Cantico dei cantici 5:14 Cabala: Or Neerav & Tikkunei Zohar

This is God’s camp (Gen. 32:3).²This preface, which is a pastiche of citations from the Bible and rabbinic literature, is exceedingly difficult to translate lucidly. The generation of those who seek Him (Ps. 24:6) will rejoice in His deeds (Ps. 149:2) like a dance of two companies (Song of Songs 7:1). Our eyes have seen and were astonished [at these teachings] arising out of the earth (I Sam. 28:13) to plant the heavens (Isa. 51:16). Like the coming out of the sun at noontime, a bright light is upon them (Isa. 9:1). The opening of their words gives light (Ps. 119:130) and shines on a divine vision to those who are sanctified in the treasure-house of the secrets of Torah which is arrayed and guarded from the lions’ dens, from the mountains of leopards (Song 4:8) [and] overlaid with sapphires (Song 5:14).

For it says about her/Her: “And they came Elim-ward, and there [were] twelve springs of water and seventy date palms” [Ex 15:27]. “Twelve springs”—these are twelve joints/sections, which are: six in the arms (right and left shoulder, elbow, and wrist, or upper arm, lower arm, and hand) and six in two legs/shoqin (right and left hip, knee, and ankle, etc.). That is what’s written: “His hands [are] rolls of gold filled in Tarshish (or: with beryl)” [So 5:14]. What is “in Tarshish ( תרשיש )”? “In two, six / t’rey shesh ( תרי שש )”—in two arms [are] six joints; and so [are there] six/shesh others in two legs, [as it says:] “His [two] thighs are pillars of marble/shesh ( שש )” [So 5:15]. These are twelve springs.