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“Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars” (Prov. 9:1). These seven passages in Scripture have coupled in them wisdom and reverence.1Each contains references to wisdom and God-fearing. And these are them, “And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord” (Isa. 11:2). “And the stability of thy times shall be a hoard of salvation—wisdom and knowledge, and the fear of the Lord which is His treasure” (Isa. 33:6). “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, a good understanding have all they that do thereafter” (Ps. 111:10). “And unto man He said: ‘Behold the fear of the Lord that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding’” (Job 28:28). “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge but the foolish despise wisdom and discipline” (Prov. 1:7). “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the All-holy is understanding” (Prov. 9:10). “The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom and before honor goeth humility” (Prov. 15:33). Behold there are seven passages relating to wisdom and reverence for the Lord corresponding to the seven matters that are evil for the soul and draw her to sins, for it is said, “There are six things which the Lord hateth, Yea, seven which are an abomination unto Him” (Prov. 6:16). Moreover, the seven correspond to seeing, hearing, speaking, working with one’s hands, going on one’s feet, cohabiting, plotting evil in one’s heart. They also correspond to seven movements in man: standing on one foot; moving hands and feet; standing on knees; sitting and lying in four positions: i.e., on two sides (left and right), leaning on the head or on the face. Another interpretation of “seven organs,” (is that it applies to) eyes, ears, a mouth to bring forth words, a throat to bring in food and drink, hands, feet, genitals, these are “She hath hewn out her seven pillars.” “Hath builded her house” (Prov. 9:1), for all of them (organs) depend upon the chamber of the heart 2J. T. Terumoth 8:4. which leads wisdom to contain and restrain his spirit in the fear of God. Concerning the seven transgressions wherein I wrote that the heart is their master, there are corresponding to them seven groups which receive the Divine Presence.3Midrash Rabbah, ed. Horeb, Leviticus, Chapter XXX, p. 81a.