Miketz: Chapter 12

"And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house"

Synopsis

The Zohar comments on the fear felt by Joseph's brothers. It meditates on the nature of sin and evil, and asserts that only by concentrating on the Day of Judgment at all times, and by avoiding wine, pride, and fornication, can we be free of the Evil Inclination. Whoever has sins on his hands is always afraid; thus, Joseph's brothers were full of fear when they were brought into his house.

Relevance

A literal interpretation of Biblical text limits it to extremist views that can be misconstrued as puritanical. The Kabbalists of antiquity shed light on the deeper significance of the above verses. Fear of sin and the avoidance of wine, pride, and infidelity are not just moral values rooted in religious authority. Rather, there is a practical benefit to engaging in positive behavior. Kabbalah teaches us how to elevate all physical activity to the level of the spiritual. For example, relations between a man and wife are made more passionate when a man directs his sexual drive exclusively towards his spouse, limiting carnal activity to the spiritual confines of his marriage. Similarly, wine draws down enormous spiritual Light when used as part of a blessing, but brings alcoholism and spiritual darkness when used for self-indulgent purposes. Our eyes are opened to these insightful truths as we peruse these passages.

Body Deeds Fear House Joseph Soul, The Torah

192. "And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house" (Beresheet 43:18): Rabbi Yosi said, Woe to the men, who do not know nor reflect upon the ways of the Torah. Woe to them at the time the Holy One, blessed be He, will demand justice for their deeds, when the body and soul will rise to account for all they did before the soul separated from the body.

192. וַיִּירְאוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים כִּי הוּבְאוּ בֵּית יוֹסֵף. ר' יוֹסֵי אֲמַר, וַוי לוֹן, לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא, דְּלָא יָדְעֵי וְלָא מִסְתַּכְּלִין בְּאָרְחֵי דְאוֹרַיְיתָא, וַוי לוֹן, בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יֵיתֵי לְמִתְבַּע לוֹן דִּינָא עַל עוֹבָדֵיהוֹן, וְיָקוּם גּוּפָא וְנַפְשָׁא, לְמֵיהַב חוּשְׁבָּנָא מִכָּל עוֹבָדֵיהוֹן, עַד לָא יִתְפָּרְשׁוּן נַפְשָׁא מִן גּוּפָא.

Body Deeds Judgment Prosecution Serpent Soul, The

193. That day is the day of Judgment, when the books WHERE MEN'S DEEDS ARE WRITTEN are open, the prosecutors are in place, and the serpent is ready to bite. All the members of the body quiver before it, and the soul is separated from the body to roam and hover without knowing where it should go and to which place it will be raised.

193. וְהַהוּא יוֹמָא, יוֹמָא דְּדִינָא אִיהוּ, יוֹמָא דְּסִפְרִין פְּתִיחָן, וּמָארֵיהוֹן דְּדִינָא קָיְימִין, בְּגִין דְּהַהוּא זִמְנָא קָיְימָא נָחָשׁ בְּקִיּוּמֵיהּ, לְנַשְׁכָא לֵיהּ, וְכָל שַׁיְיפֵי מִתְרַגְּשִׁין לְגַבֵּיהּ, וְנִשְׁמָתָא אִתְפָּרְשָׁא מִן גּוּפָא, וְאָזְלָא וְשַׁטְיָא, וְלָא יָדְעַת לְאָן אָרְחָא תְּהַךְ, וּלְאָן אֲתַר סָלְקִין לָהּ.

Evil Evil Inclination Face Ground Judgment Soul, The

194. Woe to that day, a day of ire and wrath. It behooves man, then, to face his Evil Inclination and remember that he will have to stand in the King's judgment and that he will be put beneath the ground to rot, while the soul will be separated from him.

194. וַוי לְהַהוּא יוֹמָא, יוֹמָא דְרוֹגְזָא וּנְאִיצוּ הַהוּא יוֹמָא, בְּגִין כָּךְ אִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ לְבַּר נָשׁ, לְאַרְגָּזָא יִצְרֵיהּ כָּל יוֹמָא, לְאַדְכָּרָא קַמֵּיהּ הַהוּא יוֹמָא, דְּיֵיקוּם בְּדִינָא דְמַלְכָּא, דְּקָא עָאלִין לֵיהּ תְּחוֹת אַרְעָא לְאִתְרַקְּבָא, וְנִשְׁמָתָא אִתְפָּרְשָׁא מִנֵּיהּ.

