Kabbalah 1 Samuel 1:10: Sha'arei Orah

Now, in her prayer, Chana ascended to the highest heights, reaching this place called Mazal-מזל. This is the secret of the verse,¹⁶⁷Samuel I 1:10 “She was bitter of soul and prayed over HaShem-יהו״ה, weeping copiously.” It does not say that she prayed “to-El-אל” HaShem-יהו״ה, but specifically that she prayed “over-Al-על” HaShem-יהו״ה. Now, as you already know, there are three names: The Lord-Adona”y-אדנ״י below, HaShem-יהו״ה in the middle, and Eheye”h-אהי״ה above. Eheye”h-אהי"ה is the crown-Keter upon which the Mazal-מזל depends, and from it children are drawn. This is the inner meaning of the words, “She prayed over-Al-על HaShem-יהו״ה,” literally, referring to the name Eheye”h-אהי״ה, which is above the Name HaShem-יהו״ה.¹⁶⁸This refers to the lower Name HaShem-יהו״ה, which is the quality of Tiferet-תפארת (Zeir Anpin of the world of Emanation-Atzilut), and refers to how HaShem-יהו״ה, blessed is He, relates to His worlds, as opposed to His Essential Name HaShem-יהו״ה, called the Upper Name HaShem-יהו״ה (also called The Ancient One-Atika), which indicates how HaShem-יהו"ה, blessed is He, utterly transcends all worlds. Our author, Rabbi Yosef Gikatilla, of blessed memory, explains the Upper Name HaShem-יהו״ה in his book Ginat Egoz, translated as HaShem Is One (which he wrote first, at the age of twenty-six). Also see Zohar III 138a and elsewhere. That is, her prayer ascended up to the name Eheye”h-אהי״ה, and from there her desire for a child was fulfilled.

It similarly states about Chanah when she prayed for a child,³⁴⁷Samuel I 1:10 “Her soul was bitter and she prayed to HaShem-יהו״ה, weeping continuously.” Know that this righteous woman knew all the gateways of the Sanctuaries, and all her deeds were according to the known intention in entering the inner chambers of the Chariot (Merkavah). This is indicated by the next verse,³⁴⁸Samuel I 1:11 “She made a vow and said, ‘HaShem of Hosts-HaShem Tzva’ot-יהו״ה צבאו״ת, if You take note of the suffering of Your maidservant and remember me, and do not forget Your maidservant etc.” The words “She made a vow-Neder-נדר”³⁴⁹The term “vow-Neder-נדר” consists of “Nun-נ-50 dwells within it-Dar-דר,” referring to the fifty gates of Understanding-Binah, and the crown-Keter, which is called the Mazla, is the source of all novel influence affected through prayer about children, health, and sustenance. indicate that she reached all the way to the quality of understanding-Binah, which draws offspring forth from the crown-Keter. With her words “HaShem of Hosts-HaShem Tzva’ot-יהו״ה צבאו״ת,”³⁵⁰The qualities of victory-Netzach and majesty-Hod, from which the bestowal of progeny comes to foundation-Yesod, as will be discussed in the subsequent Gates. she entered and directed her intentions to the place from where the offspring of all creatures are drawn down.