, רַבִּי חִיָּיא פָּתַח (שיר השירים ב׳:י״ב) הַנִּצָּנִים נִרְאוּ בָאָרֶץ עֵת הַזָּמִיר הִגִּיעַ וקוֹל הַתּוֹר נִשְׁמַע בְּאַרְצֵנוּ. הַנִּצָּנִים נִרְאוּ בָאָרֶץ, כַּד בְּרָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָלְמָא. יָהַב בְּאַרְעָא כָּל חֵילָא דְּאִתְחֲזִי לָהּ. וְכֹלָּא הֲוָה בְאַרְעָא, וְלָא אֲפִיקַת אִיבִּין בְּעָלְמָא עַד דְּאִתְבְּרֵי אָדָם, כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְבְּרֵי אָדָם, כֹּלָּא אִתְחֲזֵי (ד"א ל"ג למיפק) בְּעָלְמָא, וְאַרְעָא גַּלִּיאַת אִיבָּהָא וְחֵילָהָא דְּאִתְפָּקְדוּ בָה. AND THE LORD APPEARED UNTO HIM. R. Hiya commenced to discourse on the verse: The flowers appear on the earth, the time of song is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land (S. S. 2, 12). He said: ‘When God created the world, He endowed the earth with all the energy requisite for it, but it did not put forth produce until man appeared. When, however, man was created, all the products that were latent in the earth appeared above ground.

כְּגַוְונָא דָא שָׁמַיִם לָא יָהֲבוּ חֵילִין לְאַרְעָא עַד דְּאָתָא אָדָם. הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, (בראשית ב׳:ה׳) וְכֹל שִׂיחַ הַשָּׂדֶה טֶרֶם יִהְיֶה בָאָרֶץ וְכָל עֵשֶׂב הַשָּׂדֶה טֶרְם יִצְמָח כִּי לא הִמְטִיר יְיָ אֱלהִים עַל הָאָרֶץ וְאָדָם אַיִן לַעֲבֹד אֶת הָאֲדָמָה. אִטַּמָּרוּ כָּל אִנּוּן תּוֹלָדִין וְלָא אִתְגַּלּוּן, וּשְׁמַיָא אִתְעַכָּבוּ דְּלָא אַמְטִירוּ עַל אַרְעָא, בְּגִין דְּאָדָם אַיִן, דְּלָא אִשְׁתְּכַח וְלָא אִתְבְּרֵי, וְכֹלָּא אִתְעַכַּב בְּגִינֵיהּ, כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְחֲזֵי אָדָם, מִיָּד הַנִּצָּנִים נִרְאוּ בָאָרֶץ וְכָל חַיָילִין דְּאִתְטַמָּרוּ אִתְגַּלִּיאוּ וְאִתְיְהִיבוּ בָהּ. Similarly, the heaven did not impart strength to the earth until man came. So it is written, “All the plants of the earth were not yet on the earth, and the herbs of the field had not yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground” (Gen. 2, 5), that is to say, all the products of the earth were still hidden in its bosom and had not yet shown themselves, and the heavens refrained from pouring rain upon the earth, because man had not yet been created. When, however, man appeared, forthwith “the flowers appeared on the earth”, all its latent powers being revealed;

בָּתַר דְּחָטָא, כּוֹלָּא אִסְתַּלַּק מֵעָלְמָא וְאִתְלַטְיָא אַרְעָא. הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, (בראשית ג׳:י״ז) אֲרוּרָה הָאֲדָמָה בַּעֲבוּרֶךָ וְגו'. וּכְתִיב כִּי תַעֲבֹד אֶת הָאֲדָמָה לא תֹסֵף תֵּת כֹּחָהּ לָךְ וְגו'. וּכְתִיב וְקוֹץ וְדַרְדַּר תַּצְמִיחַ לָךְ. When man sinned, the earth was cursed, and all these good things left it, as it is written, “cursed is the earth for thy sake” (Gen. 3, 17), and again, “when thou tillest the ground it shall not give its strength to thee” (Ibid. 4, 12), and again, “thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to thee” (Ibid. 3, 18).

אֲתָא נֹחַ וְתִקֵּן קַרְדּוּמִין וּפְצִירֵי בְּעָלְמָא. וּלְבָתַר וַיֵּשְׁתְּ מִן הַיַּיִן וַיִּשְׁכָּר וַיִּתְגַּל בְּתוֹךְ אָהֳלה. אָתוּ בְּנֵי עָלְמָא וְחָבוּ קַמֵּיהּ דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. וְאִסְתַּלָּקוּ חֵילִין דְּאַרְעָא (דעלמא) כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין, וְהֲווּ קָיְימֵי עַד דְּאָתָא אַבְרָהָם. When Noah came, he invented spades and hoes, but afterwards he sinned through drunkenness, and the rest of the world also sinned before God, and the strength of the earth deserted it. So matters continued until Abraham came.

כֵּיוָן דְּאָתָא אַבְרָהָם (לעלמא) מִיָּד הַנִּצָּנִים נִרְאוּ בָאָרְץ, אִתְתַּקָּנוּ וְאִתְגָּלוּ כָּל חֵילִין בְּאַרְעָא. עֵת הַזָּמִיר הִגִּיעַ. בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאָמַר לֵיהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דְּיִתְגְּזָר, כֵּיוָן דְּמָטָא הַהוּא זִמְנָא דִּבְרִית אִשְׁתְּכַח בֵּיהּ בְּאַבְרָהָם וְאִתְגְּזַר. כְּדֵין אִתְקְיַּים בֵּיהּ כָּל הַאי קְרָא, וְאִתְקְיַּים עָלְמָא, וּמִלָּה דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא הֲוָה בְּאִתְגַּלְּיָיא בֵּיהּ הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְיָ. Then once more “the blossoms appeared in the earth”, and all the powers of the earth were restored and displayed themselves. “The time of pruning (zamir) came”, i.e. God told Abraham to circumcise himself. When at length the covenant existed in Abraham through the circumcision, then all this verse was fulfilled in him, the world was firmly established, and the word of the Lord came to him openly: hence it is written, AND THE LORD APPEARED UNTO HIM.

רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר פָּתַח הַאי קְרָא (בשעתא) בָּתַר דְּאִתְגְּזַר אַבְרָהָם. דְּעַד לָא אִתְגְּזַר לָא הֲוָה מַלִּיל עִמֵּיהּ אֶלָּא מִגּוֹ דַּרְגָּא תַּתָּאָה, וְדַרְגִּין עִלָּאִין לָא הֲווּ קָיְימֵי עַל הַהִיא דַּרְגָּא. כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְגְּזַר מִיָּד הַנִּצָנִים נִרְאוּ בָאָרֶץ אִלֵּין דַּרְגִּין תַּתָּאִין דְּאֲפִיקַת וְאַתְקִינַת הַאי דַּרְגָּא תַּתָּאָה. Said R. Eleazar: ‘Until Abraham was circumcised, God did not speak with him save from a lower grade, whereon, too, the higher grades were not resting. But when he was circumcised, straightway “the blossoms appeared in the earth”, to wit, the lower grades which the earth put forth, thereby establishing that lower grade we have mentioned;

עֵת הַזָּמִיר הִגִּיעַ אִלֵּין עַנְפּוֹי דְּעָרְלָה. וְקוֹל הַתּוֹר נִשְׁמַע בְאַרְצֵנוּ. דָּא קוֹל דְּנָפִיק מִגּוֹ הַהוּא פְּנִימָאָה דְּכֹלָּא וְהַהוּא קוֹל נִשְׁמַע וְדָא קוֹל דְּגָזַר מִלָּה לְמַלָּלָא וְעָבִיד לָהּ שְׁלִימוּ. further, “the time of pruning came”, to wit, the pruning of the boughs of orlah; and to crown all, “the voice of the turtle was heard in the land”, to wit, the voice which issues from the innermost recess. This voice was now heard, and shaped the spoken words and gave them their perfect form. This is implied in the words here used, “and the Lord appeared to him”.

תָּא חֲזֵי, דְּעַד לָא אִתְגְּזַר אַבְרָהָם לָא הֲוָה עֲלֵיהּ אֶלָּא הַאי דַרְגָּא (כח ב) כִּדְאֲמָרָן, כֵּיוָן (לבתר) דְּאִתְגְּזַר מַה כְּתִיב וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְיָ. לְמַאן, דְּהָא לָא כְּתִיב וַיֵּרָא יְיָ אֶל אַבְרָם. דְּאִי לְאַבְרָם מַאי שְׁבָחָא הָכָא יַתִּיר מִבְּקַדְמִיתָא עַד לָא אִתְגְּזַר דִּכְתִיב וַיֵּרָא יְיָ אֶל אַבְרָם. Already, before Abraham was circumcised, we are told that “the Lord appeared unto Abram” (Gen. 17, 1), and if the word “him” in this sentence refers to Abraham, we may well ask, what advance had he made (in prophecy) by being circumcised?

אֶלָא רָזָא סְתִימָא אִיהוּ, וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְיָ. לְהַהוּא דַרְגָא דְּמַלִּיל עִמֵּיהּ, מַה דְּלָא הֲוָה מִקַּדְמַת דְּנָא עַד דְּלָא אִתְגְּזַר. דְּהַשְׁתָּא אִתְגְּלִי קוֹל וְאִתְחַבַּר בְּדִבּוּר כַּד מַלִּיל עִמֵּיהּ. The answer is that the word “him” here has an inner meaning: it refers to the grade which now spoke with him. Now for the first time “the Lord appeared” to that grade; that is to say, the Voice was revealed, and associated itself with the Speech (dibbur) in conversing with him.

וְהוּא יוֹשֵׁב פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל. וְהוּא וְלא גָּלֵי מַאן. אֶלָּא הָכָא גָּלֵי חָכְמְתָא דְּכֻלְהוּ דַּרְגִּין שָׁרוּ עַל הַאי דַּרְגָּא תַּתָּאָה בָּתַר דְּאִתְגְּזַר אַבְרָהָם. תָּא חֲזֵי, וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְיָ. דָּא הוּא רָזָא דְּקוֹל דְּאִשְׁתְּמַע דְּאִתְחַבַּר בְּדִבּוּר וְאִתְגְּלִי בֵּיהּ. Similarly in the words, AS HE SAT IN THE TENT DOOR IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY, the word “he” has an inner meaning, indicating that all the grades rested on this lower grade after Abraham was circumcised. Thus the words “And the Lord appeared unto him” contain a mystic allusion to that audible Voice which is united to Speech, and manifests itself therein.

