Kabbalah Yesaya 26:7: Pardes Rimmonim

Rabbi Nechunya also wrote that this Name pertains to Chesed, divided into 72 bridges, each bridge having one of these names. He called them bridges as a metaphor for crossing the waters of Chesed. This Name is derived from the verses: "And He journeyed, and He came, and He stretched out" (Exodus 14:19-21), with the first verse in order, the second in reverse, and the third in order again. How? "And He journeyed" represents the secret of Chesed straightforwardly, "And He came" in reverse represents the secret of Gevurah, and "And He stretched out" straightforwardly represents Tiferet. This is explained in the Zohar. The Zohar states in Parashat Beshalach (51b): "The arrangement of these letters, the first letters are written in order in a straight path. Because all the first letters are found in Chesed to go straightforwardly in a correct arrangement. The second letters are written in reverse order. Because all the second letters are found in Gevurah to reveal judgments and weapons coming from the left side. The third letters are written in order to show the beauty to be adorned in the Holy King. And all are connected and bound together, and He is adorned with His crowns in a straight path, inscribed on both sides like a king adorned with all. Here the Holy Name is inscribed in 72 letters crowned with the Patriarchs in a supreme holy array. If you ask why the third letters are not all written straightforwardly or in reverse, it is to balance both sides, for it is said, 'You have established upright paths' (Isaiah 26:7), the Holy One makes paths for both sides, and it is written, 'And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end' (Exodus 26:28), which is the Holy One. Rabbi Yitzchak said, 'This is Jacob, and all is one.' Therefore, the King, who is complete in all, His mind is complete in all. What is the way of this King? His face shines like the sun always because He is complete. And when He judges, He judges favorably and unfavorably. Therefore, one must be cautious of Him. A fool sees the King’s face shining and smiling and does not guard himself from Him. A wise person sees the King’s face shining and says, 'Indeed, the King is complete, complete in all, His mind is complete. I see that within this brightness, judgment is seated and concealed, even though it is not visible, for if it were not so, He would not be a complete King. Therefore, one must be cautious of Him.' Thus, the Holy One is always complete in this way and in that way, but is not visible except in the brightness of His face. Therefore, the fools are punished by Him, but the wise are cautious, saying, 'Indeed, the King is complete, although His face appears bright, judgment is concealed within Him.'". Rabbi Yehuda said, "From here it is understood that 'I am YHVH, I do not change' (Malachi 3:6), does not switch to another place. In Me, all is included. These two aspects are included in Me, therefore, all appears straightforward." Even though the letters are held to one side and the other, they are written in order.