Pekudei: Chapter 58

The fifth chamber of the Other Side, Sheol, corresponding to the name 'uncircumcised'

Synopsis

Rabbi Shimon tells us that the chief in charge of the fifth chamber, named 'enmity,' has a duty to stir up accusations in the world. There is another spirit in this chamber called 'robber'. All those who rob, who corrupt and destroy, and who kill by sword and spear emerge from this chamber and take their nourishment from it. We learn of spirits called 'spoilage' and 'famine'. As long as people do acts of kindness and give others food and drink these spirits are pushed away, but when Yisrael does not do acts of kindness the two spirits attack Yisrael. Rabbi Shimon tells how these spirits are also called 'foreskin', and are under the command of the spirit called 'Gezar Dinaya', or 'verdict'. 'Verdict' puts people in Sheol when they do not observe the sign of the holy covenant by having their sons circumcised. We are told of another spirit, 'Afrira', ashes of dust, who seduces people to stray from the path of truth. Lastly Rabbi Shimon explains the difference between 'first water' and 'last water,' or 'precept' and 'debt'. He says that Yisrael is blessed when God purifies them with supernal clean water.

Chambers Evil Evil Inclination Other Side Sheol Women

896. The fifth chamber is called 'Sheol', corresponding to the name of the Evil Inclination, uncircumcised, which we explained to be the secret of the foreskin. In this chamber there is one opening, and a chief in charge over it. The duty of this chief is to stir up accusations upon the world. This spirit is called 'enmity', after the name of the opening, enmity. This is understood from the verse, "and I will put enmity between you and the woman..." (Beresheet 3:15).

896. הֵיכָלָא חֲמִישָׁאָה. הֵיכָלָא דָּא, אִיהוּ הֵיכָלָא דְּאִקְרֵי שְׁאוֹ"ל, לָקֳבֵל הַהוּא שְׁמָא דְּאִקְרֵי עָרֵל, וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא דְּדָא אִיהוּ רָזָא דְּעָרְלָה. בְּהַאי הֵיכָלָא, אִית חַד פִּתְחָא, וְחַד מְמָנָא עָלֵיהּ. וְדָא אִיהוּ מְמָנָא לְאַתְעֲרָא תָּדִיר קִטְרוּגָא עַל עָלְמָא, וְהַאי רוּחָא אִקְרֵי אֵיבָ"ה, בְּגִין דִּשְׁמָא דְּהַאי פִּתְחָא אֵיבָ"ה שְׁמֵיהּ, וְסִימָנִיךְ וְאֵיבָה אָשִׁית בֵּינְךָ וּבֵין הָאִשָּׁה וְגוֹ'.

Chambers Destruction Mountains Rocks Sword

897. There is a spirit in this chamber who rules everything. He is called 'robber' (Heb. shoded), and is a "wasting (Heb. shod) and destruction" (Yeshayah 59:7). This robber abides in the high mountains between rocks and mountains. From this chamber all the robbers suck, who corrupt and destroy; from here emerge those who kill by sword and spear, who go after "the bright blade of a revolving sword" (Beresheet 3:24), to exterminate everything.

897. בְּהַאי הֵיכָלָא קַיְּימָא חַד רוּחָא דְּשַׁלִּיט עַל כֹּלָּא, וְהַאי אִקְרֵי שׁוֹדֵ"ד. וְאִיהוּ שׁוֹד וָשֶׁבֶר. וְדָא הוּא שׁוֹדֵד בְּטוּרֵי רָמָּאֵי, גּוֹ טִנָרִין וְטוּרִין. מֵהֵיכָלָא דָּא יַנְקֵי כָּל אִינּוּן מְשַׁדְדֵי וּמְשַׁצֵי בְּחָרְבְּנִין. וּמֵהָכָא נָפְקִין, כָּל אִינּוּן דְּקַטְלֵי בְּסַיְיפִין וְרוּמְחִין, וְאַזְלִין בָּתַר לַהַט הַחֶרֶב הַמִּתְהַפֶּכֶת לְשֵׁיצָאָה כֹּלָּא.

