Source: https://thenutgarden.wordpress.com/tag/arousal-from-below/
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 20:29:10+00:00

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“And from Mattanah to Nahaliel and from Nahaliel to Bamoth. And from Bamoth to the valley that is in the steppes of Moab, by the top of Pisgah looking out over the wasteland (Numbers 21:19–20)? [Rava said:] If a man allows himself to be treated as the wilderness upon which everybody treads, Torah will be given to him as מַתָּנָה (mattanah), a gift; and as soon as it is given to him as a gift, נְחַלוֹ אֵל (neḥalo El), he is ‘the inheritance of God,’ as it says: וּמִמַּתָּנָה נַחֲלִיאֵל (u-mi-mattanah naḥaliel), And from Mattanah to Nahaliel; and as soon as he is ‘the inheritance of God,’ he rises to greatness, as it says: and from Nahaliel to בָּמוֹת (Bamoth), Heights. But if he is arrogant, the blessed Holy One humbles him, as it says: And from Bamoth to the valley. If, however, he repents, the blessed Holy One raises him, as it says: Every valley shall be lifted high (Isaiah 40:4)” (BT Eruvin 54a, cf. M Avot 6:2).
“How do we know that each of the seven qualities is called נָחַל (naḥal), river? Because it is written And from Mattanah to Nahaliel and from Nahaliel to Bamoth (Numbers 21:19). Do not read נַחֲלִיאֵל (naḥaliel), Nahaliel, but נַחֲלֵי אֵל (naḥalei El),­ rivers of God. And all six then go on one way to the Sea. What is this way? The one that holds the balance between them. Therefore it is written: Before Him pestilence goes, and plague comes forth at His feet (Habakkuk 3:5). All of them go to that channel, and from that channel to the Sea. This is: And from מַּתָּנָה (mattanah), Gift, to Nahaliel—a place which is נִתַן (nitan), given, namely from the brain to Nahaliel and from Nahaliel to Bamoth. What is Bamoth? The Targum renders it: רָמָתָא (ramatha), Heights. This is the סְגוּלָּה (segullah), treasure, which follows זַרְקָא (zarqa).
And from Bamoth to the valley that is in the steppes of Moab, by the top of Pisgah looking out over the wasteland (Numbers 21:20). And from Bamoth to the valley—which He prepared. And what is that which was in the steppes of Moab? Do not read מוֹאָב (mo’av), Moab, but מִאָב (mi-av), from father. This is the patriarch of whom is written, Because Abraham has listened to My voice and has kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, [and My teachings] (Genesis 26:5). And what is הַשָּׂדֶה (ha-sadeh), the steppes? It is at the top of Pisgah, also, looking out over the wasteland. יְשִׁימֹן (Yeshimon), the wasteland—the Targum renders this as שְׁמַיָּא (shemayya), heavens.
Of that channel is written: A garden spring, a garden of fresh water and streams from Lebanon (Song of Songs 4:15). What is Lebanon? We say: Ḥokhmah. What are the עַרְבֵי נָחַל (arvei naḥal), willows of the brook? We say: That which gives נַחֲלָה (naḥalah), an inheritance, to Israel—two אוֹפַנִי הַמֶרְכָּבָה (ofani ha-merkavah), wheels of the Chariot” (Bahir §178).
“Rabbi El’azar said, ‘The people of Israel are destined to chant a song from below to above, and from above to below, and to tie the knot of faith—as is written: Then יָשִׁיר יִשְׂרָאֵל (yashir yisra’el), will Israel sing, this song (Numbers 21:17)—it is not written Then שָׁר (shar), did [Israel] sing, but rather Then yashir, will [Israel] sing, and similarly with all of them. This song—from below to above.
Rise, O well! Sing to it! (Numbers ibid.). Rise, O well!—that is, ascend to Your place, to be joined with Your Husband. This is from below to above, afterward from above to below—for until now She is in exile with us.
The well dug by princes (Numbers 21:18)—for Father and Mother engendered Her above. Delved by nobles of the nation (ibid.)—the Patriarchs, who are called nobles of nations (Psalms 47:10). Delved—a place for the King to couple with Her with blessings. And by what is the coupling? With a scepter (Numbers ibid.)—Yesod. With their staves—Netsaḥ and Hod. This is from above to below.