וְהוּ"א יוֹשֵׁב פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל, דָּא עָלְמָא עִלָּאָה דְּקָאִים לְאַנְהָרָא עֲלֵיהּ. כְּחוֹם הַיּוֹם. דְּהָא אִתְנְהִיר יְמִינָא דַּרְגָּא דְאַבְרָהָם אִתְדָּבַּק בֵּיהּ. דָּבָר אַחֵר כְּחוֹם הַיּוֹם בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאִתְקְרִיב דַּרְגָּא לְדַרְגָּא בְּתִיאוּבְתָּא דְּדָא לָקֳבֵל דָּא, “As he sat in the tent door” refers to the supernal world which was at hand to illumine him. “In the heat of the day.” That is, it was the right side, to which Abraham clave, that illumined. According to another exposition, “in the heat of the day” indicates the time when the grades approach each other, impelled by mutual desire.’

וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו. אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא עַד לָא אִתְגְּזַר אַבְרָהָם הֲוָה אָטִים. כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְגְּזַר אִתְגְּלִי כֹלָּא וְשָׁרָא עֲלֵיהּ שְׁכִינְתָּא בִּשְׁלִימוּ כְּדְקָא יְאוּת. תָּא חֲזֵי וְהוּא יוֹשֵׁב פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל. וְהוּא. דָּא עָלְמָא עִלָּאָה דְּשָׁרֵי עַל הַאי עָלְמָא תַּתָּאָה. אֵימָתַי כְּחוֹם הַיּוֹם בְּזִמְנָא דְּתִיאוּבְתָּא דְּחַד צַדִּיק לְמִשְׁרֵי בֵּיהּ. AND THERE APPEARED UNTO HIM. R. Abba said: ‘Before Abraham was circumcised he was, as it were, covered over, but as soon as he was circumcised he became completely exposed to the influence of the Shekinah, which thereupon rested on him in full and perfect measure. The words “as he sat in the tent door” picture the supernal world hovering over this lower world. When is this? “In the heat of the day”, that is, at a period when a certain Zaddik (righteous one) feels a desire to repose therein.

מִיָּד וַיִּשָּׂא עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה שְׁלשָׁה אֲנָשִׁים נִצָּבִים עָלָיו. מַאן אִנּוּן שְׁלשָׁה אֲנָשִׁים. אִלֵּין אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב דְּקָיְימֵי עֲלֵיהּ דְּהַאי דַרְגָּא, וּמִנַּיְיהוּ יָנִיק (יסודא דעלמא) וְאִתְּזָן. Straightway “it lifts up its eyes and looks, and lo, three men stand over against it”. Who are these three men? They are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who stand over this lower grade, and from whom it draws sustenance and nourishment.

כְּדֵין וַיַּרְא וַיָּרָץ לִקְרָאתָם. דְּתִיאוּבְתָּא דְּהַאי דַרְגָּא תַּתָּאָה לְאִתְחַבְּרָא בְּהוּ וְחֶדְוָותָא דִּילָהּ לְאִתְמַשְּׁכָא אֲבַּתְרַיְיהוּ. וַיִשְׁתָּחוּ אַרְצָה, לְאִתְתַּקְּנָא כֻּרְסְיָיא לְגַבַּיְיהוּ. Thereupon “it sees and runs to meet them”, since it is the desire of this lower grade to attach itself to them, and its joy is to be drawn after them. “And it bows down to the ground”, to prepare a throne near them.

תָּא חֲזֵי, עֲבַד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְדָוִד מַלְכָּא חַד סַמְכָא מִכֻּרְסְיָיא עִלָּאָה כַּאֲבָהָן. וְאַף עַל גַּב דְּאִיהוּ כֻּרְסְיָיא לְגַבַּיְיהוּ. אֲבָל בְּזִמְנָא דְּאִתְחַבַּר בְּהוּ אִיהוּ חַד סַמְכָא לְאִתְתַּקְּנָא בְּכֻּרְסְיָיא עִלָּאָה. וּבְגִין כָּךְ נָטַל מַלְכוּתָא (עט ב) בְּחֶבְרוֹן דָּוִד מַלְכָּא שְׁבַע שְׁנִין לְאִתְחַבְּרָא בְּהוּ. וְהָא אִתְּמָר. Observe that the Almighty made King David one of the under-pillars of the supernal throne, the patriarchs being the other three. For he was a pedestal to them, yet when he is joined with them he becomes one of the pillars upholding the supernal throne; and on that account he reigned in Hebron for seven years, namely, in order that he might be closely associated with them, as explained elsewhere.’

תּוֹסֶפְתָּא ויֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְיָ בְּאֵלוֹנֵי מַמְרֵא. אַמַּאי בְּאֵלוֹנֵי מַמְרֵא, וְלָא בְּאֲתַּר אָחֳרָא. אֶלָּא בְּגִין דְּיָהִיב לֵיהּ עֵיטָא עַל גְּזִירוּ דִּקְיָימָא דִילֵיהּ. בְּשַׁעֲתָּא דְּאָמַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךָ הוּא לְאַבְרָהָם לְמִגְזַר אֲזַל אַבְרָהָם לִמָּלֵךָ עִם חַבְרוֹי, אָמַר לֵיהּ עָנֵר (אולי ר"ל כבר עברו עליך צ' שנה ואולם גם יותר שהם צ"ט כמ"ש בתוה"ק. ולא חשב הפרט) אַנְתְּ בֶּן תִּשְׁעִין שְׁנִין ואַתְּ מֵעִיק גַּרְמָךָ. Tosefta Of the verse, "And Hashem appeared to him by the terebinths of Mamre" (Gen. 18:1), why by the terebinths of Mamre and not in any other place? Because Mamre gave him good advice about being circumcised. When the Holy One, blessed be He, told Abraham to circumcise himself, Abraham consulted his friends. Aner told him, You are more than ninety years old, and you shall pain yourself.

אָמַר לֵיהּ מַמְרֵא דְּכַרְתְּ יוֹמָא דְּרָמוּ לָךָ כַּשְׂדָאֵי בְּאַתּוּן דְּנוּרָא. והַהוּא כַּפְּנָא דְּעֲבַר עַל עָלְמָא דִּכְתִּיב, (בראשית י״ב:י׳) ויְהִי רָעָב בָּאָרֶץ וַיֵּרֶד אַבְרָם מִצְּרָיְמָה. ואִנּוּן מַלְכִין דִּרְדָּפּוּ בַּתְּרֵיהוֹן וּמָחִיתּ יַתְּהוֹן וקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךָ הוּא שֵׁזְבִינָךָ מִכֹּלָּא וְלָא יָכִיל בַּר נָשׁ לְמֶעְבַּד לָךָ בִּישׁ. קוּם עֲבִיד פִּקּוּדָא דְמָרָךָ. אָמַר לֵיהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךָ הוּא, מַמְרֵא אַנְתְּ יְהַבְתְּ לֵיהּ עֵיטָא לְמִגְזַר, חַיֶּיךָ לֵיתּ אֲנָא מִתְּגַּלֵּי עֲלֵיהּ אֶלָּא בְּפַּלְטְרִין דִּילָךָ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִּיב בְּאֵלוֹנֵי מַמְרֵא (עד כאן התוספתא): Mamre said to him, Do not forget the day when the Chaldeans threw you into the furnace of fire and famine took over the world, as it is written, "And there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down into Egypt" (Gen. 12: 10). And you smote all those kings that your men pursued. And the Holy One, blessed be He, saved you from them all, so that nobody could do you any harm. So rise and fulfill the precept of your Master. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to (Mamre), You advised him to perform the circumcision. By your life! I shall reveal Myself to him only in your chamber. This is why it is written, "by the terebinths of Mamre." (Until here the Tosefta)

בָּתַר דְּחָטָא, כּוֹלָּא אִסְתַּלַּק מֵעָלְמָא וְאִתְלַטְיָא אַרְעָא. הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, (בראשית ג׳:י״ז) אֲרוּרָה הָאֲדָמָה בַּעֲבוּרֶךָ וְגו'. וּכְתִיב כִּי תַעֲבֹד אֶת הָאֲדָמָה לא תֹסֵף תֵּת כֹּחָהּ לָךְ וְגו'. וּכְתִיב וְקוֹץ וְדַרְדַּר תַּצְמִיחַ לָךְ. When man sinned, the earth was cursed, and all these good things left it, as it is written, “cursed is the earth for thy sake” (Gen. 3, 17), and again, “when thou tillest the ground it shall not give its strength to thee” (Ibid. 4, 12), and again, “thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to thee” (Ibid. 3, 18).

אֲתָא נֹחַ וְתִקֵּן קַרְדּוּמִין וּפְצִירֵי בְּעָלְמָא. וּלְבָתַר וַיֵּשְׁתְּ מִן הַיַּיִן וַיִּשְׁכָּר וַיִּתְגַּל בְּתוֹךְ אָהֳלה. אָתוּ בְּנֵי עָלְמָא וְחָבוּ קַמֵּיהּ דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. וְאִסְתַּלָּקוּ חֵילִין דְּאַרְעָא (דעלמא) כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין, וְהֲווּ קָיְימֵי עַד דְּאָתָא אַבְרָהָם. When Noah came, he invented spades and hoes, but afterwards he sinned through drunkenness, and the rest of the world also sinned before God, and the strength of the earth deserted it. So matters continued until Abraham came.

כֵּיוָן דְּאָתָא אַבְרָהָם (לעלמא) מִיָּד הַנִּצָּנִים נִרְאוּ בָאָרְץ, אִתְתַּקָּנוּ וְאִתְגָּלוּ כָּל חֵילִין בְּאַרְעָא. עֵת הַזָּמִיר הִגִּיעַ. בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאָמַר לֵיהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דְּיִתְגְּזָר, כֵּיוָן דְּמָטָא הַהוּא זִמְנָא דִּבְרִית אִשְׁתְּכַח בֵּיהּ בְּאַבְרָהָם וְאִתְגְּזַר. כְּדֵין אִתְקְיַּים בֵּיהּ כָּל הַאי קְרָא, וְאִתְקְיַּים עָלְמָא, וּמִלָּה דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא הֲוָה בְּאִתְגַּלְּיָיא בֵּיהּ הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְיָ. Then once more “the blossoms appeared in the earth”, and all the powers of the earth were restored and displayed themselves. “The time of pruning (zamir) came”, i.e. God told Abraham to circumcise himself. When at length the covenant existed in Abraham through the circumcision, then all this verse was fulfilled in him, the world was firmly established, and the word of the Lord came to him openly: hence it is written, AND THE LORD APPEARED UNTO HIM.

רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר פָּתַח הַאי קְרָא (בשעתא) בָּתַר דְּאִתְגְּזַר אַבְרָהָם. דְּעַד לָא אִתְגְּזַר לָא הֲוָה מַלִּיל עִמֵּיהּ אֶלָּא מִגּוֹ דַּרְגָּא תַּתָּאָה, וְדַרְגִּין עִלָּאִין לָא הֲווּ קָיְימֵי עַל הַהִיא דַּרְגָּא. כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְגְּזַר מִיָּד הַנִּצָנִים נִרְאוּ בָאָרֶץ אִלֵּין דַּרְגִּין תַּתָּאִין דְּאֲפִיקַת וְאַתְקִינַת הַאי דַּרְגָּא תַּתָּאָה. Said R. Eleazar: ‘Until Abraham was circumcised, God did not speak with him save from a lower grade, whereon, too, the higher grades were not resting. But when he was circumcised, straightway “the blossoms appeared in the earth”, to wit, the lower grades which the earth put forth, thereby establishing that lower grade we have mentioned;

עֵת הַזָּמִיר הִגִּיעַ אִלֵּין עַנְפּוֹי דְּעָרְלָה. וְקוֹל הַתּוֹר נִשְׁמַע בְאַרְצֵנוּ. דָּא קוֹל דְּנָפִיק מִגּוֹ הַהוּא פְּנִימָאָה דְּכֹלָּא וְהַהוּא קוֹל נִשְׁמַע וְדָא קוֹל דְּגָזַר מִלָּה לְמַלָּלָא וְעָבִיד לָהּ שְׁלִימוּ. further, “the time of pruning came”, to wit, the pruning of the boughs of orlah; and to crown all, “the voice of the turtle was heard in the land”, to wit, the voice which issues from the innermost recess. This voice was now heard, and shaped the spoken words and gave them their perfect form. This is implied in the words here used, “and the Lord appeared to him”.

תָּא חֲזֵי, דְּעַד לָא אִתְגְּזַר אַבְרָהָם לָא הֲוָה עֲלֵיהּ אֶלָּא הַאי דַרְגָּא (כח ב) כִּדְאֲמָרָן, כֵּיוָן (לבתר) דְּאִתְגְּזַר מַה כְּתִיב וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְיָ. לְמַאן, דְּהָא לָא כְּתִיב וַיֵּרָא יְיָ אֶל אַבְרָם. דְּאִי לְאַבְרָם מַאי שְׁבָחָא הָכָא יַתִּיר מִבְּקַדְמִיתָא עַד לָא אִתְגְּזַר דִּכְתִיב וַיֵּרָא יְיָ אֶל אַבְרָם. Already, before Abraham was circumcised, we are told that “the Lord appeared unto Abram” (Gen. 17, 1), and if the word “him” in this sentence refers to Abraham, we may well ask, what advance had he made (in prophecy) by being circumcised?

אֶלָא רָזָא סְתִימָא אִיהוּ, וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְיָ. לְהַהוּא דַרְגָא דְּמַלִּיל עִמֵּיהּ, מַה דְּלָא הֲוָה מִקַּדְמַת דְּנָא עַד דְּלָא אִתְגְּזַר. דְּהַשְׁתָּא אִתְגְּלִי קוֹל וְאִתְחַבַּר בְּדִבּוּר כַּד מַלִּיל עִמֵּיהּ. The answer is that the word “him” here has an inner meaning: it refers to the grade which now spoke with him. Now for the first time “the Lord appeared” to that grade; that is to say, the Voice was revealed, and associated itself with the Speech (dibbur) in conversing with him.

וְהוּא יוֹשֵׁב פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל. וְהוּא וְלא גָּלֵי מַאן. אֶלָּא הָכָא גָּלֵי חָכְמְתָא דְּכֻלְהוּ דַּרְגִּין שָׁרוּ עַל הַאי דַּרְגָּא תַּתָּאָה בָּתַר דְּאִתְגְּזַר אַבְרָהָם. תָּא חֲזֵי, וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְיָ. דָּא הוּא רָזָא דְּקוֹל דְּאִשְׁתְּמַע דְּאִתְחַבַּר בְּדִבּוּר וְאִתְגְּלִי בֵּיהּ. Similarly in the words, AS HE SAT IN THE TENT DOOR IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY, the word “he” has an inner meaning, indicating that all the grades rested on this lower grade after Abraham was circumcised. Thus the words “And the Lord appeared unto him” contain a mystic allusion to that audible Voice which is united to Speech, and manifests itself therein.

וְהוּ"א יוֹשֵׁב פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל, דָּא עָלְמָא עִלָּאָה דְּקָאִים לְאַנְהָרָא עֲלֵיהּ. כְּחוֹם הַיּוֹם. דְּהָא אִתְנְהִיר יְמִינָא דַּרְגָּא דְאַבְרָהָם אִתְדָּבַּק בֵּיהּ. דָּבָר אַחֵר כְּחוֹם הַיּוֹם בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאִתְקְרִיב דַּרְגָּא לְדַרְגָּא בְּתִיאוּבְתָּא דְּדָא לָקֳבֵל דָּא, “As he sat in the tent door” refers to the supernal world which was at hand to illumine him. “In the heat of the day.” That is, it was the right side, to which Abraham clave, that illumined. According to another exposition, “in the heat of the day” indicates the time when the grades approach each other, impelled by mutual desire.’

וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו. אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא עַד לָא אִתְגְּזַר אַבְרָהָם הֲוָה אָטִים. כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְגְּזַר אִתְגְּלִי כֹלָּא וְשָׁרָא עֲלֵיהּ שְׁכִינְתָּא בִּשְׁלִימוּ כְּדְקָא יְאוּת. תָּא חֲזֵי וְהוּא יוֹשֵׁב פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל. וְהוּא. דָּא עָלְמָא עִלָּאָה דְּשָׁרֵי עַל הַאי עָלְמָא תַּתָּאָה. אֵימָתַי כְּחוֹם הַיּוֹם בְּזִמְנָא דְּתִיאוּבְתָּא דְּחַד צַדִּיק לְמִשְׁרֵי בֵּיהּ. AND THERE APPEARED UNTO HIM. R. Abba said: ‘Before Abraham was circumcised he was, as it were, covered over, but as soon as he was circumcised he became completely exposed to the influence of the Shekinah, which thereupon rested on him in full and perfect measure. The words “as he sat in the tent door” picture the supernal world hovering over this lower world. When is this? “In the heat of the day”, that is, at a period when a certain Zaddik (righteous one) feels a desire to repose therein.

מִיָּד וַיִּשָּׂא עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה שְׁלשָׁה אֲנָשִׁים נִצָּבִים עָלָיו. מַאן אִנּוּן שְׁלשָׁה אֲנָשִׁים. אִלֵּין אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב דְּקָיְימֵי עֲלֵיהּ דְּהַאי דַרְגָּא, וּמִנַּיְיהוּ יָנִיק (יסודא דעלמא) וְאִתְּזָן. Straightway “it lifts up its eyes and looks, and lo, three men stand over against it”. Who are these three men? They are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who stand over this lower grade, and from whom it draws sustenance and nourishment.

כְּדֵין וַיַּרְא וַיָּרָץ לִקְרָאתָם. דְּתִיאוּבְתָּא דְּהַאי דַרְגָּא תַּתָּאָה לְאִתְחַבְּרָא בְּהוּ וְחֶדְוָותָא דִּילָהּ לְאִתְמַשְּׁכָא אֲבַּתְרַיְיהוּ. וַיִשְׁתָּחוּ אַרְצָה, לְאִתְתַּקְּנָא כֻּרְסְיָיא לְגַבַּיְיהוּ. Thereupon “it sees and runs to meet them”, since it is the desire of this lower grade to attach itself to them, and its joy is to be drawn after them. “And it bows down to the ground”, to prepare a throne near them.

תָּא חֲזֵי, עֲבַד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְדָוִד מַלְכָּא חַד סַמְכָא מִכֻּרְסְיָיא עִלָּאָה כַּאֲבָהָן. וְאַף עַל גַּב דְּאִיהוּ כֻּרְסְיָיא לְגַבַּיְיהוּ. אֲבָל בְּזִמְנָא דְּאִתְחַבַּר בְּהוּ אִיהוּ חַד סַמְכָא לְאִתְתַּקְּנָא בְּכֻּרְסְיָיא עִלָּאָה. וּבְגִין כָּךְ נָטַל מַלְכוּתָא (עט ב) בְּחֶבְרוֹן דָּוִד מַלְכָּא שְׁבַע שְׁנִין לְאִתְחַבְּרָא בְּהוּ. וְהָא אִתְּמָר. Observe that the Almighty made King David one of the under-pillars of the supernal throne, the patriarchs being the other three. For he was a pedestal to them, yet when he is joined with them he becomes one of the pillars upholding the supernal throne; and on that account he reigned in Hebron for seven years, namely, in order that he might be closely associated with them, as explained elsewhere.’

תּוֹסֶפְתָּא ויֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְיָ בְּאֵלוֹנֵי מַמְרֵא. אַמַּאי בְּאֵלוֹנֵי מַמְרֵא, וְלָא בְּאֲתַּר אָחֳרָא. אֶלָּא בְּגִין דְּיָהִיב לֵיהּ עֵיטָא עַל גְּזִירוּ דִּקְיָימָא דִילֵיהּ. בְּשַׁעֲתָּא דְּאָמַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךָ הוּא לְאַבְרָהָם לְמִגְזַר אֲזַל אַבְרָהָם לִמָּלֵךָ עִם חַבְרוֹי, אָמַר לֵיהּ עָנֵר (אולי ר"ל כבר עברו עליך צ' שנה ואולם גם יותר שהם צ"ט כמ"ש בתוה"ק. ולא חשב הפרט) אַנְתְּ בֶּן תִּשְׁעִין שְׁנִין ואַתְּ מֵעִיק גַּרְמָךָ. Tosefta Of the verse, "And Hashem appeared to him by the terebinths of Mamre" (Gen. 18:1), why by the terebinths of Mamre and not in any other place? Because Mamre gave him good advice about being circumcised. When the Holy One, blessed be He, told Abraham to circumcise himself, Abraham consulted his friends. Aner told him, You are more than ninety years old, and you shall pain yourself.