Evil Evil Inclination Good Inclination Torah

195. We have learned that a man should always apply himself to arousing the Good Inclination against the Evil Inclination. If evil departs, that is fine; if not, he should study the Torah, for only the Torah breaks the Evil Inclination. If evil departs, that is fine; if not, man should remind it of his dying day in order to break it.

195. וּתְנַן, לְעוֹלָם יַרְגִּיז אָדָם יֵצֶר טוֹב עַל יֵצֶר הָרָע, וְיִשְׁתַּדֵּל אֲבַתְרֵיהּ, אִי אָזֵיל מִנֵּיהּ יָאוֹת, וְאִי לָאו יִשְׁתַּדַּל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, דְּהָא לֵית לָךְ מִלָּה לְתַבְרָא יֵצֶר הָרָע אֶלָּא אוֹרַיְיתָא. אִי אָזֵיל מוּטָב, וְאִי לָאו יַדְכַּר לֵיהּ יוֹמָא דְמוֹתָא, בְּגִין לְתַבְּרָא לֵיהּ.

Angel of Death Angels Death Death and the Afterlife Evil Evil Inclination

196. We have to study this further. The Evil Inclination is the Angel of Death. Why should the Angel of Death be broken before the day of death, seeing that it is he who delights in killing MEN? Indeed, he leads them astray to bring DEATH upon them.

196. הָכָא אִית לְאִסְתַּכָּלָה, דְהָא דָא הוּא יֵצֶר הָרָע, וְדָא הוּא מַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת, וְכִי מַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת מִתְבַּר מִקַּמֵּי יוֹמָא דְמוֹתָא, וְהָא אִיהוּ קָטוֹלָא דִּבְנֵי נָשָׁא הֲוֵי, וְאִשְׁתְּמַע דְּחֶדְוָה הוּא דִילֵיהּ, וּבְגִין כָּךְ אַסְטֵי לוֹן לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא תָּדִיר, בְּגִין לְאַמְשָׁכָא לוֹן לְדָא.

Evil Evil Inclination Heart

197. HE ANSWERS, Surely we have learned that it behooves man to be reminded of his dying day in order to break his heart, for the Evil Inclination dwells only in a place of intoxication and pride. When a broken spirit dwells in man, evil departs and does not stay with him. One should therefore be reminded of his dying day so that his spirit will be crushed and the Evil Inclination will go away.

197. אֶלָּא וַדַּאי מַה דְּאִתְּמָר דְּיִדְכּוֹר לֵיהּ בַּר נָשׁ הַהוּא יוֹמָא דְמוֹתָא, וַדַּאי הָכֵי הוּא, בְּגִין דְּמִתְבַּר לִבָּא דְבַר נָשׁ, דְּהָא יֵצֶר הָרָע לָא שַׁרְיָא, אֶלָּא בַּאֲתַר דְּאִשְׁתַּכַּח חֶדְוָה דְחַמְרָא, וְגַסּוּתָא דְרוּחָא, וְכַד אִשְׁתַּכַּח רוּחָא תְּבִירָא, כְּדֵין אִתְפְּרַשׁ מִנֵּיהּ, וְלָא שַׁרְיָא בַּהֲדֵיהּ, וּבְגִין כָּךְ בָּעֵי לְאַדְכָּרָא לֵיהּ יוֹמָא דְמוֹתָא, וְיִתְבַּר גּוּפֵיהּ, וְאִיהוּ אָזֵיל לֵיהּ.

Deeds Evil Evil Inclination Good Inclination Judgment Torah Wine

198. Come and behold, The Good Inclination requires the joy of the Torah and the Evil Inclination the joy of wine, fornication, and pride. Therefore, a man should always vex it by mention of that great day, the day of judgment, the day of reckoning, for there is nothing that protects man at that time except the good deeds that he performs in this world.