וּמִמִּדְבָּר (U-mi-midbar), And from the desert [alluding to the ascent of Shekhinah, known as divine דִבּוּר (dibbur), ‘speech’], to Mattanah. And from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth (Numbers 21:18–19)—here, complete bond, bond of faith, enduring bond wherein is all.
Of that time is written YHWH will be king over all the earth; on that day YHWH will be one and His Name one (Zechariah 14:9). And it is written Then will our mouth fill with laughter and our tongue with glad song. Then they will say among the nations: ‘Great things has YHWH done for these’ (Psalms 126:2–3)” (Zohar 3:286a).
“On the third day all the earth was flat like a plain and the waters covered the surface of all the earth. When the word of Gevurah was uttered, Let the waters [under the heavens] be gathered [in one place so that the dry land will appear] (Genesis 1:9)… the waters were rolled together and gathered into the valleys, as is said, and the gathering of waters He called Seas, [and Elohim saw that it was good] (ibid., 10). The waters became הֵעִיזוּ פְּנֵיהֶם (heizu peneihem), insolent, and attempted to ascend to heaven as at first until He rebuked and subdued them and placed them beneath the soles of His feet, as is said, Who makes a way in the sea and a path in עַזִּים (azzim), fierce, waters (Isaiah 43:16)” (Pirqei de-Rabbi Eli’ezer 18 [MS Oxford], cf. Alfa Beita de-Ven Sira, 232–34).
“Rabbi Berekhiah said: The upper waters receded from the lowers waters with weeping, as is written, The wellsprings of rivers he blocked from weeping (Job 28:11). Rabbi Tanḥuma proves it from here: He makes the earth through His power… as He sounds His voice—a roar of water in the heavens (Jeremiah 10:12). Voice—nothing but weeping, as is said, A voice in Ramah is heard, lament and bitter weeping (ibid. 31:14)” (Bereshit Rabbah 5:4, cf. Schäfer, Synopse zur Hekhalot-Literatur, §438; Rabbenu Baḥya on Leviticus 2:13).
“Rabbi Akiva expounded: When אִישׁ וְאִשָּׁה (ish ve-ishah), husband and wife, are worthy, Shekhinah [יהוה] abides between them; if not אֵשׁ (esh), fire, consumes them” (BT Sotah 17a).
“What is the Tree you spoke of? He said to him: The powers of the blessed Holy One—this one on the back of that one. Just as a tree produces fruit by means of water, so too the blessed Holy One multiplies the powers of the Tree by means of water. And what is ‘water’ of the blessed Holy One? [Lower] Ḥokhmah—soul of the righteous פּוֹרְחִין (porḥin), gushing, from the spring to the great channel, ascending and clinging to the Tree. What causes פּוֹרֵחַ (poreaḥ), blossoming? Israel: when they are righteous and good Shekhinah שְׁרוּיָה (sheruyah), abides, in their midst—[above] because of their [good] deeds [Shekhinah] sheruyah, overflows, in the blessed Holy One’s lap [cf. BT Yevamot 64a], making them fruitful and multiplied. And how do we know that the Shekhinah is called ‘water’? As is written, Riding through heavens with your help—in His triumph through the skies (Deuteronomy 33:26), and it is written, skies stream justice (Isaiah 45:8). And tsedeq, justice, is the Shekhinah, as is written, Tsedeq, righteousness, lodged in Her (ibid. 1:21). Tsedeq was given to David, as is written, YHVH shall reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations (Psalms 146:10). It is also written, [And David captured the stronghold of] Zion, which is the city of David (1 Chronicles 11:5)” (Bahir §119).
“Desire of the female toward the male arouses only when a spirit enters her and she gushes water toward upper, masculine waters [cf. Bereshit Rabbah 13:13]. Similarly Assembly of Israel arouses desire towards the blessed Holy One only by the spirit of the righteous entering Her. Then waters flow within Her toward waters of the male, all becoming one desire, one cluster, one nexus. Rapture, total rapture! An amble by the blessed Holy One with souls of the righteous” (Zohar 1:60b, cf. ibid. 1:244a–b).
