CHAPTER 23

Going out [al-yeṣiʾah] is the contrary of coming. The term is used to denote the going-out of a body, which may be a living being or not, from a place in which it rested to another place. Thus: They were gone out ofthe city;¹ If fire break out.² The term is applied figuratively to the manifestation of things that are in no way a body. Thus: The word went out of the king’s mouth;³ When this deed of the queen shall come abroad,⁴ meaning the propagation⁵ of the matter; For out of Zion shall go forth the law.⁶ Thus also: The sun was risen⁷ upon the earth;⁸ I refer to the manifestation of the light. Every mention of going out occurring in Scripture with reference to Him, may He be exalted, conforms to this figurative use. Thus: For, behold, the Lord goeth out of His place,⁹ that is, His decree, which at present is hidden from us, will become manifest. I refer to the coming into being of something10 after its not having existed, for everything that comes into being from God, may He be exalted, is attributed to His decree. Thus: By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.¹¹ In this verse God’s acts are likened to those that proceed from kings, whose instrument in giving effect¹² to their will is speech. However, God, may He be exalted, does not require an instrument by means of which He could act, for His acts are accomplished exclusively by means of His will alone; neither is there any speech at all, as shall be made clear.¹³ Inasmuch as the term going out, as we have made clear, was figuratively applied to the manifestation of an act of God¹⁴—for Scripture says: For, behold, the Lord goeth out of His place¹⁵—the term returning [shibah] is figuratively applied to the cessation of such an act likewise brought about in virtue of God’s will. It says accordingly, I will go and return to My place,¹⁶ the signification of which is that the Indwelling [28a] that had been among us is removed. This removal is followed17 by a privation of providence, as far as we are concerned.¹⁸ As it says by way of a threat:: And I will hide My face from them, and they shall be devoured.¹⁹ For a privation of providence leaves one abandoned and a target to all that may happen and come about, so that his ill and weal come about according to chance. How terrible is this threat! It is to this that it refers in its dictum: I will go and return to My place.²⁰