"And against all the Elohim of Egypt I will execute Judgments!"

Synopsis

The discussion in this section encompasses the Judgments that God executed against the Egyptians. According to Rabbi Yochanan, when Moses spoke the words of the title verse, Dumah, the supernal minister of Egypt, ran in fear. His authority was taken from him and he was appointed as minister over Gehenom, to judge the souls of the wicked. After punishing the gods of Egypt, causing the Egyptian idols to melt or rot, God commanded the public desecration of the lamb, the chief Egyptian deity. He then punished the nation itself. Rabbi Shimon, son of Rabbi Yosi, then comments that the premonition of all these events is apparent in the Pharaoh's words, "Come, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it shall come to pass, when any war should chance..."

Relevance

The negative influences of the stars, particularly of the lamb Aries, which represents the God of Egypt, are rescinded. The false icons and trappings of material existence are exposed for what they really are - temporary moments of pleasure at the cost of eternal fulfillment and joy. As our eyes dance across the Zohar's verses, billions of minds are awakened to the enduring and true fulfillment that is the Light of the Creator.

False gods that inhabit our world crumble as our eyes fall upon these verses. Deceptive temptations of our shallow material existence are banished from this world, freeing us to pursue and acquire unending spiritual joy and fulfillment. All our traits and impulses borne of our Evil Inclination are purged from our core being. All forms of corruption and crookedness that exist in our world are shattered forever, paving the way for eternal goodness and justice.

Egypt Egyptians Judgment Thought

317. א"ר יוּדָאי א"ר יִצְחָק, מַה הֲוָה מַחֲשַׁבְתְּהוֹן דְּמִצְרָאֵי, דְּמִמְנַע מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל פִּרְיָה וּרְבִיָּה, וְשֻׁלְטָנָא דִּמְמָנָא עֲלֵיהוֹן דְּאָעִיל בְּלִבְּהוֹן כַּךְ. אֶלָּא, אָמַר לְהוֹן, הֲווֹ יַדְעִין, דְּזַמִּין בְּרָא חֲדָא לְמֵיפַק מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל, דְּיִתְעֲבֵיד דִּינָא בֶּאֱלֹהֵיהוֹן עַל יְדֵיהּ.

Dumah (Angel) Egypt Fear Gehenom (Hell) Hell (Gehenom) Hundred Judgment Moses Soul, The Wicked Wickedness

318. For Rabbi Yochanan said, When Moses said, "And against all the Elohim of Egypt I will execute judgments" (Shemot 12:12). Dumah, the Minister of Egypt went four hundred parasangs FROM GREAT FEAR. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, 'A decree was decreed before Me, AND IT CANNOT BE RESCINDED for it is written, "Hashem shall punish the host of the high ones on high..." (Yeshayah 24:21). At that moment, his authority was removed and Dumah was appointed TO BE the minister of Gehenom, to judge the souls of the wicked there. And Rabbi Yehuda said, He was appointed over the dead.

318. דְּאָמַר רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאָמַר מֹשֶׁה, וּבְכָל אֱלֹהֵי מִצְרַיִם אֶעֱשֶׂה שְׁפָטִים הָלַךְ דּוּמָה שָׂרוֹ שֶׁל מִצְרַיִם, ד' מֵאוֹת פַּרְסָה. אָמַר לֵיהּ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, גְּזֵרָה נִגְזְרָה לְפָנַי, דִּכְתִּיב יִפְקֹד יְיָ' עַל צְבָא הַמָּרוֹם בַּמָּרוֹם וְגוֹ.' בְּאוֹתָה שָׁעָה נִטְּלָה הַשְּׂרָרָה מִמֶּנּוּ, וְנִתְמַנָּה דּוּמָה שַׂר שֶׁל גֵּיהִנָּם, לִידוֹן שָׁם נַפְשׁוֹת הָרְשָׁעִים. וְרִבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר עַל הַמֵּתִים נִתְמַנָּה.

Gold Judgment Silver Stone

319. אָמַר רִבִּי חֲנִינָא, כְּתִיב וּבֵאלֹהֵיהֶם עָשָׂה יְיָ' שְׁפָטִים. וְכִי בֶּאֱלֹהַּ שֶׁל כֶּסֶף, וְשֶׁל זָהָב, וְשֶׁל עֵץ, וְשֶׁל אֶבֶן, יֶשׁ שְׁפָטִים. אֶלָּא אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי, שֶׁל כֶּסֶף וְשֶׁל זָהָב הָיוּ נִתָּכִים מֵאֲלֵיהֶם, וְשֶׁל עֵץ מִתְרַקְּבִין.

Egypt Fire Head Judgment Lambs

320. Rabbi Elazar said, The deity of Egypt was a lamb and the Holy One, blessed be He, commanded the execution of punishments upon it, to burn it in fire, as is written, "The carvings of their Elohim shall you burn with fire" (Devarim 7:25), in order that its odor should spread, and, "its head, with its legs, and its entrails," IN A DISRESPECTFUL WAY. Furthermore, its bones shall be thrown in the marketplace. And this was the hardest of all to Egypt. This is the meaning of punishments.

320. אָמַר רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, אֱלוֹהַּ שֶׁל מִצְרַיִם שֶׂה הָיָה, וְצִוָּה הַקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא לַעֲשׂוֹת בּוֹ שְׁפָטִים, לִשְׂרוֹף אוֹתוֹ בָּאֵשׁ, כְּמָה דְּאַתְּ אָמֵר, פְּסִילֵי אֱלֹהֵיהֶם תִּשְׂרְפוּן בָּאֵשׁ. כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּהֵא רֵיחוֹ נוֹדֶף. וְעוֹד, רֹאשׁוֹ עַל כְּרָעָיו וְעַל קִרְבּוֹ. וְעוֹד, שֶׁעַצְמוֹתָיו מוּשְׁלָכִים בַּשּׁוּק. וְזֹאת הָיְתָה לְמִצְרַיִם קָשֶׁה מִכּוּלָּן, הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִּיב, שְׁפָטִים.

