Tikunim Chadashim - Tikun 7

"And for all the mighty hand and for all the great awe..." [Devarim 34:12]

Theme: The Shechina and the Mighty Hand in the wilderness; the progression from Judges to Shaul to Dovid; Moshe's vision in the thorn-bush

I. The Mighty Hand in the Wilderness

"The mighty hand" — in the wilderness. "The great awe" — at the time it is written: "This day I will begin to instill your dread and your fear" [Devarim 2:25]. For until the Shechina was established in a complete Tikun, the Mighty Hand needed to stand against the many impure forces. But as soon as She was established, immediately the great awe was found — and this is the revelation of the Shechina.

For while the Shechina had not yet stood in Her rectification, She was hidden so as not to be revealed — and in the meanwhile She was being rectified as is fitting. Once She was perfected in Her rectification, She was revealed in Her strength, and dread of Her fell upon all the shells.

II. The Kingdom of the House of Dovid — From Judges to Shaul to Dovid

Similarly — the kingship of the House of Dovid was not revealed immediately. Rather, when Israel entered the Land, they continued with Judges until Shaul. The secret — while the Shechina had not yet settled in Her place as is fitting. Why? — Because those nations that Israel left in the Land caused the Shechina to not settle there as befitting. Therefore during those Judges, Israel continued.

The secret of the Shofet [Judge] — from the side of the Tzaddik who completed on behalf of the Shechina who could not be revealed. Until Shaul came — then kingship began to emerge. And Shaul — this is the Tzaddik — and the Shechina joined with him in a greater revelation. Therefore he received the kingdom — but it was not sustained.

Until Dovid came — then the kingdom was found in its place. The secret: Shaul was anointed with a flask — his kingdom did not endure; Dovid was anointed with a horn — his kingdom endured [cf. Megillah 14a]. The secret of Shaul — he stands as the Tzaddik, and because the Shechina joined him to be revealed through him, he received the kingdom — and this is the flask — truly. But since it was not in its proper place, it was not sustained. But Dovid is in the [realm of] Malchus — and when the Tzaddik joins with him, he receives the kingdom as is fitting — and this is the horn — therefore his kingdom endured. Then the Shechina stood in Her place as is fitting.

Until Yeravam came — then the Tzaddik separated from Justice [Tzaddik from Tzedek], for Yeravam was of the tribe of Yosef — the Tzaddik truly. Rechavam from the seed of Dovid — Malchus. When they separated from each other, the kingdom of Israel split — until the Sanctuary was destroyed. And all this — who caused it? — Because Dovid accepted slander [lashon hara]. For one who accepts slander causes that supernal tongue [the Tzaddik] to separate from his mate. And of the Shechina it is said: "I was silent and mute" [Tehillim 39:3]. Therefore it was said: Yeravam and Rechavam divided the kingdom. And Dovid prayed and said: "I was silent and mute, I held my peace from good..." — this for the sin of accepting slander from Tziva, when in anger he said to him: "Behold, all that was Mefivoshes' is yours" [Shemuel II 16:4].

As it is written: "My heart was hot within me; in my meditation a fire burned...I spoke with my tongue" [Tehillim 39:4] — this was the sin of speaking from anger: "Behold, all that was his is yours." And this caused the division of the kingdom [cf. Shabbos 56b]. Therefore: "Inform me, Hashem, of my end" [Tehillim 39:5] — this is the end of days [Ketz HaYamin] — in which: "they shall be united in your hand" [Yechezkel 37:17] — in MaBY and MaBD — to join what was separated by Yeravam and Rechavam. Therefore: "Inform me of my end...and let me know how frail I am" — separated from the kingdom. It is found that all needed to be in its time — truly.

III. From the Settling of the Shechina to the Revelation of the Shechina

While the Shechina had not yet been established, She was not revealed. Therefore all those days that Israel were in the wilderness, Moshe needed to be greatly strengthened against all the impure forces — "the mighty hand" — truly.

When the Shechina was established and revealed — immediately: "This day I will begin to instill your dread"... — "the great awe." When was She established? — At the time it is written: "Spring up, O well, sing to it" [Bamidbar 21:17; cf. the teachings on this verse in the works of the Arizal]. Therefore: "And I implored Hashem at that time" [Devarim 3:23] — "at that time" precisely — for already the Shechina had ascended through him and been established. "My Lord Hashem, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness" — as it is said: "This day I will begin"... But "You have begun to show Your servant" — the Holy One made known to him the paths — when to act with Chesed, the right side, and when with the left. As it is written: "to show Your servant Your greatness" — this is the right; "and Your mighty hand" — this is the left. And Moshe was strengthened greatly in this mighty hand and succeeded — then: "let me cross over please and see" — now that the Tikun had also risen through my hand — as it is written: "I will begin to instill Your dread."

IV. The Vision in the Burning Bush — The Serpent and the Staff

When did He show him these mysteries? — In the thorn-bush [sneh] — truly — through that staff of which it is said: "And it became a serpent" [Shemos 4:3] — for this staff turns from good to evil and from evil to good. And there is the staff of G-d on the left, and the staff of Moshe on the right. But here He taught him the mystery: "Send your hand and grasp it by the tail" [Shemos 4:4] — for when this serpent is aroused, one must immediately stand against it and grasp its tail — with which it strikes — to seize it so that it does not destroy the world. Therefore "grasp its tail" — as: "Catch us the foxes" [Shir HaShirim 2:15] — so that they do not destroy the world. With what should one grasp it? — "Send your hand" — this is the left hand — with it to grasp its tail. Immediately: "And it became a staff in his hand" [Shemos 4:4] — then it was calmed in its place. And when it is calmed, mercy is aroused in all. Therefore "and it became a staff in his hand." And because of this: "You have begun to show Your servant" — in the thorn-bush. "Your greatness" — this is the right. "And Your mighty hand" — "send your hand" — truly.