Miketz: Chapter 8

"And Joseph recognized his brothers"

Synopsis

The Zohar examines the nature of fear and sin, and tells us that negative sexual activity and masturbation lead to negativity and ruin. Fear and sin, it claims, allows our enemies to behave like Joseph's brothers and gives them an opportunity to punish us without mercy.

Relevance

A man's seminal fluids are the closest reflection of The Creator's essence in the physical world. For this reason, a man's seed brings forth life and generates profound pleasure, both of which are attributes of the Divine. However, negative forces, here to test and challenge us, need their own sustenance of Light, which they retrieve when a man wantonly spills his seed. Keeping our sexual relations within the spiritual boundaries of marriage - for the purpose of sharing with our spouse and for bringing new life into the world - protects the Light from the onslaughts of the Other Side. The result is greater fulfillment and pleasure in every area of life.

Evil Fear Joseph Sin

114. "And Joseph recognized his brethren, but they recognized him not." Rabbi Elazar quoted the verse, "Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my persecutors (lit. 'my heels') compasses me about" (Tehilim 49:6). Come and behold, AS WAS SAID BY THE SAGES, there are three classes of those who fear, yet do not know what they fear. But in addition to these three, there is he who fears, yet does not know what he fears, because he commits sins unknowingly. He therefore fears the days of evil.

114. וַיַּכֶּר יוֹסֵף אֶת אֶחָיו וְהֵם לֹא הִכִּירוּהוּ. רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר פְּתַח וַאֲמַר, לָמָּה אִירָא בִּימֵי רָע עֲוֹן עֲקֵבַי יְסֻבֵּנִי. תָּא חֲזֵי, תְּלַת אִינוּן דְּדָחֲלִין וְלָא יָדְעִין מִמַּה דָּחֲלִין, וְאוֹקְמוּהָ, אֲבָל אִית מַאן דְּדָחֵיל, וְלָא יָדַע מִמַּה אִיהוּ דָּחֵיל, בְּגִין איִנוּן חֶטְאֵי, דְּלָא יָדַע דְּאִינוּן חֲטָאִין, וְלָא אַשְׁגַּח בְּהוֹ, וְאִיהוּ דָּחֵיל מִימֵי רָע.

Evil Evil Inclination Punishment Semen

115. HE ASKS, What are the days of evil? HE SAID, These are days meant for evil. It is the Evil Inclination called evil, which on certain days is given permission in the world to lead astray those who defile their ways BY SPILLING SEMEN IN VAIN. Whoever wishes to be polluted is defiled. They are called days of evil, reserved for PUNISHMENT FOR transgressions that a man treads under his heels.

115. מַאן אִינוּן יְמֵי רָע, אִלֵּין אִינוּן יוֹמִין דְּאִינוּן אִזְדַּמְּנָן בְּהַהוּא רָע, וּמַאן אִינוּן, דָּא יֵצֶר הָרָע, דְּאִיהוּ אִקְרֵי רָע, וְאִית לֵיהּ יוֹמִין יְדִיעָן, דְּאִתְיְהֵיב לֵיהּ רְשׁוּ בְּעַלְמָא, לְאַסְטָאָה לְכָל אִינוּן דִּמְסָאֲבֵי אָרְחַיְיהוּ, דְּמַאן דְּאָתֵי לְאִסְתָּאֲבָא מְסָאֲבֵי לֵיהּ. וְאִלֵּין אִינוּן אִקְרוּן יְמֵי רָע, וְאִלֵּין מְמַנָּן עַל אִינוּן חוֹבִין דְּדָשִׁין בְּהוֹ בְּנֵי נָשָׁא בַּעֲקֵבַיְיהוּ.

Purification

116. Come and behold, Packs of fiends await to corrupt those who defile their ways. A man is led in the very way he chooses to walk. A man who wishes to be purified has many helpers.

116. תָּא חֲזֵי, כָּל אִינוּן דִּמְסָאֲבֵי אָרְחַיְיהוּ, כַּמָּה חֲבִילֵי טְהִירִין, אִזְדַּמְּנָן לְגַבַּיְיהוּ, וּמְסָאֲבֵי לְהוֹ. בְּאָרְחָא דְבָעֵי בַּר נָשׁ לְמֵיהַךְ, בְּהַהוּא אָרְחָא מְדַבְּרִין לֵיהּ מַמָּשׁ, אָתֵי בַּר נָשׁ לְאִתְדַּכָּאָה, כַּמָּה אִינוּן דִּמְסַיְיעִין לֵיהּ.