198. תָּא חֲזֵי, יֵצֶר טוֹב בָּעֵי חֶדְוָה דְאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְיֵצֶר רָע חֶדְוָה דְחַמְרָא, וְנִיאוּפִין וְגַסּוּתָא דְרוּחָא, וּבְגִין כָּךְ בָּעֵי בַּר נָשׁ לְאַרְגָּזָא תָּדִיר, מֵהַהוּא יוֹמָא רַבָּא, יוֹמָא דְדִינָא, יוֹמָא דְּחוּשְׁבְּנָא, דְּלֵית לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ לַאֲגָנָא עֲלֵיהּ, אֶלָּא עוֹבָדוֹי דְּכַשְׁרָן, דְּאִיהוּ עָבֵיד בְּהַאי עַלְמָא, בְּגִין דְּיָגֵינוּ עֲלֵיהּ בְּהַהִיא שַׁעְתָּא.

Fear House Joseph Strength

199. Come and behold, "And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house." With all their might and strength, one youth who brought them into Joseph's house MADE THEM afraid. How much more SHOULD WE BE AFRAID when the Holy One, blessed be He, will demand justice of man?

199. תָּא חֲזֵי, וַיִּירְאוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים כִּי הוּבְאוּ בֵּית יוֹסֵף, וּמַה כֻּלְּהוּ הֲווֹ גִּיבָּרִין, כֻּלְּהוּ תַּקִּיפִין, וְחַד עוּלֵימָא דְּאַיְיתֵי לוֹן לְבֵיתָא דְיוֹסֵף, דַּחֲלוּ. כַּד יֵיתֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְמִתְבַּע לֵיהּ לְדִינָא לְבַר נָשׁ, עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה.

Repentance

200. Hence, a man should strive in this world to be strengthened by the Holy One, blessed be He, and put his trust in Him. And though he sinned, if he fully repents, THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, is able TO OVERLOOK A WRONG AND FORGIVE HIM. And the man could fortify himself in the Holy One, blessed be He, as if he had never sinned.

200. בְּגִין כָּךְ, בָּעֵי לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ, לְאִזְדַּהֲרָא בְּהַאי עַלְמָא, לְאִתְתַּקְפָא בֵּיהּ בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְיַשְׁוֵי בֵיהּ רוֹחֲצָנֵיהּ, דְּאַף עַל גָּב דְּאִיהוּ חָטֵי, אִי יֶהֱדַר מִנֵּיהּ, בִּתְיוּבְתָּא שְׁלֵימָתָא, הָא תַּקִּיף אִיהוּ, וְיִתְתַּקַּף בֵּיהּ בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, כְּאִילּוּ לָא חָטָא.

Evil Evil Inclination Fear Good Inclination Hands Heart Joseph Sin Strength Tribes

201. The tribes were afraid because they sinned in stealing Joseph. They would not have been afraid at all, had they not sinned. For man's sins break his heart and strength. Why? Because the Good Inclination is crushed within him, and he has no power to overcome the Evil Inclination. It is therefore written, "What man there is that is fearful and fainthearted" (Devarim 20:8), "that is fearful" of the sins upon his hands, which break a man's heart.

201. דְּהָא שִׁבְטִין, בְּגִין דְּחָטוֹ עַל גְּנֵיבַת יוֹסֵף, הֲווֹ דַּחֲלִין, דְּאִלְּמָלֵא לָא חָטוֹ, לָא הֲווֹ דָּחֲלִין כְּלַל, בְּגִין דְּחוֹבוֹי דְּבַר נָשׁ מְתַבְּרִין לִבֵּיהּ, וְלֵית לֵיהּ חֵילָא כְּלַל, מ"ט, דְּהָא הַהוּא יֵצֶר הַטּוֹב אִתְבַּר עִמֵּיהּ, וְלֵית לֵיהּ חֵילָא לְאִתְתַּקְּפָא עַל הַהוּא יֵצֶר הָרָע. וְעַל דָּא כְתִיב, מִי הָאִישׁ הַיָּרֵא וְרַךְ הַלֵּבָב, הַיָּרֵא מֵחוֹבִין דְּבִידוֹי, דְּאִינוּן תְּבִירָא דְּלִבָּא דְּבַר נָשׁ.

