Daily Zohar # 4816 – Pekudei – Who is the builder and the protector

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Hebrew translation:

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Zohar Pekudei
Continued from previous DZ
#98
He further opened and said: “שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת לִשְׁלֹמֹה אִם ה’ לֹא יִבְנֶה בַיִת” “A Song of Ascents, for Shlomo: If Hashem does not build the house, its builders labor in vain…” (Psalms 127:1). King Shlomo spoke this verse at the time when he was building the Holy Temple (Beit HaMikdash). As he began to build, he saw that the work was completing itself in their hands and that the Temple was rising as if by itself. Then he began to say: “שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת לִשְׁלֹמֹה אִם יְהוָה לֹא יִבְנֶה בַיִת שָׁוְא עָמְלוּ בוֹנָיו בּוֹ אִם יְהוָה לֹא יִשְׁמָר עִיר שָׁוְא שָׁקַד שׁוֹמֵר.” “If Hashem does not build the house, its builders labor in vain.” And this is the same secret as the verse: “בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים” “In the beginning, God created” (Genesis 1:1). For the Holy One, Blessed be He, created and prepared this world, which is Malchut, which is called the “House,” and He provided it with everything it needs.
#99
Its builders—these are the secret of the rivers, which are the Sefirot of Zeir Anpin, that go out and enter into this house, which is Malchut, in order to rectify it with everything it needs. And even though they all come to repair and perfect it, indeed, if Hashem—which is the secret of the upper world, namely Binah, had not first prepared and established the house properly, these builders would be laboring in vain. Rather, the essence is that which Binah created and prepared. “אִם ה’ לֹא יִשְׁמָר עִיר” “If Hashem does not guard the city…” (Psalms 127:1) This refers to what is written: “תָּמִיד עֵינֵי ה’ אֱלֹהֶיךָ בָּהּ מֵרֵשִׁית הַשָּׁנָה וְעַד אַחֲרִית שָׁנָה” “The eyes of Hashem your God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year” (Deuteronomy 11:12). And it has been established: It is through this divine providence that the city (Malchut) is protected from all sides.
Notes:
The “builders” mentioned in the verse refer to the Sefirot of Zeir Anpin; these Sefirot flow into Malchut in order to sustain and perfect it, just like streams that feed and nourish a garden or a city. However, they are not the source—they are the conduits of what was already established by Binah, that is, the True Creator and Guard.
The Sefirot of Zeir Anpin are like rivers that flow into Malchut, building and sustaining it. However, their work is only effective because Binah—Hashem—first created and prepared the vessel (Malchut). Binah is the true source of both the building and the guarding of Malchut. This is the meaning of the verse: “If Hashem does not build… if Hashem does not guard…”—the spiritual foundation and protection both come from above. This passage teaches that divine creation and protection operate through a structured spiritual hierarchy. While the lower Sefirot function as active forces, they depend entirely on the preparation and guidance of the higher levels (Binah). Thus, building and guarding the “city” (Malchut) are acts of divine wisdom and grace, not merely the result of the spiritual activity below.

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