33) Any intelligent person who delves even slightly into the books of the Zohar and Kabbalistic teachings will know and recognize that the sefirot and the faces mentioned in their words preceded the creation of heaven and earth and all their hosts. This is apparent from the words of Rabbi Hayyim Vital in his book Etz Hayim, in the Gate of Principles and the Gate of Circles and Rectitude. It is further explained extensively in the Gate of Breaking the Vessels, Chapter 3, and elsewhere.
The order of the emanation of the kings is elucidated, starting from the first one, which is the attribute of "Da'at" (knowledge) that emerged first. When the vessel could no longer bear, as mentioned above, it broke and descended below into the world of Beri'ah. I mean to say that it descended to the place where the world of Beri'ah was destined to exist afterward, for at that time the world of Beri'ah had not yet been created, and this vessel fell in the place where the future emanation of Beri'ah would be, and so on.