Kabbalah sa Isaias 59:17: Sha'arei Orah, Sefer HaBahir & Idra Zuta

Sometimes we find the following three names expressly written together in a verse, such as,⁷⁰Psalms 80:20 “HaShem God of Hosts-HaShem Elohi”m Tzva’ot-יהו״ה אלהי״ם צבאו״ת return us; shine Your face that we may be saved.” Similarly, the verse states,⁷¹Psalms 84:9 “HaShem God of Hosts-HaShem Elohi”m Tzva’ot-יהו״ה אלהי״ם צבאו״ת, hear my prayer; Listen O’ God of Yaakov, always!” The intention in this, is that each of these qualities, kindness-Chessed, mercy-Rachamim, and the quality of judgment-Din and fear-Pachad, are each garbed in their place. That is, HaShem-יהו״ה manifests in the quality of victory-Netzach, Elohi”m-אלהי״ם manifests in the quality of majesty-Hod, and Hosts-Tzva’ot-צבאו״ת includes both. These four qualities⁷²That is, might-Gevurah, beauty-Tiferet (or kindness-Chessed), victory-Netzach, and majesty-Hod [become the garments for foundation-Yesod, which is called the Living God-E”l Chai-א״ל חי]. become the four garments of the Living God-E”l Chai-א״ל חי. This is because the title Hosts-Tzva’ot-צבאו״ת includes three names; victory-Netzach, majesty-Hod, and foundation-Yesod. Thus, when the verse states “HaShem God of Hosts-HaShem Elohi”m Tzva’ot-יהו״ה אלהי״ם צבאו״ת,” it includes five Sefirot. HaShem God-HaShem Elohi”m-יהו״ה אלהי״ם are two Sefirot,⁷³That is, the name HaShem-יהו״ה is the name of beauty-Tiferet (or kindness-Chessed), and the name God-Elohi”m-אלהי״ם is the name of might-Gevurah. and Hosts-Tzva’ot-צבאו״ת includes the three Sefirot, victory-Netzach, majesty-Hod and foundation-Yesod. They all manifest in the quality of Lordship-Adona”y-אדנ״י, which is either called “The Garments of Salvation-Bigdei Yesha-בגדי ישע,”⁷⁴Isaiah 61:10 or,⁷⁵Isaiah 59:17 “The Garments of Vengeance-Bigdei Nakam-בגדי נקם,” in accordance to the appropriate judgment.

When HaShem-יהו״ה, blessed is He, is angered by the people of the world, on account of their evil deeds, He then takes out His instruments of wrath. Engraved on the banner of the instrument of wrath is the form of the title God-Elohi”m-אלהי״ם. When this is so, that the form of the name Elohi’m-אלהי"ם is engraved on the banner of HaShem-יהו״ה, He then pays the retribution of judgment-Din, and avenges Himself against the people of the world, punishing them for their wicked deeds. This is the meaning of the verse,¹³²Psalms 68:2 “May God-Elohi”m-אלהי״ם arise, let His enemies be scattered, and His foes will flee before Him.” This is likewise the meaning of the verse,¹³³Numbers 10:35 “Arise, HaShem-יהו״ה, and let Your foes be scattered, let those who hate You flee from Your presence.” Now, if you ask, how is it that this latter verse says “HaShem-יהו״ה,” whereas the former verse says “God-Elohi”m-אלהי״ם”? Do you not already know that all the names are dependent on the Name HaShem-יהו״ה, and that He is garbed in them? Thus, when it says, “Arise, HaShem-יהו״ה, and let Your foes be scattered,” it is as if it is saying, “Arise, HaShem-יהו״ה, take out Your instruments of war and the banner engraved with the name Elohi”m-אלהי״ם.” This is the meaning of the verse, “May God-Elohi”m-אלהי״ם arise, let His enemies be scattered, and His foes will flee before Him.” Our teacher Moshe, peace be upon him, concealed his words, but David came and clarified them,¹³⁴Midrash Shemot Rabba 15:22 stating, “May God-Elohi”m-אלהי״ם arise.” When HaShem-יהו״ה, blessed is He, takes out the banner engraved with Elohi”m-אלהי״ם, He then dons garments of vengeance. This is the secret of the verse,¹³⁵Isaiah 63:1 “Who is this coming from Edom, with sullied garments, from Botzrah?” It similarly states,¹³⁶Isaiah 59:17 “He donned garments of vengeance as His attire, and clothed Himself in vengeance like a coat.”

[The students asked,] "And why is 'Tzedek, tzedek [צדק]' (Deuteronomy 16:20) — two times?"
[Rabbi Rachumai] said to them, "As is written, 'From the brilliance before Him' (Psalms 18:13). The first 'tzedek' is actual [ממש] Tzedek, and She is Shechinah, as is written, 'Righteousness [צדק] dwells in Her' (Isaiah 1:21)."
[They asked,] "And what is the second 'tzedek'?"
[He answered,] "This is tzedek that frightens the righteous [צדיקים]."
[They asked,] "And is this Tzedek Tzedakah or not?"
[He answered,] "No."
"Why?"
"As is written, 'He dons Tzedakah like armor' (Isaiah 59:17) and Tzedek is 'A helm of redemption on His head' (Ibid.). There is no 'His head' other than Truth [אמת], as it is said, 'The head of Your words is Truth' (Psalms 119:160), and there is no Truth other than Peace [שלום], as is said, 'For He will be Peace and Truth in my days' (Isaiah 39:8). Is it possible for a person to say this? Thus, Hezekiah said [that] this trait that You gave to David, my father, is a half day, and peace and truth are half days. Therefore, he mentioned 'my days,' and he mentioned 'peace and truth' and 'in my days', as everything is one, as is written, peace 'There was evening and there was morning — one day' Genesis 1:5). What is the day? Peace, so too he seeks peace as is said 'Peace and truth he will be in my days' (Genesis 42:19). With this trait that you gave to David, my father, as is written, 'His throne, as the sun, before him' (Psalms 89:37)."