Chapter 1 (PDF) - Stanford University Press

the zohar [1:6b]
both wept together, kissed him, and went on.
They
said to him, ``If it pleases our master, let him reveal his name to us.''
They
opened, saying, ``Benayahu son of Yehoyada (2 Samuel 23:20). 258 This verse
He
been established 259 Ðwhich is fineÐbut this verse alludes to supernal
has
of Torah. Benayahu son of Yehoyada appears on behalf of a mystery
mysteries
wisdomÐa concealed word, and the name prevails. Son of a living man
of
hosts. 262 Distinguished and supreme, He is called Master of deeds.
His
Qavtse'el (ibid.)Ðthis grand and dignified tree, supreme above all, 263
``From
which site did it emerge? From which rung did it come? The verse goes
from
to say: From Qavtse'el 264 Ða high, concealed rung that [6b] no eye has
on
seen ...(Isaiah 64:3), 265
in Eshel Be'er Sheva 4 (1996): 198±201;
Liebes,
in Masu'ot, 486±91.
Goldreich,
Benayahu son of Yehoyada The
258.
continues: son of a living man, abound-
verse
in deeds, from Qavtse'el. He smote the two
ing
of Moab. He went down and slew the
Ariel
within the pit on a snowy day. Thedonkey-driver
lion
begins to answer the question of
identity with a verse about Benayahu, a
his
followerof King David, one of the
loyal
mentioned in 2 Samuel 23.
heroes
This verse has been established
259.
BT Berakhot 18a±b: ``Rabbi Ḥiyya
See
`Son of a living man. Are all other
said...,
then sons of dead men? Rather, son
people
a living man, foreven in his death he was
of
living....'''
called
Gikatilla, Sha'arei Tsedeq, 7a; Zohar
Cf.
K F G (yod, he, vav), three letters symbo-
of,''
Ḥokhmah, Binah, and Tif'eret. See Zohar
lizing
164a. 1:136a,
``Vitality of the Worlds,'' animates
Yesod,
of existence. On various senses of this title
all
prevails,'' see BT Berakhot 7b; Zohar
name
2:179b.
1:58b;
the biblical word Z C (rav), abound-
interprets
according to its alternate meaning:
ing,
``master.''
insignia of all His hosts See BT
262.
16a, in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan:
Ḥagigah
is the insignia among His myriad.'' Cf.
``He
2:232a.
Zohar
this grand and dignified tree . . .
263.
often identified with the Tree of
Yesod,
``to gather,'' and Qavtse'el refers to
means
who gathers in the upper light of
Binah,
Ḥokhmah.
no eye has seen The verse con-
265.
O God, but You, what You will do for
tinues:
who awaits You. See BT Berakhot 34b:
one
Ḥiyya son of Abba said in the name
``Rabbi
Rabbi Yoḥanan, `All the prophets prophe-
of
only concerning the days of the Messiahsied
but as forthe world that is coming, No
has seen, O God, but You, [what You will
eye
for one who awaits You] . . . All the pro-
do
prophesied only concerning masters of
phets
[those who succeed in turning back
return
X KE Y (Tsaddiq), Righteous OneÐVitality of the Worlds. 260 Master of
(ibid.)Ð
deeds (ibid.) 261 ÐMaster of all action, of all celestial powers, for all emerge
from Him. He is
FGF GBCX \ (YHVH Tseva'ot), Lord of Hosts, insignia of all
K
a rung containing all, gathered in from upper light,
and from which all emerges. It is the holy, hidden palace, in which all rungs are
38
261. Master of deeds The donkey-driver
Life.
(qvts)
Qavtse'el The root Y C W
264.
1:132a, 136a.
(Tsaddiq),
the name prevails . . . X KE Y
260.
One... The name C FKR G
Righteous
(ben), ``son
(Bena-
indicates Yesod, who is C Q
yahu)
see above, note 176. On the notion that ``the