Pekudei: Chapter 33

The secret of the camel

Synopsis

Rabbi Yehuda wonders why Rebecca got down from the camel when she saw Isaac coming, and if it was because she saw how beautiful he was. Rabbi Shimon says that when she met Isaac it was Minchah time, during which there is a strict Judgment. She saw that this was symbolized by the camel as the secret of death. Rabbi Shimon explains how the camel (gamal) is like requital (gmulo), and says that the camel is all-devouring and all- exterminating, always ready to work against men, just like judgment and death. He says that the camel brought death into the world by inciting Adam and Eve to eat from the Tree of Knowledge. The camel's rider is Samael who came to confuse and bring death to everyone; Adam attracted him and then Samael led them all astray. Therefore Rivkah got off the camel because she saw that Isaac had strict Judgment attached to him. Rabbi Shimon also mentions the dross of gold that is another aspect of strict judgment.

Camels Eyes Holiness (Kedushah) Isaac Rebecca Torah

301. He opened the discussion with the verse: "and she said to the servant, 'What man is this that walks in the field to meet us?' And the servant said..." (Beresheet 24:65). In the preceding verse it is written, "And Rivkah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she alighted from the camel" (Ibid. 64). HE ASKS: Why is this verse in the Torah, and is it because she saw the beauty of Isaac that she alighted from the camel?

301. פָּתַח וְאָמַר, וַתֹּאמֶר אֶל הָעֶבֶד מִי הָאִישׁ הַלָּזֶה הַהוֹלֵךְ בַּשָּׂדֶה לִקְרָאתֵינוּ וַיֹּאמֶר הָעֶבֶד וְגוֹ'. מַה כְּתִיב לְעֵילָּא, וַתִּשָּׂא רִבְקָה אֶת עֵינֶיהָ וַתֵּרֶא אֶת יִצְחָק וַתִּפּוֹל מֵעַל הַגָּמָל. הַאי קְרָא אֲמַאי אִצְטְרִיךְ לְמִכְתַּב בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא. וְתוּ, וְכִי בְּגִין דְּחָמָאת שְׁפִירוּ דְּיִצְחָק אִתְרְכִּינַת מִגַּמְלָא.

Camels Death Death and the Afterlife Holiness (Kedushah) Isaac Judgment Minchah Rebecca

302. HE RESPONDS: This verse contains a mystery. Come and see: When Rivkah met Isaac, it was Minchah time, and at that time, a strict Judgment bestirs itself in the world. She saw the rigor of harsh Judgment, and that its lower part ends in a camel. This is the secret of death. Hence she alighted from the camel, for when harsh Judgment is watching, that camel is strengthened. That is why she slipped off and did not remain seated.

302. אֶלָּא, הַאי קְרָא רָזָא אִיהוּ. ת"ח, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּמָטָאת רִבְקָה לְגַבֵּי דְּיִצְחָק, שַׁעֲתָא דִּצְלוֹתָא דְּמִנְחָה הֲוָה, וּבְהַהוּא זִמְנָא דִּינָא אִתְּעַר בְּעָלְמָא, וְחָמָאת לֵיהּ בְּרוּגְזָא דְּדִינָא קַשְׁיָא, וְחָמָאת דְּהָא סִיּוּם דְּרוּגְזָא קַשְׁיָא אִיהוּ גָּמָל לְתַתָּא, וְדָא אִיהוּ רָזָא דְּמוֹתָא, וּבְגִין כַּךְ אִתְרְכִּינַת וְאַשְׁמִיטַת גַּרְמָהּ מֵהַהוּא גָּמָל. דְּהָא כַּד אִסְתָּכַּל דִּינָא קַשְׁיָא, הַהוּא גָּמָל אִתְתָּקַּף. וּבְגִין כַּךְ אַשְׁמִיטַת גַּרְמָהּ מִינֵּהּ, וְלָא יַתְבַת תַּמָּן.

Camels Death Death and the Afterlife Dreams Hands Holiness (Kedushah) Wicked Wickedness

303. Come and see: This camel (Heb. gamal) is the secret of the verse, "and that which he has given (Heb. gmulo) He will pay him back" (Mishlei 19:17), FOR GAMAL (ENG. 'CAMEL') IS SIMILAR TO GMUL (ENG. 'REQUITAL'), WHICH REFERS TO the requital to the wicked, as said, "Alas! It shall be ill with the wicked, for according to the deserving (Heb. gmul) of his hands shall be done to him" (Yeshayah 3:11). This is a camel: all-devouring and all-exterminating, always ready against men. Therefore, whoever sees a camel in his dream, he is shown that death was decreed upon him, but he was saved.

