147. The Hotem of ZA is a correction of the Partzuf, for the whole Partzuf is apparent in it. That Hotem is not as the Hotem of the holy Atik, the most concealed of all that are concealed, since the Hotem of Atik is the life of lives, since the spirits of life come out to all from the two holes in the Hotem. It is written about that ZA, “Smoke went up in his nose.”
The two eyes and the nose are three lines of illumination of Hochma, for illumination expands only through the middle line. It follows that all the Hochma that is revealed in the Einayim is extended only through the Hotem, the middle line, and it is evident on the whole Partzuf that all the illumination of the face is apparent in the Hotem, as it is written, “Man’s wisdom makes his face shine,” since he bestows illumination of Hochma to the lower ones.
The difference between the Hotem of Atik and the Hotem of ZA is that in Atik, there is no left, since the left is incorporated in the right, white within white, and the two eyes return to one. Hence, the two holes of the Hotem are life, and life of life, without any judgment. However, in ZA, there is judgment in the Hotem. The Hotem of Atik is life of life, where the right hole is life, and the left hole is life of life. It is written about this ZA, “Smoke went up in his nose,” since there are judgments in ZA, which are called “smoke.”
148a. All the phases are gripped to that smoke in the Hotem, and in each phase, several accusers of hard judgment grip that smoke. All of them are perfumed only in the smoke of the altar below. This is why it is written, “And the Lord smelled the fragrant smell.” The fragrance, the perfuming of the accusers, is contentment.
Smoke is judgments of the left without right, by incorporation of the judgments of the screen of Hirik. Fire is judgments of the key. Coals are judgments of the lock, and these three kinds of judgment are incorporated in each Sefira of HGT NH in the Hotem.
All the phases are gripped in that smoke in the Hotem, meaning five phases HGT NH incorporated in that smoke. In each phase, several accusers of hard judgment are gripped, since there are three kinds of judgment in each phase: coals, fire, smoke. All of them are incorporated in the Hotem, the middle line, which unites the two eyes right and left in one another, for all the power of its uniqueness is in the screen of Hirik and in the smoke, which weaken the power of the left, and by this it unites it with the right.
However, the force of the screen of Hirik must be raised from below upward by offering a sacrifice or by prayer, since the fire, wood, and smoke that emerge from them, which are arranged on the altar, are the judgments that connect in the left without right, and by which the left line surrenders and the Hotem, the middle line, can unite it with the right. They are all perfumed only in the smoke of the altar below, for the smoke of the altar, in which fire and wood are included, diminish the left line, and then the Hotem can unite the right and the left. Through that unity, all the judgments are perfumed and become a fragrant smell, as it is written, “And the Lord smelled the fragrant smell.”
148b. It does not say “the smell of the offering,” but “the fragrant smell,” since all the Gevurot are gripped to the Hotem, and all the judgments that are gripped to the Hotem are perfumed, and several Gevurot are united together, as it is written, “Who can utter the mighty deeds of the Lord, declare all his praise?”
From one hole in that Hotem emerges fire that consumes all other fires. It is the judgments of the lock in the screen of Hirik. From one hole comes out smoke, judgments of the left without right, to which the judgments in the screen are gripped. Both are sweetened by the fire and smoke of the altar, and holy Atik becomes revealed in his Hassadim, and all the judgments become quiet, since after the left is incorporated in Hassadim, and the judgments are canceled from it, as it is written, “And I will retrain My praise for you,” written about the Hotem of Atik.
149. The Hotem of holy Atik is long and spreading. It is called “longed faced.” The Hotem of ZA is short. When the smoke begins to come out in haste, the judgment is made. The one who delays it is the Hotem of Atik, his Hassadim.
The illumination of Hochma is called “long.” The Hotem of holy Atik is long and spreading, since his Hassadim are incorporated with Hochma, who is called “long.” But the Hotem of ZA, as long as the unification of the left with the right is not done, it is short, meaning that Hochma does not shine in it as it is devoid of Hassadim. However, when he receives Hassadim from holy Atik the illumination of Hochma spreads in him and shines.
150. These two holes of the Hotem, from one of them are smoke and fire, and from one of them are contentment and a good spirit, since there are right and left in it. From the left there are smoke and fire, and from the right, contentment and a good spirit, Hassadim incorporated with Hochma. It is written, “His smell is like the Lebanon.” Also, it is written about the Nukva, “And the smell of your nose is as apples,” indicating illumination of Hochma, called “smell.” And if it is so in the Nukva, it is much more so in ZA, who bestows upon the Nukva.
151. “And the Lord smelled the fragrant smell.” The fragrant smell indicates double contentment from two sides: from the right and from the left. From the right, it is contentment that is revealed from holy Atik, the most concealed of all that are concealed, contentment and perfuming to all, to Hochma and to Hassadim. From the left, the perfuming that comes from below, from the screen of Hirik that the lower ones raise through the smoke and the fire on the altar. And because it is perfumed from both sides, from Atik and from below, this is why it writes “fragrance,” a double wording of contentment. Everything is said in ZA.