“His disciples said to him: Rabbi from above to below we know, but from below to above we do not know. He replied: Is it not all one—below to above and above to below? They said: Rabbi, ascending is not like descending. One can run while descending, but it is not so while ascending. Moreover, the one who ascends can do so by a way other than the [way] he descends. He replied: Go out and see! He sat and expounded for them: Shekhinah is below just as Shekhinah is above. And what is ‘Shekhinah‘? Say that this is the light emanated from the primordial light, which is Ḥokhmah. He also surrounds everything, as is written, The fullness of all the earth is His glory (Isaiah 6:3). What is His function here? A parable: To what can the matter be compared? To a king who had seven sons, and [he assigned] each one his place, saying to them, ‘Sit, this one on the back of that one.’ The lowest one said, ‘I will not dwell below! I will not be so far from you!’ He said to them, ‘I will hereby swing round and see you all the entire day [cf. BT Ta’anit 31a].’ Behold: The fullness of all the earth is His glory. And why is He in their midst? To stand them up and make them endure” (Bahir §171, cf. BT Ḥullin 60b; Zohar 1:20a).
“This conflict is for the sake of Heaven, because the lower waters weep, saying: We yearn to be before the supernal King of all supernals! And they ask to be raised on high [cf. Zohar 1:17b: ‘A conflict of passionate love’]” (Tiqqunei ha-Zohar 19b).
And you shall make a lamp stand of pure gold…. Take you clear oil of beaten olives for the light, to kindle a lamp perpetually (Exodus 25:31, 27:20).
“What is Ḥanukkah? The Rabbis taught: On the twenty-fifth of Kislev the eight days of Ḥanukkah begin on which a lamentation for the dead and fasting are forbidden. For when the Greeks entered the Temple they defiled all the oils that were in the Temple, yet when the Hasmonean dynasty prevailed against and defeated them, they searched and found one flask of oil laying undisturbed with the seal of the High Priest. However, there was enough for only one day’s lighting. A miracle occurred and they lit from it eight days. The following year these [days] were appointed a Festival with Hallel and thanksgiving” (BT Shabbat 21b).
“Come and see how the character of the blessed Holy One differs from that of flesh and blood. In the case of flesh and blood, an empty vessel holds [more], but not a full one. However, the blessed Holy One is not so: a full vessel holds [more], but not an empty one” (BT Berakhot 40a).
And a certain woman from the wives of the acolyte prophets had cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant, my husband, died. And you know that your servant was a YHWH fearer. And the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” And Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your servant has nothing at all in the house except a flask of oil.” And he said, “Go, borrow vessels for yourself from outside, from all your neighbors—empty vessels, and not just a few. And you shall come and close the door behind you and behind your sons, and you shall pour into these vessels, and the full ones you shall set aside.” And she went from him and closed the door behind her and behind her sons. They were bringing the vessels to her and she was pouring. And it happened when the vessels were full that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel,” and he said to her, “There are no more vessels.” And the oil stopped. And she came and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons will live off what is left (2 Kings 4:1–7).
“Tell me, what do you have in the house? (2 Kings 4:2)… for supernal blessings settle only upon a place that is complete [i.e., full and not empty]. This is the mystery of In the heart of all who are wise-hearted I have set wisdom (Exodus 31:6), and similarly, He gives wisdom to the wise (Daniel 2:21) [cf. BT Berakhot 55a in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan. On blessing not appearing in an empty place, see BT Sanhedrin 92a, in the name of Rabbi El’azar; Naḥmaindes on Exodus 25:24; Zohar 1:88a–b, 240a, 250a; 2:63b, 67a, 87b–88a, 154b–155a, 157b; 3:34a]” (Zohar 2:157b).
The hater of gifts shall live (Proverbs 15:27).
“One who eats from his friend’s food is ashamed to look at him” (JT Orlah 1:5, 61b).
“Two people eat from the same bowl, but each one tastes according to his deeds” (Avot de-Rabbi Natan §37).
“Son of Azzai said: By your name you will be called, to your place you will be restored and from what belongs to you will you be given. No man can touch what is prepared for his fellow and ‘One kingdom does not interfere with the other even to the extent of one hair’s breadth’ (BT Berakhot 48b)” (BT Yoma 38a–b).