אָמַר לֵיהּ מַמְרֵא דְּכַרְתְּ יוֹמָא דְּרָמוּ לָךָ כַּשְׂדָאֵי בְּאַתּוּן דְּנוּרָא. והַהוּא כַּפְּנָא דְּעֲבַר עַל עָלְמָא דִּכְתִּיב, (בראשית י״ב:י׳) ויְהִי רָעָב בָּאָרֶץ וַיֵּרֶד אַבְרָם מִצְּרָיְמָה. ואִנּוּן מַלְכִין דִּרְדָּפּוּ בַּתְּרֵיהוֹן וּמָחִיתּ יַתְּהוֹן וקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךָ הוּא שֵׁזְבִינָךָ מִכֹּלָּא וְלָא יָכִיל בַּר נָשׁ לְמֶעְבַּד לָךָ בִּישׁ. קוּם עֲבִיד פִּקּוּדָא דְמָרָךָ. אָמַר לֵיהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךָ הוּא, מַמְרֵא אַנְתְּ יְהַבְתְּ לֵיהּ עֵיטָא לְמִגְזַר, חַיֶּיךָ לֵיתּ אֲנָא מִתְּגַּלֵּי עֲלֵיהּ אֶלָּא בְּפַּלְטְרִין דִּילָךָ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִּיב בְּאֵלוֹנֵי מַמְרֵא (עד כאן התוספתא): Mamre said to him, Do not forget the day when the Chaldeans threw you into the furnace of fire and famine took over the world, as it is written, "And there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down into Egypt" (Gen. 12: 10). And you smote all those kings that your men pursued. And the Holy One, blessed be He, saved you from them all, so that nobody could do you any harm. So rise and fulfill the precept of your Master. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to (Mamre), You advised him to perform the circumcision. By your life! I shall reveal Myself to him only in your chamber. This is why it is written, "by the terebinths of Mamre." (Until here the Tosefta)

, רַבִּי חִיָּיא פָּתַח (שיר השירים ב׳:י״ב) הַנִּצָּנִים נִרְאוּ בָאָרֶץ עֵת הַזָּמִיר הִגִּיעַ וקוֹל הַתּוֹר נִשְׁמַע בְּאַרְצֵנוּ. הַנִּצָּנִים נִרְאוּ בָאָרֶץ, כַּד בְּרָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָלְמָא. יָהַב בְּאַרְעָא כָּל חֵילָא דְּאִתְחֲזִי לָהּ. וְכֹלָּא הֲוָה בְאַרְעָא, וְלָא אֲפִיקַת אִיבִּין בְּעָלְמָא עַד דְּאִתְבְּרֵי אָדָם, כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְבְּרֵי אָדָם, כֹּלָּא אִתְחֲזֵי (ד"א ל"ג למיפק) בְּעָלְמָא, וְאַרְעָא גַּלִּיאַת אִיבָּהָא וְחֵילָהָא דְּאִתְפָּקְדוּ בָה. AND THE LORD APPEARED UNTO HIM. R. Hiya commenced to discourse on the verse: The flowers appear on the earth, the time of song is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land (S. S. 2, 12). He said: ‘When God created the world, He endowed the earth with all the energy requisite for it, but it did not put forth produce until man appeared. When, however, man was created, all the products that were latent in the earth appeared above ground.

כְּגַוְונָא דָא שָׁמַיִם לָא יָהֲבוּ חֵילִין לְאַרְעָא עַד דְּאָתָא אָדָם. הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, (בראשית ב׳:ה׳) וְכֹל שִׂיחַ הַשָּׂדֶה טֶרֶם יִהְיֶה בָאָרֶץ וְכָל עֵשֶׂב הַשָּׂדֶה טֶרְם יִצְמָח כִּי לא הִמְטִיר יְיָ אֱלהִים עַל הָאָרֶץ וְאָדָם אַיִן לַעֲבֹד אֶת הָאֲדָמָה. אִטַּמָּרוּ כָּל אִנּוּן תּוֹלָדִין וְלָא אִתְגַּלּוּן, וּשְׁמַיָא אִתְעַכָּבוּ דְּלָא אַמְטִירוּ עַל אַרְעָא, בְּגִין דְּאָדָם אַיִן, דְּלָא אִשְׁתְּכַח וְלָא אִתְבְּרֵי, וְכֹלָּא אִתְעַכַּב בְּגִינֵיהּ, כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְחֲזֵי אָדָם, מִיָּד הַנִּצָּנִים נִרְאוּ בָאָרֶץ וְכָל חַיָילִין דְּאִתְטַמָּרוּ אִתְגַּלִּיאוּ וְאִתְיְהִיבוּ בָהּ. Similarly, the heaven did not impart strength to the earth until man came. So it is written, “All the plants of the earth were not yet on the earth, and the herbs of the field had not yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground” (Gen. 2, 5), that is to say, all the products of the earth were still hidden in its bosom and had not yet shown themselves, and the heavens refrained from pouring rain upon the earth, because man had not yet been created. When, however, man appeared, forthwith “the flowers appeared on the earth”, all its latent powers being revealed;

עֵת הַזָּמִיר הִגִּיעַ, דְּאִתְתַּקַּן תִּקּוּנָא דְּתוּשְׁבְּחָן לְזַמְּרָא קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מַה דְּלָא אִשְׁתְּכַח עַד לָא אִתְבְּרֵי אָדָם. וְקוֹל הַתּוֹר נִשְׁמַע בְּאַרְצֵנוּ. דְּהָא (ד"א דא) (ד"א ל"ג כל) מִלָּה דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא (ד"א ל"ג דעבד) דְּלָא אִשְׁתְּכַח בְּעָלְמָא עַד דְּאִתְבְּרֵי אָדָם. כֵּיוָן דְּאִשְׁתְּכַח אָדָם כּוֹלָּא אִשְׁתְּכַח. “the time of song was come”, the earth being now ripe to offer up praises to the Almighty, which it could not do before man was created. “And the voice of the turtle is heard in our land”: this is the word of God, which was not in the world till man was created. Thus when man was there, everything was there.

בָּתַר דְּחָטָא, כּוֹלָּא אִסְתַּלַּק מֵעָלְמָא וְאִתְלַטְיָא אַרְעָא. הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, (בראשית ג׳:י״ז) אֲרוּרָה הָאֲדָמָה בַּעֲבוּרֶךָ וְגו'. וּכְתִיב כִּי תַעֲבֹד אֶת הָאֲדָמָה לא תֹסֵף תֵּת כֹּחָהּ לָךְ וְגו'. וּכְתִיב וְקוֹץ וְדַרְדַּר תַּצְמִיחַ לָךְ. When man sinned, the earth was cursed, and all these good things left it, as it is written, “cursed is the earth for thy sake” (Gen. 3, 17), and again, “when thou tillest the ground it shall not give its strength to thee” (Ibid. 4, 12), and again, “thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to thee” (Ibid. 3, 18).

אֲתָא נֹחַ וְתִקֵּן קַרְדּוּמִין וּפְצִירֵי בְּעָלְמָא. וּלְבָתַר וַיֵּשְׁתְּ מִן הַיַּיִן וַיִּשְׁכָּר וַיִּתְגַּל בְּתוֹךְ אָהֳלה. אָתוּ בְּנֵי עָלְמָא וְחָבוּ קַמֵּיהּ דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. וְאִסְתַּלָּקוּ חֵילִין דְּאַרְעָא (דעלמא) כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין, וְהֲווּ קָיְימֵי עַד דְּאָתָא אַבְרָהָם. When Noah came, he invented spades and hoes, but afterwards he sinned through drunkenness, and the rest of the world also sinned before God, and the strength of the earth deserted it. So matters continued until Abraham came.

כֵּיוָן דְּאָתָא אַבְרָהָם (לעלמא) מִיָּד הַנִּצָּנִים נִרְאוּ בָאָרְץ, אִתְתַּקָּנוּ וְאִתְגָּלוּ כָּל חֵילִין בְּאַרְעָא. עֵת הַזָּמִיר הִגִּיעַ. בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאָמַר לֵיהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דְּיִתְגְּזָר, כֵּיוָן דְּמָטָא הַהוּא זִמְנָא דִּבְרִית אִשְׁתְּכַח בֵּיהּ בְּאַבְרָהָם וְאִתְגְּזַר. כְּדֵין אִתְקְיַּים בֵּיהּ כָּל הַאי קְרָא, וְאִתְקְיַּים עָלְמָא, וּמִלָּה דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא הֲוָה בְּאִתְגַּלְּיָיא בֵּיהּ הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְיָ. Then once more “the blossoms appeared in the earth”, and all the powers of the earth were restored and displayed themselves. “The time of pruning (zamir) came”, i.e. God told Abraham to circumcise himself. When at length the covenant existed in Abraham through the circumcision, then all this verse was fulfilled in him, the world was firmly established, and the word of the Lord came to him openly: hence it is written, AND THE LORD APPEARED UNTO HIM.

רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר פָּתַח הַאי קְרָא (בשעתא) בָּתַר דְּאִתְגְּזַר אַבְרָהָם. דְּעַד לָא אִתְגְּזַר לָא הֲוָה מַלִּיל עִמֵּיהּ אֶלָּא מִגּוֹ דַּרְגָּא תַּתָּאָה, וְדַרְגִּין עִלָּאִין לָא הֲווּ קָיְימֵי עַל הַהִיא דַּרְגָּא. כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְגְּזַר מִיָּד הַנִּצָנִים נִרְאוּ בָאָרֶץ אִלֵּין דַּרְגִּין תַּתָּאִין דְּאֲפִיקַת וְאַתְקִינַת הַאי דַּרְגָּא תַּתָּאָה. Said R. Eleazar: ‘Until Abraham was circumcised, God did not speak with him save from a lower grade, whereon, too, the higher grades were not resting. But when he was circumcised, straightway “the blossoms appeared in the earth”, to wit, the lower grades which the earth put forth, thereby establishing that lower grade we have mentioned;

עֵת הַזָּמִיר הִגִּיעַ אִלֵּין עַנְפּוֹי דְּעָרְלָה. וְקוֹל הַתּוֹר נִשְׁמַע בְאַרְצֵנוּ. דָּא קוֹל דְּנָפִיק מִגּוֹ הַהוּא פְּנִימָאָה דְּכֹלָּא וְהַהוּא קוֹל נִשְׁמַע וְדָא קוֹל דְּגָזַר מִלָּה לְמַלָּלָא וְעָבִיד לָהּ שְׁלִימוּ. further, “the time of pruning came”, to wit, the pruning of the boughs of orlah; and to crown all, “the voice of the turtle was heard in the land”, to wit, the voice which issues from the innermost recess. This voice was now heard, and shaped the spoken words and gave them their perfect form. This is implied in the words here used, “and the Lord appeared to him”.

