זוהר, יתרו כ״אZohar, Yitro 21

Segment 1א׳

אָמַר רִבִּי חִיָּיא, כַּד אִתְגְּלִיפוּ אַתְוָון בְּלוּחֵי אֲבָנָא, הֲווֹ מִתְחַזְיָין בִּתְרֵין סִטְרִין, מִסִּטְרָא דָּא, וּמִסִּטְרָא דָּא, וְלוּחִין מֵאֶבֶן סַנְפִּירִינוֹן הֲווֹ, וְאִתְגְּלִיפוּ וְאִתְחַפְיָין בְּאֶשָּׁא חִוָּורָא, וְאַתְוָון הֲווֹ מֵאֶשָּׁא אוּכָמָא, וּמִתְגַּלְּפָן בִּתְרֵין סִטְרִין, מִסִּטְרָא דָּא וּמִסִּטְרָא דָּא.

Said R. Hiya: ‘When the letters were engraved upon the two tablets of stone they were visible on both sides of the tablets. The tablets were of sapphire stone, and the letters were formed of white fire and covered again with black fire, and were engraved upon both sides.’

Segment 2ב׳

אָמַר ר' אַבָּא, לוּחִין הֲווֹ בְּעֵינַיְיהוּ, וְאַתְוָון הֲווֹ טָאסִין, וּמִתְחַזְיָין בִּתְרֵין אֶשִׁין, אֶשָּׂא חִוָּורָא, וְאֶשָּׁא אוּכָמָא, לְאִתְחֲזָאָה כַּחֲדָא, יְמִינָא וּשְׂמָאלָא, דִּכְתִּיב, (משלי ג׳:ט״ז) אֹרֶךְ יָמִים בִּימִינָהּ בִּשְׂמֹאלָהּ וְגוֹ'. וְהָא כְּתִיב מִימִינוֹ אֵשׁ דָּת לָמוֹ. אֶלָּא מִסִּטְרָא דִּגְבוּרָה הֲוָה, וְאִתְכְּלִילַת בִּימִינָא. וּבְגִין כַּךְ אֶשָּׂא חִוָּורָא וְאֶשָּׁא אוּכָמָא.

According to R. Abba, the tablets were not engraved, but the letters fluttered on to them, being visible in two colours of fire, white and black, in order to demonstrate the union of Right and Left, as it is written, “length of days is in her right hand and in her left hand is riches and honour” (Prov. 3, 16). But are we not told that “from his right hand (came) a fiery law to them” (Deut. 33, 2)? The truth is that although the Torah emanated from the side of Power-that is the Left-the Left Side was included in the Right, and thus Justice was tempered by Mercy, which was symbolized by the two fires: white for Mercy, black for Power and Severity.

Segment 3ג׳

תָּאנָא, כְּתִיב (שמות ל״ב:ט״ז) וְהַלֻּחֹת מַעֲשֵׂה אֱלהִים הֵמָּה וְגו', (מעשה אלהים ודאי) אָמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה, וְהַלֻּחֹת כְּתִיב, חַד. תְּרֵי הֲווֹ וּמִתְחַזְיָין חַד. וָעֶשֶׁר אֲמִירָן מִתְגַּלְּפֵי בְּהוּ. חָמֵשׁ כְּלִילָן בְּחָמֵשׁ, לְמֶהֱוֵי כֹּלָּא יְמִינָא. מַעֲשֵׂה אֱלהִים הֵמָּה וַדַּאי.

It is written: “And the tablets were the work of God” (Ex. 32, 18). They were indeed so, for, as R. Judah said: ‘The word ha-luhoth (the tablets) being written in a defective form, indicates that although they were two they appeared like one, and the Ten Words were engraved upon them, one section of five being included in, or superimposed on, the other five, so that they should be included in the emanations of the Right Side, that is, of Mercy; and in this way they were indeed the very “work of God”.’