Part 14 · Chapter 43

The Ari's Text

And this is the secret of what is written, 'And it came to pass at midnight, etc., and behold a woman lying at his feet, etc.,' for before Chatzot she stands with him at his back, and at Chatzot she descended below the feet of ZA, which is in the world of Beria, for until the end of his feet is called Atzilut; and then 'the man was frightened and writhed,' because his mate was banished from him and fell into the world of Beria. For all this is on account of the sins of Israel, for otherwise the two of them, ZON, would always be face to face forever, as is known.

Inner Light

This commentary hasn't been matched to individual seifim yet — items are shown in reading order, and the number beside each one counts the notes themselves, not the seifim of the Ari's text.

Not matched to a seif

1And this is the secret of what is written, “And it came to pass at midnight, etc., and behold, a woman lying at his feet, etc.” — for before midnight she stands with him at his back, and at midnight she is below his feet; and then “the man was frightened and writhed,” because his mate was banished from him and fell into the world of Beria: Meaning that at midnight, Rachel lies in the place of the new feet of ZA, which are in Beria, with no light of Atzilut at all; and this is “lying at his feet,” which are in Beria. And therefore “the man was frightened and writhed,” for he saw that he could not save her while she is there in Beria, and cannot couple with her except after her return to Atzilut. And the matter of the fright was so as not to bestow upon her into BYA, lest the externals take hold in his illumination.