R. Simeon explained the difference, and said: ‘It is written, “Close by the border shall the rings be, for places for the staves” (Ex. 25, 27). The “border” is a secret place accessible only by one narrow path known to a few. It is, therefore, filled with gates and lit with lamps. This is the future world, which, being hidden and stored away, is called misgereth (border, lit. closed).
The “rings” are the supernal chain of water, air, and fire, which are linked with one another and emerge from one another like so many rings of a chain. They all turn to the “border”, with which is connected that supernal stream which waters them, and with which they are thus connected.
Further, these supernal rings are “places for the staves”, to wit, the lower chariots, of which some are from the side of fire, some of water, and some of air, so that they should be a chariot to the ark. Hence anyone who approaches should proceed only as far as the staves, but should not penetrate further, save those who are qualified to minister within, and to whom permission has been given to enter for that purpose.’
רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן פָּרִישׁ פְּלוּגְתָּא וְאָמַר. פָּתַח קְרָא וְאָמַר כְּתִיב, (שמות כ״ה:כ״ז) לְעֻמַּת הַמִּסְגֶּרֶת תִּהְיֶינָה הַטַּבָּעוֹת בָּתִּים לְבַדִּים. מָאן הַהוּא מִסְגֶּרֶת, דָּא הוּא אֲתַר סָגִיר דְּלָא פְּתִיחָא בַּר בִּשְׁבִיל חַד דַּקִּיק דְּאִתְיְידַע בִּגְנִיזוּ לְגַבֵּיהּ. וּבְגִינֵיהּ אִתְמְלֵי וְרָשִׁים תַּרְעִין לְאַדְלָקָא בּוֹצִינִין. וּבְגִין דְּאִיהוּ אֲתַר גָּנִיז וְסָתִים אִקְרֵי מִסְגֶּרֶת וְדָא הוּא עָלְמָא דְּאֲתֵי. וְהַהוּא עָלְמָא דְּאֲתֵי אִתְקְרֵי מִסְגֶּרֶת.
R. Simeon explained the difference, and said: ‘It is written, “Close by the border shall the rings be, for places for the staves” (Ex. 25, 27). The “border” is a secret place accessible only by one narrow path known to a few. It is, therefore, filled with gates and lit with lamps. This is the future world, which, being hidden and stored away, is called misgereth (border, lit. closed).
תִּהְיֶינָה הַטַּבָּעוֹת אִלֵּין עִזְקָאן עִלָּאִין דְּאִתְאַחֲדָן דָּא בְדָא מַיָא מֵרוּחָא וְרוּחָא מֵאֶשָׁא וְאֶשָׁא מִמַּיָּא. כֻּלְהוֹן אִתְאַחֲדָן דָּא בְּדָא וְנַפְקָן דָּא מִן דָּא בְּהָנֵי (ס"א כהני) עִזְקָאן, וְכֻלְהוֹן מִסְתַּכְּלָן לְגַבֵּי הַהוּא מִסְגֶּרֶת. דְּבֵיהּ מִתְאַחֵד לְהַהוּא נַהֲרָא עִלָּאָה לְאַשְׁקָאָה לוֹן וְאִתְאַחֲדָן בֵּיהּ.
The “rings” are the supernal chain of water, air, and fire, which are linked with one another and emerge from one another like so many rings of a chain. They all turn to the “border”, with which is connected that supernal stream which waters them, and with which they are thus connected.
בָּתִּים לְבַדִּים. הָנֵי עִזְקָאן מְלֵאִין (עילאין) אִנּוּן בָּתִּים וְאַתְרִין לְבַדִּים דְּאִנּוּן רְתִיכִין דִּלְתַתָּא. בְּגִין דָּדָא אָתֵי מִסִּטְרָא דְּאֶשָׁא. וְדָא מִסִּטְרָא דְמַיָא. וְדָא מִסִּטְרָא דְרוּחָא וְכֵן כֻּלְהוּ בְּגִין לְמֶהֱוֵי רְתִיכָא לַאֲרוֹנָא. וְעַל דָּא מָאן דְּמִקְרַב יִקְרַב בְּאִלֵּין בַּדִּים וְלָא בַּמֶּה דִּלְגַו. לֵךְ לֵךְ אָמְרִין נְזִירָא, סְחוֹר סְחוֹר לְכַרְמָא לָא תִקְרָב. בַּר אִנּוּן דְּאִתְחַזּוּן לְשַׁמָּשָׁא לְגַו. לוֹן אִתְיְהִיב רְשׁוּתָא לְאַעֲלָאָה לְשַׁמָּשָׁא וּלְקָרָבָא. וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב, (במדבר א׳:נ״א) וְהַזָּר הַקָּרֵב יוּמָת.
Further, these supernal rings are “places for the staves”, to wit, the lower chariots, of which some are from the side of fire, some of water, and some of air, so that they should be a chariot to the ark. Hence anyone who approaches should proceed only as far as the staves, but should not penetrate further, save those who are qualified to minister within, and to whom permission has been given to enter for that purpose.’