“Before souls come to the world, they resemble one who eats the bread of the King without serving Him. And this is why the Sages say that it is good for man to have been created [see BT Eruvin 13b]…. Souls feel ashamed to eat the bread of the King without serving Him, and therefore they yearn to come to the world… so as to leave that shame; they seek to come to this world, to engage in Torah and mitsvot, to till it and watch it (Genesis 2:15) so that they may eat bread without shame” (Rabbi Yosef Karo, Maggid Meisharim, Bereshit, cf. Zohar 2:87a, Sava de-Mishpatim: “The blessed Holy One says, ‘From the day you were created, for this were you created: to be in that world.’ Once the soul sees this she descends unwillingly and enters there”).
“Rabbi Yehudah opened, ‘Is it not to share your bread with the hungry? (Isaiah 58:7). Come and see: Happy is one’s portion when he encounters a poor person! For a poor person is a gift that the blessed Holy One has sent to him. Happy is the share of one who receives that gift cheerfully!…’ Is it not to share your bread with the hungry? What is פָרֹס (paros), to share? לְמִפְרַס (Le-miphras), to spread, a tablecloth with bread and food to eat. Alternatively, Is it not פָרֹס (paros), to share?—as is said: פְּרֵס פְּרִיסַת (Peres perisat), פְּרֵס (peres)—has been divided (Daniel 5:28), for one should לְמִפְרַס פְּרִיסִין (le-miphras perisin), break pieces, of bread before him so that he will not feel ashamed, and one should break it before him generously” (Zohar 2:198a).
“I have the following tradition from my grandfather’s family: At all times shall one [rather] hire himself out to עֲבוֹדָה זַרָה (avodah zarah), idol-worship [lit., foreign worship], than be in need [of the help] of [his fellow] creatures. He thought that עֲבוֹדָה זַרָה (avodah zarah), [meant] actual [idol worship], but it is not so, [the meaning being,] ‘work which is foreign to him;’ as Rav said to Rabbi Kahana: Flay a carcass in the street and earn a wage, and say not, ‘I am a great man and the work is degrading to me’” (BT Bava Batra 110a).
“Tanna debe Eliyyahu [taught]: Though Rabbi Akiva said, ‘Treat your Sabbath like a weekday rather than be dependent on men,’ yet one must prepare something small at home [as a gesture in honor of the Sabbath]. What is it? Rav Papa said: Fried fish [thus even the poorest must make an effort to honour the Sabbath]. As we learned, Rabbi Yehudah son of Teima said: ‘Be as bold as a leopard, swift as an eagle, fleet as a gazelle, and as mighty as a lion, to do the will of your Father in Heaven’ (M Avot 5:24)” (BT Pesaḥim 112a).
“Please, LORD our God, do not make us dependent on the gifts or loans of other people, but only on Your full, open, holy and generous hand so that we may suffer neither shame nor humiliation for ever and all time” (Birkat ha-Mazon).
“Our Rabbis taught: It once happened that a man’s wife died and left behind a nursing child, and the man could not afford to pay a wet-nurse. A miracle happened to him and his breasts opened like a woman’s breasts and he nursed his son. Rabbi Yosef said, ‘Come and see how great was this man, that such a miracle was performed on his account!’ Abbaye said to him, ‘Just the opposite: how terrible was this man, that his body was changed!’ Rabbi Yehudah said, ‘Come and see how difficult it is to attain food for a person—so much so that his body was changed!’ Rabbi Naḥman said: Know that miracles do occur, but food is not simply created” (BT Shabbat 53b).
“A person should not embolden himself to say: ‘The blessed Holy One will save me,’ or ‘He will do this for me.’ Rather, he should place his strength in the blessed Holy One, to help him fulfill the commandments of Torah and walk in the way of truth, for as soon as one comes to purify himself, he is certainly assisted [cf. BT Shabbat 104a]. So should one fortify himself in the blessed Holy One—in order that He may help him—holding fast to Him, not placing his strength in another. So, whose strength is in You (Psalms 84:5)” (Zohar 1:142a).
Happy all who fear YHWH, who walk in His ways. When you eat of the toil of your hands, happy are you, and it is good for you (Psalms 128:2).
“One who supports himself from his own labor is greater than one who fears Heaven” (BT Berakhot 8a).
“’If a man deposits produce with his neighbor, even if it is suffering loss, he must not touch it. Rabbi Shim’on son of Gamaliel said: He must sell it by order of the court, because it is like returning lost property to its owner’ (Mishnah)—what is the reason? Rabbi Kahana said: A man prefers a measure of his own to nine of his neighbor’s” (BT Bava Metsi’a 38a).
