욥기 28:3의 인용 해설

According to a Midrashic approach in Tanchuma Miketz 1 the wording of the Torah here may teach us the following: The words מקץ שנתים ימים are a reminder of Job 28,3: “He sets bounds for darkness, to every limit man probes, to rocks in deepest darkness.” Everything G’d decrees is finite, has a limit. Even the rains emerge after a time-frame has been assigned for them. G’d determines the time frame and the quantity for rain on earth at the beginning of the year. If the Jewish people keep G’d’s laws these rains descend to make the plantings of the Jewish farmer grow by descending upon these fields and orchards in the appropriate quantities at the appropriate time of year. If the Jewish people fail to observe G’d’s commandments, He does not withhold such rains; rather such rains will descend in areas and at times when they do not fulfill the purpose of making the Jewish farmer bring in a good harvest. This is what was implied in the verse in Job 28,3 which we have quoted., i.e. that G’d had set a time limit to the “darkness” the Jewish people experienced when enslaved in Egypt. This is why the Torah in Exodus 12,41 spoke of a קץ, “an end” when it reported ויהי מקץ שלשים שנה וארבע מאות שנה, ויהי בעצם היום הזה יצאו כל צבאות ה' מארץ מצרים, “it was at the end of 430 years, on exactly that day that all the hosts of G’d departed from Egypt.” Just as the day of the departure of the Jewish people had been predetermined by G’d, so Joseph’s release from prison had been predetermined by G’d.

The Torah goes on to say אם רעה בעיני אדוניה, which we have to understand in light of a statement in the Zohar that if the redemption would occur as a result of Israel's good deeds as compared to the redemption which will occur because G'd's timetable has run out. If the redemption ocurs because of the former situation, an angel of G'd whose feet are planted on earth and whose head is in Heaven will become visible. If, however, the redemption will occur only because G'd cannot defer it any longer, the redeemer will arrive as a poor man riding on the lowly ass as described in Zachariah 9,9. G'd assures Israel that even if it is still unworthy when the time comes for redemption, רעה בעיני אדויה, in the eyes of her Master, ולא יעדה, and not deserving of redemption (לא spelled with an א), He will release her, והפדה. He will not continue to let her languish amidst עם נכרי, an alien people, although the nature of that redemption would not match the type of redemption which would occur if the people were worthy of it. At any rate, the "sale" of Israel is not something permanent and irreversible. Job 28,3 expresses this redemption as "He has set an end to darkness."

The verse furthermore explicates and designates the source of their origin: “He sets bounds for darkness” [Job 28:3]. It is common knowledge that darkness designates absolute nullity.²⁸ Afisah or nullity designates the highest sefirah, usually described in negative terms. Here that most primordial seed of existence is not clearly separated from Eyn Sof, the primordial boundless “darkness” of the unknown and unknowable God. Under no circumstances can nullity be described with the terminology of formation [yetzirah] but rather that of creation [beriah]. In this context creation designates the manner in which God differentiated another principle and rung of emanation from darkness, which in itself lacks boundary or end. In stating “He sets bounds for darkness,” the intention is that God set a boundary to darkness, infixing within it border and limit. “To, every limit man probes” [Job 28:3]. The possibility of speculative analysis inheres within each and every quality and being existing by the creative power of that nullity. That is to say, after these forces were actualized from their potential state, He made them into qualities and instruments that are subject to measure and hence to inquiry. For this reason Scripture speaks of darkness in terms of creation, and the light which existed within the creative capacity of darkness in terms of formation, as it says: “He forms light and creates darkness” [Isa. 45:7]. This is also the meaning of: “He draws mysteries out of the darkness, and brings obscurities into light” [Job 12:22]. Nullity is designated as darkness and obscurity. Inherent within its creative power were light and other entities. This is further the meaning of: “rocks in deepest darkness” [Job 28:3]. Understand this, for it comprises a fundamental principle.