Joseph Judgment Sin Tribes

202. Come and behold, The Holy One, blessed be He, exacted payments for generations for the tribes' sin OF SELLING JOSEPH, for nothing is lost before the Holy One, blessed be He, and He demands payment from one generation to the next. Judgment stands before him constantly until exacted. And judgment abides where it should BE.

202. וְתָא חֲזֵי, לְכַמָּה דָרִין אִתְפְּרַע קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, מֵאִינוּן חוֹבִין דְּשִׁבְטִין, דְּהָא לָא אִתְאֲבֵיד מִקַּמֵּיהּ דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא כְּלוּם, וְאִתְפְּרַע מִדָּרָא לְדָרָא, וְדִינָא קָיְימָא קַמֵּיהּ תָּדִיר, עַד דְּאִתְפְּרַע, וְשָׁרֵי דִינָא בַּאֲתַר דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ.

Babylon House Idolatry

203. How do we know this? From Hezekiahu, who sinned by revealing to the idolatrous nations the mysteries of the Holy One, blessed be He, which he should not have done. The Holy One, blessed be He, sent Yeshayahu, who said to him, "Behold, days are coming that all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon" (Yeshayah 39:6).

203. מְנָלָן, מֵחִזְקִיָּהוּ. חִזְקִיָּהוּ חָב הַהוּא חוֹבָא, דְּגָלֵי סְתִירִין דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, לִשְׁאָר עַמִּין עעכו"ם, דְּלָא הֲוָה אִצְטְרִיךְ לְגַלָּאָה, וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא שַׁדַּר לֵיהּ לִישַׁעְיָהוּ, וַאֲמַר לֵיהּ, הִנֵּה יָמִים בָּאִים וְנִשָּׂא כָּל אֲשֶׁר בְּבֵיתֶךָ וַאֲשֶׁר אָצְרוּ אֲבוֹתֶיךָ עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה וגו.'

Blessing Other Side Sin

204. Come and behold what that sin caused. It exposed what was hidden and, once it was revealed, an opening was given for another place, NAMELY, FOR THE OTHER SIDE TO RULE. Therefore, blessing abides only in secret places, as has been already explained. Blessings dwell on all that is undisclosed. Once it is revealed, there is an opening for another place to have dominion over it.

204. תָּא חֲזֵי, כַּמָּה גָרֵים הַהוּא חוֹבָא, בְּגִין דְּגַלֵּי מַה דַּהֲוָה סָתִים, דְּכֵיוָן דְּאִתְגְּלֵי, אִתְיְיהֵיב דּוּכְתָּא לַאֲתַר אָחֳרָא דְּלָא אִצְטְרִיךְ, לְשַׁלְּטָאָה עֲלֵיהּ, בְּגִין כָּךְ לָאו בְּרָכָה שַׁרְיָא, אֶלָּא בַּאֲתַר סְתִים. וְאוֹקְמוּהָ, מַה דְּאִיהוּ סָתִים, בְּרָכָה שַׁרְיָא עֲלוֹי, כֵּיוָן דְּאִתְגְּלֵי אִתְיְיהֵיב דּוּכְתָּא, לַאֲתַר אָחֳרָא לְשַׁלְטָאָה עֲלוֹי.

Babylon Hebrew Letters Jerusalem Kingdom Merodach Baladan Nakedness

205. It is written, "All that honored her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness" (Eichah 1:8). This alludes to the kingdom of Babylon, where a present was sent to Jerusalem, as it is written, "At that time, Merodach Baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiahu" (Yeshayah 39:1).

205. כְּתִיב כָּל מְכַבְּדֶיהָ הִזִּילוּהָ כִּי רָאוּ עֶרְוָתָהּ וְאוֹקְמוּהָ. אֲבָל כָּל מְכַבְּדֶיהָ הִזִּילוּהָ, דָּא הוּא מַלְכוּת בָּבֶל, דְּהָא מִתַּמָּן אִשְׁתַּדַּר דּוֹרוֹן לִירוּשְׁלֵם דִּכְתִיב בָּעֵת הַהִיא שָׁלַח מְרוֹדָךְ בַּלְאֲדָן בֶּן בַּלְאֲדָן מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל סְפָרִים וּמִנְחָה אֶל חִזְקִיָּהוּ.

