Thus is it written, Gen. xxxvi. 31, “And those are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom.” And also it is written thus, Ps. xlviii. 4, “Since, lo! the kings assembled, they passed away together.” “In the land of Edom.” That is, in the place wherewith the judgments are connected. “They passed away together.” As it is written, “And he died, and there reigned in his stead.” “They themselves beheld, so were they astonished; they feared, and hasted away.” Because they remained not in their place, since the conformations of the King had not as yet been formed, and the Holy City and its walls were not as yet prepared. This is that which followeth in the text, “As we have heard, so have we seen, in the city,” etc. For all did not endure. But She (the Bride) now subsisteth beside the Male, with Whom She abideth. This is that which is written, Gen. xxxvi. 39, “And Hadar reigned in his stead, and the name of his city was Pau, and the name of his wife was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mizaheb.” Assuredly this have we before explained in the Assembly.(844) Now, also, in the book of the teaching of Rav Hamenuna the Elder it is said, “And Hadar reigned in his stead.” The word HDR, _Hadar_, is properly to be expounded according unto that which is said, Lev. xxiii. 40, “The fruit of trees which are HDR, _Hadar_, goodly.” “And in the name of his wife Mehetabel,” as it is written (in the text just cited), “branches of palm-trees.” Also it is written, Ps. xcii. 3, “The just man shall flourish as the palm-tree.” For this is of the male and female sex. She is called “the daughter of Matred”; that is, the Daughter from that place wherein all things are bound together, which is called AB, Father. Also it is written, Job xxviii. 13, “Man knoweth not the price thereof, neither is it found in the land of the living.” She is the Daughter of Aima, the Mother; from Whose side the judgments are applied which strive against all things. “The Daughter of Mizaheb;” because She hath nourishment from the two Countenances (Chokmah and Binah, which are within Kether); and shineth with two colors—namely from CHSD, _Chesed_, Mercy; and from DIN, _Din_, Judgment. For before the world was established Countenance beheld not Countenance.(845) And therefore were the Prior Worlds destroyed, for the Prior Worlds were formed without (equilibrated) conformation. But these which existed not in conformation are called vibrating flames and sparks, like as when the worker in stone striketh sparks from the flint with his hammer, or as when the smith smiteth the iron and dasheth forth sparks on every side. And these sparks which fly forth flame and scintillate, but shortly they are extinguished. And these are called the Prior Worlds. And therefore have they been destroyed, and persist not, until the Most Holy Ancient One can be conformed, and the workman can proceed unto His work.