On the Descent of the Highest upon Mount Sinai

On the Descent of the Highest upon Mount Sinai Again, Memra 2: On the Descent of the Highest upon Mount Sinai. (The Mystery of the Church, composed by Mar Jacob, the Champion of the Worlds, who sealed his force upon Mount Sinai.) Grant that I may sing the sounds of the praise of your might. The holder of the ends of the world grasped the summit of Sinai; hold my thought unceasingly, as there is opportunity. O you who descended without descending to the high mountain, descend in truth to the height of your understanding that can contain you. In you, my thought becomes a foundation like Mount Sinai, and from it ascend songs of your glory. Grant that I may speak of your descent upon the mountain in a manner befitting inquiry, and that I may recount the weakness of your power upon it, and all tremble. To the peak of Sinai, the mountain of rock, you descended in inquiry; come to the spiritual thought that now looks upon you. The earth that would hold you like a conception is not aware of you, nor the mountains that oppose you like thoughts. Great is your understanding from Mount Sinai in spaciousness; recount upon it and from it produce a voice of thanksgiving. To that which is proclaimed in the place of Sinai, not its beginning, come, proclaim the self of the youth in the beauty of your songs. The people are silent from the time you loved her quickly; do not, my Lord, enter silence into my thought and laugh at it.

Your descent is hidden from the body and from the spirit, and your place is far removed from the earth and from the heavens. The power that holds the ends of the world is not sufficient for you, and the sign of lightning is not swifter than you. You are not spoken by the tongues of flame, and the mountains do not cry out to you with their words. The eloquent mouths of the house of Gabriel do not grasp you, and from the trumpet of the house of Michael you are very far. You are high, elevated, remote, hidden, concealed, and exalted; you are strong, mighty, secret, glorious, powerful, and wondrous. You hold the abysses and you lay bare the ends with the power of your essence; you clothe the creatures and you shake the worlds with your works. All creatures are filled from you while you are not diminished, and all the ends are gathered in you and are borne in you. Great is your descent from the height into the depth and into all of it.

Upon the summit of the height he sits like a judge, and by his command the orders of all creatures are governed. The earth trembles again at his power with a sign that is not upon anything, and like a mighty one the force of his creation has vanished. Beneath his command creation is placed so that it may not be submerged, and above his sign the heavens are held fast in their firmament. He dwells like a soul within creatures and has vanished from them; in him they are established and not distant from his power. He is far from them and near to them, and within them all; in him are confined the boundaries of all their limits. For he is not in a place, nor in a location, nor in a space; for he has no dwelling or abode except in type. This power, to which places are too small, descended to Mount Sinai and dwelt there. The air was filled with the waves of his wondrous speech, and by the voices that sang his praises his hosts cannot be comprehended. Concerning this descent upon Mount Sinai, bear with my narrative, or concerning this that he did not descend at all except in likeness. Examine here his unceasing presence within the narrative, and approach to speak of his descent in the great wonder. Behold the interpreter at the head of the discourse of the questions, and attune your ear to receive the praises. Be persuaded by this mighty one who holds the ends, what cause summoned him to descend upon Mount Sinai.

His mercy and his compassion went out toward the daughter of the Egyptians, and he came in his love to the one who was to be the mother of the son of the earth. He saw that daughter of the Hittites because of her race, that she might approach the lineage of the house of Abraham. He saw the girl when the Egyptians were sporting with her, and that holy one did not cease from his zeal. He sent after her the one who was to wash away the filth of her face before him, so that by his mixture she might be sanctified; she was the daughter of the righteous. He made Moses like a fountain and sent him toward her, that he might go down and dwell with her as a mediator. He gave him strength and might when he descended, so that by the wonders he would perform she would ascend with him. The Levite went down and performed signs and led her and ascended, and placed in her hand the staff which he had taken from the side of the bush. For the holy name he called her and ascended, from within Egypt, to the sanctuary, which is the house of God that guarded her. He placed on her head the crown of salvation and went out with her. He called the creatures to her wedding feast with their horns. And when Pharaoh sought to see the likeness of her who was hidden from him, the holy one cast him down and submerged him in the sea, and led her and ascended. He sent after her her heat to Egypt when she was redeemed. Her Levites crossed over and passed through the sea by a great miracle. Horeb received her and brought forth showers not customary; the wilderness bowed to her when it went up with its sacrifices.