Hands Morning Washing

117. We have learned that when a man wakes up in the morning, he should wash his hands with a laver, AND HE SHOULD BE WASHED by someone who has already washed, as has been explained. Come and behold, We have learned all this for the sake of the laver. THIS EXPOSITION WAS MEANT TO TEACH US THAT WE NEED A LAVER TO WASH OUR HANDS IN THE MORNING.

117. הָא תָּנִינָן, דְּכַד בַּר נָשׁ קָם בְּצַפְרָא, בָּעֵי לְאַסְחָאָה יְדוֹי, מִגּוֹ נַטְלָא דְמַיָא, דְּאִיהוּ מָאנָא לִיטּוֹל מִנֵּיהּ מַיָא, מִגּוֹ מַאן דְּאַסְחֵי יְדוֹי בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, כְּמָה דְאוֹקְמוּהָ. וְתָא חֲזֵי, בְּגִין נַטְלָא דָא, אוֹקִימְנָא מִלָּה.

Evil Evil Inclination Hands Washing

118. We also learned that a man should wash his right hand with his left hand, SO THAT THE LEFT WILL SERVE THE RIGHT and the right will thus be stronger than the left. The right should be laved by the left. The washing is expressly intended to ensure that THE RIGHT WILL RULE OVER THE LEFT. Therefore, when washing hands, it behooves one to wash the right with the left, thus causing the right to rule over the left, so as not to give the Evil Inclination an opening to rule at all.

118. וְתוּ, דְּבָעְיָא לֵיהּ לְבַר נָּשׁ, לְנַטְלָא יְדָא יְמִינָא בִּשְׂמָאלָא, בְּגִין לְשַׁלְטָאָה יְמִינָא עַל שְׂמָאלָא, וְיִסְתְּחֵי יְמִינָא מִן שְׂמָאלָא, וּבְגִין כָּךְ אִיהוּ נְטִילָא, וְעַל דָּא, מַאן דְּנָטֵיל יְדוֹי, יִטּוֹל יְמִינָא בִּשְׂמָאלָא, לְאַשְׁלָטָא יְמִינָא עַל שְׂמָאלָא, בְּגִין דְּלָא יְהֵיב דּוּכְתָּא לְיֵצֶר הָרָע לְשַׁלְּטָאָה כְּלַל, וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא.

Compassion Evil Idolatry Judgment Righteous

119. Come and behold, When evil Judgment reigns, it does not refrain from harming EVEN THE RIGHTEOUS, FOR WHEN THE DESTROYER IS GIVEN SWAY, HE DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL. When the right rules over the idolatrous nations to break them, the Holy One, blessed be He, feels pity for them and does not destroy them. YOU MAY SEE HERE THE GREAT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE COMPASSION OF THE RIGHT AND THE JUDGMENT OF THE LEFT.

119. תָּא חֲזֵי, בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְדִינָא בִּישָׁא שָׁלְטָא, לָא אָתֵיב יְדֵיהּ מִלְאַבְאָשָׁא, וּבְשַׁעְתָּא דִּימִינָא שָׁלְטָא עַל עַמִין עעכו"ם, לְתַבְרָא לוֹן, חָיֵיס קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עֲלַיְיהוּ, וְלָא שָׁצֵי לוֹן.

David Fear Repentance Sin War

120. Therefore, when one unknowingly commits sins that he treads under his heels, he is always afraid. King David was always guarded from such sins and, when he went to battle, he searched for them IN ORDER TO REPENT. He therefore was not afraid to wage war.

120. וּבְגִין כָּךְ, כָּל מַאן דְּאִיהוּ חָטֵי, בְּאִינוּן חֶטְאִין דְּדָשׁ בְּהוֹ בְּרַגְלוֹי, לָא יָדַע בְּהוֹ, וְדָחֵיל תְּדִירָא. דָּוִד מַלְכָּא הֲוָה אִסְתַּמַר תָּדִיר, מֵחוֹבִין אִלֵּין, וְכַד הֲוָה נָפֵיק לִקְרָבָא, הֲוָה מְפַשְׁפֵּשׁ לוֹן, וְעַל דָּא לָא דָחֵיל לַאֲגָחָא עִמְּהוֹן קְרָבָא.

