Kabbalah Yesaya 5:16: Sha'arei Orah

Know that since HaShem-יהו״ה, blessed is He, is perfect, crowned, and bears all qualities, in that all the Sefirot are unified, perfected and completed in Him, along with all creatures, as we have informed you, therefore during the act of creation (Ma’aseh Bereishit) itself, there was no need for Torah to mention HaShem-יהו"ה. This is because at that point, the world and its creatures had not yet been perfected, nor had the act of creation been completed, in that the world was not yet whole. Rather, all things were still in the process of being made and coming forth. However, once the creation of the world was complete, in that everything was included and in a state of perfection, the Torah mentions HaShem God-HaShem Elohi”m-יהו״ה אלהי״ם, these being two names that unify one with the other. This is because oftentimes, His name God-Elohi”m-אלהי״ם manifests in His name of Lordship-Adona”y-אדנ״י, and then His name of Lordship-Adona”y-אדנ״י is also called God-Elohi”m-אלהי״ם, as you already know.³From the First Gate. Then, when HaShem Lord-HaShem Adona”y-יהו״ה אדנ״י [pronounced Elohi”m Adona”y-אלהי"ם אדנ"י] is unified, this being the matter of HaShem God-HaShem Elohi”m-יהו״ה אלהי״ם, all things come to a state of total perfection.⁴When reading scripture, if HaShem-יהו"ה and Lord-Adona”y-אדנ"י are juxtaposed, HaShem-יהו"ה is pronounced as Elohi”m-אלהי"ם.

This is the meaning of the verse,³⁰Isaiah 5:16 “HaShem of Hosts-HaShem Tzva’ot-יהו״ה is elevated with justice-Mishpat-משפט,” and then continues, “and the Holy God-HaE”l HaKadosh-הא״ל הקדוש is sanctified with charity-Tzedakah-צדקה.” That is, when He is “elevated in justice-Mishpat-משפט,” He sets judgment-Din aside and turns toward the quality of E”l-א״ל, as the verse continues, “and the Holy God-HaE”l HaKadosh-הא״ל הקדוש is sanctified with charity-Tzedakah-צדקה.” In other words, when “HaShem of Hosts-HaShem Tzva’ot-יהו״ה is elevated in justice-Mishpat-משפט,” the quality of E”l-א״ל above, overrides justice-Mishpat-משפט and does charity-Tzedakah-צדקה. This is why they said that justice-Mishpat-משפט includes both kindness-Chessed and judgment-Din, as the verse states,³¹Psalms 99:4 “You made the justice-Mishpat-משפט and righteousness-Tzedakah-צדקה of Yaakov.”

Now, sometimes we find the Name HaShem-יהו״ה joined with the title Hosts-Tzva’ot-צבאו״ת, in which the verse says, “HaShem of Hosts-HaShem Tzva’ot-יהו״ה צבאו״ת.” Now, this is not found in the [five books of] Torah itself, but only in Prophets (Nevi’im) and Scriptures (Ketuvim), in that the Prophets often stated, “Thus says HaShem of Hosts-HaShem Tzva’ot-יהו״ה צבאו״ת.” Likewise, in Scriptures we find,⁶³Psalms 46:12 “HaShem of Hosts-HaShem Tzva’ot-יהו״ה צבאו״ת is with us, the God of Yaakov is our stronghold, always!” Know, that when HaShem-יהו״ה manifests with the title Hosts-Tzva’ot-צבאו״ת, He then concludes the judgment of the Upper Court of Justice (Beit Din Shel Ma’alah), whether to do good or bad with the creatures, according the sentence decreed by God HaShem-E”l Elohi”m HaShem-א״ל אלהי״ם יהו״ה. That is, when the judgment is concluded, He manifests as HaShem of Hosts-HaShem Tzva’ot-יהו״ה צבאו״ת. This is the secret of the verse,⁶⁴Isaiah 5:16 “HaShem of Hosts-HaShem Tzva’ot-יהו״ה צבאו״ת arose in justice-Mishpat-משפט.”