תָּא חֲזֵי, דְּעַד לָא אִתְגְּזַר אַבְרָהָם לָא הֲוָה עֲלֵיהּ אֶלָּא הַאי דַרְגָּא (כח ב) כִּדְאֲמָרָן, כֵּיוָן (לבתר) דְּאִתְגְּזַר מַה כְּתִיב וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְיָ. לְמַאן, דְּהָא לָא כְּתִיב וַיֵּרָא יְיָ אֶל אַבְרָם. דְּאִי לְאַבְרָם מַאי שְׁבָחָא הָכָא יַתִּיר מִבְּקַדְמִיתָא עַד לָא אִתְגְּזַר דִּכְתִיב וַיֵּרָא יְיָ אֶל אַבְרָם. Already, before Abraham was circumcised, we are told that “the Lord appeared unto Abram” (Gen. 17, 1), and if the word “him” in this sentence refers to Abraham, we may well ask, what advance had he made (in prophecy) by being circumcised?

אֶלָא רָזָא סְתִימָא אִיהוּ, וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְיָ. לְהַהוּא דַרְגָא דְּמַלִּיל עִמֵּיהּ, מַה דְּלָא הֲוָה מִקַּדְמַת דְּנָא עַד דְּלָא אִתְגְּזַר. דְּהַשְׁתָּא אִתְגְּלִי קוֹל וְאִתְחַבַּר בְּדִבּוּר כַּד מַלִּיל עִמֵּיהּ. The answer is that the word “him” here has an inner meaning: it refers to the grade which now spoke with him. Now for the first time “the Lord appeared” to that grade; that is to say, the Voice was revealed, and associated itself with the Speech (dibbur) in conversing with him.

וְהוּא יוֹשֵׁב פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל. וְהוּא וְלא גָּלֵי מַאן. אֶלָּא הָכָא גָּלֵי חָכְמְתָא דְּכֻלְהוּ דַּרְגִּין שָׁרוּ עַל הַאי דַּרְגָּא תַּתָּאָה בָּתַר דְּאִתְגְּזַר אַבְרָהָם. תָּא חֲזֵי, וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְיָ. דָּא הוּא רָזָא דְּקוֹל דְּאִשְׁתְּמַע דְּאִתְחַבַּר בְּדִבּוּר וְאִתְגְּלִי בֵּיהּ. Similarly in the words, AS HE SAT IN THE TENT DOOR IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY, the word “he” has an inner meaning, indicating that all the grades rested on this lower grade after Abraham was circumcised. Thus the words “And the Lord appeared unto him” contain a mystic allusion to that audible Voice which is united to Speech, and manifests itself therein.

וְהוּ"א יוֹשֵׁב פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל, דָּא עָלְמָא עִלָּאָה דְּקָאִים לְאַנְהָרָא עֲלֵיהּ. כְּחוֹם הַיּוֹם. דְּהָא אִתְנְהִיר יְמִינָא דַּרְגָּא דְאַבְרָהָם אִתְדָּבַּק בֵּיהּ. דָּבָר אַחֵר כְּחוֹם הַיּוֹם בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאִתְקְרִיב דַּרְגָּא לְדַרְגָּא בְּתִיאוּבְתָּא דְּדָא לָקֳבֵל דָּא, “As he sat in the tent door” refers to the supernal world which was at hand to illumine him. “In the heat of the day.” That is, it was the right side, to which Abraham clave, that illumined. According to another exposition, “in the heat of the day” indicates the time when the grades approach each other, impelled by mutual desire.’

מִיָּד וַיִּשָּׂא עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה שְׁלשָׁה אֲנָשִׁים נִצָּבִים עָלָיו. מַאן אִנּוּן שְׁלשָׁה אֲנָשִׁים. אִלֵּין אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב דְּקָיְימֵי עֲלֵיהּ דְּהַאי דַרְגָּא, וּמִנַּיְיהוּ יָנִיק (יסודא דעלמא) וְאִתְּזָן. Straightway “it lifts up its eyes and looks, and lo, three men stand over against it”. Who are these three men? They are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who stand over this lower grade, and from whom it draws sustenance and nourishment.

כְּדֵין וַיַּרְא וַיָּרָץ לִקְרָאתָם. דְּתִיאוּבְתָּא דְּהַאי דַרְגָּא תַּתָּאָה לְאִתְחַבְּרָא בְּהוּ וְחֶדְוָותָא דִּילָהּ לְאִתְמַשְּׁכָא אֲבַּתְרַיְיהוּ. וַיִשְׁתָּחוּ אַרְצָה, לְאִתְתַּקְּנָא כֻּרְסְיָיא לְגַבַּיְיהוּ. Thereupon “it sees and runs to meet them”, since it is the desire of this lower grade to attach itself to them, and its joy is to be drawn after them. “And it bows down to the ground”, to prepare a throne near them.

תָּא חֲזֵי, עֲבַד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְדָוִד מַלְכָּא חַד סַמְכָא מִכֻּרְסְיָיא עִלָּאָה כַּאֲבָהָן. וְאַף עַל גַּב דְּאִיהוּ כֻּרְסְיָיא לְגַבַּיְיהוּ. אֲבָל בְּזִמְנָא דְּאִתְחַבַּר בְּהוּ אִיהוּ חַד סַמְכָא לְאִתְתַּקְּנָא בְּכֻּרְסְיָיא עִלָּאָה. וּבְגִין כָּךְ נָטַל מַלְכוּתָא (עט ב) בְּחֶבְרוֹן דָּוִד מַלְכָּא שְׁבַע שְׁנִין לְאִתְחַבְּרָא בְּהוּ. וְהָא אִתְּמָר. Observe that the Almighty made King David one of the under-pillars of the supernal throne, the patriarchs being the other three. For he was a pedestal to them, yet when he is joined with them he becomes one of the pillars upholding the supernal throne; and on that account he reigned in Hebron for seven years, namely, in order that he might be closely associated with them, as explained elsewhere.’

תּוֹסֶפְתָּא ויֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְיָ בְּאֵלוֹנֵי מַמְרֵא. אַמַּאי בְּאֵלוֹנֵי מַמְרֵא, וְלָא בְּאֲתַּר אָחֳרָא. אֶלָּא בְּגִין דְּיָהִיב לֵיהּ עֵיטָא עַל גְּזִירוּ דִּקְיָימָא דִילֵיהּ. בְּשַׁעֲתָּא דְּאָמַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךָ הוּא לְאַבְרָהָם לְמִגְזַר אֲזַל אַבְרָהָם לִמָּלֵךָ עִם חַבְרוֹי, אָמַר לֵיהּ עָנֵר (אולי ר"ל כבר עברו עליך צ' שנה ואולם גם יותר שהם צ"ט כמ"ש בתוה"ק. ולא חשב הפרט) אַנְתְּ בֶּן תִּשְׁעִין שְׁנִין ואַתְּ מֵעִיק גַּרְמָךָ. Tosefta Of the verse, "And Hashem appeared to him by the terebinths of Mamre" (Gen. 18:1), why by the terebinths of Mamre and not in any other place? Because Mamre gave him good advice about being circumcised. When the Holy One, blessed be He, told Abraham to circumcise himself, Abraham consulted his friends. Aner told him, You are more than ninety years old, and you shall pain yourself.

אָמַר לֵיהּ מַמְרֵא דְּכַרְתְּ יוֹמָא דְּרָמוּ לָךָ כַּשְׂדָאֵי בְּאַתּוּן דְּנוּרָא. והַהוּא כַּפְּנָא דְּעֲבַר עַל עָלְמָא דִּכְתִּיב, (בראשית י״ב:י׳) ויְהִי רָעָב בָּאָרֶץ וַיֵּרֶד אַבְרָם מִצְּרָיְמָה. ואִנּוּן מַלְכִין דִּרְדָּפּוּ בַּתְּרֵיהוֹן וּמָחִיתּ יַתְּהוֹן וקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךָ הוּא שֵׁזְבִינָךָ מִכֹּלָּא וְלָא יָכִיל בַּר נָשׁ לְמֶעְבַּד לָךָ בִּישׁ. קוּם עֲבִיד פִּקּוּדָא דְמָרָךָ. אָמַר לֵיהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךָ הוּא, מַמְרֵא אַנְתְּ יְהַבְתְּ לֵיהּ עֵיטָא לְמִגְזַר, חַיֶּיךָ לֵיתּ אֲנָא מִתְּגַּלֵּי עֲלֵיהּ אֶלָּא בְּפַּלְטְרִין דִּילָךָ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִּיב בְּאֵלוֹנֵי מַמְרֵא (עד כאן התוספתא): Mamre said to him, Do not forget the day when the Chaldeans threw you into the furnace of fire and famine took over the world, as it is written, "And there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down into Egypt" (Gen. 12: 10). And you smote all those kings that your men pursued. And the Holy One, blessed be He, saved you from them all, so that nobody could do you any harm. So rise and fulfill the precept of your Master. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to (Mamre), You advised him to perform the circumcision. By your life! I shall reveal Myself to him only in your chamber. This is why it is written, "by the terebinths of Mamre." (Until here the Tosefta)

, רַבִּי חִיָּיא פָּתַח (שיר השירים ב׳:י״ב) הַנִּצָּנִים נִרְאוּ בָאָרֶץ עֵת הַזָּמִיר הִגִּיעַ וקוֹל הַתּוֹר נִשְׁמַע בְּאַרְצֵנוּ. הַנִּצָּנִים נִרְאוּ בָאָרֶץ, כַּד בְּרָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָלְמָא. יָהַב בְּאַרְעָא כָּל חֵילָא דְּאִתְחֲזִי לָהּ. וְכֹלָּא הֲוָה בְאַרְעָא, וְלָא אֲפִיקַת אִיבִּין בְּעָלְמָא עַד דְּאִתְבְּרֵי אָדָם, כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְבְּרֵי אָדָם, כֹּלָּא אִתְחֲזֵי (ד"א ל"ג למיפק) בְּעָלְמָא, וְאַרְעָא גַּלִּיאַת אִיבָּהָא וְחֵילָהָא דְּאִתְפָּקְדוּ בָה. AND THE LORD APPEARED UNTO HIM. R. Hiya commenced to discourse on the verse: The flowers appear on the earth, the time of song is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land (S. S. 2, 12). He said: ‘When God created the world, He endowed the earth with all the energy requisite for it, but it did not put forth produce until man appeared. When, however, man was created, all the products that were latent in the earth appeared above ground.