David Sin

121. Come and behold, There were four kings, each of whom asked for a different thing. David said, "Let me pursue my enemies, and overtake them; neither let me turn back till they are consumed" (Tehilim 18:38). Why did he say that? Because he was guarded from sins THAT ARE TRODDEN UNDER THE HEELS and gave no opening to his enemies to rule. He therefore pursued them continuously, rather than having them chase him, catch him, and indict him for his sins.

121. וְתָּא חֲזֵי, אַרְבַּע מַלְכִין הֲווֹ, מַאן דְּשָׁאֵיל דָּא, לָא שָׁאֵיל דָּא. דָּוִד אֲמַר, אֶרְדּוֹף אוֹיְבַי וְאַשִּׂיגֵם וְלֹא אָשׁוּב עַד כַּלּוֹתָם, מַאי טַעְמָא בְּגִין דַּהוָה אִסְתַּמַּר מֵאִלֵּין חוֹבִין, וְלָא יָהֵיב דּוּכְתָּא לְשַׂנְאוֹי לְשַׁלְּטָאָה, וְעַל דָּא בָּעֵי לְמִרְדַּף אֲבַתְרַיְיהוּ תָּדִיר. וְלָא יִרְדְּפוּן אִינוּן אֲבַתְרֵיהּ, לְמִתְבַּע חוֹבוֹי, וְיִפּוֹל בִּידַיְיהוּ.

David Fear Judah Samuel Sin

122. Asa was more fearful. Although he searched for his sins, he was not AS THOROUGH as King David. He merely wished to pursue his enemies, but not to fight them, and hoped that the Holy One, blessed be He, would slay them. And so it came to pass, as it is written, "And Asa and the people who were with him pursued them. So Hashem smote the Kushim before Asa, and before Judah, and the Kushim fled" (II Divrei Hayamim 14:11-12). Of David, the scripture reads, "And David smote them from the twilight to the evening of the next day" (I Shmuel 30:17). But Asa merely pursued them, and the Holy One, blessed be He, slew them.

122. אָסָא הֲוָה דָּחֵיל יַתִּיר, אַף עַל גַּב דַּהֲוָה מְפַשְׁפֵּשׁ בְּחֶטְאוֹי, וְלָא כְדָוִד מַלְכָּא, אִיהוּ בָּעֵי לְמִרְדַּף אֲבַתְרַיְיהוּ, וְלָא יַגִּיחַ לוֹן, וְיִקְטוֹל לוֹן קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְכָךְ הֲוָה, דִּכְתִיב וַיִּרְדְּפֵם אָסָא וְהָעָם אֲשֶׁר עִמּוֹ וגו,' וּכְתִיב וַיִּגּוֹף ה' אֶת הַכּוּשִׁים לִפְנֵי אָסָא וְלִפְנֵי יְהוּדָה וַיָּנוּסוּ הַכּוּשִׁים. דָּוִד מַה כְּתִיב בֵּיהּ וַיַּכֵּם דָּוִד מֵהַנֶּשֶׁף וְעַד הָעֶרֶב לְמָחֳרָתָם, אֲבָל אָסָא אִיהוּ רָדִיף וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מָחֵי.

Amon Jehoshaphat Judah Moab Praise Seir

123. Yehoshafat, the King of Judah, also said, I can neither pursue nor kill them, but I shall sing hymns and You shall kill them. This was because he did not examine himself as Asa did. Yet the Holy One, blessed be He, did as He was requested, as it is written, "And when they began to sing and to praise Hashem set an ambush against the children of Amon, Moab and mount Seir who were come against Judah; and they were routed" (II Divrei Hayamim 20:22).

123. יְהוֹשָׁפָט מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה, אוֹף הָכֵי נָמֵי הֲוָה שָׁאֵיל, וַאֲמַר, לָא יָכֵילְנָא לְמִרְדַּף, וְלָא לְקָטְלָא, אֶלָּא אֲנָא אֲזַמֵּר, וְאַתְּ קְטֵיל לוֹן, בְּגִין דְּלָא הֲוָה מְפַשְׁפֵּשׁ כָּל כָּךְ כְּאָסָא, וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עֲבַד לֵיהּ הָכֵי, דִּכְתִיב וּבְעֵת הֵחֵלּוּ בְרִנָה וּתְהִלָּה נָתַן ה' מְאָרְבִים עַל בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן מוֹאָב וְהַר שֵׂעִיר הַבָּאִים לִיהוּדָה וַיִּנָּגֵפוּ.

