Rabbi Abba and Rabbi Ḥiyya were walking on the way. Rabbi Ḥiyya said, “It is written: *You shall count for yourselves from the morrow of the sabbath, from the day you bring the sheaf of elevation*, \[*seven complete weeks shall they be*\] (Leviticus 23:15). What does this indicate?” He replied, “The Companions have already established this, but come and see: When the people of Israel were in Egypt, they were under alien domination and were gripped by impurity, like a woman sitting in days of impurity. After they were circumcised, they entered the holy portion called Covenant. Once \[97b\] they were joined to this, their impurity ceased, as when a woman’s blood of impurity ceases. After \[the blood\] ceases, what is written? *She shall count for herself seven days*… (Leviticus 15:28). Similarly here, once they entered the holy portion, their impurity ceased, and the blessed Holy One said, ‘From now on, a counting for purity.’ [1] “*You shall count for yourselves—for yourselves*, precisely, as is said: *She shall count for herself*, for her own self. Here, too, *for yourselves*—for your own selves. Why? To be purified by supernal holy waters, and afterward to come join the King and receive His Torah. [2] “It is written: *She shall count for herself seven days* (Leviticus 15:28); here, too, *seven weeks*. Why *seven weeks*? To attain being purified by waters of the flowing, gushing river, called ‘living waters.’ From that river issue *seven weeks*—so *seven weeks* surely, to attain it. “Just as a woman’s purity takes effect at night, to join conjugally with her husband. [3] [...] “We have learned \[98a\] that the Torah that is required on this night is Oral Torah, so that they may be purified as one by the spring of the deep stream. Afterward, on this day, Written Torah will come and join Her, and they will be as one, in single coupling above. Then a proclamation resounds concerning him: *As for Me, this is My covenant with them, says YHVH: My spirit that is upon you, and My words that I have put in your mouth, will not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your children, nor from the mouth of your children’s children—says YHVH—from now and forever* (Isaiah 59:21). [4] “Therefore the ancient *ḥasidim* did not sleep on this night and would delve into Torah, saying, ‘Let us come to obtain a holy inheritance for ourselves and our children in two worlds\!’ On that night, Assembly of Israel is crowned above them and comes to couple with the King, and both are crowned above the heads of those who attain this. “Rabbi Shim’on would speak as follows when the Companions gathered round him on this night: ‘Let us come and array the jewels of the Bride, so that tomorrow She will appear before the King fittingly bedecked and adorned.’ [5] “Happy is the share of the Companions when the King inquires of *Matronita* who has arranged Her jewels, illumined Her crowns, and placed Her adornments. There is no one in the world who knows how to arrange the jewels of the Bride other than the Companions. Happy is their share in this world and in the world that is coming\! “Come and see: On this night the Companions array the jewels of the Bride and adorn Her with crowns for the King. But who prepares the King on this night to be with the Bride, to couple with *Matronita*? The Holy River, deepest of all rivers, Supernal Mother, as is written: *O daughters of Zion, go out and gaze upon King Solomon, upon the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding* (Song of Songs 3:11). [6] “After She has prepared the King and crowned Him, She comes to purify *Matronita* and those who accompany Her. “This may be compared to a king who had an only son, whom he was about to marry off to a noble lady. What did the mother do? All night long she spent in her treasure chamber, and brought out a magnificent crown set with seventy \[98b\] precious stones, and crowned him. She brought out royal garments and dressed him, adorning him like a king. “Afterward, she entered the bride’s home and saw her maidens arranging her crowns, garments, and jewelry to prepare her. She said to them, ‘Look, I have prepared a bathing house, a place of flowing waters surrounded by aromatic scents to purify my daughter-in-law. Let her come, my son’s *matronita* along with her maidens, to purify themselves in the place that I have prepared, in my bathing house of flowing waters. Afterward, bedeck her with her jewels, dress her in her garments, adorn her with her crowns. Tomorrow, when my son comes to unite with the *matronita*, he will prepare a palace for all and his abode will be among you, together. “So it is with the Holy King, *Matronita*, and the Companions—and Supernal Mother, who arranges all. Thereby, the Supernal King, *Matronita*, and the Companions dwell together, never separating, as is written: *YHVH, who will abide in Your tent?… He who walks blameless* צדק‎ ופועל (*u-pho’el tsedeq*), *and does righteousness* (Psalms 15:1–2). Who is that? Well, those who array the Bride in Her jewels, in Her garments, in Her crowns. Each one is called צדק‎ פועל (*po’el tsedeq*), *one who activates righteousness*.” [7] Rabbi Ḥiyya said, “If I am privileged in the world just to hear these words, it is enough for me\! Happy is the share of those who engage in Torah and know the ways of the Holy King and whose desire is for Torah. Of them is written *Because he desires Me, I will deliver him…. I will rescue him and honor him* (Psalms 91:14–15).” [8]