303. תָּא חֲזֵי, הַאי גָּמָל, הַיְינוּ רָזָא דִּכְתִּיב וּגְמוּלוֹ יְשַׁלֶּם לוֹ, דָּא גְּמוּל דְּאִינּוּן חַיָּיבַיָּא, דִּכְתִּיב אוֹי לְרָשָׁע רָע כִּי גְּמוּל יָדָיו יֵעָשֶׂה לּוֹ. וְהַאי אִיהוּ גָּמָל, דְּקַיְּימָא לְאָכְלָא כֹּלָּא, וּלְשֵׁיצָאָה כֹּלָּא. וְהַאי אִיהוּ זַמִּין תָּדִיר לָקֳבֵל בְּנֵי נָשָׁא. וּבְגִין כַּךְ הַאי מַאן דְּחָמֵי בְּחֶלְמֵיהּ גָּמָל, אַחְמִיוּ לֵיהּ מוֹתָא דְּאִתְגְּזָרַת עָלֵיהּ, וְאִשְׁתְּזִיב מִנֵּיהּ.

Adam Camels Death Death and the Afterlife Door Holiness (Kedushah) Samael Tree

304. Come and see: The side of defilement is called 'CAMEL', because it brought death to the whole world, and instigated Adam and his wife TO THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL. His rider is Samael, come to confuse the world and cause death to all. Hence, he became ruler over everything. It was Adam, who drew him, and once he did, he was drawn after them, until he led them astray. For that reason Solomon said: "and come not nigh the door of her house" (Mishlei 5:8), for whoever approaches her house, she comes out and attaches herself and is drawn to him.

304. תָּא חֲזֵי, הַאי סִטְרָא דִּמְסָאֲבָא אִקְרֵי הָכִי, דְּגָרִים מִיתָא לְכָל עָלְמָא, וְהַאי הֲוָה דְּאַסְטֵי לְאָדָם וּלְאִתְּתֵיהּ, וְהַהוּא דְּרָכִיב עָלֵיהּ אִיהוּ סָמָאֵ"ל, וְאִיהוּ אָתָא לְמִטְעֵי עָלְמָא, וְגָרַם מוֹתָא לְכֹלָּא. וּבְגִין כַּךְ אָתָא וְשָׁלִיט עַל כֹּלָּא. אָדָם אִיהוּ אַמְשִׁיךְ לֵיהּ לְגַבֵּיהּ, וְכֵיוָן דְּאִיהוּ אַמְשִׁיךְ לֵיהּ לְגַבֵּיהּ, כְּדֵין אִיהוּ אִתְמְשָׁךְ אֲבַתְרַיְיהוּ, עַד דְּאַסְטֵי לוֹן. וּבְגִין כַּךְ אָמַר שְׁלֹֹמֹה, וְאַל תִּקְרַב אֶל פֶּתַח בֵּיתָה, דְּכָל מַאן דְּאִתְקְרִיב לְבֵיתָהּ, כְּדֵין אִיהִי נַפְקַת וּמִתְקַשְּׁרָת וְאִתְמַשְּׁכַת אֲבַתְרֵיהּ.

Camels Gold Holiness (Kedushah) Isaac Judgment Rebecca

305. Therefore, Rivkah saw ISAAC, with strict Judgment attached to him, and when she saw that he is in the secret of harsh Judgment, and that from that side another harsh Judgment comes from the dross of gold, she immediately "alighted from the camel" to break from the Judgment of that dross. It is written, "the voice of Hashem rendering recompense to His enemies" (Yeshayah 66:6), NAMELY, from that filth.

305. וְעַל דָּא רִבְקָה, כַּד חָמָאת דַּהֲוָה לֵיהּ לְאִתְדַּבְּקָא בְּסִטְרָא דְּדִינָא קַשְׁיָא. כֵּיוָן דְּחָמָאת לֵיהּ לְיִצְחָק בְּרָזָא דְּדִינָא קַשְׁיָא, וְחָמָאת דְּמֵהַהוּא סִטְרָא נָפַק דִּינָא אַחֲרָא תַּקִּיפָא, מִזּוֹהֲמָא דְּדַהֲבָא, כַּד חָמָאת הַאי, מִיַּד וַתִּפּוֹל מֵעַל הַגָּמָל, בְּגִין לְאִתְרַפוּיֵי מִן דִּינָא מֵהַהוּא זוּהֲמָא. כְּתִיב קוֹל יְיָ' מְשַׁלֵּם גְּמוּל לְאוֹיְבָיו, מֵהַהוּא זוּהֲמָא.

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