Angels Assyrians Camp Fear Hezekiah Judah Morning Sin War

124. Hezekiah, the King of Judah, said, I can neither chant, pursue nor wage war. For he was afraid of the sins we mentioned THAT ARE TRODDEN UNDER THE HEELS. It is written, "And it came to pass that night, that the angel of Hashem went out and smote in the camp of Ashur 185,000: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses" (II Melachim 19:35). Hezekiah was then at home lying in bed, and the Holy One, blessed be He, killed them.

124. חִזְקִיָּה מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה, אוֹף הָכֵי נָמֵי אֲמַר, אֲנָא לָא יָכֵילְנָא, לָא לְזַמָּרָא, וְלָא לְמִרְדַּף, וְלָא לַאֲגָחָא קְרָבָא, בְּגִין דְּדָחֵיל מֵאִלֵּין חוֹבִין דְּקָאֲמָרָן, מַה כְּתִיב, וַיְהִי בַלַיְלָה הַהוּא וַיֵּצֵא מַלְאַךְ ה' וַיַּךְ בְּמַחֲנֵה אַשּׁוּר מֵאָה וּשְׁמוֹנִים וַחֲמִשָּׁה אֶלֶף וַיַּשְׁכִּימוּ בַבֹּקֶר וְהִנֵּה כֻלָּם פְּגָרִים מֵתִים, וְחִזְקִיָּה הֲוָה יָתֵיב בְּבֵיתֵיהּ, וְשָׁכֵיב בְּעַרְסֵיהּ, וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא קָטֵיל לוֹן.

Evil Fear Mercy Righteous Sin

125. How fearful were these righteous men on account of their sins? How much more fearful should the inhabitants of the world be? A man should therefore always be on his guard against these sins and search for them, so that the days of evil, which have no mercy on him, will not have control over him.

125. וּמַה צַּדִּיקִים אִלֵּין, הֲווֹ דָּחֲלִין מֵאִלֵּין חוֹבִין, שְׁאָר בְּנֵי עַלְמָא עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה. בְּגִין כָּךְ, אִית לֵיהּ לְבַר נָשׁ לְאִסְתַּמְּרָא מֵאִלֵּין חוֹבִין, וּלְפַשְׁפְּשָׁא בְּהוֹן כִּדְקָאֲמָרָן, בְּגִין דְּלָא יִשְׁלְטוּן עֲלוֹי אִינוּן יְמֵי רָע, דְּלָא מְרַחֲמֵי עֲלֵיהּ.

Evil Hands Joseph Judgment Simeon

126. Come and behold, "And Joseph knew his brethren" means that when they fell into his hands, he felt pity for them, because he was whole. "...but they knew him not" REFERS TO Simeon and Levi, who came from the side of harsh Judgment and therefore did not have pity on him. For all those from the side of harsh Judgment have no pity on the people who fall into their hands. THEY ARE OF THE ASPECT OF THE DAYS OF EVIL, WHICH DO NOT PITY MEN, AS HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID.

126. תָּא חֲזֵי, וַיַּכֶּר יוֹסֵף אֶת אֶחָיו, בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְּנָפְלוּ בְּיָדֵיהּ, אִיהוּ רְחֵים עֲלַיְיהוּ, בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ שְׁלִים, וְהֵם לֹא הִכִּירוּהוּ, דְּאִינוּן שִׁמְעוֹן וְלֵוִי, אָתוֹ מִסִּטְרָא דְּדִינָא קַשְׁיָא, וְעַל דָּא לָא רְחִימוּ עֲלֵיהּ, דְּהָא כָּל אִינוּן מָארֵיהוֹן דְּדִינָא קַשְׁיָא, לָא מְרַחֲמֵי עֲלַיְיהוּ דִבְנֵי נָשָׁא, בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְּנָפְלֵי בִּידַיְיהוּ.