Earth Hosts Judgment

321. אָמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה בֵּאלֹהֵיהֶם מַמָּשׁ וְזֶהוּ שַׂר שֶׁלָּהֶם, לְקַיֵּים, יִפְקוֹד ה' עַל צְבָא הַמָּרוֹם בַּמָּרוֹם וְעַל מַלְכֵי הָאֲדָמָה עַל הָאֲדָמָה. וְכָל זֶה הָיוּ יוֹדְעִים הַחֲכָמִים שֶׁבָּהֶם, וכ"ש שַׂר שֶׁלָּהֶם. עַל כֵּן כְּתִיב, הָבָה נִּתְחַכְּמָה לוֹ.

Blood Earth Egypt Hosts Idolatry Judgment Nile Rivers Stones Vessels Water

322. Rabbi Yochanan said, There were many idols in Egypt and the Nile RIVER was their deity, and the Holy One, blessed be He, executed judgments on all of them. Rabbi Aba said, This OPINION of Rabbi Yochanan is exact and clear, since their deities were smitten first, then the nation. The Nile also was smitten first, and the wood and stones THAT THEY WORSHIPPED. This is what is written, "That there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stones" (Shemot 7:19), that were for them their actual Elohim. And Rabbi Yitzchak said TO RABBI YOCHANAN, It is written, "the hosts of the high ones on high," yet the Nile was not on high, BUT RATHER ON THE EARTH. Rabbi Yochanan said, Because of the vast amount of water of the Nile, it appeared as though THE RIVER was on high. Rabbi Yitzchak said, Their minister was smitten first and afterwards the rest of their Elohim!

322. רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר, הַרְבֵּה ע"ז הָיוּ בְּמִצְרַיִם, וְנִילוּס אֱלוֹהַּ שֶׁלָּהֶם הָיָה, וּבִכְלַל אֱלֹהֵיהֶם הָיָה הוּא, וּבְכוּלָּם עָשָׂה ה' שְׁפָטִים. אָמַר רִבִּי אַבָּא, הָא דְּר' יוֹחָנָן דַּיְיקָא, וּפְשִׁיטָא, מִשּׁוּם דֶּאֱלֹהֵיהֶם נִלְקִים בַּתְּחִלָּה, ואח"כ הָאוּמָה, וְכֵן נִילוּס נִלְקָה בַּתְּחִלָּה, וְהָעֵצִים וְהָאֲבָנִים, הה"ד וַיְהִי הַדָּם בְּכָל אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם וּבָעֵצִים וּבָאֲבָנִים, שֶׁהָיוּ לָהֶם אֱלֹהוּת מַמָּשׁ. וְאָמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק, עַל צְבָא הַמָּרוֹם בַּמָּרוֹם כְּתִּיב, וְנִילוּס לֹא הָיָה בַּמָּרוֹם. א"ר יוֹחָנָן, רוֹב מֵימָיו כְּדוּגְמָתָן בַּמָּרוֹם. אָמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק, שַׂר שֶׁלָּהֶם נִלְקָה בַּתְּחִלָּה, ואח"כ שְׁאַר אֱלֹהֵיהֶם.

Angels Camp Egypt Judgment Seas War

323. Rabbi Shimon, the son of Rabbi Yosi, said, The actual smiting of the nation of Egypt was done only by the sea, as is written, "There remained of them not even one" (Shemot 14:28). Before, judgments were executed upon their Elohim, and therefore it is written, "Come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it shall come to pass, when any war should chance" (Shemot 1:10). They prophesied about the future according to what occurred to them. "They also join our enemies" (Ibid.); they prophesied about the supernal camps OF ANGELS that would dwell among them, "and fight against us." They prophesied about the words, "Hashem shall fight for you" (Shemot 14:14). "And so go up out of the land," as is said, "And the children of Yisrael went out with a high hand" (Ibid. 8).

323. רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בְּרִבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר, לָקוּת אוּמָה שֶׁל מִצְרַיִם מַמָּשׁ, לָא הָיָה אֶלָּא בַּיָּם, דִּכְתִּיב, לֹא נִשְׁאַר בָּהֶם עַד אֶחָד. וְקוֹדֶם זֶה, נַעֲשָׂה שְׁפָטִים בֵּאלֹהֵיהֶם. וע"ד כְּתִיב, הָבָה נִּתְחַכְּמָה לוֹ פֶּן יִרְבֶּה וְהָיָה כִּי תִקְרֶאנָה. וְנִתְנַבְּאוּ עַל הֶעָתִיד, כְּפִי מַה שֶאֵירַע לָהֶם. וְנוֹסַף גַּם הוּא עַל שׂוֹנְאֵינוּ, נִבְּאוּ עַל מַחֲנוֹת עֶלְיוֹנִים, שֶׁיִּהְיוּ שְׁרוּיִים בְּתוֹכָם. וְנִלְחַם בָּנוּ, נִבְּאוּ עַל מַה דִּכְתִּיב ה' יִלָּחֵם לָכֶם וְגוֹ.' וְעָלָה מִן הָאָרֶץ, כְּמָה דְּאַתְּ אָמַר וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל יוֹצְאִים בְּיַד רָמָה.