Kabbalah Library

20) “And Moses said unto Aaron, ‘Take thy fire-pan.’” “The wrath of a king is as messengers of death; but a wise man will pacify it.” People should guard their iniquities and regard their actions. The world was sentenced several times, and each day the deeds are calculated and watched over from above, and they are written before Him. When a man’s actions are inappropriate before the King, anger rises and the Din [judgment] awakens, as it is written, “The wrath of a king is as messengers of death.” One should be watchful of one’s iniquities every day.

21) When litigants stand over the world and anger is in the air, if there is a righteous in the generation who is pointed out above, the Creator looks at him and the anger eases. This is similar to a king who was angry at his servants and demanded of the officer to execute judgment. Then the king’s beloved one came and rose before him. When the king saw him, his face brightened. The one that the king loves began to speak with him and the king was delighted. When the officer came, he saw the happy king’s face and went away without executing the judgment. Then that beloved one pleaded to the king in favor of his servants and the king atoned them. For this reason, “But a wise man will pacify it.”

22) Here, too, when Moses saw that there was anger in the air, promptly, “And Moses said unto Aaron,” since he was the best man, the queen’s friend, and the incense rose only in his hands, for he increased peace in the world and tied the ties of faith, meaning Malchut. Incense is joy above and below, the tie of faith, the departure of anger, as it is written, “Oil and incense rejoice the heart.” Then, “But a wise man will pacify it,” meaning he will cleanse and purify the anger, and mercy will awaken.