432. "And Hashem Elohim commanded..." (Beresheet 2:16). We have learned that "commanded" is idolatry. THEREFORE, EVERY PLACE THE WORD COMMAND IS WRITTEN IS AN ALLUSION TO THE PROHIBITION OF IDOLATRY. THUS, THE VERSE RELATES TO THE SEVEN PRECEPTS THAT WERE GIVEN TO ADAM. "COMMANDED" APPLIES TO IDOLATRY, "Hashem" to blasphemy, "Elohim" to the judges WHO SHOULD STRIVE TO MAINTAIN JUSTICE, "Adam" to the prohibition against shedding another's blood, "saying" to the prohibition of incest (SEXUAL MISCONDUCT], "of every tree of the garden" to thievery, and "you may freely eat" to the eating of flesh from a living animal. This EXPLANATION is accepted, ALTHOUGH IT MAY BE ADDED THAT "of every tree of the garden you may freely eat" MEANS that he permitted him TO EAT OF all, INCLUDING THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL, but he was supposed to eat of them together, MEANING THAT THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL HAD TO BE IN HARMONY WITH THE OTHER TREES IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN.

433. We know that Abraham ate FROM THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL, as did Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets. NEVERTHELESS, they remained alive. WHY? BECAUSE this tree, THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL, is the tree of death. Whoever ate of it by itself died, because he has taken the potion of death. Thus, IT IS WRITTEN: "For in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die" (Ibid. 17), REFERRING TO THE TREE BY ITSELF. In doing so, one separates the plants AND CUTS THE ROOTS, MEANING THAT HE SEPARATES THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, FROM HIS SHECHINAH. THEREFORE, HE IS SENTENCED TO DEATH.

434. Rabbi Yehuda asked Rabbi Shimon: We have learned that Adam pulled at his foreskin. What is the meaning of this? He replied: He separated the holy covenant, NAMELY YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN, from its place, NAMELY THE SHECHINAH, hence he pulled at his foreskin when he abandoned the holy covenant, NAMELY, THE UNITY OF THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, WITH HIS SHECHINAH, cleaved to the foreskin - THE KLIPAH THAT SEPARATES THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, FROM HIS SHECHINAH - and was seduced by the serpent's words.

435. "The fruit of the tree" (Beresheet 3:3) refers to the woman, NAMELY THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE OF ZEIR ANPIN. AND IT IS WRITTEN: "You shall not eat of it..." because of the verse: "Her feet go down to death, her steps take hold of Sheol" (Mishlei 5:5). THIS MEANS THAT IF HE DRAWS SUSTENANCE FROM THE FEMALE WHEN SHE IS UNACCOMPANIED BY HER HUSBAND, THE FEET OF THE FEMALE DESCEND TO THE KLIPOT, WHERE DEATH IS. BUT WE SHOULD NOT CONCLUDE THAT THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL IS THE OTHER SIDE AND IS NOT THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE OF HOLINESS, BECAUSE there is fruit IN THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE OF ZEIR ANPIN. THEREFORE, IT IS WRITTEN: "BUT OF THE FRUIT OF THE TREE." In the Other SIDE, there is no fruit, BECAUSE ANOTHER EL IS STERILE AND PRODUCES NO FRUIT. IT IS WRITTEN OF IT: "For in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die" (Beresheet 2:17). It is called the tree of death, EVEN THOUGH SHE IS THE FEMALE OF HOLINESS, of whom it is written: "her feet go down to death." NEVERTHELESS IN HERSELF, SHE IS FULL OF LIFE AND HOLINESS.

436. Rabbi Yosi said: This tree that we have mentioned, REFERRING TO THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL, was watered from above, grew and was happy, as it is written, "And a river went out of Eden to water the garden" (Ibid. 10). The garden is the Female principle OF ZEIR ANPIN and the river, NAMELY BINAH, enters THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE and waters her, BESTOWS ON HER THE MOCHIN OF GREATNESS, and they all become as one. THIS MEANS THAT BECAUSE OF THESE MOCHIN, ZEIR ANPIN AND HIS FEMALE PRINCIPLE ARE UNITED AS ONE, because from there downward, BELOW THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE OF ZEIR ANPIN, everything is then separated. FROM THERE, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RECEIVE THESE MOCHIN, as it is written: "And from thence it was parted."