R. Abba then commenced with the next verse: ALL THESE ARE THE TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL. ‘The word “all” signifies that they were all attached irremovably to the place from which all blessings issue. The “twelve” refers to the twelve links of the adornments of the Matron, she being joined with them. AND THIS IT IS THAT THEIR FATHER SPAKE UNTO THEM AND BLESSED THEM. The word “spake” indicates that in this place speech has scope.
Further, we have here the union of upper with lower and of lower with upper. Below there is a union through the twelve tribes to which Zoth (this) was joined. The words “that he spoke” indicate the union of male and female. Thus there is a union on two sides, below and above. Finally, he united them in the place above, male and female together, as it is written: “Every one according to his blessing, etc.”
Similarly in the verse, “The Lord bless thee out of Zion, and see thou the good of Jerusalem, all the days of thy life” (Ps. 127, 5), Zion is mentioned because from it issue blessings to water the garden, and then Jerusalem is mentioned to show that all blessings issue from male and female together. Similarly it is written: “The Lord bless thee and keep thee” (Num. 6, 24) -“bless” from the male, and “keep” from the female.’
פָּתַח רִבִּי אַבָּא וְאָמַר קְרָא אֲבַתְרֵיהּ, כָּל אֵלֶּה שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר וְגו', כָּל אֵלֶּה שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֵלֶּה שִׁבִטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ, מַאי כָּל אֵלֶּה. אֶלָּא, לְאַחְבְּרָא (ס"א למחתם) לוֹן, בְּאֲתַר דְּכָל בִּרְכָאן מְרִיקִין תַּמָּן. שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר. שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר וַדַּאי, קִשְׁרִין דְּתִקּוּנֵי מַטְרוֹנִיתָא, וְאִיהִי אִתְחַבְּרַת בַּהֲדַיְיהוּ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר. וְזֹאת אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר לָהֶם אֲבִיהֶם וַיְבָרֶךְ אוֹתָם, דְּהָא בְּאֲתַר דָּא, דִּבּוּר שַׁרְיָא.
R. Abba then commenced with the next verse: ALL THESE ARE THE TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL. ‘The word “all” signifies that they were all attached irremovably to the place from which all blessings issue. The “twelve” refers to the twelve links of the adornments of the Matron, she being joined with them. AND THIS IT IS THAT THEIR FATHER SPAKE UNTO THEM AND BLESSED THEM. The word “spake” indicates that in this place speech has scope.
אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר, הָכָא קִשְׁרָא חַד, לְאִתְחַבְּרָא מִתַּתָּא לְעֵילָא, וּמֵעֵילָא לְתַתָּא. מִתַּתָּא, בְּאִלֵּין תְּרֵיסַר שִׁבְטִין, וְזֹאת, אִתְחַבְּרָא בַּהֲדַיְיהוּ. אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר, הָא חִבּוּרָא דְכַר וְנוּקְבָא, קִשּׁוּרָא לִתְרֵין סִטְרִין, מִתַּתָּא וּמִלְּעֵילָא, לְסוֹף קָשַׁר לוֹן בְּאֲתַר דִּלְעֵילָא, דְּכַר וְנוּקְבָא כְּחֲדָא. הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר כְּבִרְכָתוֹ וְגו'. מַאי כְּבִרְכָתוֹ. אֶלָּא כְּבִרְכָתוֹ בַּת זוּגוֹ. אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר כְּבִרְכָתוֹ תַּרְוַוְיְיהוּ כְּחֲדָא.
Further, we have here the union of upper with lower and of lower with upper. Below there is a union through the twelve tribes to which Zoth (this) was joined. The words “that he spoke” indicate the union of male and female. Thus there is a union on two sides, below and above. Finally, he united them in the place above, male and female together, as it is written: “Every one according to his blessing, etc.”
פָּתַח וְאָמַר, (תהלים לה) יְבָרֶכְךָ יְיָ מִצִּיּוֹן וּרְאֵה בְּטוּב יְרוּשָׁלָם וְגו', יְבָרֶכְךָ יְיָ מִצִּיּוֹן, דְּמִנֵּיהּ נָפְקִין בִּרְכָאן, לְאַשְׁקָאָה לְגִינְתָא. וְהוּא כָּלִיל כָּל בִּרְכָאן, וְיָהִיב לָהּ, וּלְבָתַר וּרְאֵה בְּטוּב יְרוּשָׁלָם. לְאַחֲזָאָה דְּכָל בִּרְכָאן אַתְיָין מִדְּכַר וְנוּקְּבָא. כְּגַוְונָא דָא (במדבר ז) יְבָרֶכְךָ יְיָ וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ. יְבָרֶכְךָ יְיָ מִדְּכוּרָא. וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ מִנּוּקְבָא. יְבָרֶכְךָ יְיָ מִזָּכוֹר. וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ מִשָּׁמוֹר. וְכֹלָא חַד מִלָּה, בְּגִין דְּמִתַּרְוַויְיהוּ נָפְקִין בִּרְכָאן לְעָלְמִין. וְעַל דָּא, אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר כְּבִרְכָתוֹ בֵּרַךְ אוֹתָם.
Similarly in the verse, “The Lord bless thee out of Zion, and see thou the good of Jerusalem, all the days of thy life” (Ps. 127, 5), Zion is mentioned because from it issue blessings to water the garden, and then Jerusalem is mentioned to show that all blessings issue from male and female together. Similarly it is written: “The Lord bless thee and keep thee” (Num. 6, 24) -“bless” from the male, and “keep” from the female.’