"And Abimelech charged"

Synopsis

We learn how the actions and conduct of the righteous people, such as the Patriarch Yitzchak, help to build and strengthen our physical dimension of Malchut. These acts of the righteous are mirrored in our own spiritually significant actions, as in the laying of Tfilin and the donning of Tzitzit.

Relevance

By drawing on the metaphysical power of righteous personages such as Isaac, and also on the spiritual forces released by laying Tfilin and wearing Tzitzit, we build and strengthen our souls. In this way, we ensure that our sojourn in this physical existence will be filled with spiritual growth and enlightenment.

Abimelech Abraham Death Death and the Afterlife Isaac Patriarchs Philistines Wicked Wickedness

101. "And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, 'He that touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death'" (Beresheet 26:11). Come and behold, how long had the Holy One, blessed be He, refrained from avenging the wicked, for as a result of the good Abimelech did with the first Patriarchs, the children of Yisrael did not rule over the Philistines until generations later. Abimelech did well to act properly toward Isaac, as he said TO ABRAHAM, "Behold, my land is before you, dwell where it pleases you" (Beresheet 20:15). THIS SAYING ALSO ENCOMPASSES THE DESCENDANTS OF ABRAHAM. THIS IS WHY HE KEPT HIS WORD WITH ISAAC AS WELL, AND RABBI ELAZAR PRAISES HIM FOR KEEPING HIS PROMISE.

101. וַיְצַו אֲבִימֶלֶךְ אֶת כָּל הָעָם לֵאמֹר הַנּוֹגֵעַ בָּאִישׁ הַזֶּה וּבְאִשְׁתּוֹ מוֹת יוּמָת. תָּא חֲזֵי, כַּמָּה אוֹרִיךְ לְהוֹ קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, לְרַשִּׁיעַיָּיא, בְּגִין הַהוּא טִיבוּ דַּעֲבַד עִם אֲבָהָן קַמָּאי, דְּהָא בְּגִין דָּא לָא שַׁלִּיטוּ בְּהוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל, עַד לְבָתַר דָּרִין בַּתְרָאִין, יָאוֹת עֲבַד אֲבִימֶלֶךְ, דַּעֲבַד טִיבוּ עִם יִצְחָק, דְּאָמַר לוֹ הִנֵּה אַרְצִי לְפָנֶיךָ בַּטּוֹב בְּעֵינֶיךָ שֵׁב.

Abimelech Abraham Brit (Covenant) Caves Covenant (Brit) Hundred Isaac Shekels Wicked Wickedness

102. Rabbi Yehuda said, Woe to the wicked, whose generosity is not complete. Come and behold, Efron first said, "My lord, hear me, the field I give you, and the cave that is in it" (Beresheet 23:11). Later he said, "four hundred shekels" (Ibid. 14), and then, "And Abraham weighed to Efron...current money with the merchant" (Ibid. 16). Here too, it is written at first WHAT HE SAID TO ABRAHAM, "Behold, my land is before you," WHICH INCLUDES ISAAC. Then he said TO ISAAC, "Go from us; for you are much mightier than we" (Beresheet 26:16). Rabbi Elazar said to him, This is the benevolence Abimelech had for Isaac. He took nothing from him and sent him away with his money and possessions. Then, he went after him to make a covenant with him.

102. רִבִּי יְהוּדָה אֲמַר, חֲבַל עֲלַיְיהוּ דְּרַשִּׁיעַיָּיא, דְּטִיבוּתָא דִּלְהוֹן לָאו אִיהוּ שְׁלִים, תָּא חֲזֵי, עֶפְרוֹן בְּקַדְמֵיתָא אֲמַר, אֲדוֹנִי שְׁמָעֵנִי הַשָּׂדֶה נָתַתִּי לָךְ וְהַמְעָרָה אֲשֶׁר בּוֹ לְךָ נְתַתִּיהָ וגו'. וּלְבָתַר אֲמַר, אֶרֶץ אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת שֶׁקֶל כֶּסֶף וגו', וּכְתִיב וַיִּשְׁקוֹל אַבְרָהָם לְעֶפְרוֹן וגו', עוֹבֵר לַסּוֹחֵר. אוֹף הָכָא, כְּתִיב בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, הִנֵּה אַרְצִי לְפָנֶיךָ וגו'. וּלְבָתַר אֲמַר לוֹ, לֵךְ מֵעִמָּנוּ כִּי עָצַמְתָּ מִמֶּנּוּ מְאֹד. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, דָּא הוּא טִיבוּ דַּעֲבַד עִמֵּיהּ, דְּלָא נְסִיב מִדִּילֵיהּ אֲבִימֶלֶךְ כְּלוּם, וְשַׁדְּרֵיהּ בְּכָל מָמוֹנֵיהּ, וּלְבָתַר אֲזַל בַּתְרֵיהּ, לְמִגְזַר עִמֵּיהּ קְיָים.