כְּגַוְונָא דָא שָׁמַיִם לָא יָהֲבוּ חֵילִין לְאַרְעָא עַד דְּאָתָא אָדָם. הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, (בראשית ב׳:ה׳) וְכֹל שִׂיחַ הַשָּׂדֶה טֶרֶם יִהְיֶה בָאָרֶץ וְכָל עֵשֶׂב הַשָּׂדֶה טֶרְם יִצְמָח כִּי לא הִמְטִיר יְיָ אֱלהִים עַל הָאָרֶץ וְאָדָם אַיִן לַעֲבֹד אֶת הָאֲדָמָה. אִטַּמָּרוּ כָּל אִנּוּן תּוֹלָדִין וְלָא אִתְגַּלּוּן, וּשְׁמַיָא אִתְעַכָּבוּ דְּלָא אַמְטִירוּ עַל אַרְעָא, בְּגִין דְּאָדָם אַיִן, דְּלָא אִשְׁתְּכַח וְלָא אִתְבְּרֵי, וְכֹלָּא אִתְעַכַּב בְּגִינֵיהּ, כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְחֲזֵי אָדָם, מִיָּד הַנִּצָּנִים נִרְאוּ בָאָרֶץ וְכָל חַיָילִין דְּאִתְטַמָּרוּ אִתְגַּלִּיאוּ וְאִתְיְהִיבוּ בָהּ. Similarly, the heaven did not impart strength to the earth until man came. So it is written, “All the plants of the earth were not yet on the earth, and the herbs of the field had not yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground” (Gen. 2, 5), that is to say, all the products of the earth were still hidden in its bosom and had not yet shown themselves, and the heavens refrained from pouring rain upon the earth, because man had not yet been created. When, however, man appeared, forthwith “the flowers appeared on the earth”, all its latent powers being revealed;

עֵת הַזָּמִיר הִגִּיעַ, דְּאִתְתַּקַּן תִּקּוּנָא דְּתוּשְׁבְּחָן לְזַמְּרָא קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מַה דְּלָא אִשְׁתְּכַח עַד לָא אִתְבְּרֵי אָדָם. וְקוֹל הַתּוֹר נִשְׁמַע בְּאַרְצֵנוּ. דְּהָא (ד"א דא) (ד"א ל"ג כל) מִלָּה דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא (ד"א ל"ג דעבד) דְּלָא אִשְׁתְּכַח בְּעָלְמָא עַד דְּאִתְבְּרֵי אָדָם. כֵּיוָן דְּאִשְׁתְּכַח אָדָם כּוֹלָּא אִשְׁתְּכַח. “the time of song was come”, the earth being now ripe to offer up praises to the Almighty, which it could not do before man was created. “And the voice of the turtle is heard in our land”: this is the word of God, which was not in the world till man was created. Thus when man was there, everything was there.

בָּתַר דְּחָטָא, כּוֹלָּא אִסְתַּלַּק מֵעָלְמָא וְאִתְלַטְיָא אַרְעָא. הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, (בראשית ג׳:י״ז) אֲרוּרָה הָאֲדָמָה בַּעֲבוּרֶךָ וְגו'. וּכְתִיב כִּי תַעֲבֹד אֶת הָאֲדָמָה לא תֹסֵף תֵּת כֹּחָהּ לָךְ וְגו'. וּכְתִיב וְקוֹץ וְדַרְדַּר תַּצְמִיחַ לָךְ. When man sinned, the earth was cursed, and all these good things left it, as it is written, “cursed is the earth for thy sake” (Gen. 3, 17), and again, “when thou tillest the ground it shall not give its strength to thee” (Ibid. 4, 12), and again, “thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to thee” (Ibid. 3, 18).

אֲתָא נֹחַ וְתִקֵּן קַרְדּוּמִין וּפְצִירֵי בְּעָלְמָא. וּלְבָתַר וַיֵּשְׁתְּ מִן הַיַּיִן וַיִּשְׁכָּר וַיִּתְגַּל בְּתוֹךְ אָהֳלה. אָתוּ בְּנֵי עָלְמָא וְחָבוּ קַמֵּיהּ דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. וְאִסְתַּלָּקוּ חֵילִין דְּאַרְעָא (דעלמא) כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין, וְהֲווּ קָיְימֵי עַד דְּאָתָא אַבְרָהָם. When Noah came, he invented spades and hoes, but afterwards he sinned through drunkenness, and the rest of the world also sinned before God, and the strength of the earth deserted it. So matters continued until Abraham came.

כֵּיוָן דְּאָתָא אַבְרָהָם (לעלמא) מִיָּד הַנִּצָּנִים נִרְאוּ בָאָרְץ, אִתְתַּקָּנוּ וְאִתְגָּלוּ כָּל חֵילִין בְּאַרְעָא. עֵת הַזָּמִיר הִגִּיעַ. בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאָמַר לֵיהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דְּיִתְגְּזָר, כֵּיוָן דְּמָטָא הַהוּא זִמְנָא דִּבְרִית אִשְׁתְּכַח בֵּיהּ בְּאַבְרָהָם וְאִתְגְּזַר. כְּדֵין אִתְקְיַּים בֵּיהּ כָּל הַאי קְרָא, וְאִתְקְיַּים עָלְמָא, וּמִלָּה דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא הֲוָה בְּאִתְגַּלְּיָיא בֵּיהּ הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְיָ. Then once more “the blossoms appeared in the earth”, and all the powers of the earth were restored and displayed themselves. “The time of pruning (zamir) came”, i.e. God told Abraham to circumcise himself. When at length the covenant existed in Abraham through the circumcision, then all this verse was fulfilled in him, the world was firmly established, and the word of the Lord came to him openly: hence it is written, AND THE LORD APPEARED UNTO HIM.

רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר פָּתַח הַאי קְרָא (בשעתא) בָּתַר דְּאִתְגְּזַר אַבְרָהָם. דְּעַד לָא אִתְגְּזַר לָא הֲוָה מַלִּיל עִמֵּיהּ אֶלָּא מִגּוֹ דַּרְגָּא תַּתָּאָה, וְדַרְגִּין עִלָּאִין לָא הֲווּ קָיְימֵי עַל הַהִיא דַּרְגָּא. כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְגְּזַר מִיָּד הַנִּצָנִים נִרְאוּ בָאָרֶץ אִלֵּין דַּרְגִּין תַּתָּאִין דְּאֲפִיקַת וְאַתְקִינַת הַאי דַּרְגָּא תַּתָּאָה. Said R. Eleazar: ‘Until Abraham was circumcised, God did not speak with him save from a lower grade, whereon, too, the higher grades were not resting. But when he was circumcised, straightway “the blossoms appeared in the earth”, to wit, the lower grades which the earth put forth, thereby establishing that lower grade we have mentioned;

עֵת הַזָּמִיר הִגִּיעַ אִלֵּין עַנְפּוֹי דְּעָרְלָה. וְקוֹל הַתּוֹר נִשְׁמַע בְאַרְצֵנוּ. דָּא קוֹל דְּנָפִיק מִגּוֹ הַהוּא פְּנִימָאָה דְּכֹלָּא וְהַהוּא קוֹל נִשְׁמַע וְדָא קוֹל דְּגָזַר מִלָּה לְמַלָּלָא וְעָבִיד לָהּ שְׁלִימוּ. further, “the time of pruning came”, to wit, the pruning of the boughs of orlah; and to crown all, “the voice of the turtle was heard in the land”, to wit, the voice which issues from the innermost recess. This voice was now heard, and shaped the spoken words and gave them their perfect form. This is implied in the words here used, “and the Lord appeared to him”.

תָּא חֲזֵי, דְּעַד לָא אִתְגְּזַר אַבְרָהָם לָא הֲוָה עֲלֵיהּ אֶלָּא הַאי דַרְגָּא (כח ב) כִּדְאֲמָרָן, כֵּיוָן (לבתר) דְּאִתְגְּזַר מַה כְּתִיב וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְיָ. לְמַאן, דְּהָא לָא כְּתִיב וַיֵּרָא יְיָ אֶל אַבְרָם. דְּאִי לְאַבְרָם מַאי שְׁבָחָא הָכָא יַתִּיר מִבְּקַדְמִיתָא עַד לָא אִתְגְּזַר דִּכְתִיב וַיֵּרָא יְיָ אֶל אַבְרָם. Already, before Abraham was circumcised, we are told that “the Lord appeared unto Abram” (Gen. 17, 1), and if the word “him” in this sentence refers to Abraham, we may well ask, what advance had he made (in prophecy) by being circumcised?

אֶלָא רָזָא סְתִימָא אִיהוּ, וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְיָ. לְהַהוּא דַרְגָא דְּמַלִּיל עִמֵּיהּ, מַה דְּלָא הֲוָה מִקַּדְמַת דְּנָא עַד דְּלָא אִתְגְּזַר. דְּהַשְׁתָּא אִתְגְּלִי קוֹל וְאִתְחַבַּר בְּדִבּוּר כַּד מַלִּיל עִמֵּיהּ. The answer is that the word “him” here has an inner meaning: it refers to the grade which now spoke with him. Now for the first time “the Lord appeared” to that grade; that is to say, the Voice was revealed, and associated itself with the Speech (dibbur) in conversing with him.

וְהוּא יוֹשֵׁב פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל. וְהוּא וְלא גָּלֵי מַאן. אֶלָּא הָכָא גָּלֵי חָכְמְתָא דְּכֻלְהוּ דַּרְגִּין שָׁרוּ עַל הַאי דַּרְגָּא תַּתָּאָה בָּתַר דְּאִתְגְּזַר אַבְרָהָם. תָּא חֲזֵי, וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְיָ. דָּא הוּא רָזָא דְּקוֹל דְּאִשְׁתְּמַע דְּאִתְחַבַּר בְּדִבּוּר וְאִתְגְּלִי בֵּיהּ. Similarly in the words, AS HE SAT IN THE TENT DOOR IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY, the word “he” has an inner meaning, indicating that all the grades rested on this lower grade after Abraham was circumcised. Thus the words “And the Lord appeared unto him” contain a mystic allusion to that audible Voice which is united to Speech, and manifests itself therein.