The whole creation felt for her, that she might be betrothed. And all her elements came to adorn her. The clouds departed, all the elements, and went before her. As they were hastening to come with her to the holy mountain. The great pillar of light ran, to shine before her. And like a lamp for the bride, her elements and a rose were with her. Every day the elements of the seasons surrounded her from among the creatures. While she was being adorned with the first adornments. The height was disturbing her with the descent that sent her, and the depth was fattening her with the ladders that brought her near. The waters were watering her with blessings from the cloud, and all the elements were preparing her for the adornment. All the creatures were appointed to go with her, so that the world might see the great union that was to be for her. She was adorned in her garments until Sinai, and she arrived at the place where her Lord was appointed for her. Moses left her opposite the mountain and went up, to go and see when the bride would come to her path. He heard the voice that commanded him to descend, and he said to her: "To this bride whom you have redeemed and brought from within Egypt, behold, I have lifted you up as if on wings, dwelling in the air, and I have also adorned you in the regions that have no boundary.

He comes in love and betrothal: "Be for me a house, and I will be for you a king." And when I come and descend, I will be for you in holiness. Before the wedding, I will make known to you all my will. If you give me a sign, I will enter the bridal chamber that I desire for you. With a pure covenant I desire you to be for me. While for another you are not to be betrothed. Until the world, on the hope that is mine, I will place you, and again: for another you shall not be defiled. Enter with you. In holiness I will take you if you are my wife. And if you are zealous for foreign things, I will set you free. I will not see in you a despised sign of the proud. Nor the forms that are found for election. Do not show me misleading signs of the wanton. And do not turn in the arts of the licentious. Prostration of the face you shall not show to anyone except to me. And to no other standing shall you be from now on. Be a holy, chaste, and modest one, without blemish. Shining, pure, praying, and clean in all your forms. Be strong, guarded, and pure in power and peaceful. Clear, vigilant, calm, fitting, and without deceit. And if thus with open face you come to me, over all that I have you will be mistress without being commanded. A great crown, a strong one of kings, I will give to you. Holiness, the treasure of priests, I will cause to dwell in you.

The priests shall uncover the veils of your mysteries, and the priests shall reveal the hidden things to you. Behold, the Levites, like deacons, shall go with you, and the ministers, in the likeness of servants of your bridal chamber. Heaven shall set up a canopy over your earth, and earth shall multiply blessings for your reception. The air shall shine, all the valleys upon your encampment; the sun shall ripen sweet fruits for your sustenance. The earth shall tremble, all the kings who are angry with you, and you shall not fear the men who go out against your way. You shall place your heel above the neck of the heads of the earth, to trample all the crowns under your authority. The writings of my hands shall clothe you with a sign over them, that these are yours; and if according to my will you become, all that is yours shall be for me. This is the covenant he sent: the bridegroom with the hands of Moses, that he might descend and see if the bride is agreeable to the bridegroom. And the mediator, the son of the Hebrews, descended from the top of the mountain, and called the heads of his household (Jacob and his rulers). He brought before them the words of the bridegroom as they were: whether they agree to do his will or not. They answered him lovingly, rejoicing in him, that they agree to your mediation, O scribe Moses. The bridegroom asks beautifully for your daughter in a holy manner: what will you give us that he may enter and mingle with your race?

The little one, the sinner, is called to you. From the side of the mountain, the great blessing descends step by step. Behold, before you is the girl of the great ones of the house of the Egyptians, from there. She learned because of the sign that her Lord made. Moses called her to ask before the priests. And when she was glad, she gave her mouth to go with him. The Levite heard that by her will she gave herself. And when he rejoiced, he turned toward his Lord to show him. My Lord completed the girl for the mysteries as she wished. And she is not asked from what is holy. Behold, she made for me a good sign, as you taught me. And if it is true as she says, it is not rejected. Again he returned to Moses and said to him, "Turn toward her. Uncover her secrets, both openly and hiddenly. Outside, the white garments shall clothe, by which you shall shine. Within, the thoughts of holiness, by which you shall be pleasing. Be sanctified to me today, and tomorrow mysteriously, and on the third day come to her mightily." Moses descended and began to betroth the bride. He went and spread out from the coverings for the ascent. He taught her the mysteries that she not be shaken. And he commanded her that the hidden sin not be disturbed. Weep. Holiness slipped away on the path by which you slipped away, that in purity you may see his face when you have received him.

