Partie 5 · Chapitre 21

The thing is that in the beginning, the light expands inside the vessel of Keter, and then departs from it. After that, the light expands in the vessel of Hochma, and then departs once more. It does the same in all ten vessels, and this is called Matei and not Matei [expanding and not expanding] that is always mentioned in The Zohar. It is always in the nature of that light to come and shine, and then depart, as it is the nature of a candle’s flame to sway. Also, that light always remains Matei and not Matei in those vessels called Akudim. Because they are in one vessel, that vessel has no power to tolerate the light if it is not Matei and not Matei. Thus we have explained the four phases that are the first expansion and its departure, and the second expansion and its departure. We have also explained that the second expansion and departure are called Matei and not Matei. For this reason, that vessel is called Akudim, since it is one vessel that connects and ties ten lights within it.