNITY.

322. When light shines into light, NAMELY, THE LIGHT OF CHASSADIM INTO THE LIGHT OF CHOCHMAH, the two lights become one and illumine. Then the colors, THE LIGHTS OF THE UNITY, go down and observe so as to take pleasure in the righteous, THAT ASCENDED AS FEMALE WATERS, AS MENTIONED, and prepare them to be adorned above. Concerning this the verse says "no eye has ever seen that Elohim, beside You, will do such a thing for him who waits for him" (Yeshayah 64:3).

323. Rabbi Shimon opened the discussion and said, it is written: "And over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of a firmament, like the color of the terrible ice, stretched out over their heads above" (Yechezkel 1:22). This scripture was already explained, but there is firmament and firmament. The firmament below stands upon four living creatures, THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES WITHIN MALCHUT, THE SECRET OF MICHAEL, GABRIEL, RAPHAEL AND NURIEL. Thence this firmament extends and takes a female form, MALCHUT, at the back of the male, ZEIR ANPIN. This is the recondite meaning in the verse "and you shall see My back" (Shemot 33:23), MEANING THAT MALCHUT IS AT THE BACK OF ZEIR ANPIN, as is written: "You have formed me behind and before" (Tehilim 139:5), WHICH ALLUDES TO ZEIR ANPIN IN FRONT AND MALCHUT IN THE BACK. It is similarly written: "and He took one of his ribs" (Beresheet 2:21), ALLUDING TO ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT, THAT WERE DOUBLED-FACED, FRONT AND BACK, AND THEN WERE SAWED, WHICH THE SAID VERSE ALLUDES TO.

324. The firmament above rests upon the supernal living creatures, CHESED, GVURAH AND TIFERET OF ZEIR ANPIN. Thence, FROM THAT FIRMAMENT, extends and prevails a male form, which is a higher secret ABOVE THE FEMALE. THIS REFERS TO ZEIR ANPIN. These two firmaments are called, the one, 'end of the heaven' and the other 'from the end of the heaven', as is written: "from the end of the heaven to the end of the heaven" (Devarim 4:32). The heads of the lower living creatures IN MALCHUT, refer to the four living creatures, which are supernal lights upon the four letters engraved on the four doors in the Garden of Eden. AND THESE FOUR LIVING CREATURES ARE THE SECRET OF THE AFOREMENTIONED ANGELS.

325. And though we said that the lower Eden is on earth, AND THE GARDEN RECEIVES FROM THE LOWER EDEN, YOU SAY THAT THE GARDEN RECEIVES FROM THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES. HE ANSWERS: everything is a very high mystery, as we learned. For the said point, MALCHUT OF ATZILUT, as it has a part above, IN ATZILUT, so it has a part below on earth, NAMELY, AS IT IS THE TENTH PART OF ATZILUT, SO IT IS THE TENTH PART OF EARTH, THAT IS, THE GARDEN. The lower garden is part of the point ON EARTH, and is delighted by the spirits of the righteous on earth, taking pleasure on every side, above and below. Above it enjoys the Righteous, YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN, and below the fruit of the Righteous, THE SOULS OF RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE BORN OF YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN. The sole delight above or below caused TO MALCHUT, is by the Righteous. FOR ITS FRUIT IS ALSO CONSIDERED AS THE RIGHTEOUS AS IT IS. AND THEREFORE AS THE UPPER MALCHUT RIDES THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES, SO THE LOWER MALCHUT, THE GARDEN, RECEIVES FROM THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES AS SAID. And the garden is DRAWN from that point called Eden, THAT IS, ALSO LIKE MALCHUT ABOVE. FOR SHE IS DISCERNED AS THE LOWER CHOCHMAH DUE TO HER BEING DRAWN FROM THE HIGHER EDEN, SO TOO, THE GARDEN, THAT IS LOWER MALCHUT IS DRAWN FROM THE LOWER EDEN, IN A WAY THAT IT RECEIVES FROM BOTH. HOWEVER, THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES ARE FROM MALCHUT HERSELF, WHILE EDEN IS THE HIGHER LIGHT DRAWN TO MALCHUT, ABOVE, AND BELOW.

326. The heads of the living creature are the four faces. One is a lion, as said "the face of a lion on the right side" (Yechezkel 1:10), WHICH IS CHESED, NAMELY, MICHAEL. One is an ox, as is written: "the face of an ox on the left side," WHICH IS GVURAH, NAMELY, GABRIEL. One is an eagle, as is written: "they four also had the face of an eagle," WHICH IS TIFERET, NAMELY RAPHAEL. Man embraces them all, as said "and the likeness of their faces was that of a man" (Ibid.), WHICH IS MALCHUT RECEIVING FROM THEM ALL, NAMELY NURIEL. FROM ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW, MICHAEL IS OF THE RIGHT, LION; GABRIEL OF THE LEFT, OX; URIEL IN THE MIDDLE, TIFERET; RAPHAEL IS THE FACE OF A MAN. These are the four heads of the living creatures that carry the holy throne, MALCHUT, and perspire because of the burden. The sweat because of the load they carry becomes the river Di Nur (lit. 'of fire'), as is written: "A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him; a thousand thousands served him" (Daniel 7:10)

327. When the souls ascend, they bathe in the river of fire and are offered as sacrifice, not consumed but washed. Come and look at the salamander that is born of fire. A garment is made of it, that is washed only by fire. The fire eats away the filth and the garment is washed. So is the soul, made by the fire taken from the holy throne, MALCHUT, concerning which the verse says, "his throne was fiery flames" (Ibid. 9). When it is time for the soul to be washed from the filth, it passes through fire and is washed, the fire consuming all uncleanness and the soul cleansed and blanched.