“Rabbi Natan son of Abba further said in the name of Rav: He who is dependent on another’s table, the world is dark to him, for it is said: He wanders for bread—where is it? He knows that the dark day awaits him (Job 15:23). Rabbi Ḥisda says: Also, his life is no life” (BT Beitsah 32b).
“Rabbi Zera was evading Rav Yehudah because he desired to go up to the land of Israel while Rav Yehudah had said, ‘Whoever goes up from Babylon to the land of Israel transgresses a positive commandment, for it is said, They shall be carried to Babylon, and there shall they be until the day that I visit them, says YHWH; then will I bring them up, and restore them to this place (Jeremiah 27:22).’ But Rabbi Zera [how does he interpret this verse?]—this refers to the vessels of ministry [as is written, Yea, thus says YHWH of armies, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that remain in the house of YHWH… (ibid., 21)]. And Rav Yehudah?—it is also written: I make you swear, O daughters of Jerusalem by the deer or the gazelles of the field… (Song of Songs 2:7; 3:5).
And Rav Yehudah?—it is written that you will not rouse not stir love until it is ripe (Song of Songs 2:7). And Rabbi Zera?—that text is required for [an exposition] like that of Rabbi Levi who stated: ‘What was the purpose of those six adjurations [each of the three adjurations is repeated]?—three for the purposes just mentioned and the others, that [the prophets] shall not make known the end, that [the people] shall not delay the end [by their misdeeds], and that they shall not reveal the secret to the idolaters.’ By the deer or the gazelles of the field—Rabbi El’azar explained: The blessed Holy One said to Israel, ‘If you will keep the adjuration, well and good; but if not, I will permit your flesh [to be a prey] like [that of] the deer or the gazelles of the field’” (BT Ketubbot 110b–111a).
“Resh Laqish was swimming in the Jordan. Thereupon Rabbah son of Son of Ḥana came and gave him the hand: If she is a wall, we will build on her a silver turret. If she is a door, we will besiege her with cedar boards (Song of Songs 8:9). Had you [Assembly of Israel] made yourself like a wall and had all come up in the days of Ezra, you would have been compared to silver, which no rottenness can ever affect. Now that you have come up like doors, you are like cedar boards, which rottenness prevails over” (BT Yoma 9b).
“Rabbi Yose said to him, ‘All this is longer than the Companions have established, namely, one day of exile for Assembly of Israel, no more, as is written: He has made me desolate, faint all the day (Lamentations 1:13).’ He replied, ‘So I learned from father in the mysteries of letters of the Holy Name, the duration of the world and the days of Creation—all a single mystery” (Zohar 1:116a–18b).
“Rabbi Yitsḥaq opened, ‘Before the day breathes and the shadows flee (Song of Songs 4:6). Before the day breathes—the exile of Israel; that they would be subjugated in exile until the day when rule of the peoples is ended.’ For we have learned that Rabbi Yitsḥaq said, ‘The dominion of all peoples together over Israel would last one thousand years. There is no people that would not subjugate them. ‘One day’ corresponds to: But it shall be one day which shall be known to YHWH, [not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light] (Zechariah 14:7).
Rabbi Yose said, ‘If they are subjugated more than one thousand years, it is not because of the King’s decree, but rather because they do not wish to return before Him [in repentance to the land of Israel]. And it is written, And it shall be, when all these things come upon you, [the blessing and the curse that I have set before you, that your heart shall turn back among all the nations to which YHWH your God will make you to stray] (Deuteronomy 30:1–2), and, Should your strayed one be at the edge of the heavens, from there shall YHWH your God gather you (ibid., 4)’” (Zohar 2:17a, Midrash ha-Ne’lam).
“He opened, saying, ‘Look, the day is still long; it is not time to gather in the herd. Water the sheep and go and let them graze (Genesis 29:7). This verse has already been established, for when the people of Israel arouse teshuvah before the blessed Holy One, by the merit of Torah they will return to the Holy Land and be gathered from exile. For surely the exile of Israel will be for one day and no more, as is written: He has made me desolate, faint all the day (Lamentations 1:13).
Alternatively, He said, ‘Look, the day is still long…‘—the day called a day of tumult and din and confusion (Isaiah 22:5), on which the Temple was destroyed and Israel fell into exile. In the face of evil deeds, that day is prolonged and extended, as is written: The day is still long; it is not time to gather in the herd—because they are prolonging that day. Water the sheep—as has been said, with words of Torah, for by the merit of Torah Israel will come out of exile” (Zohar 3:270a–b).