Destruction Famine Job Mountains

898. From this spirit comes out another spirit called 'spoilage'. When famine has sway in the world, the spirit called 'spoilage' joins another spirit called 'famine'. They go about the world, as adversaries to men. This is the meaning of the verse, "at destruction and famine you shall laugh" (Iyov 5:24). They accuse men and rob all. The one is called 'spoilage', for haunting the high mountains, and robbing, destroying and wasting everything. Then he comes back to rob men, and they die of weakness, THAT HE CAUSES THEM. When people eat but are not satiated, it is due to him.

898. מֵהַאי נָפִיק רוּחָא אַחֲרָא, וְאִקְרֵי שׁוֹד. וְכַד שַׁלִּיט כַּפְנָא עַל עָלְמָא, הַאי רוּחָא דְּאִקְרֵי שׁוֹ"ד, אִיהוּ אִשְׁתְּכַח. וְרוּחָא אַחֲרָא אִשְׁתָּתַּף עִמֵּיהּ, דְּאִקְרֵי כָּפָ"ן. וְאִלֵּין אַזְלֵי בְּעָלְמָא, וּמִשְׁתַּכְחֵי לָקֳבֵל בְּנֵי נָשָׁא, וְהַיְינוּ דִּכְתִיב, לְשֹׁד וּלְכָפָן תִּשְׂחָק. וְאִלֵּין עַבְדִין קִטְרוּגָא לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא, וּמְשַׁדְדֵי לְכֹלָּא. חַד דְּאִקְרֵי שׁוֹד, דְּבָתַר דְּאָזִיל בְּגוֹ טוּרִין רָמָאִין, וְשָׁדִיד וְחָרִיב וְשֵׁצֵי כֹּלָּא. כְּדֵין תָּב וְשָׁדַד לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא, וּמֵתִין בְּחוּלְשָׁא דִּילֵיהּ. וְכַד אַכְלֵי בְּנֵי נָשָׁא, לָא שַׂבְעִין, בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ שַׁלְטָא בְּעָלְמָא.

Food Other Side

899. At that time, whoever does an act of kindness by men, and gives them food and drink, he is worthy of pushing these two spirits out, so they will have no power over the world. But when Yisrael does no kindness by men, and the other nations do kindness in the world, then these two spirits temper their business WITH THE NATIONS, and attack Yisrael, since then the Other Side becomes stronger and the children of Yisrael are subjugated.

899. וּבְהַהוּא זִמְנָא, מַאן דְּעָבֵיד חֶסֶד עִם בְּנֵי נָשָׁא, וְיָהִיב לוֹן לְמֵיכַל וּלְמִשְׁתֵּי, כְּדַאי אִיהוּ לְדַחְיָיא לוֹן לְאִלֵּין תְּרֵין רוּחִין לְבַר, דְּלָא שַׁלְטֵי בְּעָלְמָא. וְכַד יִשְׂרָאֵל לָא עַבְדֵּי חֶסֶד עִם בְּנֵי נָשָׁא, וּשְׁאַר עַמִּין עַבְדֵּי חֶסֶד בְּעָלְמָא. כְּדֵין אִלֵּין תְּרֵין רוּחִין מִתְבַסְּמִין מִלַּיְיהוּ, וּמִתְקְפֵי עָלַיְיהוּ דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל. בְּגִין דְּהָא כְּדֵין אִתְקַף הַהוּא סִטְרָא אַחֲרָא, וְיִשְׂרָאֵל אִתְכַפְּיָין.

Blessing Flow Holiness (Kedushah) Kedushah (Holiness) Other Side Shechinah Strength Vineyard Vineyards

900. When the children of Yisrael are kind, the Other Side is subdued and weakens, and the side of holiness gathers strength. But when the children of Yisrael are not aroused to do kindness, the two spirits turn to subdue Yisrael and all the blessings flowing from the right side above, the other nations suckle them. This is WHAT THE SHECHINAH SAID: "they made me keeper of the vineyards" (Shir Hashirim 1:6), which are the other nations. "But my own vineyard I have not kept" (Ibid.), which is Yisrael, CALLED 'THE SHECHINAH'S VINEYARD', for the other nations took THE SHECHINAH in their midst, by the kindness they do by men. And the children of Yisrael keep her away, for they are not kind as the rest of the nations.