The crown of holiness: place it upon your head when she sees you. In her splendor she ascends with him to the summit of the mountain of light. A great mystery has touched me here, and my limbs are turned toward it. And upon his descent, behold, she goes out with me and mocks me. Why, O simple one, do you not tremble when the sign passes? Do not be ashamed that it is I who am the beauty of your songs. The narrative of the son in the midst of the discourse of his father is revealed. When he follows me, that without your song the sign does not pass. Do not divide for yourself among your discoveries, O foolish one who errs. One narrative is not divided between your lips. And the truth is narrow, and I am not able to measure from it. Cast my words upon the mortal, and thus the sign passes. Do not fear that the death of Moses is from the Messiah. See here how he was like the son of God. In his descent from the top of the mountain toward the Hebrews, the path of Jesus is seen in him, to the one who contemplates. In his mediation he descended and ascended toward the daughter of Jacob, she who was being signed for the Messiah toward salvation. Listen, O wise ones, how the servant was like his Lord, and as in a mystery he was called by the name of his companion. Through him the daughter of Abraham was redeemed from within Egypt, and through him she was betrothed to become the bride of that holy one.

In her hand she approached the bride to the king, her lord. He sanctified her with splendor, that she might see the height. He became a mediator between God and his tabernacle. He resembled his Lord, through whom his Father was revealed to the world. In this type, Christ descended toward humanity. Purify her, sanctify her, cleanse her, and wash her stains. Instead of the white garments that Moses clothed upon that daughter of Jacob, Joshua looked upon the image in holiness from within the water. Three days Moses sanctified that daughter of the people, and through the hands of our Lord, holiness stands forever. The likeness of the Son of God was depicted completely, and when the form passed, it was an image of realities. In these mysteries that were fulfilled in the hands of Moses, they called the Son of God, who is like me, "hasten." And if I open the door of the mysteries of my entire history, they do not permit me to approach the end. For the secrets of the hidden things press upon me; I am not able to complete their revelation. Upon the descent of the Highest to Sinai, I took the word of the Lord; for the narration of the account, my word is set straight briefly. Do not be perplexed by the houses of the mysteries of all these words; this is clear, that it is not limited or bounded. Walk in simplicity on the path of the discourse toward the end, while I leave many things in the middle of the account.

Moses descended and set up the tabernacle for the bride who had been brought. With a beautiful appearance he saw her, the bride who had been betrothed to him. He commanded her, and she put on one garment, and her beauty and her face shone. He increased her radiance, her wisdom grew, and he perfected her understanding. For three days Moses tarried with her, teaching her and instructing her in what manner she should see her Lord. He inscribed wise words for her and placed them in her mouth, so that if the glorious bridegroom called her, she would know how to respond to him. Moses was making her door wise and enlarging it, so that there might be for him in her a revelation of the face before the Holy One. When, then, she had learned in what manner she should see the bridegroom and what form she should put on before him when he arrived, and when she had been prepared for three days in holiness, then the bridegroom went forth from his place to go down to her. He put on strength and wore the might of valor, that he might come powerfully in splendor. He descended, though he did not descend, to the earth, though he did not come down. He cast fear into height and depth, for behold, he was coming. The commander disturbed the heavenly hosts, and the king of the journey was prepared, though he was not ready. The ranks of fire trembled before him, for behold, he was coming. They were shaken, that they might go before his mighty coming.

The ranks were drawn up one after another in haste. And the wall was bound, one with the other of the sons of light. The jewels of the height were astonished to descend to the earth. And they flew over the air, burning and flying before the Mighty One. A trembling was loosed in the limbs of the height, and the thrones blazed. For the mountain they heard, as it groaned from behind them. Thousands of ranks of flame were appointed to adorn the living mountain, to descend to the earth. The command went down to the lights of the light sharply, and to the angels who were with them, to be silent quickly. The spirits trembled, for lo, he was coming to the mountain of Sinai. And the voices of the powers that went out with him hastened. A new hearing was kindled among the heavens, by which the hidden one cast his path to the earth of Sinai. They were silent to see what place he would go out from, and where he was hidden, and how he would come, and by what he would descend. And when the eloquent orders were confused, the power was pressed, and the mountain of burning, the hidden dwelling of the wondrous vision. Not in likeness did the watchers see the one without body, for not in truth did he descend from the height into the depth. In a borrowed name he came down to the mountain mightily, so that the daughter of Abraham might be inflamed with desire for his greatness. He went out, indeed, when he did not come except in a type. He shook the creatures with the sound of the roaring of his hosts.

