"You shall not take a wife...of the daughters of the Canaanite"

Synopsis

The rabbis discuss the dangers of a man marrying a woman of the heathen nations, and Abraham's desire that Isaac remain in the Central Column, where he would learn the ways of the Holy One.

Relevance

This pertains to the importance of our relationships in life, including their effect on the spiritual state of things. Marriage is the union of two halves of one soul, and is considered an important tool for drawing the Light of the upper worlds [husband] into the lower world [wife]. All our actions in this material realm, including marital transactions, are a microcosm of the ebb-and-flow relationship endlessly playing out between the physical and metaphysical worlds. To secure a personal connection to the macrocosmic level of reality, thus ensuring its positive influence in our life, we must surround ourselves with those in whom the love of the Creator burns strongly, rather than those whose godlessness seeks to infect us with unbelief. Consciousness creates reality. People who are not conscious of the Creator create for themselves a Godless reality devoid of spiritual Light. Whether in business, social, or marital relationships, the Zohar helps prevent us from becoming entangled with negative partners, and to attract like-minded, virtuous people into our life.

Abraham Canaanite Daughter Earth Exile Heaven Marriage Shechinah Wisdom

215. Rabbi Elazar said, Come and behold, We have learned that because Abraham had wisdom, he wanted to be separated from and not cleave to all other nations. Therefore it is written, "And I will make you swear by Hashem, the Elohim of heaven, and the Elohim of the earth, that you shall not take a wife to my son..." (Beresheet 24:3). The phrase "of the daughters of the Canaanite" (Ibid.) surely contains a secret, as it is written, "And has married the daughter of a strange El" (Malachi 2:11). In the phrase, "Among whom I dwell" (Beresheet 24:3), the "I" is exactly the same as that mentioned in "I have made the earth" (Yeshayah 45:12). THE "I" IN THE FIRST CASE REFERS TO THE SHECHINAH AS "IT" IN THE SECOND CASE, BECAUSE SHE WAS IN EXILE. HE MADE HIM SWEAR all that so to prevent him from being defiled by them.

215. אֲמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, תָּא חֲזֵי, דְּהָא אִתְּמָר, דְּכֵיוָן דְּיָדַע אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ חָכְמְתָא, בָּעָא לְהִתְפְּרָשָׁא מִכָּל שְׁאָר עַמִּין, וְלָא לְאִתְדַּבָּקָא בְּהוֹ, וּבְגִין כָּךְ כְּתִיב, וְאַשְׁבִּיעֲךָ בַּה' אֱלֹקֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם וֵאלֹקֵי הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר לֹא תִקַּח אִשָּׁה לִבְנִי מִבְּנוֹת הַכְּנַעֲנִי וגו', מִבְּנוֹת הַכְּנַעֲנִי וַדַּאי רָזָא אִיהוּ, כְּדָבָר אֲחֵר וּבָעַל בַּת אֵל נֵכָר. אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי יוֹשֵׁב בְּקִרְבּוֹ, אָנֹכִי דַיְיקָא, כְּתִיב הָכָא אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי, וּכְתִיב הָתָם אָנֹכִי עָשִׂיתִי אֶרֶץ. וְכָל דָּא, בְּגִין דְּלָא לְאִסְתָּאֲבָא בְּהוֹ.

Abraham Angels Brit (Covenant) Covenant (Brit) Earth Heaven Women

216. Come and behold, Whoever puts the holy covenant in a woman of a heathen nation causes another place to be defiled; NAMELY, HE BLEMISHES THE SUPERNAL COVENANT AND CAUSES IT TO GIVE PLENTY TO THE HANDMAID. Thus, it is written, "For three things the earth is disquieted..." (Mishlei 30:21). And though he made him swear by the covenant, Abraham did not yet trust him, but prayed before the Holy One, blessed be He, saying "Hashem, Elohim of the heaven... He shall send his angel before you" (Beresheet 24:7). His angel assuredly MEANS the angel of the covenant, whom He shall send so that the covenant will be kept and not defiled among the nations.

216. תָּא חֲזֵי, הַאי מַאן דְּאָעֵיל הַאי בְּרִית קַדִּישָׁא, בְּהַהִיא אִתְּתָא דִּשְׁאָר עַמִּין עעכו"ם, גָּרֵים לְאִסְתָּאֲבָא אֲתַר אָחֳרָא, וְעַל דָּא כְתִיב תַּחַת שָׁלֹשׁ רָגְזָה אֶרֶץ וגו'. וְאַף עַל גָּב דְּאוֹמֵי לֵיהּ בְּהַאי בְּרִית, לָא אַבְטַח בֵּיהּ אַבְרָהָם, עַד דְּצַלֵּי צְלוֹתֵיהּ קַּמֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וַאֲמַר ה' אֱלֹקֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם וגו' הוּא יִשְׁלַח מַלְאָכוֹ, וַדַּאי דָא מַלְאַךְ הַבְּרִית, בְּגִין דְּיִתְנְטֵיר הַאי בְּרִית, וְלָא יִתְחַלֵּל בֵּין אִינוּן עַמִּין.

Abraham Dwellings Isaac

217. He asks the meaning of the verse, "Only bring not my son back there" (Beresheet 24:8). HE RESPONDS that Abraham alone - and no one else IN HIS FAMILY - recognized the Holy One, blessed be He. Abraham did not want Isaac to dwell among the heathen nations, but wanted him to remain with him, where he would learn the ways of the Holy One, blessed be He. Abraham did not want Isaac to turn right or left, BUT RATHER TO REMAIN IN THE CENTRAL COLUMN. For that reason Abraham did not want Isaac's dwelling place to be among the heathen nations.

217. רַק אֶת בְּנִי לֹא תָשֵׁב שָׁמָּה. מ"ט, בְּגִין דְּיָדַע אַבְרָהָם, דְּהָא בְּכֻלְּהוּ, לָא הֲוָה מַאן דְּאִשְׁתְּמוֹדַע לֵיהּ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, בַּר אִיהוּ בִּלְחוֹדוֹי, וְלָא בָּעָא דִּלְהֲווֹ מְדוֹרֵיהּ דְּיִצְחָק בֵּינַיְיהוּ, אֶלָּא דִּיהֵא מְדוֹרֵיהּ עִמֵּיהּ, וְיִצְחָק יוֹלִיף מִנֵּיהּ תָּדִיר אָרְחוֹי דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וְלָא יִסְטֵי לִימִינָא וְלִשְׂמָאלָא. וְעַל דָּא לָא בָּעָא אַבְרָהָם דִּלְהֱוֵי מְדוֹרֵיהּ דְּיִצְחָק תַּמָּן.

Abraham Merit Well