328. And if you say that the soul undergoes no penance that way, FOR IT IS ONLY WASHED, come and see, woe to the soul that endures a strange fire, though it is purified by it. But when there is much pollution then woe to the soul that undergoes such punishment, for the filth is twice blanched.

329. After the first time the body received punishment, the soul is taken and put in a place called Ben-hinom. Why is it so called? because there is one place in Gehenom where the souls are cleansed by being burned in a melting pot before entering the Garden of Eden. Two appointed messengers stand ready at the gate of the Garden of Eden and cry to the chieftains in charge over that place in Gehenom to receive that soul.

330. That soul, before it is bleached by fire, the messengers cry TO THE CHIEFTAINS and say, 'here they are (Heb. hinam)'. And while it is cleansed, the chieftains go out with it from that place and put it at the entrance of the Garden of Eden, where the same messengers STAND. THE CHIEFTAINS say TO THE MESSENGERS, 'here they are', NAMELY, here are the purified souls. Then the soul is put in the Garden of Eden. FOR THAT REASON THAT PLACE IN GEHENOM IS CALLED BEN-HINOM.

331. How broken IS THE SOUL from the breaking of the purification in Gehenom, because it was broken by lowly fire. And though it descended from above, FROM THE RIVER OF FIRE, yet when it reaches the earth below, the fire there is not fine, and the soul is punished by it and is broken. Then the Holy One, blessed be He, brings out the sun, NAMELY, THE SUPERNAL LIGHT, which illumines the four openings that shine upon the firmament above the Garden of Eden. It reaches the soul and heals it. This is written in, "But to you who fear My name the sun of righteousness shall arise with healing in its wings" (Malachi 3:20).

332. The second time, THE SOUL IS PURIFIED BY FIRE after sitting in the lower Garden of Eden for some time, because it has not yet separated itself entirely from all worldly matters. And when it is brought up, TO THE UPPER GARDEN OF EDEN, it must part completely from every worldly sight and matter. For that reason it is immersed in the river of fire, where the soul is thoroughly blanched. Then it comes out to be seen before the Master of the universe, clear on all sides. Having looked at that light, it is completely healed. Then these souls stand clad and adorned before their Master. Happy is the portion of the righteous in this world and in the next.

333. The souls in the lower Garden of Eden roam at every new moon and Shabbat, and rise to the place called 'the walls of Jerusalem', THE OUTSKIRTS OF MALCHUT OF ATZILUT, where some chieftains and Chariots guard the walls, as is written: "I have set watchmen upon your walls, O Jerusalem" (Yeshayah 62:6). They rise to that place but do not enter inside MALCHUT before they are cleansed. There they bow and rejoice in the light, and return into the LOWER Garden OF EDEN.

334. They leave GARDEN OF EDEN, and hover about the world and see the bodies of the wicked being punished, as is written: "and they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have rebelled against Me, for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh" (Yeshayah, 66:24). 'All flesh' refers to the bodies around them, as already explained. Then they roam and watch the sick and suffering, and those who suffer for the unification the Holy Name. They go back TO THE GARDEN OF EDEN and tell that to the Messiah, WHO IS IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN.

335. When they tell the Messiah about the sorrow of Yisrael in exile, and about the wicked ones among them, who do not care to know their Master; he raises his voice in crying for the wicked among them, as is written: "But he was shuddered because of our transgressions, heart broken because of out iniquities" (Yeshayah 53:5). The souls return and remain in their places.

336. In the Garden of Eden there is one temple called the temple of the sick. The Messiah enters that temple, and calls upon all the diseases, the pains and agonies of Yisrael to descend upon him. And they all descend upon him. But for him, who eases them off Yisrael and takes them upon himself, no man would have been able to bear the sufferings of Yisrael for the punishments of the Torah. This is the meaning of "he has borne our sicknesses..." (Ibid. 4). In the same manner, Rabbi Elazar on earth, USED TO TAKE SUFFERINGS UPON HIMSELF FOR THE SAKE OF YISRAEL.

337. The sufferings, daily in wait for man for the punishments of the Torah, are innumerable; and they all descended into the world when the Torah was given. When Yisrael dwelt in the Holy Land, they averted those illnesses and agonies by way of sacrifices. Now, the Messiah removes them from the world, until a man passes away from the world and receives punishment, and as we learned. When the sins are many, the person is put in Gehenom, in the lower sections, where he receives heavy punishment because of the pollution in the soul. Then more fire is kindled to consume that filth.

338. Happy are those who observe the precepts of the Torah. Because the holy point, MALCHUT, wants to be delighted above IN ITS PLACE, and below, IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN, with the spirits of the righteous, as we learned. And when the point down below wants to be delighted IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN by the souls of the righteous, it is like a mother, happy and delighted with her children. So at midnight it descends INTO THE GARDEN OF EDEN, and is delighted by them.