900. וְכַד יִשְׂרָאֵל עַבְדֵּי חֶסֶד, אִתְכַּפְיָא הַהוּא סִטְרָא אַחֲרָא וְאִתְחַלָּשׁ, וְסִטְרָא דִּקְדוּשָּׂה אִתְקַף. וְכַד יִשְׂרָאֵל לָא מִתְעָרֵי בְּחֶסֶד, אִינּוּן תְּרֵין רוּחִין מִתְהַפְּכֵי לְאַכְפְּיָיא לוֹן לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, וּכְדֵין אִינּוּן בִּרְכָאָן דְּנַחְתֵּי מִלְּעֵילָּא, מִסְּטָר יְמִינָא, יַנְקֵי לוֹן שְׁאַר עַמִּין. והה"ד שָׂמוּנִי נוֹטֵרָה אֶת הַכְּרָמִים, אִלֵּין שְׁאַר עַמִּין. כַּרְמִי שֶׁלִּי לֹֹא נָטַרְתִּי, אִלֵּין יִשְׂרָאֵל. בְּגִין דִּשְׁאַר עַמִּין מַשְׁכֵי לֵיהּ בְּגַוַויְיהוּ, בְּאִינּוּן חֲסָדִים דְּעַבְדִּין עִם בְּנֵי נָשָׁא. וְיִשְׂרָאֵל מְרַחֲקָן לֵיהּ מִגַוַויְיהוּ, בְּגִין דְּלָא מִשְׁתַּדְּלֵי בְּאִינּוּן חֲסָדִים כִּשְׁאַר עַמִּין.

Circumcision Gezar Dinaya (Spirit) Moses Serpent

901. Under these spirits are those called 'foreskin', the foreskin of the shoot, the foreskin of the branch. Above them there is a chieftain called 'Gezar Dinaya' (Eng. 'verdict'). He is appointed over those who do not observe the years of foreskin of trees, and those who delay the circumcision of their sons. For that the serpent wanted to kill the son of Moses, until Tziporah circumcised him, as it is written, "and cut off the foreskin of her son..." (Shemot 4:25).

901. וּתְחוֹת אִלֵּין רוּחִין, קַיְימִין כָּל אִינּוּן דְּאִקְרוּן עָרְלָה. זְמוֹרֵי עָרְלָה, עַנְפֵי עָרְלָה. וְעֵילָּא מִנְּהוֹן חַד מְמָנָא, דְּאִקְרֵי גְּזַר דִּינַיָּ"א. וְהַאי אִיהוּ קַיְּימָא עַל כָּל אִינּוּן דְּלָא נַטְרֵי שְׁנֵי עָרְלָה דְּאִילָנָא. וְעַל כָּל אִינּוּן, דִּמְעַכְּבֵי אֶת קַיָּימָא לִבְרַיְיהוּ. וְעַל דָּא, בָּעָא חִוְיָא לְקָטְלָא לִבְרֵיהּ דְּמֹשֶׁה. עַד דְּגַזְרַת לֵיהּ צִפוֹרָה, דִּכְתִּיב וַתִּקַּח צִפוֹרָה צֹר וַתִּכְרֹת אֶת עָרְלַת בְּנָהּ וְגוֹ'.

Brit (Covenant) Covenant (Brit) Gehenom (Hell) Hell (Gehenom) Sheol

902. This spirit is in charge over men who corrupt their ways, and do not care for the glory of their Master, by observing the sign of the Holy Covenant. THIS SPIRIT puts them in Gehenom, in the place called 'Sheol' and perdition (Heb. Avadon), where they are sentenced, as we explained here.

902. וְהַאי רוּחָא, מְמָנָא עַל בְּנֵי נָשָׁא דִּמְחַבְּלֵי אָרְחַיְיהוּ, וְלָא חַיְישֵׁי לִיקָרָא דְּמָארֵיהוֹן, לְמֵיטַר אָת קַיָּימָא קַדִישָׁא. וְהַאי אָעִיל לוֹן לַגֵיהִנָּם, לְהַהוּא אֲתָר דְּאִקְרֵי שְׁאוֹל וַאֲבַדוֹן, וְאִתְדָּן תַּמָּן, כְּמָה דְּאוֹקִימְנָא הָכָא.