He sent forth the sound of the quaking from him, the footsteps of the mountains. By the descent of the Most High, the world was made and perceived. Yababath: the cry of the head of the angels, mightily. And the voice was raised and shook the creatures in their valleys. The shofar cried out from the top of that high place of heaven. And the rocks trembled at the might of the high voice. He brought down the sign in terror at the great wonder. He went forth from his place, passed through the firmament, for he was descending. He gathered the lightning and went forth into the air swiftly. So that over the sparks of the light which he poured out, he trod and passed. He took hold of the fire with the reins of fire and shook the coals. So that like lamps they went before him, shining. He glided over the air, the place, in his swiftness. And he dazzled the eyes which cannot look upon him as he is. Voices cried out in the height of that vault of heaven: that the call is very fitting for the sinner that he might come with him. The lightnings were entangled, stretched out over the creatures. The threads of fire which went, the coals, which give life. The Mighty One descended, alighted upon the mountain, and the whole trembled. He was amazed and was dissolved from the swiftness which was upon him. The cloud encircled him, which cooled him with coldness. With a gentle dew which sprinkled a command upon his burning. The vapor of the flame ascended like a sign. While the stones were burning with a fire which cannot be felt.

The wonder to speak of, as the flames were separated, was complete. Even the mountains were burning again like coals. The lightning was smooth also on the cliffs. Fire burst forth even from stones as from wood. And his descent was a fire to the mountain, and lo, it fell to him. And his placing, a power borne by the creatures, by a mighty sign. That one: the mighty one who reached over it, and the whole trembled. That one: his placing was upon the mountain by his power, without being shaken. The mountain of stones was not able to bear the power that was borne, the end of the world, by his might. That one: he bore the mountain that bore him, as he entered into it. So that the power that suffices for all is hidden in his concealment. That the Lord descended upon Mount Sinai, lo, it was heard. How then did the wonder descend to speak, by the miracles? It mingles the account of how he descended and how he did not descend. It completes the word that does not end with that which ended. For the simple one, it is said that he descended mightily. For the wise one, however, this is clear, that he did not descend. That one whom the heavens do not hold, his concealment: the small place of Mount Sinai sufficed for him. The place that is the footstool of the earth, beneath his feet, how much did the threshold of the footstool upon which he alighted suffice? He descended in his not-ending manner upon the summit of the mountain, while he did not move from the place where he is, to the place where he descended.

The wonder to speak of, as the flames were separated, was complete. Even the mountains were burning again like coals. The lightning was smooth also on the cliffs. Fire burst forth even from stones as from wood. And his descent upon Mount Sinai was a wonder, for he descended in fire, while the mountain was not consumed. When he did not move in the form, the descent was perceived. He brought forth a full tremor from within the rock, while he was where he was. Words are narrow, and the account is fearful and the discourse strong. And it is beneficial: from it even the tongue is weakened. If the mouth were able to recount him as is fitting, even the hearing would be confounded by the wonder. If I were able to speak of his fearfulness, I would cast wonder upon the hearers from the narration. If my mind does not cover me, so that I do not again speak of that descent with praises, I would not cease. How shall I speak, and how much shall I speak, and when shall I be silent? With what shall I finish the endless within the narrative? If Sinai, when it was a flame, was consumed in him, the tongue of flesh is not able to cease from his narrative. That holy one made a beginning for the proclamation, and he came to her upon his shoulder that she might be sanctified. He bent his stature over the head of Sinai from the cloud, a great furnace of flame in the high place. And with the descent, a cry was heard and a tumult was found. He made heard voices of joy, like a bride on her wedding day.

