260520.Naso - Idra Raba v008
Idra Raba: Verse 8
Rabbi Shimon opened the discussion saying, "A talebearer (lit. 'goer') reveals secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit conceals the matter" (Mishlei 11:13). This verse is difficult, but it should have said 'tale-man.' What is a TALE goer? HE REPLIES: It refers to someone who is not settled in mind and not trustworthy. Whatever he has heard goes within him like a board in the water THAT DOES NOT SINK UNTIL it is expelled outside, MEANING TO SAY HE HAS NO REST UNTIL HE REVEALS WHATEVER HE HEARD TO SOMEONE ELSE. What is the reason? It is because his spirit is not stable, SETTLED. Of him who has a stable spirit, it says "But he that is of a faithful spirit conceals the matter." A faithful spirit MEANS a stable spirit. It all depends on the spirit. It is also written: "Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin" (Kohelet 5:5).
Idra Raba: Verse 9
The world is preserved only through secrecy and if, in worldly things, secrecy is a prerequisite, it is so much more certain that the mysteries of mysteries of Atik Yomin are not even passed on to the angels above. Rabbi Shimon said: To the heavens, I don't say to listen. To the earth I don't say to hear, since we maintain the worlds. THAT IS TO SAY, MOSES AND ISAIAH MADE THE HEAVENS AND EARTH WITNESSES TO PUNISH THE CHILDREN OF YISRAEL IF THEY DO NOT MAINTAIN THE WORLDS, THAT THE HEAVENS WILL NOT GIVE ITS RAIN NOR THE EARTH ITS CROPS. BUT RABBI SHIMON WAS SPEAKING TO THE RIGHTEOUS, WHO MAINTAIN THE WORLD AND HAVE NO NEED FOR WITNESSES. We have learned of the mysteries of mysteries. When Rabbi Shimon began with the secrets of secrets, the place shook and the friends trembled.
Idra Raba: Verse 10
He revealed in secret and opened the discussion with the verse: "And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king..." (Beresheet 36:31). Blessed are you, righteous, to whom were revealed the inner secrets of the Torah, which are not revealed to the most holy beings up high, MEANING THE ANGELS. Who will be attentive to this and who will deserve this, THE VERSE: "AND THESE ARE THE KINGS..." That is evidence about overall faith. May the prayer be accepted that it will not be considered a sin to reveal this. What will the friends say, since this verse is difficult, since it was unnecessary to write this because we could see how many kings Edom had before the children of Yisrael came along, and prior to the children of Yisrael having a king? What is shown to us here? It is a high secret and men are incapable of knowing and understanding and contemplating this, SINCE IT ALLUDES TO THE SUPERNAL WORLDS.
Idra Raba: Verse 11
We have learned about the most Ancient of ancients, the most hidden of hidden, before he prepared his constructions and the crowns of crowns. THE PREPARATION OF THE VESSELS AND READYING THEM TO RECEIVE THE LIGHTS ARE CALLED CONSTRUCTIONS. THE LIGHTS THEMSELVES ARE CALLED CROWNS, DERIVED FROM THE VERSE: "THE CROWN WITH WHICH HIS MOTHER CROWNED HIM" (SHIR HASHIRIM 3:11). There did not yet exist a beginning nor an end, WHICH ARE UPPER CHOCHMAH, THE BEGINNING OF REVELATION, AND LOWER CHOCHMAH, THE END OF REVELATION. He was carving and estimating the limits of it, MEANING OF REVEALING THE BEGINNING AND THE END. He laid out a boundary and in it he marked and measured kings.
Idra Raba: Verse 12
His constructions were not maintained. This is what is written: "And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Yisrael," MEANING BEFORE the first king that reigned over the first children of Yisrael. All that were recorded were called by their names but did not survive so eventually he abandoned them and hid them; he was elevated by that boundary and established with His own Corrections (formations).