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R. Jose discoursed on the verse: "Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened?" (Job XXXVIII, 6)
He said: When God created the world, He established it on seven pillars, but upon what those pillars rest no one may know, since it is a recondite and inscrutable mystery. [1]
The world did not come into being until God took a certain stone, which is called the "foundation stone", and cast it into the abyss so that it held fast there, and from it the world was planted. [2] This is the central point of the universe, and on this point stands the holy of holies. [3] This is the stone referred to in the verses, "Who laid the corner-stone thereof" (Ibid. 6), "the stone of testing, the precious corner-stone" (Is. XXVIII, 16), and "the stone that the builders despised became the head of the corner" (Ps. CXVIII, 22). [4]
This stone is compounded of fire, water, and air, and rests on the abyss. Sometimes water flows from it and fills the deep. [5]
This stone is set as a sign in the centre of the world. It is referred to in the words, "And Jacob took a stone and set it as a pillar" (Gen. XXXI, 45). Not that he took this stone, which was created from the beginning, but he established it above and below, by making there a "house of God". [6]
This stone has on it seven eyes, as it is written, "On one stone seven eyes" (Zech. III, 9), and it is called "foundation stone", for one thing because the world was planted from it, and for another because God set it as a source of blessing to the world... [7]
[Soncino Zohar, Vayehi, 231a, Vol. II, pg 339-340.]
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My notes...
[1] The "seven pillars" are, of course, the seven lower sefirot from Hesed to Malkut. Those seven sefirot rest upon the foundational sefirah of Da'at.
[2] The "abyss" is the chasm that extends between the seven lower sefirot and the three highest sefirot.
[3] The "holy of holies" refers to the three highest sefirot.
[4] The Hebrew word for "stone" used here is eh'-ben (ABN). It also means 'wheel', or 'disk'. There is a connection with the Hebrew root baw-naw' (BNH) meaning 'to build', and binah (BYNH) meaning 'understanding'--the third sefirah. The sefirah Da'at is, in a sense, the Son (ben, BN) of Binah (BYNH). Da'at is associated with the Hebrew Double letter Bayt (B) upon which the whole Creation (Berashit) is established.
[5] Da'at is a composite of Air (Alef/Keter), Water (Maym/Hockmah), and Fire (Shin/Binah). The "water" that flows from Da'at is the "blessing to the world" mentioned further on in this extract. (See note 7.)
[6] The "house" is Bayt (meaning 'house')--the Hebrew Double letter associated with Da'at. Jacob represents the sefirah Tifaret. He "established" it "above" in Da'at, and "below" in "Yesod".
[7] The Zohar describes the sefirah Yesod (meaning 'foundation') as the source of blessings for the 'lower world' (meaning Malkut). Here Da'at and Yesod are identified with each other. (Da'at is the source of 'blessings' for the 'higher world'--i.e. above Malkut.) Jacob/Tifaret is positioned on the Middle Pillar between the Da'at 'foundation' and the Yesod 'foundation'. Jacob (Tifaret) is said to have "established" these two foundations.
Blessings,
Patrick.
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