The wonder of the summer, the cloud on the mountain, was for the sinner king. And there he ceased, while being adorned with wonders. Voices came forth from the vapors that descend to the earth. Wondrous visions of the host, a multitude in their flashes. The lightnings were smooth, as they were gentle and swift. The trembling of the mountain was consumed as by fire. The ranks of the watchers, as they were carried away spiritually. Thousands of hosts who sing praise mightily. The sound of the horn was strong and shook the mountain, and for the hearing it was a wonder, terrifying and confounding it. Even this wonder heard and in the depths, it listened to the wondrous things distinctly. What horn was that cry there upon Mount Sinai, and was it a horn or a trumpet clearly? Behold, O knower: in the questions, how many heroes, and in that order of mysteries, how many mighty ones. He made heard voices that were not in any thing as in a thing, and the sound of the horn was heard when it was not a horn. He commanded the air, and the whole valley was filled opposite Sinai, a sound not confined to horns or to pipes. As with a horn, the command burst forth within the vapors, and the thunder came forth that struck the earth in its might. Even in this order, that fearful one was preserved, that by the sound of the horn the sinner would enter into his summer.

This sign he gave to Moses while he was still below, for that people, while he alone knew it. When the thunder ceased on the mountain, the people ascended in ordered ranks, and it was both raised and silent. When it was raised, the hearing was impaired by it. It was softened, so that its sounds did not strike the ears. When the hidden power cried out in it, it lowered it, so that it was borne in an orderly manner upon the hearing. By this vision, which was fearful to the earth-dwellers, the people thought that the Lord had descended and dwelt on the mountain. For these voices that struck the ear were a hidden sign. The people thought that the thunder, a mixed sound, had given birth to the ear. Because they were astonished that the Lord had descended, the simple ones thought that the height of the mountain had been diminished by him. Because they heard that the voice of the thunder was good and beneficial, they thought that it spoke again in a composite manner. By the questions of the ignorant, they were astonished, and they considered the composite to be a simple thing, like those who err. According to their simplicity, the interpretation also proceeds thus. And with the intellect, one can also weigh the visions by its measure, for the air is pure and casts upon the intellect, so that according to his thought, each one sees him as he is able. The cause of his calling was that his power descended upon Mount Sinai, so that the cloud might be bound to him in a vision of glory.

If it were not that he descended, there would be cause to say afterward of her: "Since I did not see him, how can I again hope for him?" And when it was thus, the cause of the questions mounted, and the word went forth: "Lo, the Lord came down to the mountain." And he showed a wonder, as though he had settled entirely on the mountain. And Sinai trembled at the mighty power that alighted upon its summit. A cloud arose like a pillar over the whole mountain, so that it might be established upon the place where he settled. The vapors were dispersed in the fire in which the lip was, that the coal of the place might be believed to be there. The lightnings were terrified, the thunders were silenced, the mighty voices, so that one might think that the whole creation was there. A cloud spread out, not woven but wrapped, and encircled the mountain, as though he himself were within it, his entire garment. He spread mists like carpets on all sides, as an honor for the one who was within them, for his glory. He kindled in the air gleams of light like lamps, as though his rays were also for the honors that are true. And when it was thus, he gave no cause for the questions, and truly he gave no cause for the daughter of Abraham. And when the sign came to her and settled, he hunted her, after a short time she hastened to be purified by him.

Not upon her husband is it now for us to speak. This is reserved for another account of her affliction. Upon the descent of the Lord to Sinai my discourse is extended. I did not depart from the history that is not to be grasped. The Mighty One descended, he alighted upon the mountain as he had descended. And Moses descended, who had called the bride, that she might come to him. She went out, she stood, she trembled, the Torah, the book, the cloud, the tablet, the blessing, the staff, the rod, the quaking, the rod, the circumcision, the trembling, the falling, the silence, the astonishment, the fear, the destruction, the swallowing, the death, and her spirit departed as it was being questioned. Her voice was choked, her thunderbolts were arrayed, lightnings cried out in her, thunders roared. Visions that could not be endured terrified her. The bridegroom began to speak to her in a holy manner, and she did not accept that she might hear from him in a gentle manner. She cried out to him: "To Moses, who is meek, speak to me." The voice of the Lord to the place of death, behold, I cast myself. For that proud woman, the voice was sweet to her. She knew that the vessel was from purity, by its foulness. She asked Moses to speak to her the word of the bridegroom, which was simple to her, that she might contend with him wantonly. These voices from Mount Sinai did not leave her. She cried out, she who, if she were to be subdued, would be a fire with her. She said to that meek one: "You speak with me," for she knew that he would be rebuked and would not be hasty.

