164. "And Hashem said to Noah, Come you and all your house" (Beresheet 7:1). Rabbi Shimon asked: Why does the term "Elohim" appear in all the verses of the text, while here the name Hashem, YUD HEI VAV HEI, is mentioned? What is different here that Yud Hei Vav Hei, which is the supernal name of Mercy was mentioned? This hints at the secret we have already learned, that it is not proper for a woman to invite a guest into her house without the permission of her husband.

165. It was the same when Noah was asked to enter the ark, WHICH IS MALCHUT, and to unite with Her. It was not yet proper for him to enter until the 'husband' of the ark gave him permission to do so. As it is written: "Come you and all your house into the ark." And this is why the name Yud Hei Vav Hei, who is the husband of the ark, is mentioned there, FOR YUD HEI VAV HEI IS ZEIR ANPIN AND THE ARK IS MALCHUT. Only after the husband gave permission did Noah enter and unite with the ark. Thus, we have learned that a guest does not have permission to enter a house without the consent of the husband, the owner of the house. This is why after the mention of Yud Hei Vav Hei, it is written: "And Noah went in" (Ibid. 7).

166. Come and behold: What is written? "For you I have seen righteous before Me in this generation" (Ibid. 1). From this we learn that a person should never accept a guest into his house if he suspects that he might be wicked. And he should accept him only if he considers him to be righteous and is not at all suspicious of him. That is why it is written: "Come you and all your house into the ark." Why? Because "you I have seen righteous before Me in this generation."

167. And we have also learned that if the husband gives permission to the guest alone, but not to his companions, the guest should not bring them into the house. In the verse, "Come you and all your house into the ark," permission was given to all of Noah's companions to enter the ark, and from this passage we learn a secret concerning proper manners and ways of conduct.