The Bahir Illumination, Aleph, Yud and Shin

One of the oldest, most important and most carefully preserved of all the ancient texts. The Bahir Attributed to Rabbi ben haKana, master of the first century esoteric school.

"Rabbi Amorai said: What is the meaning of the verse (Exodus 15:3, "God is a man (Ish) .... "? Mar Rahumai said to him: Great Master, do not ask about something that is so simple. Listen to me and I will advise you.

He said to him : What is this like ? A King had a number of beautiful dwellings, and he gave each one a name. One was better than the other. He said, "I will give my Son this dwelling whose name is Alef. This one whose name is Yud, is also good, as is the one whose name is Shin. What did he do then ? He gathered all three together, and out of them he made a single name and a single house.

He said: How long will you continue to conceal your meaning ?

The other replied: My Son, "Alef" is the head. Yud is second to it. Shin includes the world. (p 10-11)

"In the beginning "is One. Two is (Isa 57:16), "The Spirit that enwraps itself is from Me , and I have made souls." Three is (Psalm 65:10), "the divisions of God are filled with water."

What are these "divisions "? You taught us, our Master, that God took the waters of creation and separated them, placing half in the skies and half in the ocean. This is the meaning of "the divisions of God are filled with water." Through them, man studies the Torah". (p 18-19)

Exodus 15:3 יְהֹוָה אִישׁ מִלְחָמָה יְהֹוָה שְׁמוֹ:

Exodus 3:15 וַיֹּאמֶר עוֹד אֱלֹהִים אֶל משֶׁה כֹּה תֹאמַר אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵי אֲבֹתֵיכֶם אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם אֱלֹהֵי יִצְחָק וֵאלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב שְׁלָחַנִי אֲלֵיכֶם זֶה שְּׁמִי לְעֹלָם וְזֶה זִכְרִי לְדֹר דֹּר: