זוהר, בראשית י׳Zohar, Bereshit 10

Segment 1א׳

וַיַּעַשׂ אֱלֹהִים אֶת שְׁנֵי הַמְאוֹרוֹת הַגְּדוֹלִים וַיַּעַשׂ רִבּוּיָא וְתִקּוּנָא דְּכֹלָּא כְּדְקָא יְאוּת. אֶת שְׁנֵי הַמְאוֹרוֹת הַגְּדוֹלִים בְּקַדְמִיתָא בְּחִבּוּרָא חָדָא. רָזָא דָּא שְׁמָא שְׁלִים כְּחֲדָא יהו"ה אֱלהִים אַף עַל גַּב דְּלָא אִיהוּ בְּאִתְגַּלְּיָא אֶלָּא בְּאֹרַח סָתִים.

AND GOD MADE THE TWO GREAT LIGHTS. The word “made” signifies the due expansion and establishment of the whole. The words “the two great lights” show that at first they were associated as equals, symbolising the full name Tetragrammaton Elohim (although the latter part is not revealed, but is known inferentially).

Segment 2ב׳

הַגְּדוֹלִים דְּאִתְבְּרִיאוּ (נ"א דאתרביאו) בִּשְׁמָא דָא כְּדָא לְאִתְקְרֵי בְּהוּ שְׁמָא דְכֹלָּא. מצפץ מצפץ אִלֵּין שְׁמָהָן עִלָּאִין דִּתְלֵיסַר מְכִּילָן דְּרַחֲמֵי. הַגְּדוֹלִים, אִלֵּין אִתְרַבִּיאוּ וְסָלְקִין לְעֵילָא. בְּגִין דְּאִנּוּן עִלָּאִין מֵרָזָא עִלָּאָה וְסָלְקִין לְתוֹעַלְתָא דְּעָלְמָא דְאִתְקַיְימָא בְּהוֹן עָלְמִין. כְּגַוְונָא דָא שְׁנֵי הַמְאוֹרוֹת תַרְוַויְיהוּ כְּחֲדָא סְלִיקוּ בִּרְבוּתָא חָדָא.

The word “great” shows that at their creation they were dignified with the same name, so that through them the name of the Whole was called Mazpaz Mazpaz, the two highest names of the thirteen categories of mercy. These were invested with greater dignity, and they are placed at the head because they derive from on high and ascend for the benefit of the world and for the preservation of worlds. Similarly the two lights ascended together with the same dignity.

Segment 3ג׳

לָא אִתְיְישָׁב סִיהֲרָא לְגַבֵּי שִׁמְשָׁא. דָּא אַכְסִיף מִקַּמֵּי דָּא. סִיהֲרָא אָמְרָה (שיר השירים א׳:ז׳) אֵיכָה תִרְעֶה. שִׁמְשָׁא אָמְרָה (שם) אֵיכָה תַרְבִּיץ בַּצָּהֳרָיִם. שְׁרַגָא זְעֵירָא אֵיכְדֵין צָהִיר בַּצָּהֳרָיִם. (שם) שַׁלָּמָה אֶהיֶה כְּעוֹטְיָה אֵיכְדֵּין בְּכִסּוּפָא. כְּדֵין אַזְעִירַת גַרְמָהּ לְמֶהוֵי רֵישָׁא לְתַתָּאי. דִּכְתִיב צְאִי לָךְ בְּעִקְבֵי הַצֹּאן. אָמַר לָהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, זִילִי וְאַזְעִירִי גַרְמָךְ.

The moon, however, was not at ease with the sun, and in fact each felt mortified by the other. The moon said “Where dost thou pasture?” (S. S. 1, 7). The sun said “Where dost thou make thy flock to rest at noon? (Ibid.) How can a little candle shine at midday?” God thereupon said to her, “Go and diminish thyself.” She felt humiliated and said “Why should I be as one that veileth herself?” (Ibid.). God then said “Go thy way forth in the footsteps of the flock.” Thereupon she diminished herself so as to be head of the lower ranks.