“Open for me, my sister, my friend, my dove, תַמָּתִי (tammati), my perfect one (Songs of Songs 5:2). Because, תַּם (tam), Complete, is the punishment of your offence, O daughter of Zion; He will no more carry you away into exile (Lamentations 4:22).
הא (He)—Shekhinah in exile [separated from יוה (Yod He Vav)]. Her perfection and Her life is טַל (tal), dew, and this is: יוד הא ואו (Yod He Vav). הא (He) is Shekhinah which is not of the dew. But יוד הא ואו (Yod He Vav) is numerically equivalent to ל״ט (thirty-nine) [and טַל (tal), dew]. He fills the Shekhinah from the flowing of all supernal sources” (Tiqqunei ha-Zohar 17b).
A virtuous woman is a crown for her husband (Proverbs 12:4).
“Rabbi Avin son of Rabbi Adda said in the name of Rabbi Yitsḥaq, ‘How do we know that the blessed Holy One puts on tefillin? For it is said: YHWH has sworn by His right hand and by the arm of His strength (Isaiah 62:8). By His right hand—this is Torah, as is said: From His right hand was a fiery law for them (Deuteronomy 33:2). And by the arm of His strength—this is tefillin, as is said: YHWH will give strength unto His people (Psalms 29:11). How do we know that tefillin are a strength to Israel? For it is written: And all the peoples of the earth will see that the name of YHWH is called over you and they will fear you (Deuteronomy 28:10), and it has been taught: Rabbi Eli’ezer the Great says, ‘This refers to tefillin of the head.’ Rabbi Naḥman son of Yitsḥaq asked Rabbi Ḥiyya son of Avin, ‘These tefillin of the Master of the Universe—what is written in them? He replied, ‘Who is like Your people Israel, a unique nation on earth’ (1 Chronicles 17:2)” (BT Berakhot 6a).
“I will take away My palm and you will see My back (Exodus 33:23). Rav Ḥana son of Bizna said in the name of Rabbi Shim’on the Devout, ‘This teaches us that the blessed Holy One showed Moses the knot of tefillin [at the back of His head]’” (BT Berakhot 7a).
“He flung from the heavens to the earth the beauty of Israel (Lamentations 2:1)…. A parable: A king had a lovely diadem upon his head and a lovely mantle upon his shoulder. An evil rumor came to him and he flung the diadem from upon his head and the mantle from before him [cf. Bereshit Rabbah 75:4]” (Bahir §32–§33).
“A parable: A king had a throne. Sometimes he carried it on his arm, and sometimes on his head. ‘Why?’ they asked. ‘Because it was lovely and it was a pity to sit on it.’ They asked: ‘And where did he place it on his head?’ He replied: ‘In the open מ (mem), as is written, Truth from the earth will spring up, as justice from the heavens looks down (Psalms 85:12)’” (Bahir §37).
“Your deed, in the midst of years revive it (Habakkuk 3:2). A parable: To what can this be compared? To a king had a goodly pearl, beloved of his kingdom. In his time of joy, he would embrace it and kiss it, place it on his head and would love it. Habakkuk said to him: Even though the kings are with you, this pearl is the beloved of your world. Therefore, Your deed, in the midst of years revive it. What is years? As is written, And God said, ‘Let there be light’ (Genesis 1:3). Light—none other than day, as is written, The great light for dominion of day and the small light for dominion of night, [and the stars] (Genesis 1:16). Years are [made up of] days, as is written, Your deed, in the midst of years revive it. In the midst of—this pearl that gives birth to years.
And [so] it is written, From the east I will bring your seed (Isaiah 43:5). The sun rises in the east yet you say that the pearl is day! [He replied,] I did not say [anything] except and it was evening and it was morning, first day (Genesis 1:5), as is written, On the day YHWH Elohim made earth and heavens (Genesis 2:4)” (Bahir §72–§73).