It was for him to speak to her, and the voices of the living, which are of division, turned upon him. Not a voice of thunder from within Sinai was it, that she might not resist nor contend against his force. To Moses she called, that he might converse with her, for she trusted that if he were provoked, his death would be easy. She arrayed the voices of the lion that roared, and Sinai trembled, and Moses said in a gentle tone, "Entreat her." The voice of the revelation stirred her to the deep abyss, and to the Savior who is placed between her claws was her petition. From that voice which moves mountains she was empowered, and to that harsh speech of Moses she was wearied. And the cry from the summit of the air stirred her, and the word of the mouth she desired to hear, for it was sweet to her. Not that Moses was dear to her to speak with her; she was questioned by God in a hidden manner. She heard the voice of the sinner who warned her from the heights, and she did not delight in the word of the pure one in a hidden manner. She mounted a pretext to repel from herself the voice of the holy one; with cunning she called to Moses, "Come, speak with me." For if she had not been set to succeed there, she would not have been questioned by the sinner who came against her.

If her eye had not cast itself upon the heights, she would not have chosen the speech of Moses from the thunder. If her face had not been broken before the sinner, she would not have been scorched by his fire when she received him. If her heart had not loved her fornication, she would have received the one who rejects truth to speak with her. If she had been pure for the water, she would have been ashamed before the holy one; it was revealed to her that she was simple in the manner of a harlot. She saw that the hour of the sinner had arrived, seeking truth, and she revealed her secret to her master, that she was a fornicator. She called to Moses to speak to her according to her will, for she thought that her pride was hidden. "Speak with me," she said to him, "gently, softly." "God," she said, "restrain his voice, which terrifies me." Moses, agitated, encouraged her like a bride: "Be calm; do not be frightened by the mighty one. He has done what he willed and has ascended to his high place; go up in his station, and behold, the thunder of his voice has ceased. Come, see him without fear; I will bring you to your bridal chamber. Look at his splendor, how much power he has over his creatures. This strength your betrothed has in his glory; do not be troubled by his majesty in your haste. Stand with him in a full covenant, for which he came; do not be ashamed of him, for he is revealed to you, behold, from Egypt.

The earth trembled and Moses was afraid, and it blazed for her. The mountain sank and the height was firm, and Sinai burned. Voices of thunder, visions wondrous, flashes of lightning terrifying. Orders were arranged, rows were set, ranks were glorious. Walls were encircled, thousands were pressed, forces were arrayed. Seraphs sanctified, cherubs hovered, watchers flew. A wondrous vision of the sign of the ark, the hidden covenant. The cloud that stands, the fire that burns, the voice of the height. The radiance that spread, the light that poured, the glory that shone. The splendor that extended, the voice that was strong, the tumult that rose. Moses meek, the bridegroom mighty, the bride lowly. The circle that separates, the dome that is bent, the beauty that is bright. Joys were set, worlds were glad, the wedding was prepared. And the bride, when she was asked from the wedding. The scribe stands and the bridegroom is troubled, who will inscribe the sign. And the bridegroom covers with the curtain: the world he casts. For this bridegroom, then, the daughter of Abraham, whose eyes did not see: she was the companion of the calf. She hung laurels: of fire, to kindle outside the mountain. And crowns: of fire, and in clouds Sinai was hidden. The bridegroom brought forth wondrous vessels of flame, from that same place God who descended with him. The summer heat was hot in the pierced windows that from the embrasure, and the meek one in it the likeness of fire that cannot be extinguished.

The doors were closed to her, the gates that cannot be touched. The bolts of the house of God were prepared. And a cloud spread out from outside the hundred cubits, that cloud whose interior was dark, its body consumed, its strength diminished. A light breeze folded for her like a curtain, so that the darkness might see these beauties within her. Within the cloud and the fire that burned on the summit of the mountain, and outside her, the air was consumed like her glory. Glory was hidden between the two sides of that cloud, which was revealed and not revealed as it is. The cloud within her concealed the radiance of his face, while she cast a faint gleam upon the beholders. A blessed light flowed from her rocks, a little less than that glory which his people saw. When the radiance shone and the whole cloud was revealed, then Mount Sinai and its summit were revealed by a sign. When a little glory was pressed out from the cloud, it rested in the cloud so that it would not flow out upon the beholders. They saw him and did not see him clearly, for the glory within was again kindled in their minds. Even this vision that was seen was from their eyes a great wonder, that they might learn that within there was something great.

