The nose of Microprosopus is the form of His countenance, for therethrough
is His whole countenance known.
This nose is not as the nose of the Most Holy Ancient One, the Concealed
with all Concealments.
For the nose of Him, the Ancient One, is the life of lives for all things,
and from His two nostrils rush forth the _Ruachin De-Chiin_, RVCHIN
DCHIIN, spirits of lives for all.
But concerning this (nose of) Microprosopus it is written, Ps. xviii. 9,
“A smoke ascendeth in His nose.”
In this smoke all the colors are contained. In each color are contained
multitudes of lords of most rigorous judgment, who are all comprehended in
that smoke.
Whence all those are not mitigated save by the smoke of the inferior
altar.
Hence it is written, Gen. viii. 21, “And IHVH smelled a sweet savor.” It
is not written (He smelled) the odor of the sacrifice. What is “sweet”
save “rest”? Assuredly the spirit at rest is the mitigation of the Lords
of Judgment.
(When therefore it is said) “And IHVH smelled the odor of rest,” most
certainly the odor of the sacrificed victim is not meant, but the odor of
the mitigation of all those severities which are referred unto the nose.
And all things which adhere unto them, all things, I say, are mitigated.
But most of these severities mutually cohere.
As it is written, Ps. cvi. 2, “Who shall recount GBVRVTH IHVH, the
Geburoth of Tetragrammaton?”
And this nose (of Microprosopus) emitteth fire from the two nostrils,
which swalloweth up all other fires.
From the one nostril (goeth forth) the smoke, and from the other nostril
the fire, and they both are found on the altar, as well the fire as the
smoke.
But when He the most Holy Ancient One is unveiled, all things are at
peace. This is that which is said, Isa. xlviii. 9, “And for My praise will
I refrain from thee” (literally, “block up thy nostrils”(864)).
The nose of the Most Holy Ancient One is long and extended, and He is
called Arikh Aphim, Long of Nose.
But this nose (of Microprosopus) is short, and when the smoke commenceth,
it issueth rapidly forth, and judgment is consummated.
But who can oppose the nose of Him the Ancient One? Concerning this, all
things are as we have said in the Greater Assembly, where concerning this
matter the Companions were exercised.
In the book of the treatise of Rav Hamenuna the Elder he thus describeth
these two nostrils (of Microprosopus), saying that from the one proceed
the smoke and the fire, and from the other, peace and the beneficent
spirits.
That is, when (Microprosopus) is considered as having (in Himself the
symbolism of) right side and left side. As it is written, Hosea xiv. 7,
“And his smell like Lebanon.”
And concerning His Bride it is written, Cant. vii. 9, “And the smell of
thy nostril like apples.” Which if it be true concerning the Bride, how
much more concerning Himself? And this is a notable saying.
When therefore it is said, “And Tetragrammaton smelled the odor of peace,”
the word “HNICHCH,” _Ha-Nichach_, of peace, can be understood in a double
sense.
One sense is primary, when the Most Holy Ancient One, the Concealed with
all Concealments, is manifested; for HVA, _Hoa_, He, is the peace and
mitigation of all things.
And the other respecteth the inferior mitigation, which is done through
the smoke and fire of the altar.
And because of this duplicate meaning is the word NICHCH, _Nichach_,
written with a double CH. And all these things are said concerning
Microprosopus.