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Hidden in the Beginning
Based on Zohar I:39b. Translation and commentary by Moshe Miller
"In the beginning G-d created the heaven and the earth."
(Gen. 1:1)
Our Sages explain that the world was created with ten utterances
(Avot 5:1), expressed over the period of the six days of Creation.
Although there appear to be only nine utterances, the Sages conclude that the
word "bereishit" (meaning "in the beginning") is also an utterance, even
though it is not preceded explicitly by the words "and G-d said..."
(Rosh HaShana 32a; Megillah 21b; Zohar 15a, 30a)
The following extract explains these ideas.
Rabbi Abba said: The Higher World is concealed, and
everything associated with the Higher World is also concealed, because they are
all part of the sublime mystery of the day in which all other days are
contained.
All nine utterances, spread over the six days of Creation, are
included in the first utterance, " Bereishit" - "In the beginning."
[At this stage, Creation is not yet manifest as material
being. However,] when the Holy One blessed be He, brought the Creation into
manifest existence, he emanated the six.  | | " The beginning is in concealment, meaning the Higher World..." | | |
The six days of creation (Mikdash Melech) during which
the physical creation came about. Then each of the nine utterances through which
Creation came about is preceded by the phrase "And G-d said".
But, since the Higher World is concealed, and everything
that is associated with it is also concealed, the verse [merely] states "Bereshit..."
[meaning:] "bara -" [Hebrew for "He created"] "- sheet" [meaning
"six"]. [This implies the creation of] six supernal days.
The opening word "bereishit" is not preceded by the phrase "And G-d
said". That all the six days of Creation are contained in the word "bereishit"
can be seen from this word itself, which can be broken down into two component
words, which mean: "He created - six."
Nevertheless, [while the six days of Creation are still
contained within the word "bereishit"] the verse does not mention who
created them, because this refers to the concealed Higher World.
This concealed Higher World remains hidden from the created
beings of the lower worlds (Or HaChama) and therefore, "bereishit",
is not preceded by "And G-d said".
Afterwards, when He [chose to] reveal and articulate [the
remaining nine utterances through which the world was created, the verse
states,]
"G-d [ Elo-him] created the heaven and the
earth" - and not [just the simple more ambiguous] "created" [as above] - but
rather "Elo-him created", for the name "Elo-him" refers to
the revealed.
And therefore the verse utilizes the divine name "Elo-him",
for this name signifies the attribute of limiting and diminishing the Infinite
Light (Or Ein Sof) so that a physical world can exist. (Zohar,
Midrash HaNe'elam, parashat Noach, Ma'amar "Dor
Hamabul". See Introduction.)
The beginning is in concealment, meaning the Higher World. | | " The Lower World is revealed...." | | |
This is alluded to in the word "Bereishit", which
precedes material Creation. Who created it is not specified, because it refers
to the concealed Higher World.
The Lower World is revealed.
This is so that the deeds of the Holy One blessed be He
[always comprise two planes:] hidden and revealed. This is the mystery of the
Holy Name [ Havayah], which is both hidden and revealed.
The intention is to show that everything in the revealed world
is preceded by, and depends on, the higher world, their source. (Or HaChama)
Footnotes:
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