Chayei Sarah: Chapter 27

"But to the sons of the concubines...Abraham gave gifts"

Synopsis

This very brief passage discusses questions relating to the concubines of Abraham. Rabbi Chiya maintains that the term does not allude to Kturah, one of Abraham's wives, but there is no unanimous agreement. In section 26 of the Zohar, we're told that Abraham gave "all that he had" to his son Isaac. Here it is said that Abraham now "gave gifts" to the "sons of the concubines." It is speculated that these sons then went on to become great sorcerers and mystics living "in the east."

Relevance

This seemingly simple section of Zohar sheds light on the origins of spiritual disciplines found in the Far East. The Zohar tells us that Abraham gave everything he had to his son Isaac. Thereafter, the Patriarch gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them to live "in the east." Clearly, the Zohar is not referring to material items, for if Abraham gave away all his physical possessions to his son Isaac, there would be nothing left to give to the sons of his concubines. A candle flame provides an analogy, One candle can share its flame and light with countless others, without ever diminishing itself. The Zohar is referring to the light of wisdom when speaking of Abraham's possessions and gifts. The term "all that he had" pertains to the complete wisdom of Kabbalah, also known as the Three Column System. These Three Columns are the pillars of all spiritual wisdom. The "gifts" given to the sons of the concubines refer to other spiritual teachings that offered their own unique pathway to the Light of the Creator, described accordingly as One and Two Column spiritual systems. The sons of the concubines, we're told, were sent by Abraham to live "in the east" where, to this day, there exist spiritual doctrines that exemplify the Two Column system - such as the Ying/Yang principle of Taoist cosmology. A connection can be made between the name Abraham - or Abraham - and the Eastern religious concept of Brahman, which refers to the absolute reality or Self, as explained in the Hindu Upanishads. The words of wisdom portrayed in this passage strengthen our bond to the original seed of spiritual wisdom - Kabbalah - and its Three Column System of Desire to Share, Desire to Receive, and free will to choose and balance between the two. Our study of this section instills in us the discernment to use our free will in a spiritually correct manner.

Abraham Faith Grades Holiness (Kedushah) Isaac Kedushah (Holiness) Purification

262. "But to the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts" (Beresheet 25:6). HE ASKS, What are these gifts? AND HE ANSWERS, These are all kinds of lower UNBALANCED grades OF UNHOLINESS, names of all sorts of impure spirits. HE GAVE THEM to perfect the grades, SO THAT THEY WOULD PURIFY THEM AND PERFECT THE GRADES OF HOLINESS. And Isaac was elevated above them all in the proper supernal faith, WHICH IS BINAH.

262. וְלִבְנֵי הַפִּילַגְשִׁים אֲשֶׁר לְאַבְרָהָם נָתַן אַבְרָהָם מַתָּנוֹת. מַאי מַתָּנוֹת. אִלֵּין סִטְרֵי דַרְגִּין תַּתָּאִין, דְּאִינוּן שְׁמָהָן דְּסִטְרֵי רוּחַ מְסָאֲבָא, בְּגִין לְאַשְׁלָמָא דַּרְגִּין, וְאִסְתַּלַּק יִצְחָק עַל כֹּלָּא, בִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא עִלָּאָה כִּדְקָא חָזֵי.

Abraham East Isaac Keturah Sorcery Witchcraft

263. "The sons of the concubines" are the children of Kturah, WHO IS CALLED "CONCUBINES" because she was a concubine before ABRAHAM SENT HER AWAY and was again a concubine when HE TOOK HER BACK. Rabbi Chiya said that this alludes to actual concubines AND IN NO WAY DOES IT ALLUDE TO KTURAH. "And sent them away from his son, Isaac" (Ibid.), so that they would not have control over Isaac "while he yet lived," while Abraham was alive and well in this world. This way, they would not quarrel with him later, and Isaac would be strengthened and subjugate everyone before him. "Eastward, to the east country" (Ibid.), because one finds there all kinds of witchcraft.

263. בְּנֵי הַפִּילַגְשִׁים אִלֵּין הֲווֹ בְּנֵי קְטוּרָה, פִּלֶּגֶשׁ בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, וּפִלֶּגֶשׁ הַשְׁתָּא. ר' חִיָּיא אֲמַר, פִּילַגְשִׁים מַמָּשׁ. וַיְשַׁלְּחֵם מֵעַל יִצְחָק בְנוֹ, דְּלָא לְשַׁלְּטָאָה לְגַבֵּיהּ דְּיִצְחָק. בְּעוֹדֶנוּ חַי, בְּעוֹד דַּהֲוָה אַבְרָהָם חַי וְקַיָּים בְּעַלְמָא, דְּלָא יְקַטְרְגוּן לֵיהּ לְבָתַר, וּבְגִין דְּיִתְתַּקַּן יִצְחָק בִּסְטַר דִּינָא קַשְׁיָא עִלָּאָה, לְאִתְתַּקְּפָא עַל כֻּלְּהוּ, וְכֻלְּהוּ אִתְכַּפְיָין קַמֵּיהּ. קֵדְמָה אֶל אֶרֶץ קֶדֶם, בְּגִין דְּתַמָּן אִינוּן סִטְרֵי חֳרָשֵׁי מְסָאֲבֵי.

Abraham Balaam East Laban Mountains Solomon Sorcery Wisdom Witchcraft

264. Come and behold, It is written, "And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country" (I Melachim 5:10). These are the sons of the concubines of Abraham. It was said that those who teach sorcery to men are found in these east mountains. And from the east country came Laban, Beor, his son Bilaam and all the sorcerers, as has already been explained.

264. תָּא חֲזֵי, כְּתִיב וַתֵּרֶב חָכְמָת שְׁלֹמֹה מֵחָכְמַת כָּל בְּנֵי קֶדֶם. אִלֵּין אִינוּן דַּהֲווֹ מִבְּנֵי בְּנֵי פִּילַגְשִׁים דְּאַבְרָהָם, וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא, דְּהָא בְּאִינוּן הַרְרֵי קֶדֶם, אִינוּן דְּאוֹלְפִין חֳרָשִׁין לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא, וּמֵהַהִיא אֶרֶץ קֶדֶם, נְפָקוּ: לָבָן, וּבְעוֹר, וּבִלְעָם בְּנוֹ, וְכֻלְּהוּ חֳרָשֵׁי, וְהָא אוֹקְמוּהָ.

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