“’Israel are crowned with three crowns: the crown of priesthood, the crown of kingship, and the crown of Torah which is higher than both’ (M Avot 4:13). Indeed, there is a crown of priesthood, a crown of kingship, and the crown of Torah is above them both. To what may this be compared? To a king who had a lovely and fragrant vessel which he adored. Sometimes he puts it on his head—tefillin of the head. Sometimes he carried it in his hand—the knot of the tefillin of the hand. Sometimes he lends it to his son to sit with him. Sometimes it is called כִּסְאוֹ (kiso), ‘his throne,’ for he takes it in his hand as an amulet—like the appearance of כָּסָא (kasa), a bowl [cf. Zohar 1:1a; Zohar 2:43a (RM)]” (Bahir §152).
“Rabbi Yishma’el said: I saw מַלְכּוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם (malko shel olam), the ruler of the world, seated on a high and exalted throne. A single troop standing from earth [reaching] until the firmament. His name is Sandalfon. At the time when He seeks—רוזיי יהוה אלהי ישראל (Rozey Adonai Elohei Yisra’el)—to swear by His tefillin and to cast an oath by His hand, He takes the tefillin from His head and He nullifies decrees from [upon] the earth” (Merkavah Rabbah, see Schäfer, Synopse zur Hekhalot–Literatur, §655).
“The entire world is suspended from His great arm like an amulet on the hand of a warrior” (Seder Rabba de-Vereshit, see Schäfer, Synopse zur Hekhalot-Literatur, §784, cf. ibid., §727, §840).
“The diadem of His head sends forth and radiates the sun and moon, Pleiades and Orion and Mercury and Venus, constellations and stars and planets flow and emerge from His garment [with which] He is wrapped when He sits on the throne of His glory. And He sends forth a great light from between His eyes. King of miracles, king of mighty acts, king of wonders and a king of otherness is He, as is said, Holy, holy, holy, and then, YHWH of armies: [the whole earth is full of His glory] (Isaiah 6:3)” (Schäfer, Synopse zur Hekhalot-Literatur, §105).
Now, you might ask, ‘Since She is a single point, how can He grasp such a tiny point? Well, regarding what is above, the smaller something is, the more praiseworthy—this is its virtue, its sublime greatness [cf. BT Megillah 31a: ‘Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Wherever you find the might of the blessed Holy One you find His meekness’].
When She receives Her soul of delights and wishes to attend to Her cohorts, they all gather and call Her from the holy palace: ‘Glory, Glory in the holy palace!’ Father and Mother open, saying, ‘Sanctified’ [i.e., sanctification of the new moon, see M Rosh ha-Shanah 2:7]….
“When She ascends it is written of Her, The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone (Psalms 118:22). When She rises up to the Head of Heads the angels ask ‘Where is the place of His glory to admire Him?’ And when She rises She becomes Keter, a crown on the head of אֹ (alef). When She descends, a point beneath [וִ (vav)]. So when She ascends She is called a crown according to the mystery of the musical intonations, and when She descends, She is called נְקוּדָה (nequdah), Point” (Zohar 1:24b, Tiqqunei ha-Zohar).
“She appears like this ·☽, like a crescent moon, with a point in the center, that point absorbing light from the Sun to illuminate the entire body.
This is the mystery of the point that inheres in part of the eye—everything exists in the point located in the center, for it absorbs all the light to illuminate the whole eye. Similarly, Moon is illuminated only from one point that abides and is concealed in the center, even though it cannot be seen in Moon.
Come and see: Every circle in the world is formed from the midst of the single point standing in its center. Consequently, the circle of the Moon is from a single point concealed within Her in the center, fashioning all. The point located in the center absorbs all light, shining upon Her body, illuminating all” (Zohar Ḥadash 5b, Sitrei Otiyyot).
“The moon would be shaped sometimes with her beams [or: horns] facing upwards, and sometimes facing downwards, sometimes to the east, and sometimes to the west, sometimes to the south and sometimes to the north. And this is its facing in six directions for Tif’eret, which is the large ו (vav), encompassing them, [namely:] Gedulah, Gevurah, Tif’eret, Netsaḥ, Hod, and Yesod. The point that is drawn [in Moon], from the inside, is Ḥokhmah, and the line that is around Moon is Keter. That point, is sometimes a crown, and sometimes a throne to sit upon, and yet at other times a footstool for His feet” (Zohar 3:248a–b, Ra’aya Meheimna Pineḥas).

References: §178
 §438
 §119
 §171
 §37
 §32
 §37
 §72
 §152
 §655
 §784
 §727
 §840
 §105