The light was turning about within the clouds. They were burning, as if the world were about to be set ablaze. They saw him from beneath that cloud of smoke. And again, upon the mountain, he was causing wonder to all who were around him. For when something is hidden and concealed, it is very heavy. Because of this, the cloud became a veil for the mountain. The smoke that was being kindled upon the mountain ascended. It gathered clouds of flame that were being turned about. Voices went forth, as if a horn were crying out at its side. The mountain trembled, like a tree pressed down by the weight upon it. The kindled smoke was a single mass, and Sinai thundered, as was fitting, for the Presence was dwelling in it. There, the swift voices of the heavens were stirred, for the Lord of the heights was upon the mountain with his encampment. Many creatures, with voices and terrifying visions, for the Lord of creation was upon Sinai and in the clouds. The thunders were restrained from bursting forth upon the summit of the mountain, and as they signaled, "Here in this valley is the king," the trumpets cried out loudly upon the height of Sinai, that the earth might be shaken at the sound of the voice of the Lord there. The song of the watchers was silenced within the clouds, so that those outside thought he was within. When the light of the mountain was turned about within the cloud, the outer darkness covered it (from it, not: it was set ablaze).

When the flame was poured out over the mountain, the cloud enclosed it so that it would not descend upon the lower regions. When the coals of ember were raised up at the summit of Sinai, the air received the thunder lightly. The cloud was outside, and within it the flame, so that heat might be changed into cold. The radiance of the power was scattered over the top of the mountain, and it was hidden so that it might not be revealed mightily. The light was pressed into the dense rock of that cloud, and it was contained and compressed so that its brilliance might not fall upon the whole earth. A sound was heard from within the great thicket of the watchers, and like the voice of the sea they were agitated in their circling. A whirlwind was roaring, which encompassed them from all sides, and voices were striking from the darkness outside the mountain. They were hidden and resounding, and as they drew near they were far off; to the eyes they were hidden, and to the ears they were revealed in two aspects. The mountain trembled, for it could not bear that mighty one, and if there had been a way to flee, it would not have tarried. Sinai quaked, and its rocks burned from the conflagration, and in its astonishment at its own burning it was consumed. The angels marveled that the unceasing one alighted upon the mountain, and though its height was great, Sinai did not cease its trembling.

The hosts that descended with him were very joyful, for they set the Levites in his path toward the heights. Again, those ranks that remained in the heights were amazed, for like householders they remained there in his high place. Those thought that he was with them in the height above, and those thought that he was with them on Mount Sinai. Some incline toward the chariot that was hidden in him, and some stand on the summit of the mountain that was consumed in him. He was hidden from some and from others on both sides, and he was concealed in his place from the upper and from the lower. The mountain of fire on the summit of the mountain was seen by the lower, and the radiance that was bound to the chariot was seen by the upper. Within his concealment his dwelling began, and it was not visible, nor again was it revealed in depth except in order. It was not possible for him to go and alight in places, for in him all creatures are confined, and there is no place where he might descend. He was on the mountain, and he was in the height, and he was in everything, and on the chariot, and within the cloud, and in all sides. The likeness of the burning fire on the summit of the mountain shows that in wonder a union was made between the earths. A wondrous vision was seen by the son of Abraham, and in wonder the bride saw and snatched him to her side.

Upon it Mount Sinai was placed, as it bore its burden. Like a crag it hung upon his arm and adorned him. In him all creatures and the ends of the heights were suspended. And he mounted the cause of the unapproachable, and settled upon the mountain. A likeness showed the burning upon the side of the mountain, that with wonders he bound it in his holy grasp. And when the love of the great one drew near to come to him, she was troubled lest she not hear his teaching. She was weary: Moses, that he might finish the parable full of preparation, until it was confirmed that she might return with him and ascend the summit. And when the simple repose was in the mountain, in the great wonder, the Lord called to the chosen Moses to enter to him. A voice went out like a thunderbolt after Moses: "Enter, and you shall return with him, into the midst of the clouds." He ascended upon the request, and behold, he had gone up to the holy one. And a voice ran that showed him the way of flame. He hung before him the face of that door of requests, that he might enter and see the summit in its glory, where it is. A command went out, cut a path for him through the midst of the clouds, so that the high light from within Sinai might not burn him. Moses ascended into the bridal chamber of the summit, the king, that he might learn its mysteries and bring the bride to the holy one. He ascended and learned and went out and brought her, as he was commanded, that she might draw near and hear the teaching of the house of God.