Chambers Hatred Torah

903. In the middle of this chamber there is another spirit, standing and lurking by the ways and paths, to look for those who transgress the words of the Torah, and to bring hatred between MEN below and above, for the whole chamber is enmity.

903. בְּהַאי הֵיכָלָא לְגוֹ בְּאֶמְצָעִיתָא, קַיְּימָא חַד רוּחָא, דְּאִיהוּ קַיְּימָא וְכָמִין עַל אוֹרְחִין וּשְׁבִילִין, לְמֵחֱמֵי לְכָל אִינּוּן דְּעַבְרִין עַל פִּתְגָמֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא. כְּדֵי לְמֵיעַל דְּבָבוּ, בֵּין תַּתָּא לְעֵילָּא. בְּגִין דְּכָל הַאי הֵיכָלָא אֵיבָה אִיהוּ.

Sword

904. This one and all the others are in the habit of being friendly toward people and seducing them to stray from the path of truth and follow them. Then they kill them, and they are dead in both worlds, as it is written, "but her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword" (Mishlei 5:4).

904. הַאי וְכָל אִינּוּן אַחֲרָנִין, כֻּלְּהוּ קַיְימִין לְאַחֲזָאָה אַנְפִּין נְהִירִין לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא, וּלְמִפְתֵּי לְהוּ, בְּגִין דְּיִסְטוּן מֵאֹרַח קְשׁוֹט, וּלְאַמְשָׁכָא לוֹן אֲבַתְרַיְיהוּ, וּלְבָתַר אִינּוּן קַטְלֵי לוֹן, וִימוּתוּן בִּתְרֵין עָלְמִין. דִּכְתִיב, וְאַחֲרִיתָהּ מָרָה כַלַּעֲנָה חַדָּה כְּחֶרֶב פִּיּוֹת.

Afrira (Spirit) Fruit Gold Job Purification Serpent Sin Soil

905. This spirit is called 'Afrira', ashes of dust. He has no offspring, nor fruit in the world, since he is made of ashes of dust. Though he is called by that name, he is not of the holy soil which bears fruit, called "dust (Heb. afrot) of gold" (Iyov 28:6), but of "the ashes (Heb. afar) of the burnt purification" (Bemidbar 19:17), FOR ASHES ARE CALLED 'DUST'. He is "the ashes of the burnt purification," the indication IN THIS VERSE, comes in two versions, the one because that spirit is included within the purification (Heb. chatat) of sin, which is the secret of the powerful serpent CALLED BY THAT NAME. The other is when the man commits sin (Heb. chatat) and strengthens the dust, so it rules the world.

905. הַאי רוּחָא, אִיהוּ אִקְרֵי אַפְרִירָ"א. עַפְרָא דְּקִיטְמָא. דְּלָא עָבֵיד תּוֹלְדִין וְאֵיבִין לְעָלְמִין, בְּגִין דְּהַאי אִיהוּ עַפְרָא דְּקִיטְמָא. ואע"ג דְּאִקְרֵי עָפָר, לָאו אִיהוּ עַפְרָא קַדִישָׁא, דְּעָבֵיד אֵיבִין, וְאִקְרֵי עַפְרוֹת זָהָב. אֶלָּא כְּמָה דְּאַתְּ אָמֵר, מֵעֲפַר שְׂרֵפַת הַחַטָּאת. וְדָא הוּא עֲפַר שְׂרֵפַת הַחַטָּאת, וְסִימָנָא דָּא אַתְיָא בִּתְרֵין סִטְרִין. חַד, בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ כָּלִיל בְּהַאי חַטָּאת, רָזָא דְּהַהוּא חִוְיָא תַּקִּיפָא. וְחַד, דְּכַד ב"נ עָבֵיד חַטָּאת, אִיהוּ אַתְקִיף לְהַאי עָפָר, וְשַׁלְטָא בְּעָלְמָא.