David Esau Evil Faith Fear Hands Heel Holiness (Kedushah) Jacob Kedushah (Holiness)

127. David therefore said, "Why should I fear THE DAYS OF EVIL?" He did not say, "I feared" IN THE PAST TENSE, but rather "should fear" IN THE PRESENT TENSE, WHICH MEANS THAT HE IS STILL FEARFUL. THUS HE SAID, I should always fear the days of evil, as we have said, "...The iniquity of my persecutors (lit. 'my heels') compasses me about." HE ASKS, What are "my heels?" HE ANSWERS, They are in the secret of the faith, NAMELY, IN HOLINESS, as it is written, "And his hand took hold on Esau's heel" (Beresheet 25:26). ESAU'S HEEL WAS IN THE SECRET OF THE FAITH, IN HOLINESS, BECAUSE JACOB'S HAND TOOK HOLD OF IT. This heel (Heb. akev), OF WHICH IT IS WRITTEN, "THE INIQUITY OF MY HEELS COMPASSES ME ABOUT," represents the footprints (Heb. akevot) that follow the same transgression that a man constantly treads under his heels.

127. וּבְגִין כָּךְ אֲמַר דָּוִד, לָמָּה אִירָא. יָרֵאתִי לָא כְתִיב, אֶלָּא אִירָא, דְּאִית לִי לְמִדְחַל מֵאִינוּן יְמֵי רָע, כִּדְקָאֲמָרָן. עֲוֹן עֲקֵבַי יְסֻבֵּנִי, מַאן עֲקֵבַי, אִלֵּין אִינוּן בְּרָזָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא, דִּכְתִיב, וְיָדוֹ אוֹחֶזֶת בַּעֲקֵב עֵשָׂו, דָּא הוּא עֲקֵיבָא, וְאִינוּן עֲקֵיבִין דְּמִסְתַּכְּלִין בְּהוֹ תָּדִיר, בְּהַהוּא חוֹבָאדְּדָשׁ בֵּיהּ בַּר נָשׁ תָּדִיר בַּעֲקֵבוֹי.

Rope Sin Vanity World to Come, The

128. Come and behold the verse, "Woe to them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope" (Yeshayah 5:18). The "cords of vanity" are the sins that he treads under his heels without thinking of it. They are then strengthened into "a cart rope." The sins become stronger and lead him astray in this world and the World to Come.

128. תָּא חֲזֵי, מַה כְּתִיב הוֹי מוֹשְׁכֵי הֶעָוֹן בְּחַבְלֵי הַשָּׁוְא וְכַעֲבוֹת הָעֲגָלָה חַטָּאָה. בְּחַבְלֵי הַשָּׁוְא: דְּדָשׁ בֵּיהּ בַּעֲקֵבָע, וְלָא חַיֵּישׁ עֲלֵיהּ, וּלְבָתַר אִתְתַּקַּף וְאִתְעֲבֵיד כַּעֲבוֹת הָעֲגָלָה, וְאִתְתַּקַּף הַהוּא חֶטְאָה, וְאַסְטֵי לֵיהּ בְּהַאי עַלְמָא, וּבְעַלְמָא דְאָתֵי.

Deeds Peace Righteous Sin Torah World to Come, The

129. Happy are the righteous, who know how to be guarded against their sins and always examine their deeds, so that no accuser will be found against them in this world nor turn them from their way in the World to Come. The Torah prepares for them ways and paths on which to walk, as it is written, "Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace."

129. זַכָּאִין אִינוּן צַדִּיקַיָיא, דְּיָדְעִין לְאִסְתַּמְּרָא מֵחוֹבֵיהוֹן, וְאִינוּן מְפַשְׁפְּשִׁין תָּדִיר בְּעוֹבָדַיְיהוּ, בְּגִין דְּלָא יִשְׁתַּכַּח עֲלַיְיהוּ מְקַטְרְגָא בְּהַאי עַלְמָא, וְלָא יִסְטוּן עֲלַיְיהוּ לְעַלְמָא דְאָתֵי, דְּהָא אוֹרַיְיתָא מְתַקְנָא לְהוֹ אָרְחִין וּשְׁבִילִין לְמֵיהַךְ בְּהוֹ, דִּכְתִיב דְּרָכֶיהָ דַרְכֵי נֹעַם וְכָל נְתִיבוֹתֶיהָ שָׁלוֹם.

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