Vayechi: Chapter 50

"The measure of my days, what it is?"

Synopsis

The discussion opens to reveal that the days of the righteous who gain merit through good deeds are blessed from Binah. We're also told that the phrase "my end" indirectly alludes to David. Rabbi Yehuda then states that the title verse relates to the seventy years that were taken from Adam and apportioned to David. We learn that David corresponds to Malchut, upon whom the seven Sfirot shine. David wished to know why the rest of the supernal lights had light of their own while he did not - he was, however, denied permission.

Relevance

The quality and length of one's days is directly affected by the deeds and degree of spiritual change a person seeks and attains in his lifetime. Upon the merit of the righteous, we draw blessings of long life from above [Binah] and shower them upon the entire world [David, the embodiment of Malchut]. We are inspired to use this Light and increased longevity to accomplish our spiritual purpose and correction.

David Deeds Merit

500. Come and see that when a man has merit in this world through good deeds, his days are blessed above from the place called "the measure of days," WHICH IS BINAH. He opened the discussion saying, "Hashem, make me to know my end, and the measure of my days, what it is" (Tehilim 39:5). This verse has already been explained, yet "my end" is the end of the right, which is connected to David. "The measure of my days" is in charge of his days, WHICH IS BINAH.

500. תָּא חֲזֵי , יוֹמִין דְּב"נ, כַּד זָכֵי בְּהַאי עַלְמָא בְּעוֹבָדִין טָבָאן, יוֹמִין דִּילֵיהּ אִתְבָּרְכָאן לְעֵילָא, מֵהַהוּא אֲתַר דְּאִיהוּ מִדַּת יוֹמוֹי. פְּתַח וַאֲמַר הוֹדִיעֵנִי יי' קִצִּי וּמִדַּת יָמַי מַה הִיא וגו,' הַאי קְרָא אוֹקְמוּהָ, אֲבָל תָּא חֲזֵי, קִצִּי: דָּא קֵץ הַיָּמִין, דְּאִיהוּ מִתְקַשַּׁר בֵּיהּ בְּדָוִד. וּמִדַּת יָמַי מַה הִיא, דָּא אִיהוּ דְּאִתְמַנֵּי מַמָּשׁ עַל יוֹמוֹי.

Adam David Seventy Year

501. Rabbi Yehuda said, I have heard from Rabbi Shimon that this verse talks about the days that were portioned from Adam, seventy years. For we have learned that David had no life whatsoever, but the seventy years given him by Adam.

501. א"ר יְהוּדָה, הָא שָׁמַעְנָא מֵר' שִׁמְעוֹן, דְּהַאי קְרָא אִתְּמָר, עַל אִינוּן יוֹמִין דְּאִתְגְּזָרוּ עֲלוֹי מֵאָדָם קַדְמָאָה, דְּאִינוּן ע.' דְּהָא אִתְּמָר, דְּחַיִּין כְּלַל לָא הֲווֹ לֵיהּ, אֶלָּא דְּיָהֵיב לֵיהּ אָדָם מֵאִינוּן יוֹמִין דִּילֵיהּ, שַׁבְעִין שְׁנִין.

Astrology Curtain David Firmaments Light Moon Seventy Ten Year Zeir Anpin

502. It is a mystery THAT THE FIRMAMENT IS a curtain WHICH CORRESPONDS TO MALCHUT, which serves no purpose, since the moon, MALCHUT, has no light of her own. THE SECRET IS THAT DAVID, WHO CORRESPONDS TO MALCHUT, HAS NO LIFE. Seventy years shine upon her, UPON MALCHUT, on all her sides, BEING THE SECRET OF CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD, YESOD AND MALCHUT OF ZEIR ANPIN, EACH INCLUDES OF TEN, WHICH ALTOGETHER AMOUNT TO SEVENTY. This is the life of David. He therefore desired to learn from the Holy One, blessed be He, this secret of why the moon has no life of her own, and wanted to know of her root.

502. וְרָזָא דָא, וִילוֹן לָא מְשַׁמֵשׁ כְּלוּם, וְסִיהֲרָא לָא נָהֲרַת מִגַּרְמָהּ כְּלַל, וְשַׁבְעִין שְׁנִין נָהֲרִין לָהּ, בְּכָל סִטְרָהָא. וְאִינוּן חַיֵּי דָוִד סְתָם. וְעַל דָּא בָּעָא דָּוִד לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, לְמִנְדַע רָזָא דָּא, עַל מָה לֵית לָהּ חַיִּין לְסִיהֲרָא מִגַּרְמָהּ, וּלְמִנְדַע עִקָּרָא דִילָהּ.

David Form Grades Light Lights

503. "And the measure of my days, what it is:" This is a supernal, undisclosed grade, BINAH, CALLED THE MEASURE OF MY DAYS, since it is situated over all the days which form the life OF MALCHUT, AS CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD, YESOD AND MALCHUT ARE DRAWN FROM BINAH, a place which shines upon everything. "I will know how frail I am" (Tehilim 39:5). David said, Let me know wherefore I have not MY OWN light, and cannot be like the rest of the supernal lights, which have THEIR OWN lives, why MY LIGHT IS frail, and wherefore it is withheld from me. This is what David desired to know, but was not given permission to know.

503. וּמִדַּת יָמַי מַה הִיא, דָּא הוּא דַרְגָּא עִלָּאָה סְתִימָא, דְּאִיהוּ קָיְימָא עַל כָּל אִינוּן יוֹמִין, דְּאִינוּן חַיִּין דִילָהּ, אֲתַר דְּנָהֵיר לְכֹלָּא. אֵדְעָה מֶה חָדֵל אָנִי: אֲמַר דָּוִד: אִנְדַע עַל מַה חָדֵל אֲנָא נְהוֹרָא מִגַּרְמִי, וְאִתְמְנַע מִנִּי, כִּשְׁאָר כָּל אִינוּן נְהוֹרָאִין עִלָּאִין דְּאִית לוֹן חַיִּין לְכֻלְּהוּ, וַאֲנָא עַל מַה אֲנָא חָדֵל, וְעַל מַה אִתְמְנַע מִנִּי. וְדָא הוּא דְבָעָא דָוִד לְמִנְדַע, וְלָא אִתְיְיהֵיב לֵיהּ רְשׁוּתָא לְמִנְדַע.

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