Not to the abyss did she turn to enter, for she was not pure. From outside the gate she was to hear, to learn the will of the sinner. Then a voice from the cloud thundered against her: "This is the covenant of truth, both for him and for her." He took up and taught her instruction with a loud voice, and spoke truth to her openly with power. He increased her radiance with the simple mountains, for the burden of heaviness did not place upon her neck. Lest she make graven images, he taught her; and that she not err before him, he guided her. That he was a bearer and also a seeker, he made known to her; and that a rewarder after generations would come, he was to her. Ten miles he set on the path of righteousness, that she might pass from this to the house of the kingdom. At her head he placed a lamp and ten before her, that the fitting light of the law might precede her. When she was commanded how she should guard and with what she should be pleasing, she forgot and abandoned the terrible things that had been spoken. The Lord speaks, and Sinai trembles, and the place is fearful, great and mighty is the wonder, the power on the summit of the mountain. The Lord spoke wondrous voices before the people, thunders of powers that were discharged before the clouds. With these voices full of the tremors of flame, he taught her to hear and go in the way.

In the eloquent mouth that sets the coals upon the lips, the voice of the commandments was flowing to her that she might learn the truth. In that tongue which was being broken in the thunder, the speech of truth was extending to her that she might be established in it. The flute of the flame played at the summit of the mountain, and the voice that trembles from the thunder terrified Hagar. In the calling, the voice of the mountain that set the law struck her, and a boundary was placed that she might not stray from the commandment. And when she heard the speech that called and urged her, she asked that she might also hear the teaching. Here the narrative of the church bends to me in simplicity, and it gave me a hand that I might approach with it toward the conclusion. The days of the discourse of the unending power are completed, whose order is toward another beginning that will fall to me. He learned the narrative of the mountain, and it is not possible that the one who seeks to be opened and then turns again to his story. Behold, this tongue has set a finger on the path of the narrative, to complete the truncated things full of time. The wise one seeks the word that flew to Mount Sinai, and it has set its wing and the height of the discourse that is not possible. The narrative was holy and weak, and how will it be? The remainder seeks to rely on another beginning, that it may not be difficult for that daughter of Jacob to be instructed in it, as the voice said to her and sealed her narrative.

In that pride, she was pouring out for the mighty one, and this pure one, within the folly, was fastened to the outside. Not with angels did he descend to her as upon Sinai, and not with the thunderclaps of the heavens did he speak to her. Not with lights, not with clouds, not with vapors, not with a whirlwind, nor with flashes of flame. Not when the house was wandering from him, where it might dwell. In humility, the mighty one descended to the earth, and with rags he revealed himself to humanity: with hunger and thirst, with toil and labor and hardship. When he was hidden from the tempter in the desolate wilderness, when the chief of demons was covered with snow, when stones of stumbling were cast at him from every side, when he was reproached for eating with sinners, when they reviled him for mingling even with tax collectors, when they pursued him because the chief was ashamed to give to the king, when he had no place to rest his head there, when he was cast out alone upon the vile one, when a sack was bound upon his shoulders in the likeness of a slave, when the feet of the earth that his hands had fashioned were stirred, when he was sold by the householders who had served him, when even the faithful who clung to him denied him, when he was accused by the judge as a murderer, when he was led by the executioners as a guilty one.

When the column was fixed in the house of ink and the foundations were laid, when he was clothed in the garments of scorn from the heavens, when upon his head was a crown of thorns which the soldiers had mocked, when he was shaken and questioned as to what the laughter was, when upon his shoulder a heavy beam was placed, which he carried and went out, when his hands and feet were pierced by the nails, when upon his cheeks (fell) blows of spittle to the point of blood, when in the sponge of myrrh and vinegar they gave him to drink, when his side was pierced with a spear without mercy, when he was bowed down, bound, and buried—blessed is her taste. In all these visions, the Church saw the Son of God. Blessed is he who saved her from the terrors of idolatry. Completed is the homily on the descent of the Highest upon Mount Sinai.