What is the meaning and idea of calling these sparks “צִּבְּאוֹּת הֲוָּיָּ''ה-the multitude belonging to Havaya,” i.e., a level which is secondary and subordinate to the Name הֲוָּיָּ''ה? The idea is: The number 288 is the number of the sparks of holiness are connected to the four possible ways of spelling out Hashem’s Name הֲוָּיָּ''ה, whose numerical values are 72, 63, 45, and 52.
The difference between these four ways of spelling out Hashem’s Name הֲוָּיָּ''ה depends on how we spell the letters ה' and ו', since ה' can be spelled הא or הי or הה, and ו' can be spelled ואו or ויו or וו. Therefore, when spelling out each of the four letters of the Name הֲוָּיָּ''ה that are different possibilities based on what type of ה' or ו' is used, resulting in the four different spellings of הֲוָּיָּ''ה, with four different numerical values mentioned in the maamar.
In Eitz Chayim (18:2), Rabbi Chayim Vital explains how the number of 288 sparks of holiness that fell from Tohu are connected to each of the four possible spellings of הֲוָּיָּ''ה, corresponding to the four levels of Tohu, which are Chohma, Bina, Ze’eir Anpin, and Malchus. From each of these four levels, 72 sparks fell down, and 72 times 4 equals 288.
The point in our maamar is that all the sparks of Tohu are connected to the idea of “names,” they originally came from one of Hashem’s Names, and “fell” into unholiness to become “their own” names, disconnected from their source. By elevating these sparks of “Hashem’s Names” and reconnecting them to their source, they cease to have their own separate identity and “name,” and become “reabsorbed,” as it were, in just being part of Hashem’s revelation.