וְהוּ"א יוֹשֵׁב פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל, דָּא עָלְמָא עִלָּאָה דְּקָאִים לְאַנְהָרָא עֲלֵיהּ. כְּחוֹם הַיּוֹם. דְּהָא אִתְנְהִיר יְמִינָא דַּרְגָּא דְאַבְרָהָם אִתְדָּבַּק בֵּיהּ. דָּבָר אַחֵר כְּחוֹם הַיּוֹם בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאִתְקְרִיב דַּרְגָּא לְדַרְגָּא בְּתִיאוּבְתָּא דְּדָא לָקֳבֵל דָּא, “As he sat in the tent door” refers to the supernal world which was at hand to illumine him. “In the heat of the day.” That is, it was the right side, to which Abraham clave, that illumined. According to another exposition, “in the heat of the day” indicates the time when the grades approach each other, impelled by mutual desire.’

וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו. אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא עַד לָא אִתְגְּזַר אַבְרָהָם הֲוָה אָטִים. כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְגְּזַר אִתְגְּלִי כֹלָּא וְשָׁרָא עֲלֵיהּ שְׁכִינְתָּא בִּשְׁלִימוּ כְּדְקָא יְאוּת. תָּא חֲזֵי וְהוּא יוֹשֵׁב פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל. וְהוּא. דָּא עָלְמָא עִלָּאָה דְּשָׁרֵי עַל הַאי עָלְמָא תַּתָּאָה. אֵימָתַי כְּחוֹם הַיּוֹם בְּזִמְנָא דְּתִיאוּבְתָּא דְּחַד צַדִּיק לְמִשְׁרֵי בֵּיהּ. AND THERE APPEARED UNTO HIM. R. Abba said: ‘Before Abraham was circumcised he was, as it were, covered over, but as soon as he was circumcised he became completely exposed to the influence of the Shekinah, which thereupon rested on him in full and perfect measure. The words “as he sat in the tent door” picture the supernal world hovering over this lower world. When is this? “In the heat of the day”, that is, at a period when a certain Zaddik (righteous one) feels a desire to repose therein.

, רַבִּי חִיָּיא פָּתַח (שיר השירים ב׳:י״ב) הַנִּצָּנִים נִרְאוּ בָאָרֶץ עֵת הַזָּמִיר הִגִּיעַ וקוֹל הַתּוֹר נִשְׁמַע בְּאַרְצֵנוּ. הַנִּצָּנִים נִרְאוּ בָאָרֶץ, כַּד בְּרָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עָלְמָא. יָהַב בְּאַרְעָא כָּל חֵילָא דְּאִתְחֲזִי לָהּ. וְכֹלָּא הֲוָה בְאַרְעָא, וְלָא אֲפִיקַת אִיבִּין בְּעָלְמָא עַד דְּאִתְבְּרֵי אָדָם, כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְבְּרֵי אָדָם, כֹּלָּא אִתְחֲזֵי (ד"א ל"ג למיפק) בְּעָלְמָא, וְאַרְעָא גַּלִּיאַת אִיבָּהָא וְחֵילָהָא דְּאִתְפָּקְדוּ בָה. AND THE LORD APPEARED UNTO HIM. R. Hiya commenced to discourse on the verse: The flowers appear on the earth, the time of song is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land (S. S. 2, 12). He said: ‘When God created the world, He endowed the earth with all the energy requisite for it, but it did not put forth produce until man appeared. When, however, man was created, all the products that were latent in the earth appeared above ground.

כְּגַוְונָא דָא שָׁמַיִם לָא יָהֲבוּ חֵילִין לְאַרְעָא עַד דְּאָתָא אָדָם. הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, (בראשית ב׳:ה׳) וְכֹל שִׂיחַ הַשָּׂדֶה טֶרֶם יִהְיֶה בָאָרֶץ וְכָל עֵשֶׂב הַשָּׂדֶה טֶרְם יִצְמָח כִּי לא הִמְטִיר יְיָ אֱלהִים עַל הָאָרֶץ וְאָדָם אַיִן לַעֲבֹד אֶת הָאֲדָמָה. אִטַּמָּרוּ כָּל אִנּוּן תּוֹלָדִין וְלָא אִתְגַּלּוּן, וּשְׁמַיָא אִתְעַכָּבוּ דְּלָא אַמְטִירוּ עַל אַרְעָא, בְּגִין דְּאָדָם אַיִן, דְּלָא אִשְׁתְּכַח וְלָא אִתְבְּרֵי, וְכֹלָּא אִתְעַכַּב בְּגִינֵיהּ, כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְחֲזֵי אָדָם, מִיָּד הַנִּצָּנִים נִרְאוּ בָאָרֶץ וְכָל חַיָילִין דְּאִתְטַמָּרוּ אִתְגַּלִּיאוּ וְאִתְיְהִיבוּ בָהּ. Similarly, the heaven did not impart strength to the earth until man came. So it is written, “All the plants of the earth were not yet on the earth, and the herbs of the field had not yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground” (Gen. 2, 5), that is to say, all the products of the earth were still hidden in its bosom and had not yet shown themselves, and the heavens refrained from pouring rain upon the earth, because man had not yet been created. When, however, man appeared, forthwith “the flowers appeared on the earth”, all its latent powers being revealed;

עֵת הַזָּמִיר הִגִּיעַ, דְּאִתְתַּקַּן תִּקּוּנָא דְּתוּשְׁבְּחָן לְזַמְּרָא קַמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מַה דְּלָא אִשְׁתְּכַח עַד לָא אִתְבְּרֵי אָדָם. וְקוֹל הַתּוֹר נִשְׁמַע בְּאַרְצֵנוּ. דְּהָא (ד"א דא) (ד"א ל"ג כל) מִלָּה דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא (ד"א ל"ג דעבד) דְּלָא אִשְׁתְּכַח בְּעָלְמָא עַד דְּאִתְבְּרֵי אָדָם. כֵּיוָן דְּאִשְׁתְּכַח אָדָם כּוֹלָּא אִשְׁתְּכַח. “the time of song was come”, the earth being now ripe to offer up praises to the Almighty, which it could not do before man was created. “And the voice of the turtle is heard in our land”: this is the word of God, which was not in the world till man was created. Thus when man was there, everything was there.

בָּתַר דְּחָטָא, כּוֹלָּא אִסְתַּלַּק מֵעָלְמָא וְאִתְלַטְיָא אַרְעָא. הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, (בראשית ג׳:י״ז) אֲרוּרָה הָאֲדָמָה בַּעֲבוּרֶךָ וְגו'. וּכְתִיב כִּי תַעֲבֹד אֶת הָאֲדָמָה לא תֹסֵף תֵּת כֹּחָהּ לָךְ וְגו'. וּכְתִיב וְקוֹץ וְדַרְדַּר תַּצְמִיחַ לָךְ. When man sinned, the earth was cursed, and all these good things left it, as it is written, “cursed is the earth for thy sake” (Gen. 3, 17), and again, “when thou tillest the ground it shall not give its strength to thee” (Ibid. 4, 12), and again, “thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to thee” (Ibid. 3, 18).

אֲתָא נֹחַ וְתִקֵּן קַרְדּוּמִין וּפְצִירֵי בְּעָלְמָא. וּלְבָתַר וַיֵּשְׁתְּ מִן הַיַּיִן וַיִּשְׁכָּר וַיִּתְגַּל בְּתוֹךְ אָהֳלה. אָתוּ בְּנֵי עָלְמָא וְחָבוּ קַמֵּיהּ דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. וְאִסְתַּלָּקוּ חֵילִין דְּאַרְעָא (דעלמא) כְּמִלְּקַדְּמִין, וְהֲווּ קָיְימֵי עַד דְּאָתָא אַבְרָהָם. When Noah came, he invented spades and hoes, but afterwards he sinned through drunkenness, and the rest of the world also sinned before God, and the strength of the earth deserted it. So matters continued until Abraham came.

כֵּיוָן דְּאָתָא אַבְרָהָם (לעלמא) מִיָּד הַנִּצָּנִים נִרְאוּ בָאָרְץ, אִתְתַּקָּנוּ וְאִתְגָּלוּ כָּל חֵילִין בְּאַרְעָא. עֵת הַזָּמִיר הִגִּיעַ. בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאָמַר לֵיהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דְּיִתְגְּזָר, כֵּיוָן דְּמָטָא הַהוּא זִמְנָא דִּבְרִית אִשְׁתְּכַח בֵּיהּ בְּאַבְרָהָם וְאִתְגְּזַר. כְּדֵין אִתְקְיַּים בֵּיהּ כָּל הַאי קְרָא, וְאִתְקְיַּים עָלְמָא, וּמִלָּה דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא הֲוָה בְּאִתְגַּלְּיָיא בֵּיהּ הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְיָ. Then once more “the blossoms appeared in the earth”, and all the powers of the earth were restored and displayed themselves. “The time of pruning (zamir) came”, i.e. God told Abraham to circumcise himself. When at length the covenant existed in Abraham through the circumcision, then all this verse was fulfilled in him, the world was firmly established, and the word of the Lord came to him openly: hence it is written, AND THE LORD APPEARED UNTO HIM.

רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר פָּתַח הַאי קְרָא (בשעתא) בָּתַר דְּאִתְגְּזַר אַבְרָהָם. דְּעַד לָא אִתְגְּזַר לָא הֲוָה מַלִּיל עִמֵּיהּ אֶלָּא מִגּוֹ דַּרְגָּא תַּתָּאָה, וְדַרְגִּין עִלָּאִין לָא הֲווּ קָיְימֵי עַל הַהִיא דַּרְגָּא. כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְגְּזַר מִיָּד הַנִּצָנִים נִרְאוּ בָאָרֶץ אִלֵּין דַּרְגִּין תַּתָּאִין דְּאֲפִיקַת וְאַתְקִינַת הַאי דַּרְגָּא תַּתָּאָה. Said R. Eleazar: ‘Until Abraham was circumcised, God did not speak with him save from a lower grade, whereon, too, the higher grades were not resting. But when he was circumcised, straightway “the blossoms appeared in the earth”, to wit, the lower grades which the earth put forth, thereby establishing that lower grade we have mentioned;

תָּא חֲזֵי, דְּעַד לָא אִתְגְּזַר אַבְרָהָם לָא הֲוָה עֲלֵיהּ אֶלָּא הַאי דַרְגָּא (כח ב) כִּדְאֲמָרָן, כֵּיוָן (לבתר) דְּאִתְגְּזַר מַה כְּתִיב וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְיָ. לְמַאן, דְּהָא לָא כְּתִיב וַיֵּרָא יְיָ אֶל אַבְרָם. דְּאִי לְאַבְרָם מַאי שְׁבָחָא הָכָא יַתִּיר מִבְּקַדְמִיתָא עַד לָא אִתְגְּזַר דִּכְתִיב וַיֵּרָא יְיָ אֶל אַבְרָם. Already, before Abraham was circumcised, we are told that “the Lord appeared unto Abram” (Gen. 17, 1), and if the word “him” in this sentence refers to Abraham, we may well ask, what advance had he made (in prophecy) by being circumcised?

אֶלָא רָזָא סְתִימָא אִיהוּ, וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְיָ. לְהַהוּא דַרְגָא דְּמַלִּיל עִמֵּיהּ, מַה דְּלָא הֲוָה מִקַּדְמַת דְּנָא עַד דְּלָא אִתְגְּזַר. דְּהַשְׁתָּא אִתְגְּלִי קוֹל וְאִתְחַבַּר בְּדִבּוּר כַּד מַלִּיל עִמֵּיהּ. The answer is that the word “him” here has an inner meaning: it refers to the grade which now spoke with him. Now for the first time “the Lord appeared” to that grade; that is to say, the Voice was revealed, and associated itself with the Speech (dibbur) in conversing with him.

וְהוּא יוֹשֵׁב פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל. וְהוּא וְלא גָּלֵי מַאן. אֶלָּא הָכָא גָּלֵי חָכְמְתָא דְּכֻלְהוּ דַּרְגִּין שָׁרוּ עַל הַאי דַּרְגָּא תַּתָּאָה בָּתַר דְּאִתְגְּזַר אַבְרָהָם. תָּא חֲזֵי, וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְיָ. דָּא הוּא רָזָא דְּקוֹל דְּאִשְׁתְּמַע דְּאִתְחַבַּר בְּדִבּוּר וְאִתְגְּלִי בֵּיהּ. Similarly in the words, AS HE SAT IN THE TENT DOOR IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY, the word “he” has an inner meaning, indicating that all the grades rested on this lower grade after Abraham was circumcised. Thus the words “And the Lord appeared unto him” contain a mystic allusion to that audible Voice which is united to Speech, and manifests itself therein.

וְהוּ"א יוֹשֵׁב פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל, דָּא עָלְמָא עִלָּאָה דְּקָאִים לְאַנְהָרָא עֲלֵיהּ. כְּחוֹם הַיּוֹם. דְּהָא אִתְנְהִיר יְמִינָא דַּרְגָּא דְאַבְרָהָם אִתְדָּבַּק בֵּיהּ. דָּבָר אַחֵר כְּחוֹם הַיּוֹם בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאִתְקְרִיב דַּרְגָּא לְדַרְגָּא בְּתִיאוּבְתָּא דְּדָא לָקֳבֵל דָּא, “As he sat in the tent door” refers to the supernal world which was at hand to illumine him. “In the heat of the day.” That is, it was the right side, to which Abraham clave, that illumined. According to another exposition, “in the heat of the day” indicates the time when the grades approach each other, impelled by mutual desire.’

וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו. אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא עַד לָא אִתְגְּזַר אַבְרָהָם הֲוָה אָטִים. כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְגְּזַר אִתְגְּלִי כֹלָּא וְשָׁרָא עֲלֵיהּ שְׁכִינְתָּא בִּשְׁלִימוּ כְּדְקָא יְאוּת. תָּא חֲזֵי וְהוּא יוֹשֵׁב פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל. וְהוּא. דָּא עָלְמָא עִלָּאָה דְּשָׁרֵי עַל הַאי עָלְמָא תַּתָּאָה. אֵימָתַי כְּחוֹם הַיּוֹם בְּזִמְנָא דְּתִיאוּבְתָּא דְּחַד צַדִּיק לְמִשְׁרֵי בֵּיהּ. AND THERE APPEARED UNTO HIM. R. Abba said: ‘Before Abraham was circumcised he was, as it were, covered over, but as soon as he was circumcised he became completely exposed to the influence of the Shekinah, which thereupon rested on him in full and perfect measure. The words “as he sat in the tent door” picture the supernal world hovering over this lower world. When is this? “In the heat of the day”, that is, at a period when a certain Zaddik (righteous one) feels a desire to repose therein.

מִיָּד וַיִּשָּׂא עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה שְׁלשָׁה אֲנָשִׁים נִצָּבִים עָלָיו. מַאן אִנּוּן שְׁלשָׁה אֲנָשִׁים. אִלֵּין אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב דְּקָיְימֵי עֲלֵיהּ דְּהַאי דַרְגָּא, וּמִנַּיְיהוּ יָנִיק (יסודא דעלמא) וְאִתְּזָן. Straightway “it lifts up its eyes and looks, and lo, three men stand over against it”. Who are these three men? They are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who stand over this lower grade, and from whom it draws sustenance and nourishment.

כְּדֵין וַיַּרְא וַיָּרָץ לִקְרָאתָם. דְּתִיאוּבְתָּא דְּהַאי דַרְגָּא תַּתָּאָה לְאִתְחַבְּרָא בְּהוּ וְחֶדְוָותָא דִּילָהּ לְאִתְמַשְּׁכָא אֲבַּתְרַיְיהוּ. וַיִשְׁתָּחוּ אַרְצָה, לְאִתְתַּקְּנָא כֻּרְסְיָיא לְגַבַּיְיהוּ. Thereupon “it sees and runs to meet them”, since it is the desire of this lower grade to attach itself to them, and its joy is to be drawn after them. “And it bows down to the ground”, to prepare a throne near them.

תָּא חֲזֵי, עֲבַד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְדָוִד מַלְכָּא חַד סַמְכָא מִכֻּרְסְיָיא עִלָּאָה כַּאֲבָהָן. וְאַף עַל גַּב דְּאִיהוּ כֻּרְסְיָיא לְגַבַּיְיהוּ. אֲבָל בְּזִמְנָא דְּאִתְחַבַּר בְּהוּ אִיהוּ חַד סַמְכָא לְאִתְתַּקְּנָא בְּכֻּרְסְיָיא עִלָּאָה. וּבְגִין כָּךְ נָטַל מַלְכוּתָא (עט ב) בְּחֶבְרוֹן דָּוִד מַלְכָּא שְׁבַע שְׁנִין לְאִתְחַבְּרָא בְּהוּ. וְהָא אִתְּמָר. Observe that the Almighty made King David one of the under-pillars of the supernal throne, the patriarchs being the other three. For he was a pedestal to them, yet when he is joined with them he becomes one of the pillars upholding the supernal throne; and on that account he reigned in Hebron for seven years, namely, in order that he might be closely associated with them, as explained elsewhere.’

תּוֹסֶפְתָּא ויֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְיָ בְּאֵלוֹנֵי מַמְרֵא. אַמַּאי בְּאֵלוֹנֵי מַמְרֵא, וְלָא בְּאֲתַּר אָחֳרָא. אֶלָּא בְּגִין דְּיָהִיב לֵיהּ עֵיטָא עַל גְּזִירוּ דִּקְיָימָא דִילֵיהּ. בְּשַׁעֲתָּא דְּאָמַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךָ הוּא לְאַבְרָהָם לְמִגְזַר אֲזַל אַבְרָהָם לִמָּלֵךָ עִם חַבְרוֹי, אָמַר לֵיהּ עָנֵר (אולי ר"ל כבר עברו עליך צ' שנה ואולם גם יותר שהם צ"ט כמ"ש בתוה"ק. ולא חשב הפרט) אַנְתְּ בֶּן תִּשְׁעִין שְׁנִין ואַתְּ מֵעִיק גַּרְמָךָ. Tosefta Of the verse, "And Hashem appeared to him by the terebinths of Mamre" (Gen. 18:1), why by the terebinths of Mamre and not in any other place? Because Mamre gave him good advice about being circumcised. When the Holy One, blessed be He, told Abraham to circumcise himself, Abraham consulted his friends. Aner told him, You are more than ninety years old, and you shall pain yourself.

אָמַר לֵיהּ מַמְרֵא דְּכַרְתְּ יוֹמָא דְּרָמוּ לָךָ כַּשְׂדָאֵי בְּאַתּוּן דְּנוּרָא. והַהוּא כַּפְּנָא דְּעֲבַר עַל עָלְמָא דִּכְתִּיב, (בראשית י״ב:י׳) ויְהִי רָעָב בָּאָרֶץ וַיֵּרֶד אַבְרָם מִצְּרָיְמָה. ואִנּוּן מַלְכִין דִּרְדָּפּוּ בַּתְּרֵיהוֹן וּמָחִיתּ יַתְּהוֹן וקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךָ הוּא שֵׁזְבִינָךָ מִכֹּלָּא וְלָא יָכִיל בַּר נָשׁ לְמֶעְבַּד לָךָ בִּישׁ. קוּם עֲבִיד פִּקּוּדָא דְמָרָךָ. אָמַר לֵיהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךָ הוּא, מַמְרֵא אַנְתְּ יְהַבְתְּ לֵיהּ עֵיטָא לְמִגְזַר, חַיֶּיךָ לֵיתּ אֲנָא מִתְּגַּלֵּי עֲלֵיהּ אֶלָּא בְּפַּלְטְרִין דִּילָךָ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִּיב בְּאֵלוֹנֵי מַמְרֵא (עד כאן התוספתא): Mamre said to him, Do not forget the day when the Chaldeans threw you into the furnace of fire and famine took over the world, as it is written, "And there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down into Egypt" (Gen. 12: 10). And you smote all those kings that your men pursued. And the Holy One, blessed be He, saved you from them all, so that nobody could do you any harm. So rise and fulfill the precept of your Master. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to (Mamre), You advised him to perform the circumcision. By your life! I shall reveal Myself to him only in your chamber. This is why it is written, "by the terebinths of Mamre." (Until here the Tosefta)