My LORD’s BibleThe Lesser Holy Assembly (Idra Zuta Qadisha) 14
510The Eyes of the Head (of Microprosopus) are those eyes from which sinners cannot guard themselves; the eyes which sleep, and yet which sleep not.
511And therefore are they called “Eyes like unto doves, KIVNIM, Ke-Ionim.” What is IVNIM, Ionim? Surely it is said, Lev. xxv. 17: “Ye shall not deceive any man his neighbour.”
512And therefore is it written, Psalm xciv. 7: “IH, Yah, shall not behold.” And shortly after verse 9: “He that planteth the ear, shall He not hear? He that formeth the eye, shall He not see?”
513The part which is above the eyes (the eyebrows) consisteth of the hairs, which are distributed in certain proportions.
514From those hairs depend one thousand seven hundred Lords of Inspection for striving in battles. And then all their emissaries arise and unclose the eyes.
515In the skin which is above the eyes (the eyelids) are the eyelashes, and thereunto adhere thousand thousands Lords of Shields.
516And these be called the covering of the eyes. And all those which are called (under the classification of) the eyes of IHVH, Tetragrammaton, are not unclosed, nor awake, save in that time when these coverings of the eyelashes be separated from each other—namely, the lower from the upper (eyelashes).
517And when the lower eyelashes are separated from the upper, and disclose the abode of vision, then are the eyes opened in the same manner as when one awaketh from his sleep.
518Then are the eyes rolled around, and (Microprosopus) looketh back upon the open eye (of Macroprosopus), and they are bathed in its white brilliance.
519And when they are thus whitened, the Lords of the Judgments are turned aside from the Israelites. And therefore it is written, Ps. xliv. 24: “Awake: wherefore sleepest thou, O Tetragrammaton? Make haste,” &c.
520Four colours appear in those eyes; from which shine the four coverings of the phylacteries, which shine through the emanations of the Brain.
522As it is written, Zach. iii. 9: “Upon one stone seven eyes.” And these colours flame forth on this side.
523From the red go forth others, the Lords of Examination for Judgment.
524And these are called: “The eyes of Tetragrammaton going forth throughout the whole earth.”
525Where it is said (in the feminine gender) “MShVTTVTh, Meshotetoth, going forth,” and not “MShVTTIM, Meshotetim,” in the masculine, because all are judgment.
526From the yellow proceed others who are destined to make manifest deeds as well good as evil.
527As it is written, Job xxxiv. 21: “Since His eyes are upon the ways of man.” And these, Zach. iv. 10, are called “The eyes of Tetragrammaton, MShVTTIM, Meshotetim, going forth around, but in the masculine gender, because these extend in two directions—towards the good and towards the evil.
528From the white brilliance proceed all those mercies and all those benefits which are found in the world, so that through them it may be well for the Israelites.
529And then all those three colours are made white, so that He may have pity upon them.
530And those colours are mingled together mutually, and mutually do they adhere unto each other. Each one affecteth with its colour that which is next unto it.
531Excepting the white brilliance wherein all are comprehended when there is need, for this enshroudeth them all.
532So therefore no man can convert all the inferior colours the black, red, and yellow—into the white brilliance.
533For only with this glance (of Macroprosopus) are they all united and transformed into the white brilliance.
534His eyelashes (i.e., those of Microprosopus, for to the eye of Macroprosopus neither eyebrows nor eyelashes are attributed) are not found, when (his eyes) desire to behold the colours; seeing that his eyelashes disclose the place (of sight) for beholding all the colours.
535And if they disclose not the place (of vision) the (eyes) cannot see nor consider.
536But the eyelashes do not remain nor sleep, save in that only perfect hour, but they are opened and closed, and again closed and opened, according to that Open Eye (of Macroprosopus) which is above them.
537And therefore is it written, Ezek. i. 14: “And the living creatures rush forth and return.”
538Now we have already spoken of the passage, Isa. xxxiii. 20: “Thine eye shall see Jerusalem quiet, even Thy habitation.”
539Also it is written, Deut. ii. 12: “The eyes of Tetragrammaton thy God are ever thereon in the beginning of the year,” &c.
540For so Jerusalem requireth it, since it is written, Isa. i. 21: “TzDQ, Tzedeq, Justice abideth in Her.”
541And therefore (is it called) Jerusalem, and not Zion. For it is written, Isa. i. 26: “Zion is redeemed in MShPT, Meshephat, Judgment, &c.,” which are unmixed mercies.
542Thine eye: (therefore) is it written “OINK, Ayinakh (in the singular number). Assuredly it is the eye of the Most Holy Ancient One, the Most Concealed of All (which is here referred to).
543Now it is said: “The eyes of Tetragrammaton thy God are thereon;” in good, that is to say, and in evil; according as either the red colour or the yellow is required.
544But only with the glance (of Macroprosopus) are all things converted and cleansed into the white brilliance.
545The eyelids (of Microprosopus) are not found when (His eyes) desire to behold the colours. But here (it is said), “Thine eyes shall behold Jerusalem.” Entirely for good, entirely in mercy.
546As it is written, Isa. liv. 7: “And with great mercies will I gather thee.”
547The eyes of Tetragrammaton thy God are ever thereon from the beginning of the year.” Here the word “MRShITh, Merashith, from the beginning,” is written defectively without A, for it is not written RAShITh with the A.
548Hence it remaineth not always in the same condition. What doth not? The inferior H, He (of IHVH).
549And concerning that which is supernal it is written, Lam. ii. 1: “He hath cast down MShMIM, Me-Shamaim, from the heavens; ARTz, Aretz, the earth, the Tiphereth, Israel.”
551“From the beginning of the year.” What, then, is that place whence those eyes of Tetragrammaton behold Jerusalem?
552Therefore he hasteneth to expound this (saying immediately): “From the beginning, MRShITh, of the year,” which (word MRShITh being written thus), without the Aleph, A, symbolizeth judgment; for judgment is referred unto that side, although virtually (the word Merashith) is not judgment.
553“Even unto the end of the year.” Herein, properly speaking, is judgment found. For it is written, Isa. i. 21: “Justice dwelt in her.” For this is “the end of the year.”
554Come and see! A, Aleph, only is called the first (letter). In A, Aleph, is the masculine power hidden and concealed; that namely, which is not known.
555When this Aleph is conjoined in another place, then is it called RAShITh, Rashith, beginning.
556But if thou sayest that (A) is conjoined herewith, truly it is not so, but (A) is only manifested therein and illuminateth it; and in that case only is it called RAShITh, Rashith, beginning.
557Now therefore in this (passage) RAShITh (spelt with the A) is not found as regards Jerusalem; for were (the letter A) herein, it would (denote that it would) remain for ever.
558Hence it is written defectively MRShITh, Me-Rashith. Also concerning the world to come it is written, Isa. xli. 27: “The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them,” &c.