זוהר, פנחס ס״וZohar, Pinchas 66

Segment 1א׳

עַד דַּהֲווֹ יָתְבֵי, אָתָא נִשְׁרָא, וּמָאִיךְ, וְנָטִיל חַד שׁוֹשַׁנָה מִבֵּינַיְיהוּ, וְאַזְלַת. אָמְרוּ, מִכָּאן וּלְהָלְאָה, נְהַךְ לְאוֹרְחִין. קָמוּ וְאָזְלוּ. עַד הָכָא אוֹרְחָא דְּרִבִּי פִּנְחָס, וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אָזַל לֵיהּ, אִיהוּ וְרִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, וּשְׁאַר חַבְרַיָּיא, וְרִבִּי פִּנְחָס וּשְׁאַר חַבְרַיָּיא.

While they were sitting, an eagle came and swooped down, and took one lily from among them, and went off. They said: From here on, let us go on our ways. They rose and went. Thus far the journey of R. Phineas. And R. Simeon went his way, he and R. Eleazar and the rest of the Companions; and R. Phineas and the rest of the Companions.

Segment 2ב׳

פָּתַח וְאָמַר רִבִּי פִּנְחָס עַל זֶה, (תהילים ס׳:א׳) לַמְנַצֵּחַ עַל שׁוּשַׁן עֵדוּת מִכְתָּם לְדָוִד לְלַמֵּד, מַאי לְלַמֵּד. לְאוֹלְפָא לִבְנֵי עָלְמָא חָכְמְתָא. וְהָא אוֹקְמוּהָ, שׁוּשַׁן עֵדוּת, אִלֵּין סַנְהֶדְרֵי גְּדוֹלָה. דִּכְתִיב בָּהּ, (שיר השירים ז׳:ג׳) סוּגָה בַּשּׁוֹשַׁנִּים. מִכְתָּם לְדָוִד סִימָנָא דְּאַחְזִיאוּ לֵיהּ לְדָוִד, כַּד שָׁדַר לְיוֹאָב לַאֲרַם נַהֲרַיִם וּלְאֲרָם צוֹבָא, לְאַגָחָא בְּהוּ. אָמַר רִבִּי פִּנְחָס, דָּא אִיהוּ שׁוּשַׁן עֵדוּת דְּקַיְּימָא הָכָא, הָא כֹּכָבַיָּא בִּשְׁמַיָּא, שְׁכִינְתָּא עֲלָן, וְדַרְגִּין עִלָּאִין בַּהֲדָהּ, וְסִיַּיעְתָּא קַדִישָׁא לְתוּשְׁבַּחְתָּא, דָּא אִיהוּ שׁוּשָׁן בִּשְׁלִימוּ כְּדְקָא יֵאוֹת. קָמוּ וְאָזְלוּ. אִלֵּין הָכָא וְאִלֵּין הָכָא. אָזַל לֵיהּ רִבִּי פִּנְחָס, וּבַת בִּכְפַר עַקִימִין, וְרִבִּי יִצְחָק וְרִבִּי חִיָּיא בַּהֲדֵיהּ.

R. Phineas opened concerning this and said: “For the Leader; upon Shushan Eduth; Michtam of David, to teach” (Ps. 60, 1). What is “to teach”? To teach wisdom to the people of the world. And it has been explained: Shushan Eduth — these are the Great Sanhedrin, of which it is written, “set about with lilies” (S. S. 7, 3). Michtam of David — a sign that was shown to David when he sent Joab to Aram-naharaim and to Aram-zobah, to wage war on them. R. Phineas said: This is the Shushan Eduth that stands here: behold the stars in the heavens, the Shekinah over us, and supernal grades with her, and a holy company for praise — this is a lily in wholeness, as is fitting. They rose and went, these here and those there. R. Phineas went his way and lodged in Kefar Akimin, and R. Isaac and R. Hiya with him.

Segment 3ג׳

עַד דְּאַקְדִימוּ לְמֵיזָל, יָתְבוּ וּמְחַכּוּ לִנְהוֹרָא דְּצַפְרָא, זָקִיף עֵינוֹי רִבִּי חִיָּיא, וְחָמָא אִלֵּין כּוֹכָבַיָיא דְּשַׁרְבִיטָא, דְּקָא מְרַהֲטָן וְאָזְלָן. אָמַר, וַדַּאי בְּכַמָּה זִמְנִין שָׁאַלְנָא עַל אִלֵּין כּוֹכָבַיָיא.

Before they set out to go, they sat and waited for the light of morning. R. Hiya raised his eyes and saw those stars of the sceptre, which were running and going. He said: Assuredly, many times have I asked about these stars.