Chapter II

It is known1 that the creation of the world and all its creatures came about through the supernal Sefirah of Malchus (Kingdom). Through it, G-d gives life to the world and all its inhabitants, as it is written:2 "Your Kingship, [the Sefirah of Malchus] is a kingship over all worlds."

G-d's kingship results from His desire, as it were, to reign; the Sefirah of Malchus activates this desire by creating and vivifying all worlds. Inasmuch as ruling over others is secondary to His essence, it follows that the creation of all worlds [enabling Him to rule over them] involves only a glimmer of His essence.

All this is readily observed in the manner in which a physical king rules his subjects. A mortal king rules through his various minions, who see to it that his decrees which dictate the conduct of his subjects are obeyed. The larger cities and towns are overseen by the king's senior representatives, while the smaller villages and hamlets are overseen by lesser officials. Wherever they may be, their task is clear: to ensure that the king's subjects comply with his dictates. In all instances and in every location, the decrees are issued in the name of the king. At the time a royal decree is proclaimed, all the king's subjects stand and listen to the words uttered in the king's name as respectfully as if they were actually in the king's presence. The king himself cannot be everywhere at the same time. Therefore he rules by reputation alone over all his dispersed subjects.

Similarly with regard to the Sefirah of Malchus; kingdom is but an emanation. This is the meaning of the statement3 describing the relationship of a mortal king to his subjects: "The king's name is proclaimed over them." Just as the citizens of a country are not the king's children but only his subjects, though his name "is proclaimed over them," so too with the Sefirah of Malchus; it is but an illumination, and not the essence. Accordingly, the Sefirah of Malchus is termed Supernal Speech.

In summary: The worlds are created through the Sefirah of Malchus, and as such are but a faint emanation. As with a physical king, though all statutes and laws of the land are uttered in his name, they do not reflect his essence.