Abraham Faith Isaac Jacob Nukva Water Well Wisdom

103. וְאָמַר רָבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, יָאוֹת עֲבַד יִצְחָק, דְּהָא בְּגִין דְּיָדַע רָזָא דְחָכְמְתָא, אִשְׁתַּדַּל וְחָפַר בֵּירָא דְמַיִין, בְּגִין לְאִתְתַּקְפָא בִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת, וְכֵן אַבְרָהָם, אִשְׁתַּדַּל וְחָפַר בֵּירָא דְמַיָא, יַעֲקֹב אַשְׁכַּח לֵיהּ מִתְתַּקַּן, וִיתֵיב עֲלֵיהּ וְכֻלְּהוּ אֲזָלוּ בַּתְריֵהּ, וְאִשְׁתַּדָּלוּ, בְּגִין לְאִתְתַּקְפָא בִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא שְׁלֵימָתָא כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת.

Crowns Faith Head Nukva Precepts Tfilin Torah Tzitzit Water Well

104. Presently, the children of Yisrael are strengthened by THE WELL OF WATER, THE SECRET OF THE NUKVA, according to the secret of keeping the commandments of the Torah; NAMELY, every day a man is strengthened and enveloped by the commandment of the Tzitzit ('fringes'), as he also is by the Tefilin he puts on his head and arm. This is as it should be, for they are the supernal mystery. For the Holy One, blessed be He, dwells with the man who is crowned by Tefilin and clothed with the fringes. All is in the secret of high Faith, NAMELY, THE NUKVA, MEANING THAT SHE IS AMENDED BY THE PRECEPTS A MAN FOLLOWS.

104. וְהַשְׁתָּא יִשְׂרָאֵל, אִתְתַּקָּפוּ בֵּיהּ בְּרָזֵי דְּפִקּוּדֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא, כְּגוֹן דְּכָל יוֹמָא וְיוֹמָא אִתְתַּקַּף בַּר נָשׁ בְּצִיצִית, דְּאִיהוּ מִצְוָה, וּבַר נָשׁ אִתְעַטַּף בֵּיהּ. הָכֵי נָמֵי בִּתְפִלֵּי, דְּמַנַּח אֲרֵישֵׁיהּ וּבִדְרוֹעֵיהּ, דְּאִינוּן רָזָא עִלָּאָה, כִּדְקָא חָזֵי, בְּגִין דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִשְׁתַּכַּח בֵּיהּ בְּבַר נָשׁ, דְּאִתְעַטַּר בֵּיהּ בִּתְפִלּוֹי, וְאִתְעַטַּף בַּצִּיצִית, וְכֹלָּא רָזָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא עִלָּאָה.

Correction Faith Fear Nukva Prayer Tfilin Well

105. וְעַל דָּא, מַאן דְּלָא אִתְעַטַּף בְּהַאי, וְלָא אִתְעַטַּר לְאִתְתַּקָּפָא בִּתְפִלֵּי בְּכָל יוֹמָא, דָּמֵי לֵיהּ דְּלָא שַׁרְיָא עִמֵּיהּ מְהֵימְנוּתָא, וְאִתְעֲדֵי מִנֵּיהּ דְּחִילוּ דְּמָארֵיהּ, וּצְלוֹתֵיהּ לָאו צְלוֹתָא כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת. וּבְגִין כָּךְ אֲבָהָן הֲווֹ מִתְתַּקְפֵי גּוֹ מְהֵימְנוּתָא עִלָּאָה, בְּגִין דְּבֵירָא עִלָּאָה דְרָזָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא שְׁלֵימָתָא, שַׁרְיָא בֵּיהּ.