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Nov. 18th, 2024: Mystery of the Golden Calf


We understand the divine form as four-fold—for example, the Holy Chariot in Ezekiel 1 (constituted of four Animals)—and do, likewise, understand the “ungodly” form as four-fold—as in (Dn. 2) the Image of Nebuchadnezzar, constituted of four Metals (Gold, Silver, Brass and Iron). In both cases, these four “types” correspond to the four winds of heaven—i.e., the four cardinal points of the world—and, in accordance, to divine principles or attributes, by which the world is governed.

These four principles—which are, certainly, typified by the four elements, and their four temperaments—are reducible to two kernels: Mercy & Judgment; or South & North; or, Water & Fire; or also, Sweetness & Astringency. Those two principles usually assist the divine operation in combusting the volatile aspects or saturating the dry, solid aspects, and, at that, providing matter with balance and order, by their mutual “complementation”.


—Rab Bahaye on the Calf—


According to Rabbeinu Bahaye (see link), the Golden Calf, which was forged by Aaron—who was, in all truth, a holy man—was made with the intent to create a vessel for the Ox within the Holy Chariot (Ezek. 1:10), i.e., one of the four holy aspects of the Tetragrammaton. The Ox, we know now, corresponds to the principle of Judgment, and to the wind of the North, out of which—on the one hand—“...an Evil shall break-forth” (Jer. 1:14); and upon which—on the other hand—lies “...the City of the Great King” (Ps. 48:2). The North is the subject of ambivalence also in its material form: the Fire, to which it correlates, is portrayed as the element of lust & carnal passion, and, yet, also the element of penitence & purgation.

I am noting this because it is traditionally understood in the Cabalistic literature of the rabbins that the Golden Calf was a prototype of Jesus, and at that—as we understand now—the type of the Ox, of the North, of Edom/Rome, and of the element of Fire. It is vital to note this because, in the rabbinic literature, the North (which is, the abode of the Tribe of Dan [Num. 2:25]) is the messianic element within the divine “map”, corresponding to the messianic function of Judgment and purgation.

The rabbins have delegated the two providential principles, those are Mercy and Judgment, unto two messianic agents—those are, the Son-of-David and the Son-of-Joseph. For the afore-mentioned reasons, the rabbins—who have conceived Jesus as the typical Judge—consider Jesus to have been their Son-of-Joseph. Accordingly, he is equated with the Legs of the Image of Nebuchadnezzar, which were made of Iron, a metal which corresponds to the Kingdom of Rome. Without comments on my issues with the “Messiah Ben Joseph”, I’ll focus on the more important aspect—that is, the association of Jesus with the LEGS. The Legs are, indeed, the body-part which is affected the most by the Serpent (Gen. 3:15), and—at that—the body-part in whose amendment will Man attain a redemption from his sinful nature. In Cabalistic literature, the Legs are associated with the Two Pillars of the Solomonic Temple. They are considered the vessel of Foundation, upon which the entire rectitude of divinity rests.

At that, Jesus is the divine Ox, the holy Heel—of whose possession the birthright consisted (see Meggaleh Amukkot on Gen. 25:25). Jesus is the function of Judgment, inasmuch as he is the Son of David, the function of Mercy, as it’s written: “I am the first, and I am the last” (Isa. 44:6).

For those reasons was the Calf named אלה, as is written: “Eileh, אלה, be thy gods, O Israel!” (Exo. 32:4); and for “These”, for Eileh, did Spirit “...weep” (Lam. 1:16), that is, she was weeping for Jesus, who died on the Cross, and his name is, as we now understand, Eileh, אלה.