Kabbalah Library

291) “Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away.” “Until the day breaks” was written about the exile of Israel, that they will be enslaved in exile until that day of the government of the nations is through. All the nations together rule over Israel a thousand years, and there is no nation to which they will not be enslaved. And “one day” corresponds to what is written, “And there shall be one day, which is known to the Lord, neither day nor night.”

292) “Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away, I will go my way to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense.” “Until the day breaks,” before the day of the nations breaks. “And the shadows flee away” are the governments that rule over them. “I will go to the mountain of myrrh,” said the Creator. I will go to shake the nations from Jerusalem, which is the mountain of myrrh, as it is written, “In Jerusalem, on mount Moriah.” “And to the hill of frankincense” is the Temple in Zion, as it is written, “Fair in view, the joy of the whole earth is mount Zion,” to shake the wicked off there. It is written, “That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it,” as one who holds a gown to shake the filth off it.

293) The Creator will be revealed in Jerusalem below and purify it from the filth of the nations until that day of the nations is completed. The rule of the nations over Israel is only one day, and it is the day of the Creator, which is a thousand years, as it is written, “He has made me desolate and faint all the day,” meaning only one day and not more.

294) If they are enslaved for more than a thousand years, it is not by the sentence of the King, but because they do not wish to repent before Him. It is written, “And if all these things come upon you … and you will return to the Lord your God.” It is also written, “If any of you that are dispersed be in the outermost parts of heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you.”