Hebrew Letters Hezekiah Jerusalem Judah Peace Thought Throne

206. In the letters it was written, 'Peace be to Hezekiah, the king of Judah, peace be to the great Elohim, and peace be to Jerusalem.' Once he delivered the letter, he thought, I have not done well in greeting the servant before his master. He rose from his throne, took three steps, and retrieved the letter. He wrote another letter in its stead, saying, 'Peace be to the great Elohim, peace to Jerusalem, and peace be to Hezekiah.' These are "all that honored her."

206. וּמַה כְּתִיב בְּהוֹ, שְׁלָם לְחִזְקִיָהוּ מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה, וּשְׁלָם לֵאלָהָא רַבָּא וּשְׁלָם לִירוּשְׁלֵם, כֵּיוָן דְּנָפַק פִּתְקֵיהּ מִנֵּיהּ, אַהֲדַר לְלִבֵּיהּ וַאֲמַר, לָא יָאוֹת עָבְדִית לְאַקְדָּמָא שְׁלָמָא דְעַבְדָא, לִשְׁלָמָא דְמָארֵיהּ, קָם מִכּוּרְסְיֵהּ, וּפָסַע ג' פְּסִיעָן, וְאַהֲדַר פִּתְקֵיהּ, וְכָתַב אָחֳרָנִין תְּחוֹתַיְיהוּ, וְכָתַב הָכֵי, שְׁלָם לֵאלָהָא רַבָּא, שְׁלָם לִירוּשְׁלֵם, וּשְׁלָם לְחִזְקִיָּה, וְדָא הוּא מְכַבְּדֶיהָ.

Hezekiah Nakedness Peace Righteous Sin

207. Afterwards, they "despise her." Why did they "despise her?" "Because they have seen her nakedness," THAT IS, Hezekiah showed it to them, and were it not for that, they would not have despised her. Because Hezekiah was righteous, retribution was late in coming and came not in his days, as it is written, "But there shall be peace and truth in my days" (Yeshayah 39:8). Later, the Holy One, blessed be He, visited His children on account of that sin.

207. וּלְבָתַר הִזִּילוּהָ, מ"ט הִזִּילוּהָ. בְּגִין כִּי רָאוּ עֶרְוָתָה, דְּאַחְזֵי לוֹן חִזְקִיָּה, דְּאִלְמָלֵא כָּךְ לֹא הִזִּילוּהָ לְבָתַר. מִגּוֹ דַּהֲוָה זַכָּאָה חִזְקִיָּהוּ יַתִּיר, אִתְעַכַּב מִלָּה מִלְּאַיְיתָאָה, וְלָא אָתָא בְּיוֹמוֹי, דִּכְתִיב כִּי יִהְיֶה שָׁלוֹם וֶאֱמֶת בְּיָמַי. וּלְבָתַר פַּקֵּיד הַהוּא חוֹבָא, לִבְנוֹי אַבַּתְרֵיהּ.

Fear Hands House Joseph Judgment Sin Tribes

208. Similarly, the sin of the tribes was deferred until a later time, for judgment above had no power over them until the time arrived to exact payment. Thus, whoever has sins on his hands is always afraid, as it is written, "And you shall fear day and night" (Devarim 28:66). Therefore, "And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house."

208. כְּגַוְנָא דָא, הַהוּא חוֹבָא דְּשִׁבְטִין, קָאֵים עַד לְבָתַר, בְּגִין דְּדִינָא דִלְעֵילָא, לָא יָכֵיל לְשַׁלְּטָאָה עֲלַיְיהוּ, עַד דְּאִשְׁתַּכַּח שַׁעְתָּא לְאִתְפָּרְעָא, וְאִתְפְּרַע מִינַּיְיהוּ, וּבְגִין כָּךְ, כָּל מַאן דְּאִית חוֹבִין בִּידוֹי, דָּחֵיל תָּדִיר, כד"א וּפָחַדְתָּ לַיְלָה וְיוֹמָם וגו,' וְעַל דָּא וַיִּירְאוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים כִּי הוּבְאוּ וגו.'

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