Atzilut Briyah Curse Ground Harlotry Priests Tabernacle Water Women Worlds

906. This SPIRIT CALLED 'DUST', is included within "the bitter water that causes the curse" (Bemidbar 5:18). Therefore the woman, who has gone astray from her husband and behaved as a harlot, should be given a drink of the water that comprises the dust of the ground of the Tabernacle. That dust comes from the place called 'ground', WHICH IS THE ASPECT OF BRIYAH, AND BRIYAH is called 'the ground of the Tabernacle', WHICH IS MALCHUT OF ATZILUT CALLED 'TABERNACLE'. The dust, WHICH IS THIS SPIRIT, comes of the same ground. For that reason the priest should give the woman a drink in that manner, TO PUT DUST OF THE GROUND INSIDE THE WATER. All that is a supernal allusion.

906. וְהַאי אִיהוּ כָּלִיל בְּמֵי הַמָּרִים הַמְאָרֲרִים, וע"ד, אִצְטְרִיךְ לְאִנְתּוּ דְּאַסְטִיאַת תְּחוֹת בַּעְלָהּ, וְעַבְדַת עוֹבָדָא דְּאֵשֶׁת זְנוּנִים, לְאַשְׁקָאָה לָהּ מַיָּא כְּלִילָן בְּעַפְרָא, דְּאִיהוּ מִקַּרְקַע הַמִּשְׁכָּן. וְהַאי עָפָר אִיהוּ מֵהַהוּא אֲתָר דְּאִקְרֵי קַרְקַע וְהַהוּא אִקְרֵי קַרְקַע דְּהַהוּא מִשְׁכָּן. וְהַאי עָפָר מֵהַהוּא קַרְקַע אִיהוּ. ובג"כ, אִצְטְרִיךְ כַּהֲנָא לְאַשְׁקָאָה לְהַאי אִתְּתָא, כְּגַוְונָא דָּא. וְכֹלָּא אִיהוּ בִּרְמִיזָא עִלָּאָה.

Chambers Ezekiel Holiness (Kedushah) Kedushah (Holiness) Other Side Precepts Water

907. Happy is the portion of the children of Yisrael, for the Holy One, blessed be He, purifies them with supernal, clean water, NAMELY, THE WATER OF BINAH, as it is written, "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean" (Yechezkel 36:25). We explained about clean water, when we talked OF THE DIFFERENCE between first water and last water. And though we explained there, THAT FIRST WATER IS OF BINAH AND LAST WATER FROM MALCHUT, SO first water is considered a precept, WHICH IS MALCHUT, and last water a debt. We expounded upon the two sides, that THE SUPERNAL WATER is of the side of holiness called 'precept', and the LAST WATER is called 'debt', which is the Other Side IN THIS CHAMBER. For that reason the Other Side takes its share of that water. Of this the verse says, "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean."

907. זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵהוֹן דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מַדְכֵּי לוֹן בְּמַיִין דַּכְיָין עִלָּאִין דִּכְתִיב וְזָרַקְתִּי עֲלֵיכֶם מַיִם טְהוֹרִים וּטְהַרְתֶּם. מַיִם טְהוֹרִים הָא אַמָרָן, בֵּין מַיִם רִאשׁוֹנִים לְמַיִם אַחֲרוֹנִים. ואע"ג דְּהָא אוֹקִימְנָא, מַיִם רִאשׁוֹנִים מִצְוָה, הָכִי אִתְקְרוּן. וּמַיִם אַחֲרוֹנִים חוֹבָה הָכִי נָמֵי אִתְקְרוּן, וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא עַל תְּרֵין סִטְרִין אִלֵּין, דָּא סִטְרָא דִּקְדוּשָּׁה אִתְקְרֵי מִצְוָה. וְדָא סִטְרָא אַחֲרָא, אִתְקְרֵי חוֹבָה. ובג"כ חוּלָקֵיהּ נָטַל בְּהַהוּא מַיָּא, וע"ד כְּתִיב, וְזָרַקְתִּי עֲלֵיכֶם מַיִם טְהוֹרִים וּטְהַרְתֶּם.

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