45. It says of this, "I will not curse the ground any more for man's sake" (Beresheet 8:21). What is the meaning of, "I will not curse the ground any more?" It means that He will give no more Judgments to the Prosecutors with which to destroy the world, but only as much as the world can bear. It is therefore written: "then I will punish you no more..." (Vayikra 26:8); He will surely give more, AS MUCH AS THE WORLD CAN BEAR.

46. Why would He give more? To punish you "seven times for your sins" (Ibid.). HE ASKS: Seven times? Had the Holy One, blessed be He, collected His due, THAT IS, PUNISHED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SIN, the world would not have been able to bear it for a single moment, as it is written: "If You, Yah, should mark iniquities, Hashem, who could stand?" (Tehilim 130:3). Yet you say, "seven times for your sins."

47. AND HE ANSWERS: What the verse teaches us IN SAYING, "seven times," is this. Behold seven is before you. Who is she? She is the Sabbatical Year (lit. 'Release Year'), NAMELY MALCHUT SWEETENED BY BINAH, which is seven. For She is called 'seven,' as it says, "At the end of every seven years you shall make a release" (Devarim 15:1). The SCRIPTURE therefore SAYS, "seven times for your sins." MALCHUT is called 'seven' and ALSO 'daughter of seven.' What is the difference between them? In saying seven only, it means to have a release, to execute Judgments, and to set everyone free. She is called 'daughter of seven' when attached to another, ZEIR ANPIN, to illuminate and rule over her kingdom and make known the Kingship throughout the land and to everyone. She is then called 'the daughter of seven.' Hence, it is written: "the name of the city is Beer-Sheva (lit. 'well of seven') to this day" (Beresheet 26:33). The well of seven is Isaac's well. Everything is one.

48. Rabbi Aba said: "And I will chastise you, even I, seven times for your sins" (Vayikra 26:28). "And I will chastise you," through other attendants, as already explained. "Even I;" "I" is ZEIR ANPIN, who is roused to save you; "seven" is MALCHUT, which is roused towards you TO SAVE YOU. THAT IS, ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT SHALL BE WITH THEM IN EXILE. HENCE, THEY SHALL GET THEM OUT OF EXILE, AS WILL BE EXPLAINED.

49. Come and behold: the Holy One, blessed be He, bears a sublime love for Yisrael . THIS IS like a king who had an only son who constantly sinned against him. One day, as he sinned against the king, the king said: 'I have beaten you previously, but you have not learned. From now on, see what I shall do to you. If I drive you out of the land, and deport you from the kingdom, wild bears, wild wolves, or murderers might attack you and kill you. What shall I do? We shall both leave the country.'

50. Similarly, the words "even I," mean that I and you shall leave the land, NAMELY, GO INTO EXILE. This is what the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Yisrael: 'I have warned you but you did not lend your ears. I have brought warriors and angels of destruction upon you to beat you, but you have not hearkened. If I drive you out of the land on your own, I fear that bears and wolves will attack and kill you. What then shall I do to you? You and I shall leave the land and go into exile.' This is the meaning of, "and I will chastise you;" we shall go into exile. 'You may say that I will leave you, but "even I," am with you.' ."..seven times for your sins," that is, seven, MALCHUT, will be deported with you. For what reason? "For your sins."